Page 111 of Gangster's Empire: Leeza & Havel

“A cut and possibly a concussion,” Leeza said with a slight smile, taking Kris’s hand when he made a sound of distress. She turned her smile on him. “I’m just fine though. It’ll take a lot more than that to keep me down.” It was on the tip of her tongue to share the news about her pregnancy, but she stopped. She needed to time with the idea, to ponder it and feel the excitement. She wasn’t ready to share yet.

Havel caressed her back, his fingers lingering on her waist. “Let’s go home.”

At the word ‘home’ a wave of exhaustion hit her. “I’m ready.”

They made the twenty-minute drive to Zmatek in silence. Leeza sat in the back between Havel and Kris, her head on Havel’s shoulder while Kris clutched her hand in his lap.

When they reached the building, Havel insisted on carrying Leeza, which amused Kris. He giggled when Havel had to dip her to fit through the elevator doors.

“Maybe you’ll be able to carry her one day when you’re big and strong like me,” Havel said to Kris as the doors closed behind them.

Fucking cocky, Kris signed.

Leeza burst out laughing.

“He didn’t just say what I think he did, did he?”

“You said it.” Leeza laughed. “He picked it up from you.”

“I didn’t say any such thing.”

You said it to my mom this morning, Kris signed, watching the elevator floors go by on the electronic panel. It means arrogant.

“It does,” Havel said gruffly. “But I don’t want to catch you using that word again.”

You use it.

“That’s different,” Havel explained. “I’m a grownup and sometimes grownups need to use bad language.”

Why? Kris demanded.

“Because sometimes adults need to blow off steam.”

Children don’t need to blow off steam? Kris asked.

Havel thought about it. “Okay, I definitely needed to blow off steam when I was a kid, but I didn’t do it by swearing.”

Why not?

“Because Babi would’ve taken a switch to my backside.”

What’s a switch? Why did it make you stop swearing?

“A switch is a piece of tree bark that hurts like a motherf… fudge.”

Are you going to hit me with a switch?

“Of course not!” Havel looked horrified at the thought.

Then how will you stop me from swearing?

Leeza shook with laughter at the exchange. “You’re not going to win.”

Havel’s eyes were dancing. “The kid has me backed into a corner.”

“He does that.”

Kris put his hand on Havel’s arm where it was wrapped around Leeza. They got off on their floor and Havel allowed Kris to punch in the door code.

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