Alpha's Daughter and Her Mafia Mate

2: Tough World

“What now?” I sighed in defeat, reading Henry's troubled expression.

“We need to move out now. Senator Strand knows about this house as well, apparently.” Henry informed me before he began barking orders in his earpiece. When it comes to security, he is the guru and I would be a fool to question him.

“That son of a b*tch!” I grumbled, turning back and exited the house with Henry and Lenah in tow. After strapping in safely, Henry stepped on the gas without telling me where they were heading, and I didn't ask. I trusted him inexplicably.

“What are we going to do about Strand?” I asked after a long silence, exasperatedly. “He has become a thorn.”

“Give me a day and I will deliver his brat to you,” Henry assured, training his eyes on the road. I didn't answer. My mind was devising painful ways to make the Senator regret ever deciding to come after my family. And for Melissa, I will deliver his brat to him in a body bag. Maxwell stirred, making me panic for a moment, but he went right back to sleep.

“You know he won't sleep forever,” Henry, who had been watching as I breathed out in relief, murmured.

“No sh*t,” I scoffed, my eyes going to the window. They widened as realization surged. We were heading to the suburbs. “We are going to sunrise?” I asked incredulously because it was my least favorite place and Henry knew it. I had only bought the property because Melissa insisted on getting a place in a less chaotic environment, as she put it.

“Glad you noticed, didn't know how to begin telling you.” Henry retorted. “As much you hate it, there is nowhere safer for max,” I grunted without a word, peeking at my sleeping son. I would do anything to keep him safe. And if Henri thinks that staying in a damn gated community and pretending we are all loving neighbors will do the job, then I will stomach my discomfort and do it. I caressed my son's face before leaning in to kiss his forehead.

It didn't take long before we pulled up to our new home. Henri and the security guys did a quick sweep and after deeming the place secure, Lenah and I headed inside. She went directly to the kitchen and I followed closely. As with all my other properties, each was freshly stocked, so she began on dinner right away. I had to go put Max down on my bed before coming down to be taught how to prepare baby food. Lenah was patient, but at the struggle's end, we decided it was better for her to prepare the food instead. We wouldn't want to give my son food poisoning. I was okay with reheating and all that.

I had a quick meeting with Henri where we discussed how to go about Strand's daughter. I, personally, wanted to handle her and Henry didn't object but to keep my location safe I wasn't to leave the house for a few days.

We established that even in the disagreeable community, we could hold her in the basement which had proved to be soundproof. Dinner was served shortly, but I was in no mood to eat.

I instructed Henri to move my son's crib to my bedroom after his dinner and excused myself in favor of a much-needed shower.

I had literally had a long day. I lathered my body slowly, finally enjoying some peace. I remembered the last time I was in this particular shower. Melissa and I had just got married, and she wanted us to play the role of being an ordinary couple for our honeymoon. We spent a whole month doing mundane things like interacting with our neighbors, hosting barbecues, and surprisingly going to church. I still can't remember how she convinced me to, but for that one month, I was a dedicated member of St. Teresa Catholic Church. I had even volunteered to sing the responsorial psalms one day. I smiled at how absurd that sounds. Me, the man who is a staunch heathen, attending church without failure. I would have done anything for my wife, no matter how absurd it was.

The more I thought about her, the more I missed her. I didn't even realize it when I began shedding tears. My breath began coming out in short pants, and before long I was fully hyperventilating. I slid onto the floor without bothering to turn off the hot shower. I pulled my knees to my chest and let my head fall onto them, squeezing myself tightly. One would think I was sheltering myself from something. And in a way I was, from the pain that was threatening to destroy my entire being. Without prying eyes around, I let my walls crumble and wept like a baby. For my sorry self left without a wife, for my son who is left without a mother, and for Melissa, who will never get to see our son grow. All that anger I was holding burst forth, opening a dam. And for almost thirty minutes, I sat on the cold tiles as the shower water sprinkled over me, crying my heart out. I only got up because my butt hurt from the hard surface and my nose was blocked.

I briefly stood under the warm water to run off any traces of soap before turning the shower off and grabbed a towel. I dried myself up rather quickly and threw the damp towel in the bin before walking to the bedroom. The crib was already placed beside my nightstand and baby blankets were in place. I carefully picked Max up and deposited him in the crib. After ensuring he was comfortable, I adjusted his mosquito net before getting into my bed stark naked. I pulled the covers over me, wiggling until I found a comfortable spot. Before I realized it, I had succumbed to sleep.

*****

I jolted awake at dawn to a loud wailing in my room. I turned to pat Melissa, but quickly realized she wasn't there. I groaned, knowing I would be the one to check on Max. Without wasting time, I hopped off the bed still naked, switched on the lights, and walked towards his crib. The little guy was thrashing erratically, screaming his lungs out. “Heey,” I cooed, lifting him up. He hiccuped, latching onto my arms as tightly as he could, but his crying didn't cease. I rocked him, nudging his onesie to see if he had soiled himself. The stench which hit my nostrils was an answer enough. I looked around the room trying to find his diaper bag. I saw it lying carelessly on the sofa. I walked there and tried to put Max down so that I could retrieve the bag, but he wasn't having it. I was forced to operate with one hand. When it came to changing a diaper, I was clueless. At some point, I had to put Max down by force and grabbed my phone and searched for a tutorial on YouTube. Even then, I ruined two diapers before I put on the third one successfully. In the process, I soiled my sofa because Max couldn't stay still. I must admit Melissa did make it seem easy.

I wrapped the soiled diaper and threw it in the bin, before scooping the little guy up and tried to put him back to sleep, but he wouldn't. After numerous failed attempts, it hit me that he might be hungry. I pulled on a bathrobe and headed downstairs with Max in my arms. Lenah had instructed me on the heating temperatures, so there was no need to wake her up. I positioned my boy on a feeding chair and got to work.

A few minutes later, his food was ready. We spent the next hour, with me making funny faces so that he could open his mouth for me to shove the food in. It was hands down the hardest task I have ever engaged in.

Apparently, we weren't as quiet as I had hoped because, after the last spoon-feeding, one spectator clapped his hands, impressed. I whipped my head fast, and I felt dizzy afterward. I hadn't heard Henry come in.

“I was quiet,” he murmured as if that was supposed to explain why he hadn't made his presence felt.

“I had doubts about you doing this, but clearly…” He trailed off, but I got his point. I had doubts about myself too. I still do. But if Henry's impressed grin is anything to go by, I am doing pretty well.

“I got some good news for you,” he blurted, looking all giddy.

“Do tell,” I lifted Max in my hands and plopped him on my shoulder like Lenah advised to help him burp and lure him to sleep.