Nathan nodded in assent with Mickey’s statement. “I was thinking of mentioning this today when he called. I want to feel him out—”
“No,” Anastacia stated firmly. “He is calling for peace, Nathan. This is what you need to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. End this war before it progresses. Bringing me up will only ignite his anger, and set you back. This is what Silas does. I’ll talk to Robert, and see what we can do to end his madness, all right? I don’t need any help with this. Silas’s dramatics were a long time coming. Promise you will say nothing.”
She waited silently for Nathan to agree, noticeably pleading with him to listen to her with her eyes. Nathan said nothing. Instead, he frowned and turned his attention to the baby in his arms.
Anastacia huffed. “Nathan—” Her words were cut off by the sound of her car horn. She sighed. “I need to go. Since you will not listen to me, I will call your father when I return” She shot him a disapproving glare, but still leaned forward to kiss his forehead. “I love you, dear.”
“I love you, too,” he replied.
She kissed Mickey on the forehead as well. “I love you, sweetheart. Don’t forget to tell your father.”
“Love you, too, Anastacia. Be safe.”
She cupped Carter’s face and whispered, “Stop worrying, baby girl.” Then kissed her cheek. “I love you.”
“Love you, Mom.” Carter watched her mother leave, and then leaned into Nathan’s side.
A few minutes after Anastacia had left, Nathan kissed Carter’s forehead and promised her he’d at least handle her cell phone issue before his father interfered. Carter nodded. Hopefully her father could do something to help, too.
After breakfast, Carter and the babies saw Nathan and Mickey off to work and let Creature back in the house with them. Nathan gave her and the boys’ kisses and promised he’d be home in time for dinner. Carter always felt a little sad when she watched them go off to work. She missed it, but she like being a mom to her babies more. As of this moment, Carter wasn’t sure when she was going back. A part of her wondered if Nathan preferred things like they were now; her staying home and him going to work. She wanted to go back to work, but only if Nathan wanted her to. She had some time before she had to start doing more work in her mother’s empire, so maybe she’d just spend the time at home raising the boys. A while ago she would have gone right back to S.O. regardless, but things were different. Nathan’s opinion of her ability to be a mother meant a lot to her. She didn’t want him to think her a bad mother to their sons for wanting to work while they stayed home.
She had no idea what she wanted anymore.
“Come on, boys,” she said to her beautiful sons, who were nestled safely in the Moby wrap against her chest. Maksim had fallen asleep. “Since your brother is sleeping, you’ll get your bath first, Alek.”
~*~
Body wise, Carter was still not completely restored, and she was pretty sure that there were some pounds—in the hip and ass area—that she was just going to be stuck with, but she was admittedly okay with that. The extra curves weren’t a problem. What she did have a problem with was her belly. It was still sticking out a bit and the loosened skin had yet to tighten completely. She had started working out again with her father five weeks after the twins were born, and though she had already dropped a bunch of weight, she still had a long way to go.
“Pick it up, Carter! Five more laps …”
Her father clapped his hands while he watched her run laps around the house. Every time Carter passed him she wanted to kick his ass. He was lounging back in his seat on the porch and laughing at her pain.
“You suck!” she screamed, out of breath.
Her father chuckled and gave a wave of his hand. “Stop talking and control your breathing. You know the rules.”
Carter scowled and pushed forward until she completed the task. She glanced over to her loyal four-legged workout partner running beside her. “Come on, boy,” she said to Creature. “We’re almost there.” Creature barked and sped up, running ahead of her. Carter rolled her eyes, muttering, “Show off,” under her breath, and sped up to catch up with him.
Once she finished, she ran up to the porch—the dog once again beside her—and collapsed, disappointed in herself for going over her record time by three whole minutes.
“This … fucking … sucks.” She threw her arm over her eyes, even as she felt Creature trying to lick her face. “Stop it. Mommy’s a failure …”
“Don’t beat yourself up, baby girl. You did well. Two weeks ago you were ten minutes over your time, now you are only three. You have to go easier on yourself.”
Lifter her arm from over her eyes, Carterglanced up at her father, surprised by his words. “Go easy on myself?” she asked, stunned by his attitude toward her failure. Seven years ago, he’d have made her get up and do it again. She frowned in confusion, while urging Creature to sit down next to her. “Wow,” she said breathlessly. “Why are you being so nice about this? The old you would be grilling me about my failure to push myself.”
“You are pushing yourself. You’re actually doing very well.”
Okay, now he was scaring her. “Who in the hell are you?”
Robert laughed. “Carter, don’t be ridiculous.”
“When did you become so patient with me?” she asked, disbelief written across her face. “I mean, I appreciate it, but I’m also a little scared. You used to be so strict.”
He shrugged before holding out a hand to pull her up from the ground. “Circumstances were different back then, baby girl. You are not in the same situation. Back then you were a little girl that needed to be trained. That called for vigorous training. Now you are a woman of much power that needs reconditioning after having two gorgeous baby boys. I’m not so callous as to forget that you just gave birth two months ago.” Giving her hand a little tug, he brought her to his side and kissed her forehead. “It takes time to get back in shape.”
Carter looked up at him with a smile. She liked his new way of training. He was a lot more understanding, and the training was even more fun than it used to be. “Thank you, Daddy.” Rising up on her toes, she kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m happy you’re here.”
He happily returned the hug. “Me too, baby, me too. I love you so much, you know that, right?”
Although she wanted to frown, she forced a smile. He’d been asking her that a lot lately, and it wasn’t the question that worried her, but the way in which he asked it. “Of course I know, Daddy,” Carter answered. “I love you, too.” And she did. Very much.
Their workout completed, they began walking toward the back door. Usually, after the workout, her father hung around for a couple of hours, spending time with her and the boys before heading off to do whatever he did during the day. He was very mysterious about his whereabouts, which was how he’d always been.
Before they walked through the door, Carter put her hand against his chest and repeated the question she’d asked him every day since her sons were born. “Daddy, before we go in … have you talked to him at all lately?”
Robert immediately sighed. “Carter …”
“Just tell me, daddy,” she whispered, her voice breaking from emotion, and looked him directly in the eyes. “I need to know. Have you?”
He shook his head. “No, Carter. I haven’t.”
Carter sighed in relief. The night she and Nathan had first brought Maksim and Aleksandr home, Carter had confronted her father about the note from Silas. Though she wanted the things he said in the note to be lie, they were not. It was all true. Carter hadn’t lashed out at her father because she wasn’t looking for an argument. She was searching for answers, for understanding. Silas had confused the hell out of her that night, but her mother and Gabriel had helped her. They’d told her not to fall into his trap. If Silas was good at anything it was manipulating. He would make her feel as if he truly cared for her, as if he truly loved her, then he would hurt her. Just
like he hurt her mother and brother. She wanted to listen to them, but she had to admit, sometimes she got a little curious.
She hugged her father once more. “Thank you for telling me, Daddy. I love you. Come on, boy,” she called to Creature, patting her leg. “Lunch time.”
When they entered the door that led to the kitchen, Anastacia and Gabriel were in there preparing lunch while little Sofia sat on the counter playing with her toys.
“TT!” Sofia exclaimed when Carter entered the kitchen. She proceeded to babble in unintelligible words as Carter walked over to her and kissed her chubby cheek.
“Hi baby.” Sofia giggled, handing Carter one of her toys in a silent demand that she play with her.
“Good, you two are finished,” Anastacia said. “The boys are awake now.”
Carter and Robert glanced over, finding Maksim and Aleksandr in their swings with Creature lying on the floor between them.
“We made some sandwiches for lunch,” Gabriel said. “I’m going to whip up some soup to go with it, so everything will be ready soon.
“Carterina, why don’t you go ahead upstairs and get washed up before the boys are ready to be fed. Robert, you can spend some time with your grandsons,” Anastacia stated, getting her attention.
“Can one of you feed Creature for me?” she asked.
Anastacia nodded. “Of course, honey. Now, go, go, go. Hurry before the babies get upset.”
Both Robert and Carter went off to do as Anastacia had instructed. That afternoon, they had a perfect family lunch. Carter loved it. She had her mother, her father, her brother, and her two baby boys. The only thing that would have made it better was if Nathan had come home early, but she knew he couldn’t. He had a lot on his plate today. She wished she could be there to help him.
~*~
“So Anastacia called. She said you were thinking about doing something stupid.”
Nathan grumbled and looked over to his father, who was sitting next to him in the limo. When he arched his brow in question, Nathan rolled his eyes. The last thing he needed right now was to be questioned. He was not in a ‘father pleasing’ mood. He had no time for this shit with all that he had to do today. Why the hell did he always have to answer for his decisions? His track record spoke for itself; he was always fucking right.
“Nathan, you have about five seconds to say something or I’m going to beat it out of you.”
Nathan’s jaw ticked in annoyance. “Must we always progress to violence, Papa? Did it ever occur to you that I didn’t answer your question simply because I don’t want to discuss the matter?”
Angelo’s brows rose in surprise at Nathan’s boldness, and he straightened in his seat. “Excuse me?”
Nathan was already gone into his thoughts. He needed to map out everything he’d say to Silas during the call later on today. The motherfucker wanted to talk peace, he wanted Nathan to lay out his terms. Nathan had one term, and one term only: stay the fuck away from his family.
“Nathan!”
His father’s angry shout didn’t startle him, nor did it frighten him, but it did annoy the shit out of him. Pulling himself together, he turned to his father with an impassive expression.
“Papa, Anastacia is being harassed, threatened, and emotionally abused on a daily basis by that sick fuck. His obsession is getting worse over time. I need to get a feel of what’s going on in his head. My interest is in protecting my mother-in-law, who I have grown to love very much. She is afraid, she’ll just never admit it. She thinks she has to do everything alone, and I mean to show her that she doesn’t. That’s all.”
Angelo frowned. “Does her … Cesare know about this?”
Nathan rolled his eyes. “This is why I hesitate to talk about Anastacia with you.”
Holding his hands up in surrender, Angelo sighed, “All right, all right, I’m sorry. I’ll stop.” He sat up in his seat. “I’m worried for her as well, but we must be careful with this, son. Silas is very passionate about her. Our steps must be well-calculated, because I assure you, Silas’s are.”
Nathan nodded. “I know, Pop, I know. I am taking my time with this, but the man is unpredictable. If he snaps, he may come after my wife, too. Carter and I have our children to think of now.”
Angelo nodded his understanding. “We’ll do it together when the time comes. We’ll feel him out, see where his head is at.”
Nathan nodded just as the limo came to a stop.
“See, how hard was it for you to stop being a smartass and just answer my damn question?” The door opened for Angelo, and he exited from the limo while muttering, “You’ve had a fucking stick stuck up your ass for the past few months.”
Nathan just chuckled. He wasn’t that bad.
“You were much nicer when Carterina was working here. I don’t know how I’m going to get through the next six months without her here and not kick your disrespectful ass.”
Nathan laughed. Yes, it was very true that he missed his wife coming to work with him every morning, and it was even truer that her absence had a negative effect on his attitude toward work. However, they’d all just have to deal with it. Carter still hadn’t said when she’d return. He’d never known how much she did for him, and it made him appreciate her even more. There was noticeably more work that he had to barrel through every day to get home, but he could deal … He never realized how badly he needed her there until she wasn’t around.
~*~
As Paolo Luchini gazed at Nathan and Angelo, he had an arrogant smile in his eyes, and Nathan wasn’t particularly fond of it. Junior—which was what Nathan called Paolo’s son, Pauli Luchini—just sat silently with an impassive expression on his face while his father unabashedly looked down upon them. It was as if the sight of Nathan and his father alone disgusted Paolo, or made him feel dirty. It was fucking hilarious.
After another minute of silence, Paolo Luchini cleared his throat and straightened in his seat. “I extend my gratitude for the hospitality you have shown me and my son during our stay in New York City.”
“Well, we were happy to host this trip for you. I hope you are enjoying the hotel accommodations, as well as the tour of S.O. that you went on,” Angelo said with a smile. “We heard that you had asked for one on your last visit, but as you know, we were a bit too busy to offer you one then.”
Paolo waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Well, after the argument I had with my Ana, I wasn’t really in the mood to tour anyway.”
Nathan couldn’t hide the small smile that appeared on his lips when Paolo referred to Anastacia kicking his ass as merely an argument. The man was fucking crazy.
Angelo chuckled. “Well, if I were you, I wouldn’t want to show my face after a display like that either.”
Paolo didn’t respond, but a look of disdain for Angelo did flash across his face. “You know, Salerno, although I have enjoyed the majority of your accommodations so far, I must say that I am disappointed that no women were provided for our entertainment. I believe providing such a spoil is only common courtesy.”
“I do not deal in women, Paolo. It is not a courtesy I offer.”
“So I hear,” he muttered with a tight smile. “How moral of you. But I’m sure you can understand why I find your stance on the matter,” he looked over at Nathan, “ironic.”
Nathan laughed even as Angelo tensed in his seat. It shouldn’t have been funny, but it was. He couldn’t believe the bastard had just taken a shot at his mother. Nathan’s poor father looked over to him with a frown, most likely wondering why he was laughing, but Nathan said nothing. His laughter slowly subsided and he glanced over to his father, speaking to him in Russian.
“Can we please just skip the pleasantries, Papa?” he asked. “We both have much to do today. Carterina will not be happy if I’m late for dinner tonight.”
He nodded slowly. “Of course, son.” Clearing his throat, he shifted in his seat. “You’ve been seeking a visit for quite a while now, Paolo—”
Paolo cut off his
words by waving his hand. “Excuse me, what the hell was that? That was very rude, Angelo.”
Confused by what would have offended Paolo, Angelo frowned. “I’m a bit confused. What are you referring to?”
“Your son.” He cut Nathan glare. “You will allow him to laugh at me then speak to you in some … secret language?”
Okay, this just became even more amusing, Nathan thought. He didn’t laugh like he wanted to, but his eyes did brighten as they widened in surprise of Paolo’s stupidity.
Nathan looked over to his father. “Secret language, Papa.” He once again spoke to his father in Russian. “He says that the Russian language is a secret? This is the powerful man that I am supposed to fear starting a war with? He’s a fucking idiot.”
“Excuse me!” Paolo shouted, slamming his hand on the table. “You will tell your son to cease this behavior at once, Angelo!”
Nathan eyes grew even wider at the order the man had shot at his father. Who in the fuck…. “Oh will he?” Nathan snapped, appalled by the man’s command. “Who in the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
Paolo and his son snapped back at the same time as if they were shocked by Nathan’s brazen attitude, but he didn’t give a fuck.
Chuckling, Angelo patted Nathan on the back. “Be calm, son. It is obvious that Paolo has forgotten that I no longer work for him.”
“What I have not forgotten is that you owe me much more respect than this, Salerno!” he yelled. “Have you forgotten that it was my money that got you here in the first place?”
Angelo nodded. “I have not.” He snapped his fingers and one of his men came forward with black suitcase, handing it to Paolo. “This should make us even.”
Paolo opened the case. “What is this?”
“Your money,” Angelo answered with a nod. “This is what you have come for, right? You want your money back, which I am happy to give. I even threw in some extra for your trouble.”
Paolo gave Angelo a look of pure disgust and closed the suitcase. “I don’t want this,” he spat, throwing it on the floor. “The girl! Where is she? This is the reason I came; to see the girl.”
Dangerous Beauty: Part Three: This is War Page 38