Marisolâs POV ~
Grandpa has teased me all morning. I am nervous..Not about Malakai saying he loves me. About him being mad about Isaiah.
I had fixed an early lunch.. and pit the baby down for his nap. Malakai arrived at eleven, sharp. I showed him into the dining room.
I took a long drink of water.. then fixed us each a plate of food. Stalling, at its finest. I finally sat down.
I began âThe night we.. that night.. something happened. I didnât realize it, until I was in London. I looked for you.. I had Susannah and Allen look for you. They would go to that bar.. and ask around.. hanging around.. but you never showed.â
He smiled âDonât be nervous. Whatever it is.. we will work it out.â I nodded and said âI was looking for you to let you know I was pregnant. I thought it only right you knew.â
He sat there a minute.. then he said, angrily, âWhat did you do? Where is my child?â I was perplexed a minute.. then, I realized he thought I aborted my baby!
I snapped âYou fucking jerk! How dare you insinuate something like that!? You think I would kill my own baby?â
He blinked.. he mumbled âI am so sorry. Thatâs my âfuck around and find outâ voice. I donât know why I used it on you. I canât envision you ever harming anyone. All I can think is it was a shock.â
I said âThatâs strike one! Two more.. and youâre out. Now. You have a son. His name is Isaiah Solomon Andrews. We can talk about adding your last name. He turned two, three days ago. He is as precocious and busy as a five year old. He is highly intelligent and needs constant stimulation. A bored Ike is a naughty Ike.â
He was grinning from ear to ear. He asked âWho does he look like? You? Oh please.. you! Those blue eyes would be deadly on a man!â I laughed âLetâs not get him to manhood just yet. He is made over in your image. Thereâs no mistaking who his father is.â
He said âI want you to know⦠I am in this for the long haul. I never meant anything more than when I said I love you. We can go at whatever pace you need, but please give us a chance? Before you answer.. you need to know something.â
I smiled and asked âWhat? That youâre a mafia boss.. and not a mob boss, because that is a great insult to the mafia. That you have most likely killed before.. and you will most likely have to kill again? I already know all that. I also know you have a good heart.. for the people you care about. I respect and appreciate the way you look out for Grandpa. And you are high on his list of praise recipients!â
He looked at me, wide-eyed, and said âAnd thatâs not a deal breaker?â I shook my head âI understand the need to kill. I have done my research.. I know you only take contracts on serial killers.. rapists.. and child molesters. Being a mother, I get it. I know I would kill anyone who hurt my son.â
He smiled and nodded âSo, I have that chance?â I nodded again.. I heard the monitor.. and turned the screen on⦠Isaiah was stirring from his nap.
I asked âWould you like to meet your son?â He nodded and his eyes got glassy. I took his hand and walked up to the babyâs room.
I opened the door and spoke softly. He stood and said âMommaâ I lifted him out of the crib and kissed his neck.. inhaling his sweet baby sleepy scent.
I whispered âMomma brought someone to see you. Remember how Momma told you, every night.. how we would keep looking until we found.. who?â He grinned and said âDaddy! Find Daddy? We find?â I laughed and said âHe found us!â
Malakai stepped forward and put his hand on Isaiahâs head âHe looks just like me.â I laughed again and said âTold you!â Isaiah held his arms out and Malakai froze.
I said âItâs okay. He just wants you to hold him.â He stood there a minute.. then he took him in his arms. He held him close.. while Isaiah patted his back, in comfort.
I hear Isaiah say âDonât cry, Daddy. You find us.â I felt tears burn my eyes.. getting mad at myself, all over again. I should have tried harder! My little man missed out on two years with his dad!
Malakai held his arm out, and I walked into it.. he wanted that family hug..the one that makes you feel whole. He asked âCan we take him out? Go somewhere? I really donât want to be apart from him, yet.â
I said âSure.. Tell you what.. you dress Ike.. while I change into something more park suitable, and we will go there. Just take his diaper off and hand him a pull-up.. he knows how to put them on.â
I ran to my room.. slipping on shorts and tank top⦠pulling my hair into a high ponytail. Tying my shoes, I bounced back into Isaiahâs room.. just as Malakai tied his shoes.
We walked the three blocks to the park.. even though Isaiah wouldnât stay in the stroller.. preferring to sit on his dadâs shoulders. It was just adorable.
We had been at the park about twenty minutes.. and we had been to the slide.. the swings.. the slide.. the rocking horse.. the slide.. You get the picture.
We had just sat on the bench, so Isaiah could have a snack. When fucking Bonita was stood in front of us! Damn it!
She said âOh this is too funny! Imagine bumping into you. Whoâs the kid?â Isaiah immediately reacted to the negativity im the air and crawled into Malakaiâs lap.. whining âDaddyâ
Bonita simpered âOh! I didnât know you had a kid.â He snarled at her âWhy would you know anything about me? I donât answer to⦠You! And yes.. I have a Son! I donât own a kid.. but maybe I do.. I do own that ranch on the outskirts of town.â
She tittered her fake little laugh, that she thinks is flirtatious. I said âWhat did you want, Bonita?â
She tells me âI was on my way to visit dear Grandpa.. when I saw you sitting here.â I laughed âAre you trying to give him a heart attack? You never come here! So.. what do you want, Bonita?â
She sneered and started to spout some other bullshitâ¦when Isaiah said âMommaâ and reached for me. Bonita started laughing and said âOh My God! Daddy is going to shit fits when he finds out Miss Goody Two-Shoes is a whore.â
I yawned âShit bricks. Not fits, dumbass! And since when did you father give two shits about me in the first place?â
She said âNot you, stupid! The mob king! Thatâs your baby daddy!â I laughed âI know who my babyâs father is.. whereâs yours, Bonita?â
She screamed âYou bitch! Just had to bring that up! Always acting so much better! Look at you! Sprouting bastard kids and still acting like youâre better.â
I had her up and hanging by her throat.. âDo you know how easy it would be to kill you? This is your only warning. Ever call my son anything other than his name.. it will be the last word you utter.â I dropped her on the ground.
I lifted Isaiah in my arms, letting Malakai push the stroller.. Isaiah said âMean lady, Momma. You play?â I laughed and said âYes, my little man! She is very mean. And yep.. Momma played.. she said a bad word.. so Momma played her game.â
Malakai asked âShould you be telling him that was a game?â I looked directly at him and said âYes! He is two.. his core memories havenât kicked in yet. I will begin his training at three.. he will learn discipline.. when to use force and when not to.â
He nodded âMakes sense. I will learn.. be patient?â I grinned âIt isnât easy.. and now heâs entering the terrible twos.. so itâs going to be that much harder.â
He groaned.. and I laughed. Then I asked âHey! Would you stay for dinner? I am positive that bitch and her family will show up!â
He said he would.. and I said âLetâs tell Grandpa.â