Sierra rolls her eyes, but she says nothing, focusing on Rowan as she smooths a hand up and down his back and whispers soothing words in his ear.
Lawson puffs out his chest, preening like a peacock. “It would have been nice to do things the traditional way, but I’m willing to overlook it considering you are finally willing to make an honest woman of Sierra.”
Pompous ass.
Sierra opens her mouth to speak, but I silence her with a subtle shake of my head. I want her to let me handle this while she comforts our son. “I might not have been there for them at the start, but I’m here now, and I’m going nowhere. Sierra and Rowan are my responsibility, and I will take care of them.” Swallowing the surge of internal fear that has risen to the fore, I say, “I will love and protect both of them until the day I die.”
Georgia Lawson holds a hand over her mouth as her eyes turn glassy. “This is wonderful news,” she adds a few seconds later when she has composed herself. “Just wonderful.”
I’m half-expecting Sierra to jump in and confirm nothing is settled, but she’s either as anxious as me to get out of here, more worried about Rowan, or just shell-shocked after the day from hell and too tired to protest.
Serena steps in front of us, beaming with genuine happiness. Sierra mentioned they had grown closer over the years and that Serena helped her a lot when Rowan was a baby. I’m glad she has one selfless sister she can rely on. Gifoli is nowhere to be seen, so I figure he took his kids out of the room when Saskia started throwing a hissy fit. “I’m so happy for you, Sierra. You too, Ben.” Her eyes soften when she looks at Rowan. “This is the best news for Rowan.” Leaning in, she kisses the back of his dark head. “He’s such a beautiful boy and such a happy child.”
“He is,” I say, pride suffusing my tone. “And that is all due to Sierra. She has loved and cared for him in a way I appreciate, adore, and can only envy.”
Not that I’m envious of my child or begrudge him his happy childhood. It’s more that he has caused me to reflect on my own unhappy childhood lately, and I’ve been a little melancholy. I have also found myself looking back at my childhood with a slightly different lens, remembering the happy times I shared with Mom, before everything turned to shit, because it wasn’t all bad even though most of the dark memories have snuffed out the happy ones.
Rowan has stopped crying now, and while he is still cradled in Sierra’s arms, his head is angled, and he’s watching me closely.
“You hanging in there, buddy?” I ask, concern overriding every other emotion.
He nods, and I see the same turmoil on his face. We need to get out of here so we can get him settled and talk to him. I don’t want him going to sleep upset or worried. I lock eyes with Sierra. “We should go.”
“There is no rush,” Lawson says. “We have plenty of room and the means to protect you. Besides, your man is still out cold.”
“Not anymore,” Leo says, appearing in the doorway with a drowsy-looking Alessandro. I didn’t even notice Leo had slipped out of the room. Ciro is positioned by the door, wearing his usual dour expression, his arms folded across his bulky chest. Frank and Ian hang back in the hallway, and I spot the duffel bags at their feet.
I had messaged Frank when we were in the air to pack a bag for Sierra and Rowan. I can send my movers to pack up and ship the rest of their things, but I didn’t want to organize that without talking to Sierra. She will most likely argue. Though I don’t want to force her hand, she will be moving to Greenwich with me. There is no way I’m leaving her here in Chicago while the Russians pose such a huge threat.
“I want to go,” Sierra says, surprising me. “I’m grateful for all your help today.” Her eyes flit between her parents. “Both of you, but I need to think of what’s best for Rowan, and right now, that is being with Ben.” I shouldn’t be surprised she is placing his needs, and his safety, above her own because I’ve seen her do that time and time again.
“Of course, darling.” Georgia Lawson walks over to us, circling her arms around Sierra and pressing a kiss to her brow and Rowan’s. She pats my arm. “Take care of my daughter and my grandson.”
“I will guard them with my life.”
“See that you do,” Lawson says, coming up alongside his wife. “I know you are keen to get away, so I won’t hold you up, but you and I need to meet. We have a few things to discuss. Perhaps I can come visit once Sierra and Rowan are settled.”
I nod even though I want to rip him a new one. He’s more concerned with getting answers and finding out how this will work to his advantage than ensuring his flesh and blood are safe. I won’t be letting him come anywhere near my Greenwich home. Its existence is a heavily guarded secret for a reason. As far as the Lawsons are concerned, they will be told Sierra and Rowan are staying at my New York penthouse, and Lawson can come to my office at the Caltimore Holdings building if he wants to talk.
“Call me,” Serena says, hugging her sister.
“I promise I will.” Sierra holds Rowan tightly against her upper torso as I usher them out of the room.
“Are you okay?” I ask Alessandro, working hard not to punch him for his stupidity. Hauling him over the coals can wait but not for long. I want to find out how this happened so I can punish those responsible.
“I’m fine,” he slurs, as Leo props him up. “Are you okay?” He fixes Sierra with worried eyes.
She nods. “I’m good. We can talk when the drugs are fully out of your system. You should sleep,” she adds because she’s a much nicer person than me.
“Good. Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I tell everyone.
Frank takes a hold of Alessandro’s other arm, and between him and his brother, they walk him out. Ian and Ciro silently follow them.
“Where are we going?” Sierra quietly asks as we walk along the hallway, trailing my men. I still have my arm around her while she’s holding Rowan.
“To my home in Greenwich, Connecticut,” I whisper in her ear.
“Okay.”
I glance at her with arched brows, thinking it can’t be that easy.
“Don’t look so surprised. You know I always prioritize Rowan’s needs, and right now, getting out of Chicago is what’s best.” A violent shudder works through her, and her body trembles against my side. She is scared too. That much is obvious, and no one would blame her after the ordeal she endured today. I never want her to be in a position like that ever again.
“I couldn’t agree more.” I hold my family close as I walk them out the front door, eager to escape Chicago as fast as humanly possible.
33
BEN
Rowan is fast asleep in Sierra’s arms as we exit the elevator, entering the hallway of my penthouse apartment in Manhattan. It’s too late to travel to Greenwich tonight, so we will sleep here, and I will drive with them to Connecticut tomorrow.
“Where can I put him?” Sierra whispers, stifling a yawn as we step into my open-plan living space.
“Follow me,” I whisper, gesturing to Alessandro and Leo to take a seat on one of the couches. I need to have a word with them before they retire to their apartments for the night. I already excused Ciro, and he went directly to his apartment without question.