Page 37 of Stolen Wife
I watch my mother make me breakfast, seeing a new light in her eyes. Rita comes in and smiles. “You two are up early. Do you need my help?”
“Coffee, please,” I say.
“Coming right up.” Rita needs to feel useful after all this time. I love having her here to care for my mother and soon to keep Giada from working too hard while she’s pregnant with our babies.
After breakfast, I excuse myself because there’s a lot to do before I head into work tomorrow. The bell to my gate rings just before noon. I check my cameras and almost laugh at the absurdity of the murderous bastard standing at the gate with my brother. “Can I help you?”
“Bring my wife out here,” he demands, making me laugh.
“Ha. No. Go away before I have you arrested for trespassing.”
“I will get her,” he persists, as if that’s going to work with me.
“Actually, you need to stay away from her. After all, that recording did say you planned to kill her. There’s a restraining order on you. I know that means bullshit to you, but I’m prepared to deal with you should you try.” My guards not only surround my home, they are armed. It’s one luxury of being well off and with known threats.
“I see. This isn’t over. You know, I should have drowned your ass as a baby.”
“Well, your fault you didn’t. On another note, before you go...does my brother there know that his mistress had your kid and not his?”
“What kind of lies is your mother spouting?” He’s turning red, getting heated as he realizes I had something else on him. I’m guessing Junior had no idea about it.
“You think she had to tell me? I never understood why you never let him marry her even though she had your grandkid. Then I did a little digging. You know that DNA test makes you the father and him the brother of little Antonio. Brother, I’m betting he told you it was a mix up, or did you know you were fucking your father’s leftovers?”
“What the fuck?” Rafael Jr. exclaims, staring at his dad with contempt.
“He’s lying.” He tries to go into an explanation or maybe an excuse, but I don’t have the time or patience for it, so I interrupt them.
“Have a good day, gentlemen. Oh, and Rafael—if you need a copy, it was with my attorney’s things yesterday before he was shot. I have a copy.” They storm off, and I’m betting young Rafe is thinking about it.
The buzzer goes off again and I’m about to bark out that I’ve called the cops, but the giant man in the camera tells me it’s not him. He has four other men surrounding him. “Can I help you?”
“I am Alexei Bykov.”
“Please go through my security and then come in.” I get up and walk to the foyer. It takes a minute before they’re searched. After they leave their obviously illegal guns outside, I invite them in. “Sorry about that, but I’ve had a rough time lately. I’m Santino Benedetti.”
“I thought it was Marchetti.” He gives me a suspicious look since he probably looked me up.
I want him at ease. I’m dealing with extra trouble I don’t need. “I’ve just been made aware of my parentage. Please follow me into the living room.” I escort them in there.
“Martin, please prepare some drinks for these men.”
“Mr. Benedetti, is it?”
“Yes.”
“I’m here about my cousin. I don’t know who did this exactly, but in Russia the number of people could be staggering.”
“I’m not sure if I was the reason for your cousin being targeted. I don’t know if you saw those bastards out there.”
“I did. Is that what America’s Mob looks like, because it is weak.”
“Oh no, don’t underestimate that piece of shit. The older one. He’s going to be my first kill.”
“Ha. Mr.—”
“Santino.”
“Santino, I can tell you are not meant for this. From the records I pulled, you have a clean nose except for the wrongful conviction. Unless you have sneaky lawyers?” He winks, knowing Dimitri was mine.