Page 99 of Villainous Kingpin

“Don’t say hanky panky in front of the little ones,” I grumbled, then addressed Aurora. “Want me to hold him for a bit?”

My eyes shifted to Alexei, so did his wife’s. He was obsessively protective, and I didn’t want to go against him.

A nod and his wife shifted him over to me. “He’s gotten big,” I murmured softly, shifting him so he’d be comfortable on my hip.

“Babies grow,” Juliette noted, rolling her eyes. “I hope he pukes on you. Because if you get on Davina’s band wagon and suddenly want a baby, I’m going to be the one to puke.”

I chuckled softly. “Let’s puke on Juliette, Kostya. What do you think?”

His hands and legs flopped excitedly and we all chuckled.

“Ugh, babies,” she groaned. “We’re too young for this crap. We should be looking for some fucker we can rob.”

“Juliette,” Uncle warned sharply.

My cousin, being who she was, just shrugged her shoulders. “What? We weren’t going to rob anyone present.” Uncle and Davina groaned. “Or people we know.”

“Jesus Christ,” he grumbled.

“Not to worry,” Ivy joined the conversation, sipping on her eggnog. “We’ll rob the cartel next. Then the Russians, present company excluded of course.”

I shook my head. “They’re joking,” I assured Uncle Liam who glanced at his wife.

Davina nodded. “That’s right. The last one went like shit and Juliette agreed no more heists. Everyone heard it.”

“Yep,” I agreed.

“If you need money for the school, just ask,” Sasha offered. “These Russians still want to help.”

Before I could answer, Juliette blurted, “I’d much rather rob you.”

Juliette’s expression turned pensive, as if she was seriously contemplating something and I really hoped it wasn’t a robbery.

“I don’t know why you two don’t give it a go,” Juliette told Sasha. “You get along great. And everyone says how true love comes from friendships.”

Blinking my eyes, I stared at her speechless. She sounded serious. Not sarcastic or grossed out, but actually serious.

“I don’t even know what to say to that,” I muttered, shaking my head.

With Kostya in my arms, I headed to the couch and Cassio’s son wobbled over to us. I lowered down to the floor and leaned my back to the couch so he could be at my eye level. It didn’t take long for Vasili’s kids to follow.

“You’re really a magnet for the kids,” Áine said softly.

“Probably because she looks like an angel,” Juliette teased. “That hair of hers glows. Like damn glow sticks in the dark.”

Kostya wiggled in my arms, twisting around so he could watch me. His clear pale blue eyes met mine, and I swore when the kid looked at me, I felt lighter. His eyes were so much like his father’s and his uncle’s, it was kind of freaky. He didn’t have a single physical trait of his mother’s.

Conversation flowed, the atmosphere was light. Despite everything, it felt good being surrounded by people that cared about me and I about them. I only wished my mother could be part of it. Somehow it felt the older I got, the less I had her.

Some days I wished I could talk to her about everything. I wanted to ask her what happened, help her, and help myself. We were close, but only when it came to goals and training.

“How is the situation in New York?” I heard Vasili ask. I was half listening to their conversation, bouncing Kostya on my lap and playing peekaboo with Cassio’s son.

“Fucking DiLustro is wreaking havoc.” My spine stiffened and my eyes snapped to the group of men. None of them paid me any mind, except Sasha. I swallowed, looking away.

Sasha wanted to kill all the DiLustros and only his promise to me held him back. Sasha’s promise to me reminded me of my own broken promise. Though if it was all a lie, it wasn’t really a promise. Was it?

“Young Basilio is just as fucking crazy as his old man. He’s attacking Russians in the city and all around. In turn they are attacking everyone else.”