Alexander.
Fuck.
I looked down at my daughter, Rena who was still clinging to my legs and Isabella looking at me with questionable eyes. Where's Sofia and her sister's anyway? They're supposed to be watching her. I crouched down and picked her up in my arms. My sisters rushing in at the same time.
"Daddy, who is she?" Rena asked, pointing towards Isabella who looked lost. I let Aurora take her from my arms despite her protests.
I brushed Rena's cheek, unsure if I was doing the right thing. "I'll be back okay?" I asked and pulled Isabella away when she agreed. I pulled her along on the grand stairs and headed in the direction of my bedroom. I opened the door and pulled her inside, locking the door behind us, the black drapes and sheets blocking off any sort of illumination.
Good.
"I can't see" She said.
"I like the darkness better" I drawled, taking off my jacket and cufflinks and rolling up my sleeves as I took off my jacket and undid the first buttons of my shirt.
I heard a soft huff. "Well I don't so please turn on the light" Isabella said. I shook my head, a few stubborn strands of my hair falling over my eyes as I turned on the night stand light.
"That's just a night stand light Alex" She said. It's the first time she'd said my name and I already like how it sounds though I was expecting some formality from how frightened she was earlier.
I sat down. "It's also a source of light" I said.
"It's not enough" She whispered and I got frustrated by her consistency.
"Should I bring the whole city lights then before you shut up?" I asked harshly, causing her to flinch. I ran a hand through my hair and got up, approaching her slowly.
"About your daughter" She said, moving backwards.
"It skipped my mind" I said.
"Who forgets their own daughter? And why didn't you say anything?" She questioned with a doubtful voice.
"Don't push me, Little one" I warned as my past flickered before my eyes. Isabella muttered an apology, not saying anything afterwards.
"What about her mother?" She asked. My fists clenched at her question but I knew there was no running from this one. She deserves to know part of it.
I exhaled deeply. "She died right after Rena was born" I said.
"I-I'm so sorry. Was she your ex-wife or-"
I cut in before she could come up with anymore crazy ideas. "Rena's my adopted daughter. We have no relationship biologically" I explained.
"I don't understand"
"I happened to be in the hospital at the time of Rena's birth. Her mother didn't have anyone to take her in so I did" That was a half lie but the memory flashed through my mind once. That cold and snowy night changed my life and Rena's.
"So you adopted a baby for no reason or what pity?" Isabella asked, her gray eyes twinkling.
"I don't pity people. It just felt like the right thing to do and it still feels that way"
Isabella opened her mouth to speak but I stopped her. "You ask a lot of questions, let's go" I said, turning off the night stand light and leading her out of the room.
"So what now?" She asked.
Goddamn.
"You'll be her mother and I can tell she'll like you" I said. Isabella managed to keep quiet until we got downstairs, Rena running towards me again.
"Rena what did we say about running?" I questioned as I crouched down to her height level.
"Good girls don't run" She answered. I glanced at my sisters, telling them to leave while Rena, Isabella and I talked.
"Daddy who is she?" Rena asked for the second time. I looked into her huge gray eyes just like Isabella's and was about to make up some excuse, unsure if she could take the news when Isabella also crouched down.
"I'm your new Mommy" She said, a genuine smile on her face. Rena gasped and squealed at the same time as she looked at me with an excited expression.
"Can she? Please daddy, pretty please?" Rena pleaded.
"Sure pumpkin. She can be your new mommy" I said. Rena squealed happily, throwing both her small arms around mine and Isabella's neck and hugging us close.
"Yay, now daddy, mommy and I are together!" I let Rena and Isabella have time alone together so they could bond with each other while I stayed in my office with one of my closest soldiers, Grayson, getting the latest updates on the Famiglia that happened in my absence.
"We have a little problem Boss" Grayson said.
"Humor me" I replied, reclining in my seat.
Grayson drummed his fingers against the desk. "Lukas Petrovsk attacked one of our warehouses last week and burnt everything to the ground, with our men in it" He said. I hummed in response, not surprised by Lukas's foolish act since he has no brains.
"I was expecting that. Have Dominic secure the package and send it to the basement. My present's long over due to the Bratva"
"Also Enzo's annual reunion party is next week" Grayson informed but there was more.
"What's the bad news?" I asked, signing some important documents.
Grayson sighed deeply. "Sebastian Romano will be there also" He said. My hand stopped, my jaw flexing as I snapped my pen in half.
Sebastian fucking Romano. Head of the Chicago Outfit and my biggest enemy ever and I'm sure the feeling is mutual.
"Don't worry, I won't kill him" I forced out.
"You shouldn't. It'll be your first appearance in public with your wife and daughter" He said. He was right, the last thing I want is a blood bath at Enzo's party.
"And then there's the fucking rules. Fuck"
Grayson stood and gave a small nod. "I'll leave you to it. You've had a long day and congrats" He said leaving. I poured my self a drink and several more to get rid of my anger but failed in doing so. I closed my laptop shut and left my office, craving a cold bath. I checked the time, after midnight. Damn.
I opened the door fully and let myself in, Isabella and Rena sleeping soundly in an embrace. They bonded so fast and I just hope I won't be the reason Rena won't have a mother for the second time. I turned off the lights, except the night stand but turned it off after a while, welcoming the soothing darkness. I changed, showered and even took more drinks but I couldn't sleep.
I laid on my back, staring into the the dark room, listening to the even breaths of both Isabella and Rena next to me until my eyes finally close.
"Alex-" I didn't have time to listen to whatever he was saying as a blue Audi appeared out of nowhere, colliding with my car with a brutal force.
"Shit!"
"What happened?" I didn't reply as the car tumbled down the road until it skidded to a stop stopping in an upside down position.
"Alex? Say something Alex" I hung up and worked my seatbelt that was jammed. The car was going to blow up soon.
"Fuck!" I kicked the door which was also jammed after the seat belt came off and my body dropped harshly to the roof of the car. I kept kicking the door until the window shattered and I was able to crawl out before my car burst out in flames.
I ignored the blood oozing from my head as I stumbled to my feet, my black mask ripped in the upper part. I groaned when I felt a sharp pain in my sides but kept walking. No one had called the cops yet which was a good sign for me to escape but a distant scream stopped me in my tracks.
I looked back and the scream came again, this time from the other car. I walked towards the car, feminine sobs echoing from inside the car.
He was right, I was going to get some one killed.
I don't want to help and yet I'm walking towards the crashed car. I crouched down and looked inside of the car. A young girl, not older than eighteen probably strapped in the driver's seat and her eyes filled with so much fear I'll never forget it. I didn't say anything as I worked to get her out of the car.
What's wrong with me? She's innocent in all of this.
The door finally came off and I quickly unfastened the seat belt when a small crowd started to form. I pulled her out of the car and laid her down on the road, her head in my lap while I stared at her with utter amusement.
My father would kill me if he were here right now. I noticed the cries had stopped and when I looked down, her eyes were closed but thankfully she was still breathing. The last thing I was is another innocent person's blood on my hand. But I was wrong.
She was bleeding, badly too that my hands were covered in it. Fuck, I need to go now.
"Call 911" I said to the crown and laid her on the ground before getting on my feet and leaving the scene just before the cops arrived. The look in her eyes flashed through my mind, reminding me that it'll haunt me forever.
Especially when there's foreign feeling in my chest right fucking now. No, there's no way I'm obsessed with a girl I nearly killed. That's fucking crazy.
I lit up a cigarette as I walked through a dark alley, the stranger girl still in my mind and the urge to take her for myself growing rapidly. I think I need a damn check up right now.
I turned back one last time, my body hidden in the darkness and at the same time my eyes clashed with hers for a moment as the put her in the back of the ambulance an underlying message passing between us though I doubt she'll remember it.
I'm want her. And I'll stop at nothing until I get her for myself.
She will be mine.