Chapter Twelve

Kyle was sipping her coffee at the kitchen table, enjoying the peace before the day’s construction started, when Max walked into the kitchen.

“Assuming by last night’s events, you’re Evie’s father?”

“Biologically, yes, but you know Dimitri and I won’t play favorites when you and he have a child together.”

“I know. I just want to make sure that the two of you are happy with what we have.”

“Little bee, if we weren’t happy, you would know.”

“I just want to make sure. I love you both, and I don’t want to ruin our family.”

“You’re stuck with us.”

***

“How is everything coming along with the repairs?” Max asked Dimitri.

“They’re on schedule, which means they’ll be done in a few weeks.”

“Good. I want to make a change. I want to move Evie’s nursery and the guest room to our rooms and move our rooms to either side of Kyle, and I want to add connecting doors.”

“I like that. Do you think she would mind? I think she liked having Evie next to her.”

“She’ll be across the hall; it’s the same distance.”

“Okay, but she’d better get mad at you if she hates it.”

***

“Ha, I win.”

“I’m just rusty. Give me a few times, and I’ll dominate the game like I used to.”

Kyle had spent the day with her brother. He had taken her out to eat and play mini-golf—something they hadn’t done since she was little.

“I miss you, Ryan. I feel as if we don’t see each other enough.”

“We grew up. We have families.”

It took Kyle a minute to realize what her brother had said.

“Families? Are you saying Varina is pregnant?”

Ryan rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Yeah.”

“Oh my gosh, this is so great, Evie is going to have a cousin to grow up with.”

“You don’t think it’s stupid of me?”

“No. Why would I think that?”

“Well, I wasn’t really the parent of the year with you.”

“It’s different; now you have your shit together, and you’re with a girl you love, and this child wasn’t your sister one day and then your dependent the next. I think it’s great.”

“That’s a huge weight off me. I was afraid of how you would react.”

“I love you, Ry, and I just want you to be happy.”

***

“How was your outing with your brother?”

“It was great. He told me that he and Varina are expecting, which means you and Violet are next.”

Anatoli shook his head. “No. Children are very far in the future for us. There are things that we need to work out.”

“Was Evie good for you?”

“She slept most of the time. She’s in her crib now.”

“And Max and Dimitri are still out?”

“They said they would be back shortly.”

“Thanks for watching her. I’m going to check on her.”

Kyle made her way up the stairs to where Evie was.

“Excuse me, miss?” Kyle heard when she made her way up the stairs.

“Yes?”

“I’m working on paint color, and I was told that you would make the final decision. I have patches on the wall in the room for you to look at.”

“Sure.”

Kyle followed the man, but before they entered the room, he pulled a gun out.

“You scream, I’ll shoot. If you don’t do what I say, I’ll shoot. You got that?”

She nodded her head yes.

“You are to get the baby and follow me. If we get caught, I have no problem shooting you or your child. Now let’s go.”

The man grabbed her by the arm and forced her to Evie’s room.

“Grab the baby and anything the baby needs, and let’s go.”

Kyle was trying to pack the bag when she noticed the baby monitor and waited until she was sure the man wasn’t paying attention and turned it on.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this. If you want money, we have it—just leave us alone.”

“It’s not about money, so shut the fuck up and finish what you’re doing.”

Kyle was hoping that Anatoli was near the baby monitor in the living room; it was her only chance of getting out without having to try and overpower the man herself.

The man went to pick up the baby.

“Don’t you touch her! I’ll get her.”

Kyle picked up Evie and laid her on the changing table near the bag she was packing. She was trying to stall, trying to find some way out of this.

“Kyle!” she heard Anatoli yell from down the hallway.

“Don’t say a word,” the man said.

When the man turned toward the door, she quickly grabbed the picture off the wall and hit his arm with it, causing him to drop his gun, but he quickly overpowered her.

“Not so brave now, huh?”

Kyle struggled against his grip, but he was too strong. Just as she was about to give up, Anatoli came through the door and opened fire.

“Kyle, are you okay?” was the last thing she heard before passing out.