Page 83 of Contract of a Billionaire

“Leave it then,” I told her, my voice calm while my insides boiled. “I’ll order everything else.”

I’d research what a three-year-old needed. “Alessio, you can have my car seat for Kol,” Mrs. Corbin offered and earned herself a glare from her husband and daughter. “Not to worry, darlings. He knows I’ll have his head on a spike if something happens to my daughter or grandson.”

“Thank you.” Okay, I’d start with buying the safest car seat tonight.

Five minutes later, Kol was strapped safely into his car seat and Autumn’s parents lingered on their front porch as we shut the door.

I opened the door to my Land Rover but before she could get into the car, my hand wrapped around her slim wrist.

“You run, and I’ll burn this motherfucking world down to find you,” I told her in a soft voice, keeping my tone low. “You and Kol belong with me.”

They were mine now. I’d never let them go.

Chapter27

Autumn

Alessio was blackmailing me.

The bastard was blackmailing me. First the threats from his father and now this. I was free for five fucking minutes and then Alessio trapped me again. A fucking contract. But he had another thing coming if he thought I’d just accept it. I didn’t give a shit what my grandparents agreed to. They were nothing to me. Two strangers I had never met.

We got to Alessio’s penthouse, and he showed us to Kol’s room.

He turned around to leave, when my voice stopped him. “Where is my room?” I demanded to know, keeping my voice low.

His gaze found me and a shudder rolled down my spine. Jesus, maybe alcohol still lingered in my system. Or maybe it was just him. This damn man.

“You know where our room is,” he answered.

“I want my own room,” I insisted.

“No.” Agitation shot through me, but before I could say another thing, he disappeared into his office.

Goddamn him!

For the next hour, Kol roamed Alessio’s penthouse, his eyes curiously exploring every inch of it. And me with him. The place was just as I remembered it. It was as if he hadn’t changed a single thing in all these years.

How many women has he brought here since?I thought bitterly.

I fixed a simple dinner for Kol and myself. His favorite, mac and cheese with peas, while I had grilled cheese. Kol liked to take his time eating so I took the opportunity to edit a few photos on my laptop while he ate, making a disaster out of his seat.

Afterwards, I had to carry him into the bathroom like a sack of potatoes and all the while he shrieked happily, leaving a trail of peas and macaroni in our wake.

“Alessio is not going to be happy about his prestigious bamboo hardwood getting all smudgy,” I told my son softly. “But then he demanded we stay here, so he had it coming. Didn’t he?” I grinned as another happy high-pitched squeal left him.

Once in the bathroom, I shut the door and let him roam around as I filled the bathtub. Then I took off his clothes and put him in the tub with the bubbles. The moment his toe hit water, he commenced his splashing, shrieking happily.

These were my favorite parts of the day. Simple moments when I kneeled next to the tub while Kol babbled and splashed excitedly. It was always new and exciting to him.

Kol waved his hands and brought them down, making another splash and getting me all wet. It made me laugh - loud and carefree.

“You’re making a major mess, Kol,” I scolded him softly. “Alessio’s going to kick us out.”

Not a bad idea. It was one way to cut this stay short.

“There is no chance of that ever happening.” A deep voice came from behind me and I glanced back to find Alessio leaning against the doorframe, his eyes on little Kol who was waving his hands excitedly.

Alessio took two steps and stood over the tub, looking at Kol. It was as if he studied him. I followed his gaze to my son. Alessio studied Kol’s scar. Right above his heart. Each time I saw it, a pang of terror shot through me.