Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
But none of that mattered in this moment. Emilio cooed again and his eyes began to flutter as he slowly fell asleep.
Olga grinned. “There’s nothing like a mother or father’s love drug. He’ll be out for a long time.”
“How long should I keep him on?”
“For as long as you are comfortable.”
“How long would. . .a Ghanian mother carry the baby?”
Olga chuckled. “For as long as she felt comfortable too.”
I turned around in the mirror. “It’s actually comforting for me to have him near.”
“Yes. That too. This tradition has a long history, dating back to at least the 19th century.”
“That’s a long time.”
“Many new mothers are gifted with a kanga. It is a symbol of motherhood.”
“That is why you had Ama make one for Emily?”
Olga nodded. “Emily tires herself out too much, trying to be the best mother in the world. I think she has been overstressed in these past weeks, but won’t admit this.”
I tensed. “I didn’t realize that.”
“It is impossible to be the best mother. Help her understand that she only needs to keep the child safe, loved, and fed. Still, sometimes she is too nervous about asking for help.”
“You are good for her and me.”
“I hope so.” Her phone buzzed. Olga hurried over. “That’s my cue to send Emily a picture of the baby. She wants one every thirty minutes.”
I frowned. “Surely, we are not going to show her this.”
“Oh, Kazimir, why not? It would make that new mother cry tears of joy. I can tell she’s been terrified about being away from him for this long. It is her first time.” Olga held her phone up. “Give us a warm smile, Kazimir.”
“Lions do not smile.”
She chuckled, took the picture, and delivered it.
That was the last thing Emily needed to see. I had scared her good in the Concert Hall. She should have been worried about my next move, not seeing a peaceful moment between Emilio and me.
Still, I didn’t want my mouse worried about Emilio either.
David entered the nursery as Olga snapped another picture.
“Oh.” Shock hit his face. David quickly backed up. “I-I can. . .return another time.”
With the way he looked, one would have thought that Olga and I were naked and about to have sex.
I frowned. “It is fine.”
David didn’t come inside. “A-are you. . .sure?”
I scowled at him. “Get in here.”
It was an ongoing joke with everyone on the property that King David was terrified of Emilio. He always kept five feet between him and the baby. Plus, David always rushed out of the room when Emily or I asked if he wanted to hold him.
Olga smiled at David. “Did Baba leave with Emily too?”
“Yes.” David only took one step inside the nursery and remained by the doorway as if making sure he had a clear path to escape.
“Okay.” Olga nodded. “Then, I will text Baba the picture too.”
My frown deepened. “Is that necessary?”
“This picture would make Baba’s day.” Olga headed into her adjoining room and called over her shoulder. “I will give you two privacy.”
“Thank you.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Get in here.”
David widened his eyes. “I believe I am sufficiently inside the. . .nursery—”
“Why are you afraid of Emilio?”
“It is not Emilio that is the problem. It is the fragility of it all.”
“You will not break him by being closer.” I glanced back in the mirror and saw that Emilio was knocked out. Light snores left him. Meanwhile, the kanga appeared outrageous around my muscled frame.
I must make sure that picture goes no further than Emily and Baba.
David came further inside, yet still kept three feet between us. “I will be better when he’s walking. That’s a good age for me. Now he can easily be broken.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Just get to the news.”
David cleared his throat. “Maxwell just landed with forty men—half Harlem Crew and the rest—”
“Belonging to Misha.” I rolled my eyes again. “No surprise there. However, it is funny that I can ask my cousin for help with killing Boris and he has no time to assist me, yet when his homey requests men, he has all the resources in the world.”
“What should we do with Maxwell?”
“Delay him. Shut down the highways and roads. Keep him stuck in his car, smoking, and pissed in traffic.”
“No problem.” David took out his phone.
You brought Maxwell into this, mysh? What are you hiding?
Anger rose in my core. “And the French plane?”
“It’s a two hour ETA.”
“Missiles ready to shoot it down at my command?”
“Yes, sir.” David sighed. “Although. . .I believe it would cause a national incident between Russia and France as well as shatter the stable peace treaty between the Brotherhood and Corsican.”
“And what do you think my response is to that?”
“You do not care.”
“Not at all.” My thoughts went to the man that my mouse thought she could save. “And what about the gardener?”