Page 29 of Dangerous Refuge

“Baby, there is something I need to tell you.”

He looks into my eyes with delight, completely unaware of what I’ll say. He loves this place so much, and even Sven too, that I fear it will crush him.

“What?”

“Hey, I know you really like it here—”

“I always wanted a dog, Mom. This is awesome. Video games, a dog, my own room, and Sven is great too. He said he’d teach me how to play baseball if I want. Thanks, Mom, for bringing me here.” My heart sinks into my chest, deflating my own excitement about what I see happening for my future.

“Bud, I know you love it, but we can’t stay here.” I glance at the maid who seems to not be paying attention. “I’m going back to work tomorrow. When I save up enough money, we are going to move, but this time we are moving far far away. I mean, maybe Chicago or Miami.” I squeeze his chubby fingers but he pulls away.

“I don’t want to. I really like Sven.” He pouts and his brow furrows. “Why do you always do this? Why can’t we stay in one place? And why can’t I just be normal and see my dad like other kids?”

He is asking very challenging questions I don’t have answers for. Not answers that he will understand anyway. I clench my jaw, reluctant to get into a deep discussion with Sven’s maid standing over us. I don’t know what she will report to him, or if she does, what he will say about it. The man is my only shield of defense against someone I know will kill me, so like it or not, I have to play nice, even if it means sneaking around behind his back just to make money to leave him.

“It’s not fair,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest. I hate when he is upset, and I knew this would upset him.

“Baby, it’s just a lesson every person has to learn. Life isn’t always fair. You just learn and move on.” I reach for him again, but he pulls away.

As soon as Marta sets our ice cream in front of us, he picks up his bowl and spoon and says, “I’m eating this in my room.” Then he promptly walks out. He’s not disrespectful; I’d never allow that. But he is hurting, and I feel bad for being the cause of that pain. I watch him walk away, suddenly with no appetite for the creamy confection in front of me.

Marta leaves me to my thoughts, heading to the sink to wash up some dishes, and I stare at the bowl of Rocky Road. He doesn’t understand now, but he will one day. I’m only trying to make a better life for him, protect him. I never had someone do this for me, and I know it’s the right thing for him. Paul cannot get my son, and my gut tells me Sven—while protective and wealthy—just isn’t the type of influence I want for my boy. What if Rico had seen the bleeding man or Sven come in beaten up? His questions would have topped mine, and he would be afraid too. I can’t let that happen.

I’m saving up and leaving this place, even if Sven gets angry, even if Rico doesn’t understand. It’s what I have to do.

16

SVEN

Dominic’s office smells like whiskey and sex. It’s his wedding day and he couldn’t keep it in his pants until after the ceremony—that or someone else was in here having a quickie. The chair I sit in stiffly faces him, his desk between us. He’s furious with me. A man about to be married shouldn’t have such a scowl on his face, but Dominic is the master of masking emotion. The second he walks out of this stuffy office into the garden to take his bride, he’ll have a calm expression. Hell, he may even smile. I’ve seen the woman—Nanette—she’s attractive. But she’s no Allie.

“I just don’t know what the hell you were thinking. Do you realize that three of the men you killed were loyal. I’m the only one who knows this right now, but if Dad catches wind—”

“He won’t!” I snap, growling out my frustration. I know how stupid I was to open fire and march through that production floor without any intel. I don’t need to be reminded. I was so angry over what happened with Paul, and the fact that Nick had just proven to be the mole; I wasn’t thinking. “I’ve heard it all from Matty. I don’t need another lecture.”

“Sven, you’re out of control.” Dominic seethes, leaning forward and crossing his hands over his desk. His tuxedo coat wrinkles in front but he doesn’t seem to care. “I can only cover up so much. Jimmy brought this to my attention this morning. You need to pull your head out of your ass and focus on your job. You have a family to protect, and I don’t know why you insist on chasing a ghost.”

“He’s not a ghost. He is a threat to Allie.” I reach up and loosen my tie. I hate ties, and I hate weddings. He’s lucky I’m even here. I am wasting valuable time at this stupid even when I should be hunting down information. Even if Allie left, I’d still be hunting her ex. He played a sucker punch and I’ll be damned if I let him get away with that.

“I get it that you like this woman, but you have to ask yourself if she is worth the distraction. It’s costing us, Sven. And I don’t like my people pulled away or distracted by trivial things. Let her sort this shit with her ex out on her own. Get your head in the game or you’ll be benched.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask, standing to my feet.

Dominic’s eyes say everything. He isn’t playing. I can’t fuck up anymore not for any reason. I never meant to make the mistakes I’ve made, and I never meant to let the family down either. I turn and shake my head, walking to the door. “Allie isn’t just some woman, Dom. I’m going to marry her. Surely you get that.” I wait for a second with my back to him, but he says nothing. So I walk into the hallway where I hear voices. The closer I get to them, the lower they get until they are hushed whispers. There is an intense conversation going on between Jimmy Slater and Allie. He clears his throat and looks up at me with professional tact as I approach, and I wonder what they were just discussing. To my knowledge Allie doesn’t even know him, though I know almost as little about her as I allow her to know about me.

“Hello, Sven. Dominic said you may need my help with some things.” Jimmy holds his hand out to me and I stare at it. Allie looks guilty, saucer eyes avoiding eye contact with me.

“Dominic is wrong.” I grab her elbow and pull her closer to me and she tucks meekly into my side like she belongs there. Jimmy’s eyes flick between her face and mine. “What were you two discussing?”

“The wedding—”

“The garden decorations—”

They both speak at once, and then Jimmy says, “The fact that the wedding is in the garden, and that Dominic’s people did a fantastic job with the decorations.” He adjusts his tie and takes a step back. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure Dom doesn’t need anything before he marries my sister.” He winks at Allie. “It was nice meeting you Ms. Clarke.”

I wait for him to walk away and turn on her like a viper. “What was that about?” I hate the man anyway, but to see my future wife conspiring with him right under my nose is infuriating.

“Nothing. If you’d just answer my questions honestly I wouldn’t have to go behind your back to ask people things that I should already know.” She turns and walks toward the garden where other guests are already seated waiting for the wedding to start. Her pale floral dress sashays with her movement, swaying as her hips move back and forth provocatively. I follow behind her, frustrated but attracted. How does she make me feel so angry and so needy at the same time?

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