Page 7 of Protective Phlox

But the fantasy of Nathan knocking on our door one night and saying he wanted to leave the life of crime behind and be a family was a pipedream. Even if he wanted to leave, I don’t think he could now. He was entrenched in the world.

“These are good,” Cutter said as he picked up the small cut piece of baguette with meat and cheese. He completely amazed me. We were just shot at and then in a high-speed chase, and he’s as cool as James Bond. Who was this kid? If I hadn’t spent nine months pregnant and then over twenty-four hours in labor, I would say he wasn’t mine. Cool and calm were not in my DNA.

“You should eat,” Cutter said, holding out the piece of sandwich, and I bit my lip not to laugh. Yup, there was no denying who his father was. Timing-wise, he could’ve been Shawn’s son, who had just been born a bit late, but the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew he was Nathan’s.

“Thank you,” I said, taking the offering, and Cutter’s whole face lit up. He was right. It was good, and as I finished the piece, my stomach growled for more, earning a scowl from Cutter. He grabbed another and a small vine of grapes and handed them to me. “What would I do without you looking after me?”

“Starve,” he said without missing a beat, and I couldn’t hold in the laugh if I wanted to. I gave birth to a little old man.

I needed to be smart about all of this. In my heart, I had to hope that Nathan, as furious as he was, didn’t want me dead. If that was the case, then there was a chance for some common ground or peace between us. At the end of the day, the only thing that mattered to me was that Cutter was safe and that I still got to be his mother. There was no way in hell I was letting whatever mafia princess he was engaged to raise my child as theirs. Nope. Never. Not happening. I would kill her, and then I would kill him for even suggesting it. My hand balled into a fist.

The door opened with a flourish, and I knew it was Nathan before my eyes lifted from the floor. His eyes were feral, and whatever agreement I’d been hoping for flew out the window.

“Cutter, come here,” I said and set my food down so I could pick up my son.

He’d have to go through me to get to him.

NATHANIEL

As I walked into the office, Savannah spun around and looked at me. She reminded me of a wild animal, and I had to commend her for the way she was protecting Cutter as she glared and practically snarled from where she stood. She picked Cutter up as he seemed content enough to munch on a strawberry.

Walking across the room, I picked up the decanter and poured myself a drink. “Would you like one?” I held up the glass, and Savannah shook her head. “You may change your mind in a moment.”

“What are you planning on doing with us?” Savannah stepped around the desk in the opposite direction from me, and I cocked a brow at her.

“Mommy, you’re holding me too tight,” Cutter said. Savannah glanced down at him, and her eyes filled with warmth. She kissed him on the forehead and loosened her grip.

“Sorry, Bud. I guess I’m still upset about what happened.”

Cutter smiled wide and touched her cheek. “Don’t worry, Mommy. We’re safe.”

Savannah looked me directly in the eyes. “Yeah, you’re right. We are for now.”

There was no denying the undertone that she didn’t trust me or what I had planned as far as she could throw me. Her mistrust was valid. She knew I was livid. It was practically pouring off of me in waves. I was capable of anything when I was this angry, and Savannah was lucky I had a much better idea than murder.

My hand shook on the glass, and I gulped down the whiskey to try and calm the storm brewing to toxic levels inside of me.

A soft knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” I barked out, and the Consul General walked in with Goran, Ivan, and the priest I’d requested. “Are you ready to proceed,” I asked the priest, and he nodded. “Good. Goran, take Cutter to a safe room and put all the guards on him.”

“Yes, Boss,” Goran said, stepping toward Savannah, but she backed away.

“Don’t you dare touch my son,” she snarled. “I will rip your fucking nuts off.” Goran’s eyes grew wide as he stared at her with a touch of uncertainty. I held up my hand to stop him.

“Savannah, let me lay out your options. You can do this the easy way or the hard way, but in the process, you will get hurt.”

She glanced around the room as more of my men filed in. “Is there a third option?”

Rubbing my bottom lip as I walked toward her, I was impressed when she didn’t bolt. Instead, she held her ground with a fire burning in her eyes. I didn’t think I could find her any sexier, but right now, she reminded me of everything that made a mother so special. They loved like no one else. Blood or not, they would raise hell itself to protect their children, and I respected that…no…it fucking turned me on.

“The third option is that you never see our son again,” I said, knowing she wouldn’t take the third option unless she were dead. Savannah stepped back but bumped into Goran.

“No, you can’t take him from me,” she said, panic making her voice waver.

“I can, and I will, if you don’t cooperate.”

She was quiet and looked around the room. I knew she was playing out her options for killing her way out, and even if she survived by some miracle, she’d still have to deal with the Mancinis.

“If I do what you want, do I get to keep my son?”