Harbour of Refuge (12 page)

He followed without question, but with a final glance back to where Jaydee sat.

“What?”

“He does speak English. But also Russian. He’s just very shy, so it’ll take you some time to get to know him.” She held up her hand, stopping his next words. “I know, it’s none of my business but I care for him and I think he deserves so much more than he’s been given.”

She turned to walk away and he grabbed her wrist. “What do you suggest I do?”

Her gaze held his and he felt her searching. For what, he wasn’t positive, but something.

“I would
suggest
you take care of your son. He has no one left except for you. If you were in his shoes, would you want to be passed off on someone else?”

“And the racing?”

“What about it? Take him with you.”

“So he can do what? Shouldn’t he be in school?”

“Okay, so set him up in school. Make a home for him and be his father.”

Frustration welled up. “So suddenly I am supposed to give up my life, my way of living.”

Her gaze narrowed. “Did you have this much trouble deciding about your life before”—her voice dropped to a hiss—“you fucked his mother? Because you did and that child, that
innocent
child is the result.”

“I could hire a nanny or caretaker for him.” He noticed her clenched jaw.

“You should probably go figure this out. I need to get home.” She turned back to Liev and crouched before him, murmuring something only the two of them heard. When she faced Enzo again, her expression was closed and he didn’t like that.

“We need to get going,” he said.

Everyone moved to the door, Jaydee and Halyn whispered amongst themselves before Jaydee held out her hand to Liev and he took it. The last one to leave, Enzo stared at the woman who was locking up her store.

“Halyn?”

“I can’t go tonight, Enzo. Thank you though for the opportunity.” She forced a smile. “Have a good night. I wish you the best of luck, Liev seems like a very sweet boy.”

“Are you bailing on me?” He blocked her in with his body.

“Bailing? On the party tonight? Yes. I think you have more important things to deal with than going to party and my feelings are strong enough that I would lose respect for you if you passed him to someone else just so you could.”

“I have to make an appearance, Halyn.”

She sniffed, her position clear.

“I do.”

“You owe me no explanation. It’s your life.”

He needed to think. He needed to figure this out. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

She headed off with a wave over her shoulder. He watched her until he could see her no more. Then a call from his brother got his attention. When he’d woken this morning, he’d had no idea his life would change so much.

He joined them and, at Gio’s facial expression, he reached out for Liev’s hand. His heart clenched a bit as the small, soft hand settled into his. He jerked his gaze up to find Gio’s on him, a knowing smile on his lips.

Damn it. He didn’t think anyone would have affected his heart like his niece and nephews did, and not with a single touch. But this…was happening. Had happened. Yes, he’d fought it. And probably still would in some ways, but in that second, Enzo Cassano knew he would do whatever it would take for his son.

That little hand stayed in his all the way to his vehicle.
I will need a car seat.
He helped Liev into the back and buckled him in.

“Enzo?”

He turned and shut the door after giving Liev a small smile to find his brother there, leaning out of his car window.

“What?”

“Come to the house. Don’t expose him to the circus that is your life right now. You two can stay with us for the night then decide what will be best.”

That sounded like the smartest idea. “Thanks, man. We’ll be right behind you.”

He climbed in and looked at the child in the rear-view mirror. The boy stared out of the window.

Stop thinking of him as ‘boy’, he’s your son. Liev.
His brain’s admonishment rang loudly and fiercely.

He drove in silence and as he finally turned into the driveway behind Gio, he checked again in the mirror. Liev had fallen asleep. His head rested against the window and he finally looked peaceful.

After parking, he got out and walked around to the passenger side, only to halt and go back to the rear driver’s door. He didn’t want him to fall out when he opened it. So he reached across, unbuckled the belt and slid him carefully along the seat until he could heft him up in his arms. Shutting the door with his hip, Enzo cradled his boy in his arms and headed up into the house.

Gio met him on the second floor and directed him to a room for Liev. “You can put him here.”

Enzo laid him down and removed his shoes, before covering him up with the folded quilt at the end of the bed. On his knees, he glanced up at his older brother.

“Is it always like this?”

Gio nodded. “From what I can tell, yes. Do you want another room or should I bring you a pillow for the chair?”

“I’m staying here.”

“Figured. I’ll bring you another one.”

He didn’t watch his brother leave, having returned his attention to his son. When Gio did return, he rose to talk to him at the door.

“Can you keep an eye on him while I make my required appearance?”

“Sure. But you better not make me come after you.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Okay, we’ll keep him safe. Go.”

They hugged and he left after reaching down to touch his son’s cheek one final time. Not much later, dressed in a suit, he strolled into the party, a ready smile on his face. What met him was a camera flash.

Shit!
This would be all over the paper now and he knew Halyn would see it.

* * * *

The bastard!
The rat bastard!
Her fingers clenched around the newspaper in her hand. After everything, he’d gone to the party anyway. She’d thought better of him. Hell, she’d hoped for better from him.

Tossing it down, she then pushed it away, not wanting to read about how much fun he’d had. She ate the remainder of her bagel with cream cheese and fruit before cleaning up after herself. Then she moved on to tidying the rest of the house.

So much for a day off. She’d just finished mopping the kitchen floor when her doorbell rang. Pulling off her rubber gloves, she grumbled under her breath.
No one ever comes to the door when I’m not sweating like a sinner in church. They always wait until I’m drenched and stinky.

She tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear as she padded over the carpeted floor to the foyer and the front door. Without checking, she opened it and gasped. Enzo stood there, and at his side was Liev.

“Afternoon, Halyn. Can we come in?”

Her breath had caught and wasn’t really inclined to release. She struggled for a few seconds until she managed to breathe in some crisp afternoon air.

“Sure.” She backed up and they entered. She noticed his hand on the child’s shoulder. Maybe he’d made some progress last night after all.

Enzo paused beside her and brushed a kiss over her lips. “Can we talk?”

“Yes, let me just go change. I was in the middle of cleaning.”

“Oh, sorry. Should we go? Maybe we could do dinner instead?”

“No, now is fine, I just need to get out of these sweaty clothes. Back in a few.”

She walked away, giving Liev a smile as she passed him. She took a quick shower and dressed in a pair of grey workout pants and a Van Halen T-shirt. Padding barefoot back out to where the men were, she paused in the living room as she watched them by her patio door.

Enzo was talking to him but Liev barely acknowledged a word he said. Turning, Enzo appraised her with his gaze and she wondered how bad it would be to put the kid outside for five minutes.

“The television is in that stand there, maybe he’d like to watch something.”

While Enzo got his son settled, she went to the kitchen and got some drinks and a tray of fruit. After carrying everything back to the coffee table, she placed it by Liev.

“Help yourself, sweetie.”

Once he had, she and Enzo went to sit on the stools lining her counter bar. They could see Liev and still talk without him overhearing.

“What did you need to talk to me about?” she asked, drinking some of her blueberry and pomegranate-flavoured water. “I see you had a good time last night.”

“Don’t start on that, Halyn. I told you I had to go.”

She nodded. “Right. Looks like it was such a strain for you.”

He glowered and shook his head. “I didn’t come here to fight with you on this. I went, did my obligatory rounds and returned to my son and slept in his room, so if he woke he’d see me there and hopefully not be scared.”

Okay, perhaps she deserved the reprimand in his tone. She had been under the impression he’d just dumped the child and went out to party.

“Sorry.”

“Look, I know this is kind of a game-changer here, for us. Me having Liev thrust into my life. I am trying to figure some things out.”

She took another drink. He was still talking in the form of
us
right now. Were she alone, talking to him on the phone, she’d be dancing in a circle. But since she wasn’t and he sat right beside her, she opted to play it cool. Like she had the sense God gave a mule.

“I thought you were supposed to leave today.”

“They went on ahead. I have to make some arrangements first.”

A warning prickle skated up her spine.
Don’t jump to conclusions
, she told herself.

“I see. What kind of arrangements?” She managed to keep her tone even and gentle.

“For Liev. I want to ask you something.”

Here it comes
. She blinked at him, waiting for him to continue.

He took a deep breath, a drink, then took one of her hands in his. “Would you consider keeping an eye on him while I finish this season of racing?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Wait, what?”

She removed her hand from his. “I’m sorry, Enzo. I’m not a babysitter nor am I his parent. He needs to be with his father.”

“I’m in the middle of a season!”

“I don’t care. Children should be raised with their parents. Not someone paid to take care of them. If you’re so confident you’re doing the right thing, why don’t you leave him with your mother? You said she loved children.”

“You work at a toy store.”

“Yes, I do. But I don’t run a day care. Raising a child is hard work and you shouldn’t be foisting the responsibility off on someone else.”

“Racing season—”

“—is a year-round thing, depending on where in the world you are. That’s just an excuse. He’s a smart child.”

He shoved a hand through his hair. “You think so?”

“I do. I know you were hoping I would say yes, but I’m sorry, Enzo.”

“What if we got married.”

Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “I’m sorry, did you just mention marriage to have someone to watch over your son?”

“I’m asking would your answer be different if we were married?”

She took a deep breath, just not quite getting it. From what he’d told her, his family was close-knit. Why would he be so anxious to get rid of his own flesh and blood?

“I don’t think it would be.”

He frowned. “So you wouldn’t support my racing?”

“I didn’t say that, Enzo. But if you suddenly had a child dropped off on the doorstep, regardless of if we were married or not, I would still feel like you should be around and get to know your son.”

His gaze drifted back to Liev before resettling upon her. “It means that much to you?”

“The question should be, Enzo, why
doesn’t
it mean that much to you?” Halyn slipped off the stool and made her way to where Liev sat on her sofa. She joined him and gave him a smile when he looked away from the television to focus on her.

He had been watching shows about science and nature. She held his gaze and grabbed some fruit when he refocused on the flat screen. Her heart ached for him—she couldn’t begin to fathom what something like he’d gone through had done to his psyche.

With a plate of fruit in hand, she went back to the counter and reclaimed her seat. Munching on a pineapple cube, she observed Enzo. Indecision warred in his eyes and she sighed.

“I’m sorry. I was out of line with my earlier comment. It’s not my business how you handle Liev being in your life.”

“No. You’re right. I need to change. I just…racing was my life.” He shrugged. “Now, I’m not sure.”

“Who says you can’t do both. I’m sure some of the men who do this are married and have children.” She nudged the plate in his direction. “Surely you can find a happy medium.”

“Didn’t you say—?”

“Look. I have my opinion but that’s based on me. Not you. If you want to continue racing then do. But you can’t ignore the fact you have a son. How would you feel if your father acted as if he didn’t want you either? Right after your mother abandoned you.”

Damn it all, she didn’t want to feel sorry for him. This wasn’t her business and she wasn’t taking Liev for him to continue racing.
Stick to that, good. Not taking him.

“Can you keep an eye on him for a few? I need to make a call.”

“Sure.” She watched him head through the living room and step out onto the patio. Then she went and joined Liev.

“Do you like this show?” she asked as the coyote failed yet again in his attempt to capture the roadrunner.

“Yes.”

He’d spoken. She’d not been expecting a verbal answer and had to fight to hide her shocked expression. That one word was definitely accented.

“How old are you, Liev?”

“Almost nine.” He never took his gaze from the show, yet she wondered if he even truly saw it.

“When is your birthday?”

“September twenty-first.”

A few months away. She watched him. “Besides bears, what is it you like? Well, besides bears and stars?”

“Books.”

She liked him more and more. A kid who liked books seemed rare in this day and age—they all preferred technology.

“I see. What kind?”