Page 39 of The Pakhan's Secret Baby

The boy is sitting on a playmat behind him chewing on a stuffed bear, completely oblivious.

"Who the hell are you?" the husband says, stepping forward.

"My name is Rashid Krasnov. I'm here for my child." The name does exactly what I expect it to do. The woman goes pale and grabs her husband's arm. He doesn't step back right away, but I can see him trying to decide if it's worth it to fight me.

He knows who I am.

Everyone in this part of the city knows who I am.

"You can't just take Lex," Irina says, planting herself between me and the living room, even though her voice is shaking. "Emory trusts us with him and he's safe here. Please..."

"And he'll be fine with me," I tell her as I sense Daniil and Igor stalk in behind me. Their guns do the trick. Both of the happy couple back away in fear.

"He doesn't know you. Please, just call Emory and talk to her first."

"I didn't come here to talk." I step past her, but the husband moves into my path. I look him dead in the eye. "Don't be stupid. I have six men outside and every one of them is armed. If I were here to hurt someone, it would've already happened." Of course it's a lie. I don't need a single man with me. I alone am enoughto take them, but with Igor and Mikhail there's no way they even get a swing before I react.

He stares at me with his jaw working and his hands opening and closing at his sides. His wife grabs his arm tighter and whispers something against his shoulder.

"If anything happens to that boy—" he starts.

"Nothing will happen to him. Step aside." He holds my stare for one more second, but he moves like the smart man I know he is. They're good people, and I'm grateful that they have been taking care of my son, keeping him happy and safe. Now it's my job and I don't need their help anymore.

I go to the playmat and crouch down. Lex looks up at me with wide dark eyes and his bottom lip starts to tremble.

I pick him up with one hand under his back and the other behind his head.

He's heavier than I expected.

His body goes stiff against my chest and his fist grabs a handful of my shirt.

I turn to Irina and hand her a card from my breast pocket. "This is my address. Give it to Emory so she knows where her son is. But if either of you calls the police, you're both dead before nightfall, and so are Emory and her father." She takes the card with shaking hands and nods.

I walk out and head down the stairs with the boy rigid in my arms.

I can't remember a time I've ever been around a child this young, let alone held one.

I'm not sure if he eats food yet or if he still needs bottles, and how on earth will I change his diaper?

I'm not sure of anything except that I'll need my mother's help.

Outside, my driver opens the back door and I get in, holding Lex upright so he can look out the window.

I have no earthly idea if that helps but it's the only move I've got right now, and so far he's not crying.

No child seat, no diapers, no experience at all.

I've never found anything in my life that's made me feel this helpless.

The car pulls away and I get my first real look at him. He's got thick swaths of dark hair that curl at the ends like the baby photos my mother keeps in her bedroom.

My jawline is already forming on his small face.

And those eyes, nearly black, stare right back at me with curiosity.

There's no question in my mind anymore. This boy is mine, and I intend to prove it before the night is over.

"Dr. Volkov's house," I tell my driver. "Call ahead and tell him I need a DNA swab for the two of us tonight."