Page 25 of Lenkov

“Yes, baby?”

“I’m going to be sick.”

“Shit.” Turning my body, he grips my hair and directs my spew to the corner.

Nothing kills the mood like vomit.Rubbing my back, he continues to soothe me until my stomach settles as we reach the gates of his house.

“Done?” he asks.

“Maybe?” Sitting up, I lean out the rolled-down window, trying to catch a breeze. The driver parks, and I watch as the Doctor from a few days ago approaches. I grab Lenk’s wrist. “Wait. We need to report Jaycee’s absence to the school.”

“I’ll take care of it. You need to focus on the Doctor.”

I nod my head numbly, stunned to find I trust him with our son. Truth slaps us in the face at the most insane moments. I can concede to help with a weak nod. You never know what you’re capable of until you’re pushed to it.

***

“WHAT IS THE MEANINGof this?” A loud voice booms, startling me from my sleep.

I jerk awake and pull Jaycee close to me on the couch. My body shakes as I try to catch my bearings. I lost all concept of time with the one-hour wake-ups. Lenkov sits up straight in the chair beside us.

“Dad?” he mumbles, rubbing his face.

The voice booms through the house again.

“Lenkov Orlovich Orlov.” The broad-shouldered man stomps into view, and I sink down further beneath the covers as he stands in the center of the living room, puce-faced, breathing hard, and waving a piece of white paper. His crisply tailored black suit and polished leather shoes are straight out of a luxury magazine.

“Mama.” Jaycee wakes and cries as he clings to me.

“What are you talking about?” he waves a white sheet of paper wildly. His face is a disturbing shade of dark red, and his chest rises and falls rapidly.

“What are you talking about, Papa?” Lenkov stands.

“Is this the Orlov love child?” The man yells.

“Can’t you see you’re scaring him?” Lenkov growls as his father slaps the sheet of paper onto his chest.

“This is how I find out about your dalliance?”

“What is this?” I look between both men.

“We’ll take this to another room,” Lenkov whispers.

“No. let’s have it out here. This is your son, right?” His father gestures toward us.

“That is quite enough, Sir.” I force the words out through gritted teeth. “I believe your son asked you to take this to another room. Whatever you believe, you will not subject my son to this.”

He opens his mouth and closes it, pointing. “You.”

“Watch what you say next,” Lenkov says.

“You’re my Daddy?” Jaycee whispers.

Son of a bitch.I close my eyes. This wasn’t how I wanted him to find out.

Lenkov turns and smiles. “Yes, I am. And your grandpa is upset because he didn’t know about you. He didn’t realize we hadn’t told you the secret yet. And we’re going to talk about it later, okay?”

Jaycee nods, his small face full of awe and admiration.

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