"I want to be involved in her life." I don't know what Hannah was expecting when she told me that I'm Bay's father, but if it's true, I can't just ignore that I have a kid.
"Of course. I assume you'll want to take a paternity test," Hannah says. "Although, there's no one else it could be." She glances away, her cheeks redden.
Is she blushing?
I want to verify that Bay is my flesh and blood, but that isn't something we have to do right this second.
Standing just a few feet away, I fold my arms across my chest. "Do you want to talk about what that bastard did to you? Because the way I see it, you ought to be either pressing charges or letting me go pound the shit out of him."
The corner of her lip turns upwards. Does she think I'm joking? I'd gladly bloody the asshole who hurt her. It's not like I don't know where he lives. "The cops won't do much."
"He left that bruise," I say and gesture toward her neck. "Did he leave any other marks?"
She raises the collar on her shirt, but it doesn't help. Does she think she can hide what he did to her from me? "It was an accident."
"No." I close the distance between us. "Don't excuse his actions. He knew what he was doing. You said so yourself. He trapped you. He didn't let you go into work this morning."
"Mark was angry with me. He insisted that I keep Bay a secret from you. That's what the fight was about. It escalated when he told me that it doesn't matter; we're all moving to the Caymans after the wedding."
I hate this guy even more. I didn't think that would be possible. "He deserves to get his face bashed in."
Hannah smiles weakly. "That may be true, but you don't have to defend my honor."
"Is the wedding off?" I need to hear from her lips that she isn't going back to him.
"I want him out of my house. Will you and Madisyn come with me when we tell him to leave?"
Madisyn and Hannah have no business being anywhere near Mark. "Mikhail and I will take care of it." If Mikhail is busy, I can bring one of our soldiers to accompany me. "Does he know where you're staying?"
Her tongue darts out, swiping across her lips. "I'm sure he'll figure out I'm with Madisyn, but he doesn't know the address, and I left my car at the apartment complex."
"How did you get here?"
"I grabbed a cab outside the building. I thought it would be safer than driving my car if Mark tried to track my vehicle."
Good, then we won't have to worry about ditching her car or checking it for a tracking device. I glance at my watch. Mikhail and I could go tonight, rough Mark up, and tell him to leave the apartment, but I still wouldn't feel comfortable about Hannah and Bay returning home even if we change the locks.
"Stay here tonight. I'll talk to Mikhail, and we'll swing by and have a word with Mark tomorrow. Do you have work in the morning?"
"No, I'm supposed to have off, but I didn't exactly show up this morning to work."
"We'll deal with that tomorrow. Jot down where Mark works, any other places that he frequents, and if you know the details of his schedule."
Hannah chuckles at my thoroughness. "What are you scheduling, a hit on his ass? You're worse than Madisyn. I don't know the place he works; it's an accounting firm. I've never been to his office."
"Just write down whatever you know."
She has no idea what I'm capable of doing. But I doubt Hannah would agree to Mikhail or myself executing the bastard. Besides, I'd rather rough him up and put fear into him.
"Tomorrow is Monday," I say, reminding her that it's a workday for most people. "I would assume that he has to go into the office. It'd be less convenient for him if we showed up at his work. I want the address of his office and his hours."
"You want to humiliate him?" Her hand trembles as she rests it on her lap.
"I just want to clarify that he is to leave you alone and get his stuff and go."
Will Hannah feel safe returning to her apartment even after Mark leaves? I'm not keen on her returning unless one of our men is stationed outside of her door, keeping a close eye on the two of them indefinitely.
"Seems fair," Hannah says. She stands and wipes the last remnants of any remaining tears away, stalking toward me.
"Should we go downstairs and see how Bay is doing? Have you two eaten anything tonight?" I ask.
"I gave Bay some snacks, so she probably won't be hungry for dinner, and I don't have much appetite." She opens the bedroom door, and I follow out into the hallway behind her. "So, you're over at Madisyn's place quite a bit."
"Mikhail's place," I correct her.
"Right," she says. Hannah glances at me as we crest the staircase, awaiting my response. "So?"
How do I tell her I live here, upstairs, without her growing suspicious of what we do for a living?
What ordinary man has a half dozen grown men living with him, and it isn't a frat house? Even billionaires have security, but they go home when another shift arrives at the end of the night.
Mikhail isn't a billionaire, but he runs an empire, and I work for him, guarding our home and brothers.
I avoid her question. It's easier to distract her and shift the topic to anything else. "He's always got a stocked fridge," I joke and head down the stairs, letting her follow behind me. "I assume your accommodations are to your liking."
"You're evasive, and I like how you just change the subject on a whim. And yes, I'm appreciative of the space for Bay and me to share. I'll have to thank Mikhail personally."
She catches up alongside me as I willfully stride into the study. The sooner I'm in Madisyn and Bay's presence, the fewer questions I'll face from Hannah.
"Mama!" Bay glances up from her fire engine and drops the toy with an unceremonious thud to the floor.
Hannah hurries across the room and bends down, hugging Bay. "Are you having fun with your new toys?"
Bay nods vigorously. "It's time to get ready for bed," Hannah says. "Can you clean up your toys?"
Madisyn pulls me aside while Hannah helps Bay put the toys that she pulled out back into the box.
"What's up?" I ask.