The Russian's Secret Baby (The Tonov Triplets Series Book 3)
Read The Russian's Secret Baby (The Tonov Triplets Series Book 3) Online
Authors: Ivy Iverson
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and situations either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously.
All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written consent from the author.
Table of Contents
Dimitri Tonov slammed his hand against the table as he swore profanities in Russian. “This is intolerable,” he complained to Kaleb, his chief of security and closest friend. “Ever since my brothers walked away from the family business, we are losing profits.”
Kaleb furrowed his brow. “With all due respect, Nikolay is pulling in fifty grand a month at his strip club and Valov still pulls a healthy salary out of his non-profit as well as good returns from his investments in the stock market. I would hardly say that the family is losing money.”
“They are out of the business of making substantial money, Kaleb. Now that both are operating legitimate businesses, they must deal with American taxes, American laws, American expectations. They do not make nearly as much money as they could be.”
“Of course,” Kaleb replied, sighing. “What was I thinking?”
“And it is all because of their emotional attachments.” Dimitri shook his head. “Such a waste.” He glanced up, “Speaking of attachments, how is your son?”
“Ian is in good spirits. Thank you for asking. He has made a new friend in the children’s wing, a girl about his age who also has leukemia, and the doctors say that this next round of chemo looks promising. The cancer cells have already shrunk and they hope that it is the beginning of the end.”
“That is excellent,” Dimitri replied, grinning. “Did he get that new video game all right? What was it called? Grand Theft Auto?”
“He did, and he enjoys it very much. He plays it for at least an hour a day, when he is able to. I hope that you are not training him to be in a life of crime already, Dimitri.”
Why not? I was younger than he waswhen I started
.
“A video game is hardly real training but I am glad he is in good spirits and that things are looking positive.”
“Thank you. So am I.”
“If you need any more money for his treatment, tell me. His medical bills are high and I do not expect you to support him through your salary alone.”
Kaleb nodded his head in thanks, “I know but you have already done so much for me. I do not wish to ask for more.”
Dimitri dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “It’s nothing. You’ve been a very valuable asset to my business. In fact, sometimes I think you are the only one I can trust. So paying for your son’s treatment is the least I can--”
Someone knocked on the door. Dimitri raised an eyebrow. His office was in his house and no one knew the location of it besides Kaleb and his brothers. Kaleb already had his hand on his gun by the time the door opened. Dimitri’s eyes widened when he saw a face he had thought he would never see again.
Carmine looked back at him, just as beautiful as she was the last time he had seen her. Her green eyes seemed to glow against her fair skin and her curly brown hair, now pulled into a bun, looked incredibly silky. She summoned long buried memories of his fingers entwined in that hair, letting it loose from her business-like bun when she came to him after a long day in court.
Dimitri’s mouth went dry. He was at a complete loss for words. He glanced at Kaleb to make sure that he wasn’t hallucinating and realized that he had put his gun away and was just standing there with his arms crossed, which was unusual because Dimitri had not told him that Carmine was not a threat. Then he looked back at her and realized why.
He had been so distracted by the fact that she was here in front of him after nearly three years that he hadn’t noticed the big, bundle she carried in her arms. A young boy with close-cropped dark hair was sleeping and her arms were straining under the weight of him.
He is too big to be carried like that. He looks like he is…
Oh god. The boy looked like he was two. That meant that either Carmine had slept with another man soon after him—the thought made his heart wrench, much to his dismay—or that kid was his. Before he could say anything, the boy opened sleepy eyes and looked at him. Tonov blue eyes stared back at him.
Carmine’s breath hitched. Three years later, Dimitri was still as hot as hell, and she couldn’t help but admire his chiseled features, dark eyes, and curly dark hair. She would still jump his bones in a heartbeat.
You’re not here to liven up your sex life. You’re here to get money for your kid
.
His kid.
“How did you find me?” Dimitri asked, rising to his feet. “For that matter, how did you get in here?”
James stirred in her arms as he fully woke up and started squirming. Her arms ached from holding him for so long and she let him down on the floor, grabbing his hand to keep him from getting into trouble.
“I found Nikolay first,” she said. “He told me where you were and he gave me his key to your place.” She took the house key out of her pants pocket and tossed it to him. Dimitri took the key, muttering in Russian about his brothers becoming too trusting since they went legitimate.
“Why are you here, Carmine? After that night when-” he stopped talking and glanced at his bodyguard. “I didn’t think I would see you again,” he finished. His eyes were cold, betraying none of the passion she had seen in them the last night they had spent together, or the tenderness. But what did she expect? That was almost three years ago.
“I need money, Dimitri,” she said. “Clothing and feeding your son isn’t cheap and a prosecutor’s salary isn’t that good. I’ll take you to court if I have to. But I want at the very least fifty grand.”
Hopefully that will pay for his treatment. At least for a little while longer
.
“What the hell do you mean, my son? He’s not my son, and I won’t pay for a kid that is not mine. For all I know, you snatched him off the street to get money from me. You’re certainly cold-hearted enough for that.”
“You’re one to talk!”
“Mommy...” a tiny voice said.
Carmine took a deep breath. She hated bringing James here and making him go through this. He really didn’t need any more stress but it couldn’t be helped. She barely had enough money to come up to Maine from Washington, DC, let alone pay for a babysitter. “It’s okay, sweetie,” she said. “We’re just having an intense conversation.”
The bodyguard cleared his throat. “If I may, I can take the boy out of here and let the two of you talk in private.”
Carmine pulled James closer to her and sized up the bodyguard. He had an accent of some sort that she didn’t recognize, but that wasn’t what really made him intimidating. His arms were thick, muscular, and tan, and the rest of his body was built the same way. He had dark eyes and thick, dark hair that covered his head and face. Just the sight of him scared her. But what really made her reluctant to let James go with him was that fact that he worked for Dimitri. And despite what she and Dimitri had before, he hated her now, and he was dangerous.
“Carmine, this is Kaleb, my head of security,” Dimitri said. “Let him take the boy out of here. He won’t hurt him.”
“This is not a place for a young boy,” Kaleb said gently. “I have a son of my own. I’ll be able to take care of yours.” He smiled, letting down the intimidating facade to show a much friendlier self.
Carmine looked down at James and knelt beside him. “James, go with Kaleb, okay, honey? Mommy needs to talk to this man. If you need anything, yell, okay?”
James nodded and then looked at Kaleb with a wide-eyed stare. Kaleb smiled at him and held out his hand. “How about if we go find something to eat, would you like that?”
After Kaleb led James out of the room, Dimitri spoke up, “I want a paternity test. I’m not paying for the brat if he’s not mine.”
“Oh for heaven’s sake, Dimitri. You only have to look at his eyes to see that he’s yours. Besides, I need the money now. I don’t have time to wait for a paternity test.”
“Paternity test first or no money at all.”
“Fine,” Carmine replied as she sighed. “Another thing. I don’t want James around you. He’s not going to get into this toxic mess that you call a business. I just want the money, and I want you to stay as far away from my son as possible.”
“That is definitely something we can both agree on,” Dimitri replied. He sat back down and gestured for her to have a seat in a chair across from his desk. He looked much more agreeable now. Whether it was because he didn’t have to fulfill the role of a father or because she agreed to a paternity test, she didn’t know. And she didn’t want to know.
“You will obviously be in Maine for a few days. Where are you staying? I’ll have to get in touch with you to arrange the details of the paternity test.”
“I’m at the Camelot in Bangor.”
“You can’t stay there,” Dimitri said, sitting up in his chair. “I know the owners. Believe me; it’s not safe for the two of you there.”
“Where should we stay then? Here? As if you are any safer than they are?” She had already known the Camelot was sketchy. The rooms were barely clean enough not to be called a health hazard and she had a feeling there was a drug business being run out of the main office. But the lock on her room worked and she doubted any harm would come to her as long as she paid for her stay on time.
“You know I am, Carmine,” Dimitri said. “You fucked me for three months and you know I wouldn’t hurt you.”
Carmine swallowed, hating to hear their relationship put into such crude terms.
It’s wha
t
youdeserve
.
No, it wasn’t. He didn’t take their relationship any more seriously than she did. “That was years ago,” Carmine replied. “I don’t know anything about you now, and you criminal types are all the same.”
“Uh huh,” Dimitri said, nodding. “I was wondering when your prosecutor self would come out. It’s a shocker you even slept with me in the first place.”
“Believe me, I’ve regretted it ever since.”
Pain flickered in his eyes for a moment before his icy facade was back in place. “Why now?” he asked, coldly. “Why did you come for money now?”
“Because I need it now! You think I want to be here? I tried supporting him on my salary alone. I sold just about everything I owned, I moved to a smaller apartment, but it’s not enough. I need money, Dimitri.”
“On your salary? You should have enough to afford a brownstone and private school. I’m not buying it. What aren’t you telling me?”
“A lot has happened since I saw you last and I’ve no wish to talk about it with you. But my savings are gone,” she replied with a sigh. She had saved every scrap of money she had ever made after she paid off her student loans because she was hoping to buy a house and invest toward her retirement. She wanted to build enough wealth so she could help others, and keep Dimitri’s kind in jail, but that wasn’t meant to be. All of it went to pay for James’s medical bills.
Dimitri shook his head. “I can’t believe you ruined yourself before getting this straightened out beforehand. Do you really hate me that much?”
“You’re a criminal,” Carmine said. “I hate all criminals.”
There was a long, awkward pause and then Dimitri let out a Russian expletive before replying, “The owners of the Camelot are rivals of mine. If they find out that you’re here to see me, they will hurt you and the boy. Kaleb will help you with your things, but you’re staying here.”
“I am not staying with you,” she shot back. “I won’t have James around you any more than necessary.”
“But you’ll have him around the bastards at the Camelot? Think whatever you want of me. I don’t care but I have never hurt you, Carmine, and I have never lied to you. Stay here. You’ll be safer.”
She tried to refute his statement but she couldn’t. Dimitri was a bad man. He was cold and ruthless and he had very little compassion but he had always treated her with respect, first as a lawyer who could put away one of his rivals for good, and then as a lover. All of it didn’t matter. He was still a criminal. “We’ll stay here,” she said. “But don’t go near James if you can help it.”
Nodding his head, “Are we done here?”
Carmine stood up. “I’ll go get my things now if you’ll schedule that damn paternity test you want so much.”
Dimitri stood up as well. “I’ll walk you out.” They walked out to find Kaleb and James on the couch, munching on cheese and crackers while watching
Tom and Jerry
.
James had gotten over his shyness and was bouncing up and down on the couch, spouting out gibberish. He saw Carmine and grinned. “Mommy!” he said. He pointed to the TV. “Mouse! Cat! Meow!” Kaleb watched him, amused.
Carmine smiled too. “Come on, James. We need to go get our stuff.”
James got off the couch and ran over to Carmine and Dimitri. Before Carmine could stop him, he turned to Dimitri and grabbed his hand. “Tall,” he said.
Dimitri looked away and pulled his hand back as if something vile had touched it. Carmine tried to smother her anger at his reaction. She had told him to stay away from James, after all. She grabbed her son’s hand and pulled him closer to her. “Let’s go,” she said.
“Okay.” Dimitri told Kaleb to go with them for protection and to help them pack up. Kaleb agreed, even though he clearly wasn’t happy leaving his boss unprotected.
“I will be fine,” Dimitri dismissed him. “They’re the ones that need protecting.”
Kaleb didn’t argue with that. “Watch your back, Boss.”
“Of course.”
Carmine rolled her eyes. She wasn’t completely vulnerable. She was trained in martial arts and she had spent a good amount of her adult life putting dangerous criminals in prison. She wasn’t about to argue with an extra person to watch James while she packed.
Kaleb seemed to get along well with him, and despite his intimidating exterior, he seemed kind enough, even if he was working for Dimitri.
Just because Dimitri is a criminal doesn’t mean Kaleb has participate
d
in criminal activities. Being a bodyguardis not illegal
.
But she knew that Kaleb probably wasn’t innocent either. The sooner she got out of here, the better.