I pull out my phone again, hands steadier now as I take more photos. The boy is animated as he talks to Danielle, but his face remains partially turned away from my position. I need a clearer view, better angles, or something that will either confirm or dismiss these suspicions.
Danielle suddenly stops on the apartment stairs, her hand moving to her stomach in a gesture I’ve noticed her making more frequently lately. She turns toward the street, scanning the area with the wariness of someone who senses they’re being watched.
I freeze, pressing myself farther behind the tree, holding my breath until she turns away and continues up the stairs with the boy. They disappear into a second-floor apartment, and I remain hidden for several more minutes, processing what I’ve observed.
The expenses she mentioned needing money for and the protective way she speaks about responsibilities I wouldn’t understand make more sense now. She has a son, and if this child is mine, then she’s been hiding him from me for his entire life. If he’s not mine, the jealousy burning in my chest at the thought of her with another man tells me more about my feelings than I’m comfortable admitting.
I walk back to my car, my mind churning with questions that demand answers. Suspicions aren’t enough. I need proof, one way or another. The drive back to the estate passes in a blur of calculation and growing impatience. By the time I reach my office, I’ve moved past speculation and into the planning mode that serves me well in business. I need information, and I need it quickly. I had planned to dig into her life discreetly on my own, but Andrei has contacts who can make it happen much faster than I can alone.
I pull out my phone and text Andrei pictures before sending:Find out who the boy is.
His response comes within minutes:Understood. Priority level?
I type back:Highest.
Will contact the right investigator personally. Also, update on customs situation. One of Luca’s men spotted at docks again, third time this week. Meeting with Inspector Rodriguez.
The customs issue should be my primary concern. Luca is clearly making moves to disrupt our operations, testing our security,and looking for weaknesses. Under normal circumstances, I’d drop everything to handle the threat personally.
I can’t focus on anything except getting answers about that boy. I text back:Deal with that after the boy.
Less than a minute later, my phone rings, and Andrei’s name appears on the screen. I answer on the first ring.
“The customs situation needs immediate attention.” His voice is brisk and professional. “Rodriguez has been clean for three years, but if Luca’s got leverage on him, we could lose our primary import route.”
“Handle the boy’s investigation first.”
“Radmir, with respect, our entire West Coast operation depends on maintaining clean customs channels. Whatever personal interest you have in some random child?—”
“He’s not random.”
The silence stretches long enough that I wonder if the call dropped. When Andrei speaks again, his voice is carefully neutral. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“I need to know who fathered Danielle’s son before I decide how much to tell anyone.”
He sounds mildly surprised. “Including me?”
“Yes.”
There’s another pause. When Andrei responds, there’s an edge I recognize. It’s the tone he uses when he thinks I’m making a decision that will negatively affect business. I’ve rarely heard it from him in our years working together. “The customs inspector?—”
“Can wait.”
“Radmir—”
“Are you questioning my judgment?” I ask in a cold voice. Andrei and I have worked together for fifteen years, with eight of them as my second. He’s saved my life, I’ve saved his, and we’ve built an empire on mutual trust and shared sacrifice. He’s one of the few people who can challenge my decisions without consequences. He’s also smart enough to know when he’s approaching a line he shouldn’t cross.
He draws in a breath before speaking again. “I’m questioning your priorities. The child investigation can wait a few hours. The customs situation can’t.”
“The child investigation happens now, or you can find yourself a new boss.”
The threat surprises both of us. I’ve never pulled rank on Andrei this way and never forced him to choose between his judgment and his loyalty. The fact that I’m doing it now, over a boy I’m not even certain is mine, reveals more than I want.
He sounds stunned. “Are you seriously threatening me over this?”
“I’m reminding you who makes the decisions in this organization unless you want to challenge me for leadership the way Luca did? We both know how that ended for him.”
The silence that follows carries weight, consequence, and the potential for permanent damage between us. “I’m loyal to you.” His voice is quiet but steady. “I’ve been loyal for fifteen years, which means questioning you when you’re about to dosomething that could hurt us both. However, if you want to prioritize a child over our business, that’s your choice to make.”
