Page 67 of The Don's Hidden Heir

“I won’t die, Elena. I am hard nut to crack, you know?”

A smile quirks my lips. “I’m sure you are.”

“I’m sorry for dragging you and Lucas into all of this mess, Elena.” His Adam’s apple moves as he swallows. “I hated you for years because you left me, but now I feel you did the right thing. I should have never come back into your lives.”

“Hey.” I straighten myself against the headboard. “I thought I did the right thing. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what I did was wrong, but I don’t regret having you here and I’m sure Lucas would understand too.”

“What if he grows up and hates me for what I do?”

“If you think there’s a chance Lucas would hate you, then you have no freaking idea who your son is.” I’m not exaggerating to make Dominic feel better. Lucas has been the happiest I’ve seen him since we moved in here. A few years down the line, I doubt he’ll even remember there was ever a time when Dominic was not a part of his life.

A soft knock on the door grabs our attention. “Who do you think it is?”

“I think it’s Lucas.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I just am.” Dominic quickly pulls on his discarded briefs, grabs the gun from the bedside table, cocks it. “I better check.” He walks stealthily to the door and opens it gently.

Lucas is standing in front of our door, his SpongeBob pillow held between his left arm and torso. “Hi, Dad.”

Dominic quickly tucks the gun in the back of his briefs. “Hi, little man. What’s up with you?”

Lucas glances between me and Dominic. “I had a nightmare. Can I sleep here with you and Mommy tonight, please?”

Dominic doesn’t hesitate and answers, “Yes.” Stretching his hand out to Lucas, he shuts the door when Lucas takes it and walks inside. They both make their way to the bed with Lucas taking the space between Dominic and me.

“Hi, Mom.” Lucas wraps his arm around me and I pat his back gently. “You had a nightmare, huh?”

He nods.

“I’m sorry, baby. It was just a dream. Nothing bad is going to happen.”

Lucas blinks up at me, his blue eyes sparkling in the dimly lit room. “Because Daddy’s here to protect us?”

I smile at Dominic and he smiles back. “Yes, baby. Daddy’s going to protect us. We’re safe here with him.”

Lucas doesn’t say a word for another minute. “Dad?”

Dominic rubs his hair. “Son?”

“Is there a reason you and Mom aren’t married yet?”

I gasp, eyes wide open and my jaw drops. “Lucas!”

“All my friends at school say that their parents are married to each other,” he whines, pouting his little mouth. “I’m the only one who my Dad is not married to my Mom.” He narrows his eyes at me and his father. “Are you two divorced?”

“No!” Dominic and I answer in harmony, then we both chuckle. Lucas is being naughty. I’ve been afraid my son is growing up too fast. It’s cool seeing he isn’t very grown up just yet.

“No,” I repeat alone this time. “Your Dad and I have never been married. Something went wrong before you were born. Mom and Dad had to go their separate ways for a while.”

Lucas nods. “So, will you get married now that you’re together?”

I bite my lip and glance over to Dominic.

“I’m never going to let you or your mom go again,” Dominic answers, while looking straight at me. “Never.”

“So, you’ll marry her?”

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