I reached into the stroller and touched her little fist. Her fingers opened upon contact. The pink pacifier fell by her side. Thankfully, Natalya remained asleep.
I gave her a silly grin.
You’re so cute. You must be mine. Valentina couldn’t make something so pretty.
The other guard turned to me. “Sorry, Mikhail, but please do not wake Natalya. It takes a miracle to get her back to sleep. Sometimes I want to shoot myself.”
I nodded, quickly took the pacifier, hid it in my hands, and stepped back. “I understand.”
Both guards looked grateful and returned to what they were doing.
I pocketed the pacifier.
If she won’t tell me, then I’ll find out myself.
Fortunately, I snatched it in time.
Valentina stormed out of the bedroom. “Go fuck to the moon! In your ass.”
Maxwell yelled back, “That makes no sense.”
I backed several feet away but kept the pacifier in my pocket.
“I hate you!” She stomped into the living room and then stopped as soon as she spotted me. “What are you doing here?”
I winked at her. “I am happy to see you too, Valentina.”
She switched her attention to the stroller.
I grinned. “She’s still sleeping. Such a beautiful baby. I wonder if she looks like her father.”
Valentina studied me and slowly walked forward.
Surprisingly, she said nothing else.
What? Nothing to say?
“I am surprised you did not wake her,” I added. “With all the screaming like a spoiled child.”
Valentina got behind the stroller and pushed it forward. Whatever had given her a closed mouth, I was happy for it.
She probably thinks I’m going to bring up the paternity test. No need, Valentina. I have enough DNA to figure it out.
I leaned my head to the side. “Nothing to say?”
She glared at me. “Leave Maxwell alone.”
“No. He is my friend. We are homeys.”
She rolled her eyes and pushed the stroller away.
Her men rose from the couch. The one guy hadn’t even turned the tv off.
Mimicking her, I fluttered my lashes and watched her rush away with Natalya. “No goodbye? Or Misha, I love you so?”
She gave me a fig. It was almost the equivalent of an American middle finger. But mainly Russian children did it. She raised her hand in the air, placed her thumb between her middle and index fingers, and then made a fist.
I snorted, “Such a classy lady, Valentina. I’m in awe of your lady-like presence.”
Her men opened the door and she hurried away.
I will get my answer soon, and if Natalya is my child, be prepared for war.
So far, I had lost six months of Natalya’s life from Valentina acting like a brat. If that was my daughter, I would not stay away any longer. And I didn’t care about Kazimir’s thoughts or his nukes.
Maxwell strolled out of the bedroom, rolling a joint in his hand. “Oh, Misha! I’m glad to see you.”
“I bet you are, after that screaming hyena. I told you not to sleep with her.”
Maxwell shrugged. “Hey, she’s a sexy hyena.”
“But you must admit, that your cock took a journey into the pit of hell and it will never be the same.”
Chuckling, Maxwell licked the joint and gestured to the balcony. “You want to smoke this with me?”
“Perhaps. This day is calling for it.”
“You don’t just smoke because you’re sad. You smoke because it’s there. God-made herb. Never say no, baby.”
I formed my lips into a smile.
While I’d been alone in the limo, in Maxwell’s presence I felt alive.
I will keep him by my side.
It was odd that my father would die and leave me, and suddenly I would meet two people that made me feel whole, more than he ever did. Ava and Maxwell. I was beginning to cherish them both. Their presence made me feel more at home than, when I walked through the castle’s dark halls.
Perhaps, the mouse and I can share him.
Gazing over St. Petersburg’s horizon, Maxwell put the joint in between his lips and lit it. “Glad to see you here, Misha.”
“I know you are.” I stepped to the balcony’s edge and stared off at my city too. “Today is going to be a good day.”
“Not with the way mine started.”
“Stay positive. Your day can’t get worse than my yesterday.”
“Fair point.” Maxwell blew out smoke. “Only thing. . .Em texted me. She said someone’s messing with her at Kazimir’s house. They cut-up some monkey heads and put it in their bedroom.”
Flabbergasted, I turned to him. “Kazimir has Emily in his house?”
“Is that really the oddest thing about what I just said?” Maxwell coughed. “Did you not hear the part about the cut-up monkey heads?”
“Kazimir has never had women stay in his house. I thought the mouse was in an apartment in Moscow or even a luxury suite. But in his house? No.”
“Yeah. She’s been there the whole time.”
“Wow. I mean maybe Kazimir might invite the woman to his house for a few hours. Sometimes the lion can be a lazy fuck. But then, he would just have sex with her. The women can never spend the night.”