“That’s not fair!” Her eyes widen, and her jaw drops. “I never put the kids in danger.”
“How do you think Mikhail would have handled discovering that a member of the mafia fathered the twins?”
Her tongue darts out to lick her ruby lips.
“You were a soldier when we met. I told him the truth, that you were at war. I just happened to leave out the part that you were a soldier for themafia.”
Aleksandra gives me the most endearing smile and glances down at her knees tucked against her chest. Her cheeks burn. Is she embarrassed?
“What is it?” I ask. My hand is soft and gentle as I touch her arm. I don’t want there to be a wall between us or an icy void any longer.
“I may have mentioned to Mikhail that I’d marry the father of my children when he returned home,” Aleksandra says.
My heart quickens at her admission. There’s no doubt in my mind that she didn’t mean what she’d said. It had been to keep her brother, the leader of the bratva, at bay.
And yet I can’t help myself. “I’m back,Tesorina,” I say with a smirk. “I’d hate to think that’s what’s stopping a truce between the Russians and Italians, marrying you. Do you intend to follow through with your promise?”
She gives me a half-hearted grin. “You can’t be serious. Not without a full-blown proposal. I expect flowers, wine, maybe even an airplane in the sky.”
“Oh, is that all it will take? Me, down on one knee with a grand gesture?” I’m joking with her, but I want to do right by her. She’s the mother of my children.
“Yes, that might work.” Aleksandra is laughing and covers her face.
I lean forward for her hand, bringing it down from her face. “You are sexy and beautiful when you laugh. Don’t ever cover it up.”
She tugs her bottom lip between her teeth.
I could easily kiss her. And a massive part of me yearns to taste her lips, feel her body against mine, but not like this. Not while she’s here against her will. “If you don’t want to stay, you can leave,” I whisper.
“I can go? The children and I—”
“No,” I say, cutting her off. “You can go. The children are staying here with me, under my protection.”
“I can’t leave the twins, Antonio,” she whispers. “Please, don’t make me leave them.” Her eyes burn with tears.
Doesn’t she realize that I don’t want her to leave? But I refuse to keep her against her will. She’s not a hostage. She was here to keep her safe and the mafia families secure.
“You don’t have to go anywhere,” I say, bringing my palm to her chin to meet her stare. “I want you here, but I don’t want you to resent me for keeping you under my roof, in my home.”
Her lips part, and a soft puff of air escapes past. “I can’t leave my children.” She exhales a heavy breath and pulls back from my touch. “We will stay, but only under certain conditions.”
A wry smile sneaks out of me. “You have demands?” This ought to be good.
“If you want to put it like that, yes, I have demands,” Aleksandra says. She straightens her back. She wants to appear in control, taller, stronger, and I give her credit for trying to negotiate with a don.
“For starters, absolutely no sex between us. We are here, together, to co-parent.”
To say I’m disappointed is an understatement, but I didn’t think she’d just sneak off into my bed, either. There’s so much disdain in her gaze when she watches me.
“Yes, what else?” I ask.
“I declare the entire third floor as my wing of the house. Your guards aren’t to follow me around or invade my personal space.”
I try to suppress a laugh at her tone and suggestion. No one else is currently residing on the third floor. It’s an easy request. “What else?”
“Sophia and Liam will be enrolled in preschool at Manhattan Academy and are to have a normal life. They need a playroom with toys, fresh air outside, and friends over.”
“They have friends?” I’m trying not to mock the kids, but they’re four.