Page 59 of Triplets for the Russian Boss

Bonnie

The first thing I do, when Kostin leaves, is go for the little flip phone that’s hidden in my bottom drawer. I figure it’d be safe to make a call during the day, since he’s not going to overhear me, and, from what I’ve seen, the guards act like I don’t exist. They don’t talk to Kostin, and he doesn’t talk to them.

I lock the door to my room, quickly dialing the number to my house. Kate, the babysitter, knows to answer the phone whenever I call, no matter what the hour. I’m sure she thinks it’s odd for me to be gone for so long, but with the money she’s getting, she knows well enough to keep her mouth shut about it.

I’m just a busy working woman who misses her babies dearly.

The phone rings twice before Kate answers. “Hey, Bonnie, how’s it going?”

“Fine,” I say, throwing my towel onto the bed and sitting on it. “How are the boys?”

“Jacob is throwing his food everywhere, but the other two are watching Barney.”

I laugh. “He never did like eating. You’d think triplets would all be the same, but they’re all so different.”

“Yes, Jacob is always frowning,” Kate says, and I can hear her smile on the other end.

Just like his father.

I clear my throat. “Okay, well, I just wanted to make sure everything was alright at the house. I should be back in a week or so.”

If Kostin actually lets me.

“Oh good, because I have like three different guys wanting to take me out on a date and this full-time nanny thing is a little restrictive.”

If she wants to know a thing about being restricted, I’d suggest working for a Mafia boss. Kostin doesn’t let me leave the house unless I’m going to buy tampons. That’s the only time I can sneak other things in, like this phone.

“I’ll be back so soon you’ll wish I’d been gone longer.”

Kate laughs, but I know she’s tired of living at my house, taking care of my kids, and pretending like she’s enjoying the whole ordeal, just for a nice paycheck. I’m giving her just about as much as I could justify, but I doubt she’d stay there if Kostin decided to extend my work contract.

Then, I’d really be in trouble.

“I’m really grateful for this, Kate. I swear this isn’t easy for me either, but I won’t ask it of you again after this one time.”

“Are you going to tell me why you asked me to do it in the first place?” she asks, not giving up on finding out the real reason I haven’t been back to the house.

“It’s complicated,” I reply. “But I promise, I’m not doing anything crazy.”

That’s a lie, but it’s one I don’t feel guilty about telling. I’d rather Kate not worry about me, and it’s really not any of her business what I’ve been getting up to. That’s between Kostin and me.

“Okay, Bonnie; I’m not going to bug you about it. I know you don’t want to tell me. I guess if you’ve gone this long without dying, or getting thrown in jail, then you’re probably fine.”

“Of course,” I say with a nervous laugh.

“Wait, you not calling me from jail, are you?”

“Kate, how would I get a phone in jail?”

“It’s pretty easy. My ex used to cyber-stalk me from a phone in jail. He’d send me emails and shit on it too.”

“Gross,” I reply. “That’s really fucking creepy, but I’m not nearly smart enough to procure and phone if I were to go to jail. I’d probably get shanked on my first day in.”

Kate laughs. “Nah, I think you’d be alright. You’ve always been a tough one. I honestly don’t know how you manage with three boys.”

“Neither do I,” I admit. “Maybe three months isn’t long enough.”

“Oh no, you don’t. I’m not staying here any longer than I have to.”

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