Gabriel laughed. “How the hell do they think they got here—”
“What in heaven’s name are you two talking about?” Anastacia asked sharply, cutting them off.
Carter put her hand in her brother’s face and looked over to Anastacia. “Mom, Gabe was talking about you getting your rocks off with Cesare.”
“My … rocks off?”
She nodded slowly with a mischievous smile on her face. “Yeah. You know, a little bow chica wow wow …” She stood up from the step and began rolling her hips while singing “Bow, chica wow wow” over and over again.
The second Anastacia caught on to what her son and daughter were talking about her mouth dropped open in shock. “Oh my … are guys talking about …”
They both burst into laughter.
“Oh come on. Don’t look at us all shocked like you’ve never done it before. We’re your children for God’s sake.”
Both of them screamed when Anastacia began to splash their silly behinds with water.
“Ahh! Mom! You’re getting my hair wet!” Carter screamed.
Anastacia pulled over Maksim and instructed him to spray his mother and uncle with his spray gun. He eagerly did as she’d instructed, and laughed joyously when both Gabriel and Carter finally got in the pool. The other two children joined, and a full-on splash war began.
Chapter 25: A husband & a father
When the front gate to his estate opened to allow him entrance, Nathan felt a ton of stress fall off of his shoulders. Coming home was the best part of his day, and he thought about it almost constantly, which is a drastic change from the way he used to think before his wife came into his life. Before Carter, Nathan couldn’t care less whether he was home or not. He had spent most of his time on airplanes, traveling the world, taking care of business for his father, but now, life was completely different. The life that he once knew was now a life he barely recollected. Now he was a family man. Now he hated leaving home for long periods of time. Now every time he walked through his front door he was greeted with love from the three most important people in his life. Three people that adored him, valued him, and genuinely needed and wanted him in their lives. It was an amazing feeling being a good husband and father. There was no greater feeling for a man than the one that came with knowing he had made his family happy.
When he entered the gate, he made a stop at the security house to do his nightly run-over of the day with them.
“Welcome home, boss,” Samuel, the head of the night shift house security, said. “I heard everything went perfectly with your first pin, congratulations.”
Nathan nodded. A pin was what Nathan had to do after Carter had left the hotel today. It’d be hitting the papers in the morning. Not only did the powers that be want the hotel shutdown and redone, they wanted a good bust. There had been numerous crimes committed and an unsolved murder involving cop. Someone had to answer for those crimes, so it was Nathan’s job to pin them to an individual. He’d chosen Mr. Clay, the former hotel owner. The NYPD would look like heroes after finding all of the young men and women that were being used as prostitutes there. There were some willing prostitutes, but even more purchased ones. The majority of the purchased prostitutes were teens, either runaways or kidnapped. They were all in not so good shape and addicted to drugs. It was a sad scene, but a scene that would serve its purpose to strengthen the partnership the Salernos had with many high-ranking authorities in New York City. They had their culprit, and they were satisfied. Job successfully completed.
“Thank you,” Nathan said. “The security reports for today please.”
Samuel handed over a stack of papers, which showed all movement recorded from his home as well as the shift changes of his men.
“Only three non-resident visitors today, sir, and that was your mother-in-law and the Valente brothers. Anastacia came this morning after you and Mrs. Salerno left for work, and left around five tonight. The Valentes came at about three, stayed until four-thirty, then they and Ms. Sofia left. Mrs. Salerno came home at noon and hasn’t left since. Shadow Walker dropped her off and left.”
Nathan nodded, pleased to hear that Shadow was finally back in the country. “Very well.”
“Frankie came to the gate about an hour ago to let me know about the security increase at the safe houses.”
The safe houses were the houses built ten miles in the distance on both sides of the house. It was Carter’s idea after Silas had threatened to attack their family. “Yes,” Nathan said. He had increased security simply because he had a gut feeling that he should. “I just wanted some extra protection out here for a while. There will be no security breaches at my home, Samuel.”
Samuel nodded. “Never, sir. We’re always vigilant. We wouldn’t let anyone come close to this gate unless they have clearance.”
“Good. With any luck, things will return back to normal soon. Maybe you will go back to running shipments.” A lot of the men that were now doing security at his home were men that once did shipment protection. Shipment protection was were all the action was. They traveled constantly, and were responsible for getting products to a client as well as ensuring the client paid for each shipment in full. If one had that job, they had the trust of the boss and the underboss. Aside from being on the personal security team of the boss or underboss, being chosen as a shipment protector was one of the organization’s highest honors.
“Well ….umm … I’ve actually been waiting for an opportunity to talk to you about that, sir.”
Samuel’s hesitant tone caused Nathan to lift his eyes from the security reports in his hand. “Is everything all right, Samuel?” The man looked as if he were afraid to tell Nathan something.
He cleared his throat and looked Nathan in the eyes. “Well, as you know, I just got married last year …”
Yes, Nathan remembered. Samuel had invited him and Carter to the wedding, and Carter had made him go. Nathan had been reluctant at first because he wasn’t really a fan of social gatherings, but Carter had been right. Judging from Samuel’s reaction to their attendance, it really meant a lot to the man that Nathan had taken the time out of his day to attend the wedding as well as the reception.
“Tracy had our baby girl last week. Thank you again for the gifts you and Mrs. Salerno sent. It really made Tracy’s day, and mine, too.” He smiled.
Nathan wasn’t aware of any gifts, but he acted as if he were. It was another one of Carter’s superwoman abilities. She was a business woman, an amazing mother, and an exceptional boss’s wife.
Nathan smiled. “We’re glad you liked them. Now what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?”
Samuel nodded. “My job. I know that I was transferred from shipment and a lot of guys are anxious to get back to that, but I’m not one of them.” He sighed. “It’s just that with my daughter being born and everything, this job, and this night shift, has kind of been perfect. I know you already had men that have earned your trust protecting your family, but I guess I’m asking you to consider me for a permanent position here. I know the trust and honor that comes with this position, and I am prepared to show you everything I have done for this organization for the last ten years—”
Nathan lifted his hand to stop the man from rambling. “The job is yours, Samuel,” he stated. He already knew everything about the man; he didn’t need to be told anything else. “If I didn’t already trust you, you wouldn’t be anywhere near my family. I’ll start you as the head of nights. Can you handle that? It’s a lot of work.”
“Absolutely I can, boss,” he answered, obviously happy about Nathan’s job offer.
Nathan nodded, and shook his hand when he extended it. “Very well then. Have a good night, Samuel.”
“You too, boss. Thanks a lot.”
After saying his goodnights to the rest of the men, Nathan got back in his car, and drove the distance up the long driveway to his home. The first floor lights were on, and it was seven o’clock, so Nathan knew they would be in the kitchen making d
inner.
Parking the car in front of the house, Nathan cut it off and opened the door. After removing his holster and storing it securely in a compartment under his seat, he grabbed his suit jacket, closed the car door, and headed for the house. He stuck his key in the door and had barely even turned the lock before he heard the twins screaming.
“Da-da! Da-da! Da-da!”
Laughing softly, Nathan opened the door slowly, knowing that they were standing right in front of it. The smell of dinner immediately came through the door, as did the excited screams from his sons.
“Watch out, bambinos,” he laughed. “Papa has to get in the door.”
He slipped in the door without knocking either of them over as they jumped up and down excitedly at the sight of him. Just like Nathan did every night he came home, he tossed his jacket aside, reached forward and gripped the front of their cute little footed-pajamas in each hand, and snatched them up from the floor, lifting them both high in the air. They screamed and laughed hysterically.
Nathan brought them back to his level and gave each of them a loud smooches on their cheeks. “You miss your Papa, bambinos?” he asked, causing them to cling to him tightly and nod.
“Miss you, Da-da,” Maksim exclaimed with a bright smile.
Aleksandr grabbed Nathan’s nose and fell into a fit of giggles when Nathan shot him a playful glare.
“Da-da, Ma-ma talking,” Maksim said.
“Talk!” Aleksandr repeated very loudly in Nathan’s ear. “Wit Gam-pa!”
Nathan’s brows shot up when his son said the new word. “Grandpa,” he corrected with a proud smile. “New word. Did Mama teach you that?”
“My Gam-pa!” Maksim said, excitedly bouncing in Nathan’s arms.
“Yes, Grandpa.” He gave them both another smooch while walking with them toward the kitchen. “You’re little geniuses, just like your mama.”
The boys then proceeded to tell Nathan about their day. From what he could understand, they had gone swimming with their mother, uncle, grandmother, and Sofia, who they referred to as Sofi. They also ate a lot of snacks and cookies, which they both seemed to be very excited about.
As they neared the kitchen, Nathan heard music playing and Carter laughing with her father.
“Daddy, you promised me you’d dance with me tonight,” she jokingly whined.
“Will you stop your pouting, child,” he grumbled. “I never promised you. I said I’d consider it.”
“I’ll stop when you dance with me. You owe me this, now come on!” She stomped her foot and shot him a glare.
Robert chuckled. “How do you figure I owe you a dance, Carter?”
She placed her hands on her hips. “I have a whole list, bud. One, because you made me dance with an imposter when I was little. Two, because you missed my wedding. And three, because I said so.”
Robert laughed uproariously. Once his laughter had calmed, Nathan heard him say, “I miss you very much, baby girl.”
Carter smiled. “I miss you, too, Daddy.”
The sound of a bag being opened came over the speakers. Nathan had no idea what it was, but the smile fell from Carter’s face, and she stared at her computer screen with her lips pursed while shaking her head back and forth.
“I still think it’s the most ridiculous candy for a serial killer to love, Dad.”
Robert chuckled. “What would be more appropriate?” he asked, his mouth sounding full.
Carter shrugged. “Twizzlers. Maybe a Snickers. You know, something a little more gangster than Gummy Worms.”
He laughed. “I’m not a gangster, baby girl. I’m a hit-man.”
“So am I … on a good day.” The moment she finished her sentence, she looked up and saw him standing at the kitchen entrance, the twins in his arms bouncing to the music. “Oh,” she squealed, scrambling over to greet him. “Nathan’s home from work.”
Nathan chuckled. “Hi, baby.”
Carter stood on her toes and gave him a kiss on his lips. “Hi, honey,” she said with a soft smile. “Hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving.”
Maksim reached out for her and she took him, walking back to the counter where her computer sat. She turned it around toward Nathan.
“Say hi,” Carter told her Dad.
“Hi!” Aleksandr yelled, waving at his grandfather. “Hi, Gam-pa!”
They all chuckled.
“Hi again, little Aleks,” Robert replied before he gave Nathan a nod. “How are you, Nathan?”
Nathan walked over to the counter and sat Aleksandr down in front of him. “I’m well. How are you? How’s your trip going?”
“It’s going well. I’m actually headed to London tomorrow.”
Nathan nodded. Carter had told him that Robert had found the country—Nigeria—where he and his brother were taken from. He was happy that Robert was finally seeking some answers about his past.
“Why London?” Nathan asked.
Robert smiled. “I found some family members that I’m interested in looking in on—”
“His mother!” Carter blurted out, bursting with excitement. “It was his mother, he found his mother.”
Robert chuckled softly, and Carter bit her bottom lip. “Sorry, Daddy,” she muttered sheepishly. “I’m excited, is all. I told him he should meet her, but he just wants to stalk her. She was only sixteen when she had them. She’s about 68 or 69 now, and she lives in London.”
“That about covers it, baby girl,” Robert said in amusement. “She just couldn’t help herself.”
Nathan chuckled. “She’s an information junkie. She loves learning something new, and can’t wait to share it when she does.”
Carter rolled her eyes when Robert voiced his agreement. Suddenly, he sighed. “All right, I have to say ’bye now. I have a flight to catch.”
Nathan saw the sad expression flash across Carter’s face before she quickly perked up. He always hated to watch her end the calls with her father. He only contacted her twice a week, once over the phone, and once where she could see him like this, but Nathan knew Carter wanted more. She missed him. He already could see her fighting to keep her emotion in check.
She sighed. “Okay, Daddy.”
Her father gave her a stern look. “Carter, please don’t—”
Carter waved her hand in the air. “I won’t, I won’t. But if you keep talking I will, so please, Daddy.” She quickly brought Maksim around to the front of the camera with his brother. “Okay, boys, say night-night to Grandpa.”
Aleksandr leaned toward the camera with a wide, toothy grin. “Night-night, Gam-pa. Ove you, Gam-pa …”
“Good night, Aleksandr. I love you as well.”
His brother whined and tried to lean forward to see his grandfather, too. “No, Sandr,” he whined. “I night-night, Gam-pa.”
Nathan reached forward and scooted Aleksandr back some. “All right, Aleksandr, give your brother a chance to say goodnight.”
Aleksandr laughed and turned to jump in Nathan’s arms. He caught him, but quickly reprimanded him for jumping off the counter.
Maksim leaned in front of the camera and whispered, “Sleep, Gam-pa. Night-night, I ove you, too.”
“I love you as well, Maksim. Sleep well, little one.”
“Have a good trip, Robert,” Nathan said. “Stay safe.”
Robert nodded. “I will. You, too, Nathan. And take good care of them.”
“Always,” Nathan promised.
After saying goodnight to Robert, Nathan took the boys with him upstairs to give Carter some time alone with her father. They sat on the bed with their toys while he went in the closet to change into something more comfortable before they headed back down to dinner. When they made it back down Carter was all smiles and waiting for them to join her at the table for their meal.
~*~
Later that night after dinner, Carter left the boys with their father, knowing they’d be watching classic football on ESPN after they ate dessert. When they went into the livi
ng room, she quickly went about cleaning up the dishes from dinner and putting away the leftovers.
After the kitchen was tidy, she peeked in on the boys and Nathan and smiled. Maksim was on Nathan’s lap, leaning back against his chest looking as if he were about to fall asleep. Aleksandr was lying back on the couch, resting his feet on Nathan’s lap with his brows furrowed in a serious expression as he watched the television, and twisted the curls in his hair with his little fingers.
Carter took the time to go upstairs and have some ‘me time’ in her favorite tub. When she finished, she went about her nightly routine, then laid in bed with her tablet looking over her work schedule. She knew Nathan would be putting the boys to bed soon, so this was the perfect time for her to get a little work done while she waited for him to come to bed.
It wasn’t easy having such important roles in two very different organizations, but Carter was … Well, she was Carter. She’d never been one for tooting her own horn, but fuck the haters, she was a badass motherfucker. A beast. A fucking genius.
Learning the ropes of the French Mafia—which was referred to as Unione Corse—had been an eye opening experience. It was insanely different from the Italian Mafia. Mum’s the word in France. Everything was a secret. There were no rumors or allegations, because everything existed only in the underworld. Outsiders were not allowed in the tightknit, organized crime community in France. Law enforcement had tried to infiltrate the secret society countless times, but they’d failed every single time. There were no snitches in Unione Corse, and there were no competing families. It was actually the strong bond with each family that ensured their protection, it ensured their loyalty to one another. It was incredible. Carter had only been learning the way of this lifestyle with her mother for a year in a half, but she was catching on effortlessly. Somehow her mother and father had groomed her for this lifestyle without her even knowing it. She was more than ready to take over for her mother … as long as she remained available after she retired. Just in case Carter had any questions for her in the future.
Dangerous Beauty: Part Three: This is War Page 49