Page 87 of Hendrix

He paused, his shoulders slumping. “I cannot persuade you?”

“No, Adrian. I’m grateful and even touched that you’re looking out for me, especially in the circumstances. But I need to move on with my life, and I can’t do that if I’m living with my ex-husband’s family.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “I see your point, even agree to an extent, but there’s still the matter of the boy. He needs to know his family and eventually take his place with us.”

A muscle ticked in my jaw.

“I won’t allow my son to get involved in anything illegal,” she declared emphatically. “I left Antoni because I discovered his... activities didn’t align with my morals. He lied about his work and where his money came from. That life isn’t for me, Adrian, and I’ll raise my son to do the right thing. He’ll learn to work hard for everything he wants, the same way I did.”

“I understand you’re biased because of your experiences with my cousin, Ania,” Lis stated. “But I assure you, my enterprises are above board and legal. I worked hard to make them that way. Even so, the fact remains that the boy is a Lis, and he needs to know his history and his culture. I expect you to comply for his sake.”

A snarl rumbled through my throat.

Anna’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Is that a threat?”

“No,” he assured her. “But you should be aware that I take my family responsibilities seriously. You know my wife passed away before we were blessed with children?”

She nodded sharply.

“I have no intention of remarrying,” he went on. “My sister is confined to a wheelchair, and my cousins are are now dead. Your son may be the only one who can carry on my family name.”

“I’m giving him my name,” she argued.

Lis waved a casual hand. “Regardless, he will have my blood.”

My gaze sliced to Colt. “End it.”

He dipped his chin and tapped his phone, before ordering, “Get Anna off the call, Princess.”

Freya's voice immediately filled the room. “I need to take your blood pressure, Anna.”

Anna gave Lis a tight-lipped smile. “I have to go.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Before you do, tell me, are you well? Do you need anything? Money? Help? Transport? I can send my own doctors to care for you.”

“I have everything I need, Adrian. Thank you,” she replied.

“Then I’ll let you go,” he agreed. “You have my number. Can we arrange a weekly call so I can check on your progress? I’d very much like to continue this conversation and offer you reassurance that my intentions are good. The child is loved already by his Polish family, and we want him in our lives, Ania, regardless of his future role within the family business.”

Anna’s eyes searched his briefly. She must’ve been satisfied with what she saw behind them because she gave him a reassuring smile. “Let’s start with a call, say every two weeks? When my son’s born, we can decide what’s best going forward. What happens in the future depends on a lot of things. I make no promises, Adrian, but I’m open to you having contact as long as you respect my wishes.”

“That’s acceptable.” Lis suddenly smiled, flashing his white teeth at Anna, charm oozing from every pore. “Thank you for your time, and I’m happy we’ve opened the doors of communication.” He gave her a friendly nod, muttering, “Farewell, Ania,” before the screen went black.

I slumped back in my chair, running a hand across the top of my head as I watched Colt tap on his cell and then the iPad. He glanced at me. “She did good.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “But I dunno what to make of Lis. My gut tells me he knows more than he’s letting on, but I don’t think he had bad intentions toward Anna—none that I can pick up on anyway. If anything, he’s being over-friendly.”

Colt nodded his agreement. “His interest seems to be all about Anna’s son.”

“Looks that way.” I sat forward, elbows to knees, and leveled my stare on Colt. “What’s his story?”

“His wife was murdered on the day of their wedding on the steps of the fuckin’ church. ThinkGodfatheron steroids. It was a bloodbath by all accounts. Turned out she was also pregnant.”

My blood curdled with disgust. “Rival faction?” I asked.

“Nah,” Colt drawled. “His brother wanted to take over. He opened fire on Adrian but missed and hit the bride along with the sister, who was the maid of honor. The wife was only nineteen. She was killed instantly, and the sister was hit in the back. Now she’s in a wheelchair.”

“Jesus,” I breathed. “No wonder he won’t remarry.”

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