Page 68 of My Ex’s Dad

I sigh, wishing he’d burn off this hysterical energy and go whine to someone else.

“You don’t agree?” he taunts. “You really think he’s going to commit to you?”

I don’t reply, letting him stew in my silence as an answer.

I don’t think it.

I know Anton will stand by me and our child.

“This place will be gone if you don’t quit this bullshit. Knock off this nonsense,” he warns, slanting toward me. “Stop seeing my father.”

I smile, and damn, if that doesn’t trip him into rage.

“This is a fucking joke, Liliana. End it with him and let me take you back.”

“No.” I can’t help but bark a single incredulous laugh. “Now leave.”

My head snaps to the side with the smack across my cheek. One of the men flanking him keeps his arm raised, hand flat, ready to hit me again. I press my palm to my cheek, burning from the impact.

I can’t believe he actually hit me.

That Roman’s trying to start a war like this.

“Get the fuck out of here,” I growl.

Jenni moves closer to pull me back.

The other man sneers as he raises a gun and aims it at my head. “Watch your attitude.”

I tense, holding my breath. I barely register the door opening behind them. But I don’t miss the pure fear that snaps the idiot’s eyes wide. His head tips forward slightly, as if something is pressing against the back of it.

Roman scowls, twisting to see why his friend is freezing up. As he completes his turn and faces the newcomer, all blood drains from his face.

28

ANTON

Ipress my loaded gun to the back of the man’s skull. His name doesn’t come to me, not that it matters with the red-hot rage rushing through my veins.

Whoever he is, he’s new. A recruit who probably figured that teaming up with Roman and doing what he says would move him up the Bratva faster. Just because Roman’s my son.

He’s not.

Not anymore.

From this day forward, I will not deviate from the line drawn between us.

Viktor gets the other man under control. A couple of my guards are with me, and they fill the narrow space in front of the bakery counter.

All I can think as this rage consumes me is that I’ll never stop being grateful I got here when I did. That I arrived before anything serious could happen. Before any harm could come to the woman I love, the mother of my unborn child.

Roman pivots just enough to see me. He pales. For the first time since he came into this world, he doesn’t fall back on his usual tricks. There’s no fake charm, no cocky grin, no wheedling for a way out. He’s not even trying to flatter me down from my anger.

I’ll give him credit for recognizing how fucking angry I am. He’s not that clueless, after all.

Like the narcissist and master manipulator he is, though, he’s clearly stumped, scrambling for a way out of this mess.

“I’ve been lenient with you,” I growl, keeping the gun at the man’s head as I stare my son down.