Chapter 17: Chapter 17: The Secret Kid

CADEN

The week goes by, and our routine gets back to normal for the most part. I finish moving everyone from the old mansion to the new one. Jesus and his family are ready within a couple days and it’s like they’ve been here the whole time.

The women in the house have a field day redecorating the house how they want it, and wedding plans are in full swing. We have a conference room and offices at the estate, and the old mansion is now our main meeting spot.

All of my head guards live there with their families. We have restructured and moved Maxwell Industries to a new larger building and moved all the employees.

The old building has been converted to apartments on every floor for all my single men. Needless to say, it has now become a hot spot for women to flock to.

Most of the men are working during the day, but when shifts change the women tend to grab some food and watch for them coming back. Probably trying to find a potential husband. Can’t blame them since most people in this town know us and company.

We have updated our fleet of vehicles and now have brand new SUVs. We have updated our communication gear, and everyone has earpieces and microphones in their sleeves.

Yes, we look like we are the fucking secret service, but with our current situation, security cannot be lacking.

Every week we have a meeting at the old mansion with my head guards before we head out to the new business building. We have had a smooth transition and everything has been running smoothly.

We have a few weeks left till the wedding, and all the men have our first fittings for suits today. The women say all black, so we will do all black. There is one thing we will not argue with and that is the wedding planners.

When the afternoon rolls around, we head out to get my son from school. When we pull up, I can’t help but smile because if we got looks before, we get more now.

We pull into the parking lot and have Frankie jump out with Jesus. They quickly button their suit jackets to hide their guns. I jump out next and button mine closed as we walk toward the front of the school.

I’m standing there, looking at my watch and talking to Frankie, when I notice a lady out of the corner of my eye staring at me. She is just taking a look and looking away.

This chick is full on gawking at me, looking me up and down. I am pretty cool and ignore it, but she is starting to make me uncomfortable.

She starts to walk up to me as Jesus steps in front of her with his hand up to stop her. I reach up and lightly touch his shoulder, shaking my head, and he steps back.

“I’ve never seen you here before. We just moved here. What is your name?”

“Caden. Caden Maxwell.”

“Well, Mr. Maxwell, how would you like to get coffee sometime?”

“I’m sorry, I’m engaged.”

“Well, it’s just coffee. It’s not that big of a deal.”

At this time, Nate comes running out yelling out to me. I can’t thank him enough for running out right at this moment.

“Daddy, Daddy!”

I scoop him up in my arms and turn back to this lady.

“Look, lady, I’m engaged. If you are as smart as I am assuming you are, I wouldn’t press it further. My fiancée, who is his mother, would have no problem dealing with you herself. I can assure you she is not one you would want to cross.”

With that, I turn on my heel. Frankie and Jesus follow me as we climb back into the car. When we pull off, we start laughing, thinking about what if that lady pulls that crap with Eva. I can guarantee that it won’t end well.

We drive till we get to the tailor’s and meet all my men there. I have Frankie, Tank, Niko, Tony, Jesus, Nate, and myself all getting fitted today.

We make sure we have everyone before we walk in with our suits and earpieces. People stop and just stare at us.

“How can I help you gentlemen?”

“We are here for fittings. Under Maxwell. Caden Maxwell.”

“Yes, sir. Please come this way, and we will make this quick.”

We file over to our sitting area and start taking off our suit jackets and our holsters. Needless to say, if people weren’t looking before, they are now.

We slowly go one by one to get our measurements taken. When we are finished with ours, it’s Nate’s turn. While he is standing there, we notice that it’s like we are all here for him.

We are all standing around looking like this kid has his own entourage escorting him. Six huge, built guys standing around one five-year-old.

He tries his hardest to keep a straight face but keeps giggling which makes us all laugh. It takes just a few minutes, then we wrap up, and I pick up Nate as we head back out to the cars.

Nate notices an ice cream place next door and points it out to us. How could I say no to my little man? So we have a detour and head to the ice cream parlor.

I give him a smile as we walk in, leaving Tank and Frankie to stand outside. We wait our turn. People have that look. They are unsure whether to run away or stand still and hope maybe we won’t see them.

When it becomes our turn, the guys start ordering and taking theirs to switch spots with Tank and Frankie. We get through the whole crew, and Frankie pays with my card, and we all head back out.

There is a table so we sit down while Jesus and Tony stand watching. We are discussing what will be happening next with the wedding when my phone rings with Leo’s name.

“Leo, how’s it going?”

“Okay, but I wanted to call you as I’m going through papers at Ortiz’s old complex, and I found some paperwork that I didn’t even know about.”

“Okay. Well, what do the papers say?”

“It is talking about some chick and her kid. Apparently, he was sending them money to live on. Dunno if he was keeping them hidden or what.”

“Do we know if it is his kid?”

“No. If it is, he never claimed it from what I can see. I have been asking, and no one knows who this chick is.”

“Well, get with who you need to! We need to figure out if this kid is his. How old is this kid?”

“Looks like it is approximately two years old. I will investigate and let you know what I find out.”

“All right, let me know.”

I hang up the phone, and everyone is looking at me, confused.

“Leo found paperwork that Ortiz had been paying money out to a chick and her two-year-old. If it is in fact his, he will come for us later down the road.”

“We will be ready when the time comes.”

“Jesus, did you know about a possible kid?”

“No way, man. He had a lot of women but never claimed any kid. We never saw anyone pregnant, either.”

The wheels in my head slowly turn, and I wonder what will happen later if this kid comes forward for his dad’s empire. Well, there’s no point in dealing with something that might happen in sixteen years.

We go back to normal conversations and finish our ice cream, then we head back to the car.

Everyone loads up, and we head back to the estate to meet with Fernando and Vinny. We are meeting to go over contracts and alliances that Ortiz had and what we will now have.

Fernando got some new clients that want untraceable guns and found a supplier. If we get this contract, it will make us millions. So I need everyone on deck to make sure this runs smoothly.

Never did I want to get into this lifestyle. I just wanted an easy, simple life, but it’s like no matter what I tried to stay out of, it just didn’t work.

We reach the estate and pull in to the driveway. We now have men with their guns standing at the gate.

Thank goodness, we are set back a ways. I can’t imagine people driving by and seeing armed guards standing by a gate. That won’t draw any attention.

We make our way up the driveway and park by the house. I motion for Nate and open the door to step out. I pick him up, and we slowly unload. Eva steps out, and Nate goes running up to her.

“Hey, at the end of the week, don’t forget we have the doctor appointment at four to find out what we are having. I know you’re busy, so I’ll pick up Nate and meet you there.”

“Okay, that’s fine. I’ll be there!”

I give her a quick kiss and grab her hand as we walk in. I make my way over to the conference room where everyone is waiting.

“All right, gentlemen, let’s get this meeting started.”

EVA

I try to keep myself busy as the days go by, but I cannot wait to get to the doctor’s today. I’m almost six months along now and feel amazing!

I leave the house and go with Frankie and Tank to get Nate at school. When we drive up and park, I see the women look at the car and get excited. Boy, will they be surprised when I step out.

I chuckle to myself as Frankie jumps out and opens my door for me. I climb down and can instantly see their disappointment.

I slowly walk up and wait while some chick keeps giving me dirty looks. I am trying to think about what her problem could be when Frankie whispers in my ear.

“That’s the chick that hit on Caden a couple days ago. He warned her about you. Apparently, she doesn’t care.”

I shake my head, smirking to myself, thinking that this lady has no fucking clue who she is messing with. I just smile when she walks up to me with a nasty look.

Frankie steps in front of me, but I grab his arm, reassuring him it’s okay. He steps back to the side as I stare back at her.

“Can I help you?”

“So you’re the fiancée. Can’t quite understand why you’re so special.”

“Well, it isn’t up to you, is it? Hit on my king again, and I guarantee it will be the last thing you ever fucking do.”

“What are you gonna do, kill me?”

“Bitch, you wouldn’t be my first! Think about that.”

The blood slowly drains from her face, then I hear my son calling out for me.

“There’s my boy. Are you ready to go meet Daddy at the doctor’s?”

“Yes, Mommy, let’s go!”

I smirk at the lady, then I turn to the car and head to the doctor’s. I can’t help but smirk, knowing that she is probably still shaking, thinking about what I said.

When Frankie pulls in and parks, I see all the guys standing around in suits and sunglasses. People are walking around staring as today is a family affair. We all gather and head in as everyone stares.

We look like the cliché Mafia family, and we just laugh. Nate has become oblivious since he’s now used to it.

I walk up to the counter and check in as the receptionist just stares at the guys standing with me. She looks back at me and nods as she types on her computer checking us in.

“It should just be about ten minutes. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine. We can wait.”

I turn around and see Caden sitting reading a book with Nate on his lap and think to myself what an amazing man I have. I sit down next to him. When they finish their story, Caden looks in my direction.

“How was the pickup at the school today? Frankie says you had words with the lady?”

“Yep! I thought I was very sweet to her too.”

I hear Jesus cough while Frankie coughs into his hand mumbling ~bullshit~.

“What did you say, Eva?”

“I said, ‘Can I help you?’ Then she said, ‘So you’re the fiancée. Can’t quite understand why you’re so special.’ So I said, ‘Well, it isn’t up to you, is it?’

“As I stepped up to her face, I continued and said, ‘If you hit on my king again, it will be the last thing you fucking do.’ So she said, ‘What are you gonna do, kill me?’

“And she snickered at me, so I said, ‘Bitch, you wouldn’t be my first! Think about that.’”

“Eva, what the hell?”

“Oh, but the look on her face when it clicked! It was hilarious, wasn’t it, Frankie!”

“The look on her face was priceless!”

We all laugh, then the medical assistant calls me back. Caden and Nate get up, and I see everyone else look down.

I walk up to the assistant and whisper, “Would they all fit in the room?”

She nods yes to me, so I turn around toward them.

“All right, you big babies. You guys can come in!”

You would think I got them a puppy. They all jump up like fucking two-year-olds with huge smiles as they walk toward the door.

I slowly walk with everyone to the room we will be in and sit up on the table waiting for the doctor to come in. Caden has picked up Nate, and he looks super excited to see his sibling.

I am sitting looking around when we hear a soft knock on the door as the doctor walks in. He closes the door and turns around as the blood drains from his face.

Six huge, built men, one holding a five-year-old who’s clapping his hands. Can be a little intimidating.

We see him visibly gulp as he makes his way over to where I’m at. He has me lie back, and I get my shirt pulled up with my belly exposed, assuming the position.

“So, you’re here to see what you’re having, correct?”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“Okay.”

He gets the machine in position and puts the gel on me then he starts moving the wand all over. All six men just wait in suspense while they keep pointing at different parts of the baby.

“Well, it’s a g-girl!”

Everyone starts patting each other and giving high fives, and I can’t help but be a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy it’s a girl, but I also want Caden to have his own son.

We thank the doctor then I get cleaned up and start heading out toward the waiting room. We go through the door to the waiting room, and all the conversations stop as everyone stares.

When we walk out to the cars and climb in to head back to the estate, I just look out the window as we drive. I am so lost thinking that I don’t hear Caden interrupting.

“What are you thinking about, Eva?”

“I don’t know right now.”

Luckily, he doesn’t push the issue which I’m thankful for. I just don’t know what to feel. We ride in silence to the estate and after we park, I get out and head upstairs.

I don’t really want to talk to anyone right now. I walk into our room, and I climb into bed and just start sobbing.

I am so wrapped up in my emotions, I don’t hear Caden come in until he sits on the edge of the bed behind me. I slowly sit up, leaning against the headboard and wiping away my tears.

“Eva, baby, please talk to me. Eva, don’t think for one second I’m unhappy with a girl. I’m thrilled I get to have a daddy’s girl. She will be spoiled by me and all her uncles!”

“I just wanted you to have your own son.”

“Eva, I already have a son. I have told you this—Nate is my son. Now I will have a daughter. If further down the line we have another then so be it, but for right now, we are having a girl, and I’m beyond thrilled.”

“Okay, I just didn’t know how to react. It’s a lot going on. We are almost done with wedding plans and getting everything wrapped up. So, all we have to do is show up. So far there’s over five hundred people coming, and I’m just nervous.”

“Eva, if anything gets to be too much, just tell the girls. They will take care of it, okay? I’m sure Connie would love to help also.”

I nod my head and crawl into his lap for a hug. He wraps an arm around my waist and rubs my belly. He lays his hand there, and when he gets kicked by the baby, he looks at me, wide-eyed. I just smile because he finally felt the baby kick.

Only a couple of weeks, and we will officially be Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell. Little does he know, he will have a gift waiting for him at the reception after the wedding.