Page 29 of Claimed By the Mobster
“Do you want to take that corpse, or shall I have my men dispose of it?” Ben doesn’t even spare a glance for Victor’s dead body.
“I’ll take him. I don’t want to inconvenience you. But…” Artem looks with undisguised contempt at the man I shot.
They sound like they’re discussing who will pay the bill. Very courteous.
“Not at all,” Ben replies. “I’ll handle that mess.”
“Kind of you.” Artem sucks his teeth. Victor is not a small man, but Artem sighs wearily, kneels and hefts his dead brother over his shoulder. “My thanks. Saved me a job. Come, Sergey. Fuck, I need a coffee,” he mutters, then leaves.
“Thank you,” Ben states. “For the tip-off.”
It takes me a moment to realise he’s talking to the youngest Bratva. Sergey.
Ohhh. Tom’s boyfriend alerted Ben about my impending kidnap. I guess he didn’t know that when that failed, his father would take Tom instead.
Sergey swallows and jerks a nod. “No problem.” He transfers his gaze to Tom and I see adoration in his eyes. “I’ll message you,” stammers Sergey, and races away.
We’re left, just the three of us.
“Dad.” Tom doesn’t move, and there’s a new wariness on his face, different to the outright fear when he had a gun to his head.
“George, could you…” Ben waves at the dead goon on the floor.
George winks. “Got it, boss.”
“Come.” Ben wraps an arm around my waist and tows me out of the warehouse, Tom following. When we’re safely ensconced in the limo Tom looks between Ben and me. We’re not hiding. Ben has his hand on my shoulder, gently stroking me there. He kisses my head as soon as we are settled into seats, me next to Ben and Tom opposite.
Tension prickles up my bones as Tom takes in the casual intimacy.
“So… You two.” He scowls.
“Yes,” Ben replies simply, tilting up his chin as though to dare his son to say something.
“But… Anwyn?” Tom’s lips press into a displeased line. “My ex-girlfriend? That’s just… She’s my age.”
“A sexually mature adult, then,” I point out.
Ben raises one eyebrow, a glint of amusement on his face. “The heart wants who it wants, Tom. Love isn’t about age or nationality or… gender.”
Tom digests that. “You knew.”
“I’ve known you a long time,” Ben replies.
“Right, but Anwyn.” Tom rounds on me. “My dad? Couldn’t you have—”
“You don’t speak to her like that,” Ben snaps. “And if we’re talking about inappropriate choices of partner, we can start with the son of the mafia who has been attempting to take down Westminster for ten years.”
Tom swears and drags both hands through his hair in a frustrated gesture so like Ben I have to laugh. “Are you going to ban me from being with him?”
Ben huffs out a breath that’s equal parts irritation and amusement. “No. But I might use it to force you to accept Anwyn as your step-mum.”
“No!” Tom looks so horrified.
“That’s not how it will be,” I cut in.
“Though you will have some half-siblings,” Ben adds lazily. He’s enjoying this and I shoot him a look. He gives me an unrepentant wink, mouthsbreed you,and I blush.
Tom winces. “Fine. If I can be with Sergey, fine. I never want to hear about any of how that happened. Ever.”
