Page 31 of The Bratva's Secret Baby

I closed my eyes and breathed in as I let Laurel’s advice echo in my head. It wasn’t so easy to follow my heart. Kaity could be in danger if I let Damien near her, but I couldn't tell Laurel.

I open my eyes. “Thank you, Laurel. We should have a pizza night soon.”

“We should.” She gave my hand one last pat before rising from the sofa. “I’m afraid I have to go now.”

“That was a quick visit. Are you going on a date?” I teased.

Laurel giggled and grabbed her bag off the coffee table. “I wish I had one, but no. I’m meeting a client.” She headed for the door, and I followed, “Give Kaity a kiss for me when she gets back.”

"I'll come downstairs with you; I need some fresh air before Kaity gets back. She’ll be mad when she realizes she missed you.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I’m mad I missed ..." Just as we reached the lobby of my building, Paul Lark walked in with Kaity and his daughter Hannah by his side.

Paul Lark and I kept running into each other, and when we found out that our daughters were the same age and attended the same kindergarten, we would occasionally meet after school. And we got to know each other outside of work and the courtroom on a more personal level. Paul would often take the girls to the park, especially when I was stuck at work.

“Look who we have here,” Laurel said delightedly. “I didn’t miss you after all.”

“Aunt Laurel,” Kaity said, kicking her feet in the air and smiling. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, baby.” Laurel gave Kaity a kiss on the forehead. “Unfortunately, I was on my way out. I brought something for you. A duck picture," she whispered, as if the rest of us couldn’t hear.

Kaity giggled. “Thank you, Aunt Laurel.”

“You’re welcome, baby.” She kissed Kaity on the forehead and exchanged a quick greeting with Paul and Hannah, then turned her attention back to me. “I'll see you later, babe.”

I waved after her as she scurried away. “See ya.”

“Mommy!” Kaity wrapped her arms around my neck and her little giggle lifted the weight on my chest. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too, baby. Did you have fun with Uncle Paul and Hannah?”

“Are you okay?” Paul looked at me with concern.

“Yeah, let's go upstairs.” I hoped he wouldn’t ask further, but luckily Kaity interrupted me.

“You know what, Mommy?”

I playfully raised my eyebrows. “Let me see.” I pretended to think for a while. “Did Uncle Paul take you to the zoo?”

She shook her head, her silky dark ponytail slapping against her ears. “No. Guess again, Mommy.”

“Did you bring chocolate for Mommy?”

She laughed, “he bought chocolate ice cream.”

I gasped. “Did he?”

“Yes, Mommy!”

“Did you bring any home?”

She stuck her pinky finger in her mouth and shook her head again. “I finished it!”

“You’re such a naughty pumpkin.” I tickled her with my nose. “You didn’t bring ice cream for Mommy, now Mommy’s going to tickle you.”

She stretched out her small hands and tried to avoid my attacks. Her giggle was a melody that drilled through the fear that clouded my mind and seethed in my heart. I didn’t care if my world crumbled because I knew that as long as I had Kaity, everything would turn out okay.

“Put me down, Mommy,” she commanded after she had had enough of my tickling. “I want to show Hannah my new dress.”

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