Raw Bloody Power

Chapter 28

28

RED FLAG

Ivory

Benedikt

So when am I gonna see you again?

That text just came in not five minutes ago. I’ve had the phone sitting beside me on the couch, but I’m too engrossed with my new niece as she sleeps in my arms to respond.

Katerina.

They gave her my middle name. I cried when I first saw it printed on her pale pink onesie. Like full on sobbed. The honor of knowing she’ll carry a little piece of me always is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. She’s only been earth-side for less than two hours and I’m already obsessed with her. Head full of dark hair, cute little button nose, and these tiny, full lips with a perfect cupid’s bow .

She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in my entire life.

“Gigi’s turn again,” my mom coos beside me, signaling for me to hand her over with a flap of her hands. She’s as smitten as I am, if not more, looking every bit like the heart eyes emoji.

This is her first grandchild after all.

Don’t be fooled, my dad’s equally excited, both of them sporting matching t-shirts my mom bought off Etsy. His says ‘The Grandfather’ and hers says ‘The Gigi’, the lettering made to mimic the forever classic: The Godfather. I can guarantee my father had zero desire to actually wear the damn thing, but he’d do anything to make my mom happy, even if it means embarrassing himself.

I’m not the least bit surprised.

“I just got her like two seconds ago, Ma. Chill,” I laugh, shooing her away.

“That’s what you get for being the last one here. Give me my baby.”

Turning away from her like a petulant child, I shake my head and place a teeny kiss on Kat’s nose. “My phone was on silent in my purse. I didn’t hear it.” Because I was too busy getting fucked by my ex. “Leave me be. Oh, and you…” I glance up at my brother who’s taken permanent residence beside his sleeping wife. “You owe me a hundred bucks.”

Santo’s brow quirks. “For what?”

“Remember when your wife started having Braxton Hicks and you were so certain she was gonna go into labor asap? ”

Realization flitters across his expression as he recalls our conversation, followed by a roll of his brown eyes.

“Yeahhhhhh,” I drawl in amusement. “Pay up, big bro.”

Dad and my mom both laugh beside me quietly as Santo curses under his breath and fishes out his wallet from the back pocket of his dark wash jeans. Before he hands me the crisp bill, Ma gently pinches my arm in another silent demand for her granddaughter. I oblige with a sigh and carefully set the baby in her arms—because if I don’t, she won’t leave me alone—and pluck the hundred dollar bill from my brother before swiping my phone off the light blue pleather of the couch. “I’m gonna run to the cafeteria real quick. Anyone want anything?”

My mom shakes her blonde head, too absorbed with the tiny human in her arms to give a shit about anything else. Santo’s still grumbling about losing the bet, and Dad requests coffee. And Lucia, that girl is too far off dreamland to awaken at the possibility of food. She had a pretty easy labor from what I heard, even with little Kat being almost nine pounds, but she’s still exhausted. I’d be dead asleep, too, if it were me.

Only person missing is Alessandro. The lack of his presence is felt beyond measure. He’d be on Santo’s case right now for losing, likely laughing his ass off. I tried convincing him to come with when I went home to shower, but he claimed he was tired. Problem is, he’s always tired these days. I’m starting to worry there’s more at play here—namely depression. I’ve already made a mental note to talk to my mom about it later when her attention span isn’t consumed by new life.

Sliding my crossbody Louis Vuitton over my head, I take off down the brightly lit hallway and head for the elevator bank. Once I’m in the cart, I finally open up my texts and stare at Benedikt’s message, along with the few others I never responded to.

Monday 7:49am

Send the boys out to the port. Your dad’s cash is in the container.

Monday 6:07pm

Did everything go smoothly? Haven’t heard from you and just wanted to make sure you didn’t have another issue with Guerra.

Tuesday 9:02am

Good morning, malish.

Today 8:35pm

So when am I gonna see you again?

I literally cringe and burrow into the corner of the elevator, feeling like the world’s biggest asshole for never responding. He did me a favor, a massive favor and actually came through with quality stuff according to my dad, and I disappeared off the face of the earth. As cliche as it sounds, it’s me, not him. He’s been amazing, for lack of a better word. I’m just…I don’t know. Overwhelmed? Confused? I wasn’t expecting to find myself beneath Rio once, much less twice. It’s screwing with my head. I need five seconds to breathe, to think. To just be and gather my bearings.

Get my fucking life together.

Me

I don’t know honestly. My sister-in-law just had the baby and she’s going to need help. Sandro’s still at home, too, and he can’t get around. Between them, looking for a permanent location for the bakery, and fulfilling orders, I don’t have a lot of extra time right now.

Doesn’t take long before three little dots dance on my screen. They disappear a moment later, then reappear again as the elevator dings and the doors slide open.

Sounds like excuses to me.

My head flies back.

What the fuck?

Stepping out into the lobby, I follow the signs toward the cafeteria and type out my reply.

They’re very much not.

I’m not so sure, but okay.

Thought we had something simmering between us. Looks like I read that wrong. My fault.

We did. I’m just busy at the moment.

I’m busy too, but I’d still make time for you.

I can only stretch myself so thin. It’s nothing personal, but I have to take care of myself. I’m useless to my business and my family if I’m burnt out.

Got it. No worries. Hit me up whenever.

I don’t respond, shoving my phone into my back pocket as I enter the cafeteria. Truly, I don’t know how. I’m at a complete loss for words. I understand—to some extent— why he’s upset. I’ve been ghosted by fuck boys many times, and it’s not a great feeling. His response, however, is unwarranted and, frankly—it’s giving narcissist vibes, a hint of gaslighting swimming beneath the surface. Regardless, his attitude is a big red flag that leaves a sour taste in my mouth and my stomach roiling as an impending sense of doom hovers over my head like a dark, ominous cloud.

What did I get myself into with this man?