Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Anywhere but Here ❯ Chapter Sixteen ( Chapter 16 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Hayden walked back to her room and put Christopher in his crib. She sat on her bed trying to figure this place out. Why were there so many people here? And why was he so...so hard looking? Why was he forcing Sai to stay here?

It was only a short while later when Jeeves came up with a small tray of chocolate cake. "Your dessert madam."

"No thank you. I'm sorry for the trouble."

"Very well then madam. I will return this downstairs. Is there anything else you require?"

"No...thank you."

He nodded and left her alone with her thoughts. She didn't sleep much that night. When Christopher woke her, she walked around the room with him as she fed him. In the midst of her feeding, the phone rang once more.

Walking over to it, she picked it up. "Sai?"

"Hey. Did I wake you?"

"No, I'm feeding Christopher."

"Ah. I'm feeding Elisha," he smiled.

"I thought so."

"I swear they're set on the same timer."

"They are twins, of course they are."

"You sound upset. Everything okay?"

"I want to go home."

"Soon," he promised.

Hayden looked down at Christopher in her arms and she sucked back some tears. "I've spent the last year with you next to me in bed and not having you here is like torture..."

There was a small intake of breath as he heard this. "Hayden...I didn't realize," he whispered without completing that sentence. In truth, he didn't honestly realize that he was that important to her. Hearing that, it was sad, but it made him smile.

"Just get better soon...because your son and I miss you."

"Well your daughter and I miss you too."

She smiled and wiped her tears. "Christopher's done. I need to burp him. Call me tomorrow?"

"Of course."

"I love you. Kiss Elisha for me."

"I will," he promised. "And I love you too."

She hung up the phone then burped Christopher. Instead of putting him in the crib, she laid him next to her and curled up with her hand on his tummy rubbing it softly. She tried really hard not to cry, but she couldn't help it. She missed Sai. He was the only person in the whole world who really loved her and wanted to care for her. Now he was sick...and so was her little girl. It just wasn't fair.

There was a knock at her door, followed by Jeeve's soft voice. "Young mistress?"

She sat up and wiped her eyes. It was late. What was he doing at her door at this hour? "Um...yes?"

"Might I come in?"

"Yes," she said standing and putting her house coat on before picking up Christopher and walking him to the crib.

Jeeves came in and shut the door quietly behind him. "Might I speak freely, madam?"

"You don't have to ask to speak...it's not as if I pay you to serve me," she said while tucking in Christopher.

"Yes madam." Jeeves took a breath and then slowly started pacing. "Might I inquire into something personal? Do you know what Sai's father does for a living?"

"I never asked because it didn't really concern me..."

"Seeing as how you are in his house, I believe it does."

"Yes, but when Sai and Elisha are well, I won't be anymore."

"I am afraid that is not the case. At least, not according to the doctors."

She turned to him. Her face broke and she searched his eyes frantically while hers watered. "What are you telling me?"

"It is not something to cry over," he said quickly. "The young master and your daughter will not perish if that is what you are thinking."

"Don't scare me like that! Do you have any idea what it's like to think that!?"

"My apologies. I did not mean to startle you."

"It's a little late!"

"Yes, I believe it is. What I was trying to tell you is that regardless of what may come from this disease, they will both have to take weekly shots to keep the disease in check and so they won't spread it to others. The doctor's can't cure it, but they can suppress it. These weekly shots alone are terribly expensive."

She sat down on the bed. "What you are saying...is that if I want to be with my daughter and husband...I have no choice but to stay..."

"That seems to be the only choice at the moment."

"I...see..."

"At any rate. I believe it would be best if you and the young master spoke in length about what prompted him to leave this place."

"I suppose that is important to know now."

"Yes, I do believe so. At any rate, I am about to retire for the evening. Would you like some milk and tea to help you sleep? I have special blend which use to help the young master sleep."

"Just because you work for the family doesn't mean I should push you around to," she smiled. "I'll get the tea and milk if I want some. That's what hands are for."

"Yes, but I am paid to do what others do not feel like doing. Please, if you wish it let me get you some."

"I wish for you to not be so burdened. It's late. Go to bed before you have to get up and make someone in this large house breakfast."

He smiled and gave her a small nod. "As you wish."

After her door closed, she once again got in bed. Meanwhile, Sai laid his daughter down beside him, her small frame curled up against him as he tried to drift off to sleep.

In the morning, Hayden left Christopher with Jeeves with a long list of instructions. She made him promise not to take him out in the cold and to keep him asleep for as long as possible. While he did that she had the doctors dress her in this suit complete with mask and gloves. She walked in Sai's room and instantly went to the crib. Picking Elisha up and held her in her arms before sitting down at the table with Sai. She was only allowed an hour, but that was all she wanted really. An hour to hold her baby and see her husband."I was told we can't go because of the treatment... I think you should tell me why you ran away."

"Wait...why can't we go?" he asked, obviously this was new news to him.

"You have to have weekly treatments to keep it a bay."

"Oh..." Well that certainly sucked. "I see."

"Yes..."

"So...you want to know why I ran away?"

"I believe I have a right to know if I'm living somewhere as dangerous as living with my father."

"This place isn't dangerous so long as you are on their side," he said slowly, as if trying to figure out the best way to describe it.

"Their side? I don't get it..."

"It's...well, every person here is extremely dangerous. They make your father seem like a good guy in comparison...but you're untouchable, so you're safe."

"Sai...you aren't making any sense."

"Hayden, my dad is a mob boss."

She stared at him. "That's...a joke? It's not funny."

"I'm not joking," he said softly.

"Sai!"

"Well...it is the truth."

"This is so much worse than my father! I am living in a house of a killer! My children sleep under a roof of murderers! How the heck is that safe to you!?"

"Because, you're part of the family," he explained. "Thus...you're untouchable."

"Yes until I step on the wrong person's toes or get on someone's bad side then I'm dead and my children are too! How could you not tell me this before you married me!?"

"I didn't believe that we would ever have to see them."

"Yeah well now I'm dining with a killer! You're children are playing in the halls of murderers! Do you not feel any sort of worry about that!?"

"I grew up with these guys," he told her. "And I turned out alright, because I didn't want to be like them. Outside of their...'work' they're good guys."

"Then I am telling you this right now, Sai. Our babies will never know about this, alright? Never!"

"That is alright with me. I never intended for myself to come back to this place so that my father could get his claws in me once more." She looked at the time. Sighing she brushed Elisha's cheek then passed her to Sai. She stood and brushed his cheek then walked out. He watched her walk out, and he closed his eyes. Elisha began to cry, and he gently rocked her while kissing her forehead. "It will be alright," he promised.

Hayden thanked Jeeves for watching Christopher when she lifted him in her arms. "He is far easier to take care of then his father was at that age," he assured her.

"That's because he has some of me in him," she smiled.

"So it would seem," he laughed.

"Did he drink all his bottle?"

"Yes, he did. He was quite hungry today."

"That's good." She smiled down at him. "Because he's a growing boy and should eat lots!"

"You seem to enjoying motherhood," he laughed, watching her as she gushed over her child. "I am glad that the young master has discovered someone who will be an excellent mother."

"I didn't see much of my mother so when I found out I was pregnant, I promised Sai I would do my very best. And how could you just not love this face," she smiled and pointed to her son.

"That is an adorable face. He looks just like his father in the face."

"I know. And that's the hard part. I know there is me in there somewhere he just doesn't show it."

"He has your hair."

"Something that he could grow out of. Already Elisha's hair is lightening up like Sai's. I swear I delivered them though," she laughed.

"I am certain you did. You have the hips for birthing."

She looked down and sighed. "Don't say that!"

"Why not? It is the truth."

"It's a horrible thing to say...I'm still working on the baby fat..."

"I meant it as a compliment. Wide hips is a good sign. It makes it easier for you to give birth."

"Well, it sounds horrible."

"Well I assure you I only meant it as a compliment."

She nodded and bounced Christopher until he went to sleep. After putting him in the stroller, she looked at Jeeves. "Can you show me where the kitchen is so I can make something for lunch for me?"

"If you are hungry I will gladly prepare you something."

"I told you I could do it myself. I'd rather have you as a friend than a servant."

"A friend?"

"Well...I don't have any here...and considering what I'm now living under...I will need at least one so I don't do anything wrong."

"I see. So the young master told you about our humble abode?"

"Humble...hardly..."

He snickered at that, walking beside her through the halls toward the kitchen. "True enough. Though the deeds are not always the most honorable, I am glad that you are here."

"I can't say I am glad to be here..." she said honestly. She moved the stroller in the large kitchen and looked around. Everything was so...fancy. There were things she only dreamed about in a kitchen.

"Would you like me to show you around the kitchen?" he smiled.

"I was just going to make a sandwich."

"Bread is over on the right corner in the holder. Meat is the fridge. Condiments are in the bottom shelf. Silverware is in the pantry."

She nodded and grabbed everything out. After making a sandwich she looked around while eating it. She paused when she saw a jar full of chocolates. "Is that...for everyone?"

"Yes, of course."

"I love chocolate...I never get to have any..." Reaching in she pulled out a piece and bit into it.

"Have as much as you like."

She finished her sandwich then grabbed a few more pieces of chocolate to put in her pocket before walking out. He shook his head with a smile. Instead of going to her room, she went around the house just to stretch her legs. She didn't want to stay in her room for hours and she wanted to get the baby weight off so walking was good for her.

"What are you doing?" Some of the men were in one of the lounge areas smoking and drinking while playing pool.

"Walking."

"Right. Wanna drink or a smoke?"

"I'm breast feeding...so no."

"Right. You've got kids. How old are they?"

"A week and a day."

"Wow. Must be fun. They only get worse as they get older."

"I don't mind."

"You say that now," he laughed. Downing his drink, he sighed and shook his head. "Wait till they hit their teenage years. I swear, it takes all I have not to whack my girl’s boyfriend."

She stiffened. What a horrible thing to say... Quickly, she pushed the stroller on.

More men were around the house. A few had call girls with them, young flappers who were barely wearing anything at all. "Come back here doll face!" one of the men laughed.

Hayden quickly found that she wasn't going to fit in. She also realized that with all of the men around...this would never be like a home but like visiting someone else's home. It was a horrible place to raise her children.

"Yo," one of the men said with a nod. "Is that Sai's kid?"

"Yes...please...don't blow smoke this way. He'll get sick."

"Don't worry. I don't want to end in a shallow grave," he smirked. Whistling, he got some of the guy's attention. "Hey! This is Sai's kid!"

Suddenly she was surrounded by men who were all staring down at the kid. Some were kneeling and making funny faces, trying to get the kid to laugh. Others were nudging each other, remarking about how it looked like a young Sai.

"I can't believe that Sai finally settled down. Good for him," the man said. "You must be Hayden, right? The name is Joe Fraiso. I was Sai's body guard for quite a few years."

"It's...nice to meet you. He has a daughter too. But...she is sick at the moment. This is Christopher and his sister is Elisha."

"Christopher, eh? That's a nice name. So, the daughter has TB? God, that really must suck." A few men muttered amongst themselves as this bit of information traveled through the pack. "So, you're raising the kids while Sai is just lazing around getting drugs? Yeah, that sounds about right."

A few more men chuckled and shook their heads. "You know those kids are going to be spoiled rotten right?"

"They already are really... Christopher has so many toys but he has yet to realize they are fun. He's still new to the world so he's trying to adjust. I think Elisha is doing the same...though...she sleeps a lot because of the drugs."

"Yeah, kids are going to be wide eyed for awhile. Just be careful when they start getting up and running around the place." He snapped his fingers and nodded to some of the men. "Remind me to tell the boss about that. They need to baby proof this place."

"Oh...that's...so nice," she smiled.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I guess so," Joe shrugged it off and picked up his glass from the table. "The boss has already told us we're not allowed to smoke around them so it's just one more thing. Not that it's a biggie. It's not like we don't have our own homes to go smoke in.It's been awhile since there's been a kid here, so it will take us a while to adjust."

She went to speak but Christopher started to cry. She moved to him and lifted him out of the stroller. Reaching to the bag, she pulled out a bottle.

"May I?" Joe asked, nodding to the baby.

She bit her lip. "I...only just let his grandfather hold him. Honestly...I'd rather get to know you before I trust you with my baby."

"Oh come on!" Some of the men cheered and chuckled, and Joe just smirked and winked at her."I promise not to drop him."

"Well..." She shifted. "You have to sit down first." He looked around and out of nowhere men were passing a chair over their heads before setting it down beside him. Once he sat, she moved to him and place Christopher in his arms. "Just bounce a bit while feeding him and he should slip to sleep after he finishes."

Joe nodded. "Don't worry. This isn't my first kid," he said, bouncing Christopher while feeding him. She stood of him like a hawk watching his hands and his movements. Once the bottle was finished, he looked around to the men. "Okay. Who wants to burp him?"

A few men shouted and he nodded, standing he winked at Hayden before passing Christopher off to another one of the killers who put the kid to his shoulder and began burping him.

"Wait! Don't move him so much! Don't pass him like that!"

Joe chuckled and placed a hand on Hayden. "Don't worry. Just me and Bruce here. Most of us are pros at kids. Bruce is working on his sixth right now isn't that right?"

"Yeah, yeah," the man named Bruce said. Once Christopher burped, he cradled him for a moment before handing him back to Hayden.

Hayden took him back quickly. She looked him over to make sure he was unharmed before putting him back in the stroller safely. "I should go get ready for dinner."

"Alright. Have fun with the boss," Joe said, motioning for the men to give her some room.

"Um...by any chance...do you know his name?"

He smirked and nodded. "Frank. Frank Valachi."

"Right. Um...goodbye," she waved and pushed the stroller towards her room.
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