The Russian's Secret Baby (The Tonov Triplets Series Book 3) (5 page)

Kaleb and Dimitri left for
Moana’s
, Dimitri’s brothel in Webster Plantation in northern Maine, hours away from the house where he had left Carmine. But it was still not far enough. 

Moana’s was self-sufficient, drawing many local and Canadian customers who needed a nice out of the way place for some adult entertainment. Dimitri did not need to give it much attention, unlike some of his other brothels, but it was a good place for a distraction and that was what he needed right now. Just not in the same way most people who came here needed it. 

Kaleb stayed by his side as he went in. Moana’s was a dingy, old house that was furnished elegantly on the inside with a modern, high-class feel. The manager, Clarisse, greeted him with a smile that was not all the way genuine. “Hello, Dimitri didn’t think you would show up here so soon.”

“I always like dropping in unannounced,” he replied, soaking in the surroundings. “You know that.”

“Of course, boss,” she said, flashing a grin as a client came through the door. “You want to see the girls or the finances first?”

Dimitri glanced at the man and moved to the side. “I’ll see the girls first.”

All of the available prostitutes hung out in the living room, wearing little to nothing while on display. Most of them wore outfits that suggested different scenarios that could happen if they were chosen. All of them straightened up when he came in. “Hello, Dimitri,” a woman named Shauna said, rising. Her hair was in a simple upsweep that almost made her look innocent despite the makeup she wore and her geisha gown, which was open in a provocative manner. “It looks as if you can use something to help you relax.” She reached up to massage his shoulders. “You know I’m the best one here for that, don’t you?”

“Of course, Shauna,” he said, closing his eyes and imagining it was Carmine’s hands on his shoulders and not hers. “But I’m not here for that. I am just here to make sure everything is running smoothly.”

Poppy, a petite twenty-year old in a schoolgirl’s outfit, wrapped her arms around his waist. “Oh, you know things always run smoothly around here,” she replied with a girlish voice. “You work too hard, Dimitri. Are you sure you don’t just want to relax?” Her pigtails brushed against his collarbone as she kissed his neck. 

Only a few weeks earlier, their actions would have turned him on, but now all he could think about was Carmine. He smiled for their benefit as he disentangled himself from their arms. He knew it was really just a show to let him know that they were still at the top of their game.

If he asked, then they would take him up to their rooms in a heartbeat but they felt absolutely no attraction to him, definitely not emotional and probably not even physical. “Ladies, it’s a very tempting offer but I have a very busy day ahead of me. I just want to see how you are doing. Are the clients treating you well? Paying extra for bruises?”

Poppy pretended to pout before going to perch on the couch, her hands folded primly on her lap. “Of course,” she said. “I made you about three grand earlier this week. One of the Johns couldn’t get enough of spanking my ass with a ruler. Couldn’t sit down for a couple of days but it was worth it.”

Dimitri swallowed and nodded. He saw Kaleb’s disgusted expression out of the corner of his eye before his bodyguard’s facade of indifference slipped back on. He talked with a couple of the other girls, making a point to make sure they hadn’t been forced into doing something they were uncomfortable with, wishing it would ease the feeling of guilt clenching his stomach.

Visiting Moana’s and seeing its smooth run operation usually made him happy and satisfied but all he could think about as he questioned the girls in their cheap, skimpy outfits and watched them being taken away to their rooms by clients was what Carmine would think if she saw this and how disgusted she would be. 

After checking the financials and confirming that it was profitable and consistent with the girl’s reports, Dimitri left, and not a second too soon in his opinion. As soon as they were out of that place, he felt like he could breathe again. 

“I thought we were going here to cheer up your spirits,” Kaleb said. “It seems to have made them worse.”

“I was mistaken,” he said. “Visiting a sex house was not the thing to take my mind off Carmine. Let’s go to one of the drug houses. Maybe if I’m not bombarded with scantily clad women I’ll stop thinking about her.”

“It wasn’t the girls and you know it, Boss. It was the unethical part that you hate. Why can’t you accept the fact that you don’t enjoy it anymore?”

“What do you propose I do, huh? I have come to enjoy money too much to give it up now.”

“There’s more to life than money. I’ll follow you anywhere, you know that. I’ll even work for you for free. But you can do so much better than this.”

Before Dimitri could respond, his phone rang. He checked the caller ID and frowned when he saw Carmine’s name. She had made it clear that she never wanted to speak with him again. He held the phone to his ear. “Dimitri.” 

“DDimitri?” Carmine asked, her trembling voice barely audible over the phone’s speakers. “I need your help. I don’t know what to do. I forgot James’s medicine and had to go back, but these guys broke into your house and one of them saw me. He went to shoot James, and” her voice broke. “Oh god…”

“Calm down. Tell me what happened.”

“I lunged at him and tripped him up just enough for him to miss James, but he shot the medicine bottle before I could give him some and he can’t stop coughing. I called 911 but I don’t know what to do, they can’t be here for another twenty minutes.”

“Are you okay? Where is this man?” Fear clenched his stomach so tightly that Dimitri felt nauseated. “Did he get away?”

“Yes,” she said. “I knocked the gun out of his hands and then his partner shouted at him from somewhere else in the house and he ran. I don’t know if he’ll be back or if James will be okay, or” her words dissolved into short breaths and Dimitri knew she was having a panic attack. 

“Carmine, it’s going to be okay. Keep calm and keep James calm. I’m going to stay on the phone for as long as you want, keep talking to me.” He turned to Kaleb. “Carmine was attacked and James doesn’t have his medicine. Call Rae and tell her to get to my house and call Courtney and tell her to go to Eastern Maine Medical.” Rae was close enough possibly to get there before the paramedics and Courtney could meet them at the hospital. That way Carmine would at least not be alone. 

Kaleb nodded, his face grim. He pulled out his phone and Dimitri focused his attention back on Carmine. “Carmine,” he said, getting into the shotgun side of his car. “You need to keep talking to me, sweetheart. Please. Tell me what James is doing.”

“He’s coughing really hard,” she said. “And he’s curled up in a ball. His face is so red. I’m scared he’s going to pass out.”

“Tell him to take deep breaths. If he can’t, try putting his head between his knees.”

“He’s been trying to take deep breaths but he can’t because the spasms are getting worse. I think he’ll be okay if the paramedics get here soon.”

“Good,” Dimitri said. “I’m up north but I’ll be there as soon as I can. Please, babe, just hold on. I’m so sorry.”

“I know,” she said. “I’m so scared. Are you sure they won’t be back again?”

“Yes,” Dimitri said. “The gunshot would have scared them off but if it makes you feel better, there’s a panic room attached to the closet in my room. Press the button on the closet door and it will open. “

“Thank you,” Carmine said. There was a long pause and then she said. “I’m in the room. I didn’t close the door, though. I want to make sure the paramedics know where I am.”

“That’s good,” Dimitri replied. “You can close the door quickly if you need to and lock it from the inside. You’ll be safe there, okay?”

“Okay.” 

Kaleb hung up the phone. “Rae is leaving now,” he said. “Courtney is in the middle of a test, but she will be there as soon as she can. Nikolay is heading to the hospital.”

Dimitri nodded. “Carmine, Rae is on her way over to you. She’s going to get there as fast as she can, and if she doesn’t get there in time then Nikolay will meet you at the hospital. And I promise you, I won’t hang up until someone is there with you.” He tried to swallow the lump in his throat. He wasn’t going to leave her alone. Never again.  

Dimitri ran into the hospital as soon as he got there, swearing when he realized it was almost five o’clock in the evening. Valov, Nikolay, Courtney, and Rae were in the waiting room when he came in. “How are they?” he asked. “Where’s Carmine? Was she hurt too?”

“Carmine is fine,” Valov said. “She has a few new bruises and she’s pretty shaken but she’ll be okay.”

“She got fucking lucky,” Courtney said. “How could you leave her like that, Dimitri? You know how dangerous it is for people who know you. I always knew you were heartless but this is a new low.”

“She was supposed to be on the way to the airport,” he growled. “I gave her a car with an armed driver that I trusted, one that I will have to fire soon. She was protected.”

“Clearly, not protected enough.”

Nikolay pulled his fiancée into his arms from behind. The action seemed to calm her but not by much. “What’s done is done,” he said. “There is no need to make a scene about it now.”

Dimitri sat down in a chair and covered his face with his hands. “I can’t believe this is happening,” he said. “Where is she? Is James okay?”

“James is stable,” Rae answered. “He was admitted to the hospital for further observation and Carmine is with him now. Only family can visit, though.”

“I’m family,” Dimitri said. I need to see them. What room are they in?”

“Dimitri, no,” Nikolay said. “She doesn’t want you to go in. It would not be a good idea.”

“I need to see them. I have to talk to her and see James…” He needed to see his son. He wanted to make sure that he was all right with his own eyes. 

“They are in room 102,” Rae said. “Right through those doors,” she pointed to a pair of black doors. “I’m assuming that you have already gone through security so you should be fine. Just… don’t make a scene, okay? You’re going to be on thin ice as soon as you go in there.”

“It doesn’t help that we’re not the most popular here,” Valov said, raising his eyebrows. 

That was definitely the truth. Between the three of them, the brothers had sent more people to the emergency room than Dimitri could count. “I know,” he said. “Thank you.” He took a deep breath, wishing he could quell the hurricane of emotions he was feeling. 

He went through the doors and down the hall, following the room numbers to find James’s room. Why were they still in the emergency room if he had been admitted? What did that mean?

James was sitting up, coloring in a small activity pad while Carmine sat in a corner, reading a novel. She looked up when Dimitri came in, her face turning cloudy. “You shouldn’t be here,” she said. “It’s only immediate family.”

“I am immediate family,” Dimitri replied. “I want to know how my son is doing.”

“No, you’re not,” she said, standing up from her seat. “As far as the hospital is concerned, you’re not.”

“Please. I won’t stay long but I have to see him.”

James looked up and gave Dimitri a huge grin. “Dimdim!” he shouted. “Dimdim!”

Dimitri smiled at his son, relaxing. He looked healthy again, and he hadn’t coughed once since Dimitri entered the room. “Hey, James,” he said, moving past Carmine to get a better look at him. “How are you feeling?”

“Dimdim, play,” James demanded. 

“I’m afraid I can’t. It is good to see you though.”

James looked up at him, confused. 

“Okay,” Carmine said. “You’ve seen him you need to go.”

“Fine,” Dimitri said. “But first tell me are you okay? Have you talked to the police?”

“Yes,” she said. “They took a sketch of the guy I saw. Apparently he works for the owner of the Camelot.”

“I told you it wasn’t safe for you there.”

“Well it apparently wasn’t safe for us at your house now was it?” she snapped. 

“I’m sorry, Carmine,” he said. “I should have done a better job protecting you.”

She shook her head. “I never should have come to Maine. Now get out of here. You need to leave now.”

But just as he turned to do so, the doctor came in. “Good news. A room opened up in the children’s wing and we can move him there tonight.” His politely cheerful expression quickly became a scowl when he saw Dimitri. “What are you doing here?” he demanded. “What part of immediate family don’t you understand?”

Dimitri clenched his jaw, barely able to keep from retorting that he
wa
s
immediate family. “I just needed to know how they were doing.”

“I suggest you leave,” he said. “I know who you are, Mr. Tonov. You’re the reason why our hospital is almost always filled up.”

So that was why they hadn’t moved James yet. They were practically full and putting extras into the emergency room to spend the night. “That is not my fault, doctor,” he said. “This hospital is severely understaffed and has been for a long time.”

“Our staff would be better suited to meet the needs of many if you didn’t keep filling up the emergency room on a regular basis with your outdated intimidation tactics.”

“I hardly fill it up on a regular basis,” Dimitri said, balling up his fists. “And many of the people I bring here are the victims of those I use my socalled intimidation tactics on. You really think they all just tripped and fell down the fucking stairs?”

“Dimitri, calm down,” Carmine said. “James is in the room.”

He took a deep breath as he looked at James who was watching him curiously. Giving him a tight smile, “Take care of yourself, little man.”

He stalked out of the emergency room and into the waiting area where the others were sitting. “He’s getting a room in the children’s wing now,” Dimitri told everyone. “He seems to be doing well.”

“Good,” Rae said. “We were just about to go home. Do you need a ride?” 

Dimitri shook his head. “Thanks, but I have my own car.”

She nodded and grabbed Courtney’s hand. The two of them left, leaving the brothers alone. Valov clapped his hand on his brother’s back. “Get some rest, okay?” he said. “There is nothing more you can do here.”

Dimitri nodded. He knew that but the thought of going home filled him with dread. He didn’t want to see the damage done to his home, nor did he want to see the spot where Courtney and James had been shot at. He bid goodbye to Nikolay and Valov, saying he would leave in a moment and that he just needed to go to the bathroom and collect himself. 

Once they were gone, he turned to Kaleb. “You should go visit Ian. I’m not ready to leave quite yet.”

“Are you sure?” Kaleb asked. “Maybe you should come up with me. I don’t like the thought of you being alone here.”

“I can take care of myself. Everyone goes through security and there’s plenty of other people around. I don’t want to cause any more trouble tonight, especially for Ian. I’ll get a book or something from the gift shop and then get something to eat. Go on. Be with your son.”

Kaleb nodded reluctantly and then left to go to the children's wing. Even though the parents of patients in the children’s wing didn’t have to abide by the visiting hours for the rest of the hospital, he still didn’t get to see his son enough. 

Why does it feel like I’m hurting so many people just because of m
y
profession
?
Dmitri asked himself. Probably because for the first time in years, he was acknowledging that he was. 

In the gift shop, Dimitri bought a small, leather bound journal and a box of disposable pens. He couldn’t help but admire some of the items in there, including a bright red dress perfect for a nice dinner. He thought about Carmine wearing it as he took her to the Lucerne Inn for a night out, with her hair done up, and wearing bright red matching lipstick. She would look sexy as hell and he felt himself get slightly aroused at the thought of it. He would pamper her and spoil her rotten in a heartbeat if he was allowed to. 

But you’ll never be allowed to. You don’t deserve that
.
The thought sobered him as he paid for his journal and pens. He needed to let that dream go because he knew it would never happen. 

In the cafeteria, Dimitri found a relatively quiet table in the corner and sat down with his dinner and a cup of hot tea. He ate his meal, thinking everything over. The thoughts seemed to dance around in his mind, churning around too quickly to let him process them all. He wanted Carmine so badly and he wanted to be a father to James.

Despite what Carmine thought, she and James needed him. And he needed her. He picked up one of the pens, opened up his new journal and began to write as he finished his food. His primary school teacher would have been proud to know that he still used a journal to process his thoughts. 

He wrote about how much he cared about Carmine. She seemed to have some sort of hold on him and he realized that he didn’t want it to go away. She was a liability and a big one and she knew it. But damn, he wanted her. He wanted her more than he wanted any other woman before. And even though he never thought he would have kids, he wanted James, too. He wanted to give him the childhood he never had. 

He couldn’t start over. Not now. He didn’t know how. He had embraced a life of crime while his brothers struggled to break free of it. It was all he knew, all he wanted… until now.

He wanted Carmine. No, he needed her, like he needed air to breathe and food to eat. Nothing was complete without her. Oh god, he needed her so badly… 

No! I can’t start over! I can’t
.
Dimitri scribbled out the last few sentences, scowling. He couldn’t do anything else. He had no experience. Crime was his life. He wasn’t good enough for legitimate work. He would never succeed.

He needed to forget about Carmine and James and move on, maybe move again, to some place else. Hawaii, perhaps. He heard the corruption there was intense. It would be fun to stir up some trouble.