Page 21 of Mafia and Scars

“She’s on her way back from some vacation,” I explain.

Grigory’s gaze moves back to Geliy, who’s busy playing a game on his phone as if we’re not discussing his child’s fate in this house. How can Geliy be so dismissive?

Grigory arches his brow at me in a silent question.

I can only shrug in response.

“Are you guys okay with it?” he asks the other men.

“Doesn’t bother me as long as it doesn’t scream bloody murder,” Nikolai says, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Or throw up,” Matvey adds.

“Viktor?” Grigory asks.

My eyes flick to the baby. He’s just some innocent kid who has a shitty parent…or parents. I sigh. “It’s fine.”

“Fine,” Grigory says.

“I’ll show you where you two can sleep,” I say, walking toward the stairs. I don’t like this. I don’t like Geliy just left out this huge detail. I don’t like that he’s sitting on his ass looking at his phone instead of paying attention to his son. Or how he refers to the kid’s mother as a bitch in front of their kid. Sure, the baby won’t understand, but it doesn’t sit right with me. But then again, I don’t know this woman.

Nikolai and Matvey spare me a look, and I can tell they’re just as unsure about this whole thing as I am. A baby under our roof? That’s asking for trouble, and we all know it.

CHAPTER SIX

AVELINA

We’re finally on the plane and on our way back to the States. Sofia’s school just let out for summer, and I know she’s looking forward to spending time at home. Her face is pressed up against the window like it was on the first flight. I smile despite how lousy I feel.

I knew when I signed up that it would be more intensive than I was used to at the university, and the last three weeks have been grueling.

I settle in for the long flight to LAX and then Vegas, but that unsettled feeling hasn’t left me in three weeks. Geliy has been in touch with a short message every few days, but I’ll feel much better once we’re back. Leaving Leon for three weeks has been really hard.

“How high up do we go?”

“Sometimes 40,000 feet,” I answer with a smile. “Did you want to watch a movie this time?”

She nods her head and snuggles into my side. “The same one please, Mama.”

Of course. She’s a creature of habit, and I love her for it. “Sure. I’m surprised you don’t know all the words yet.”

“I do.”

I laugh softly. “Right, of course.”

Once the movie is on, Sofia settles down, eyes glued to the screen as her comfort movie,The Lion King, plays. It’s not an uncommon occurrence to find Sofia watching the movie over and over again.

I watch her for a while. She’s been a trooper this whole trip even though the new routine has thrown us all off kilter.

I open a magazine and try to relax, willing my awful headache to go away. Once I collect Leon and can finally hold him in my arms again, I’ll feel better and can spend some time on taking care of myself. It’s nothing I need to worry about. It’s just the stress of the world sitting on my shoulders. Nothing I can’t handle or haven’t handled before.

“Mama,” Sofia says softly, “do you think I can use the headphones?”

“Sure thing.” I dig through our carry-on for the headphones and untangle them.

“Ma’am, can I get either of you a drink?” the flight attendant asks.

I shake my head and lean back, my eyes closing. It’s going to be a long flight, plus a stopover in New York—because even with the overnight hotel cost, that was way cheaper than a direct flight. But in two days’ time, I’ll get to hold my baby boy again, and all will be right in the world. That’s the thought I latch on to. The one that puts a smile on my face.