Hard Crimes: A Mafia Secret Baby Romance Read online

  She smiled and looked down as she reached him. Nervous? He liked that. He opened the door for her and watched her slide in, then slid in after her. He knocked on the dividing window twice to let his driver know it was okay to drive off.

  “Nice car,” she said.

  He gave her a half smile. “I only use it to impress the ladies.”

  She chuckled. “Does it work?”

  “You tell me.”

  “You don’t need to try to impress me.”

  “Try?” He put his hand to his heart. “Ouch.”

  She laughed again, and he wanted to record the sound so he could play it over and over.

  “Do you always get driven around?” she asked.

  “Not always. I have a decent collection of cars. But tonight, I wanted to be able to focus on you.” And this way, they could have a little fun while stuck in traffic.

  “I have to say, it’s hard to believe you’re still single,” she said. “You must have women lining up to date you.”

  “I’m not going to lie. I sort of do.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “There’s just one problem with all of them.”

  “What’s that?”

  “They’re not you.”

  She looked down and picked at her nails.

  “What?” he asked.

  “It’s… hard to believe that, honestly. We haven’t talked in ten years. How can you still have feelings for me and still be comparing other women to me after all this time? I’m probably not even how you remember me being.”

  “Am I how you remember me being?”

  She looked at him for a long moment. “Mostly. You’re even more handsome now. Plus, there’s the whole wildly successful thing.” She pulled her mouth into a half smile.

  “You never married, either. Maybe it’s because we were meant for each other back then and we still are.”

  She raised her eyebrows and stared out the window.

  “You don’t believe that?” he asked.

  “It sounds like something you tell all the ladies you want to sleep with.”

  “I’ve already slept with you.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

  “It’s not a line. And I do think you’re mostly the same person. Do people really change that much?”

  “Yes. Maybe. I guess it depends on what they go through.”

  “I can see that. After losing my parents and having my grandfather raise me in the business, I feel like a different person. Better.”

  “Still a charmer, though.” She winked.

  “I’m not too sure about that. I don’t seem to be doing too fine a job of it with you.”

  “Then that just means I’m good at hiding it.”

  A slow grin crept across his mouth. That was exactly what he wanted to hear.

  Once they reached the restaurant, their conversation picked up and never stopped. By the end of dinner, it was like they’d never spent a day apart.

  “How many times do you think we snuck onto the school grounds?” Hannah asked, taking a bite of her dessert.

  “Every weekend for months, I think. When it was warm.”

  “Oh no.” She pointed her fork at him. “There was that one time it was so cold.”

  He put his hand to his forehead. “I remember that. We brought a blanket, but it wasn’t enough. My ass cheeks were frozen by the time we left.”

  “I think it took me hours to feel my toes again.”

  “Lucky we didn’t get frostbite.”

  “Lucky we didn’t get a lot of things. Like caught, mostly.”

  They both laughed.

  “We did get into some trouble, didn’t we?” he said.

  “We did.” She smiled and got a far-off look in her eyes.

  He waited a moment, then said, “Don’t leave me yet. The night is just getting started.”

  She met his gaze. “I was just thinking how nice this all is.”

  He looked around the restaurant. The place had emptied out in the hours they’d been sitting there, but it was no less impressive. He’d been here a few times, though this time, the flowers in the large planters seemed brighter, the crystal chandeliers more sparkly, the air scented more sweetly. It was an expensive place but being here with Hannah was priceless.

  “It’s been so long since I’ve been on a date, and even longer since I’ve been on a good one.”

  “I know the feeling. I was just thinking how much more beautiful this place looks with you in it.”

  She smiled. “I don’t go out very much. This is a rare treat.”

  “I’ll take you out anytime you like. Hopefully, often.”

  She took a slow bite of her chocolate cake and moaned at the taste. “A woman could get used to this. It’s so good, it should be a sin.”

  “There’s no sin in enjoying yourself.”

  There was that flush in her cheeks again. Every time he made her blush, he felt himself stiffen. Every move she made turned him on.

  The tension between them had been building. By the time he paid the check and they got back into the limo, he didn’t think he’d be able to contain himself if she were sitting so close.

  Once they were seated and riding down the road, he turned to face her, putting a hand on her cheek.

  “I have to tell you something, Hannah. It’s been bothering me since I saw you the other day.” He closed his eyes. “No, that’s not true. It’s been bothering me for ten years.”

  She looked up at him with a sympathetic expression. “What is it?”

  “I am so, so sorry for leaving you. I didn’t have a choice in moving, but it didn’t have to be like that. I should have called. I should have done whatever I had to see you, to stay with you.” He shook his head. “Letting you get away was the biggest mistake of my life.”

  He watched her eyes fill with tears. She blinked and they spilled over. He ran his thumb over her cheek to wipe them away.

  “I’ve missed you,” she whispered.

  “I’m here now.”

  He leaned in and let his lips brush hers. This kiss started slower than their previous one, but built just the same. He slid his tongue in her mouth and thought about what she’d taste like if he slipped it inside her.

  He let his hands drift toward her breasts. She didn’t stop him. She let out a small cry of pleasure when he pinched her nipple. The sound ran through him like a bolt of electricity.

  He was on fire. His hand found its way under her skirt. Her panties were damp and she moaned and pressed into his hand when he rubbed her. He yanked her panties down and slid them past her heeled feet.

  She hurried to unzip his pants and as he helped her push them down, she slid onto his lap. The limo stopped at a red light, causing her to bounce backward, then fall into his arms.

  He held her close as she guided him inside her. She was warm and very wet. He had to hold himself back from coming too soon. He swallowed hard and closed his eyes. He didn’t want to blow his load too fast. He wanted to enjoy every moment of having her.

  Hannah rocker her hips back and forth and made slow circles. He grabbed her hips and pulled her down as he thrust up, slamming hard into her. She cried out and put a hand up to the roof of the car to steady herself as they rounded a bend.

  “Oh, yes, I’m coming,” she said quietly and let out a moan.

  He felt her tighten and shudder around him. He thrust into her two more times and joined her in moaning as he came.

  She collapsed into his chest, panting and hot. He stroked her hair as he went soft inside her. She slid off him after a moment and fell onto the seat beside him.

  “Wow,” she said.

  “That’s what I was thinking.”

  “You asked earlier if you’re the same person I knew before.” She sat up and put a hand to his cheek. “I didn’t think it was possible, but you’re even better than you were back then.”

  “You felt so good.” He kissed her and fell deep into her gaze. “Just like old times, only better.”

>   She nodded and sighed, leaning back into the seat and closing her eyes.

  Chapter 6

  Hannah could not believe they’d just had sex in his limo. While it was moving. And even more, she couldn’t believe how amazing it had been. He’d always been a good lover—it’s how she ended up pregnant in the first place. He couldn’t keep his hands off her and she couldn’t resist him. It’d been a long time for her, and the sex she’d had a few years back was nothing like what it was with Anton.

  Thinking about those times and what’d he said a short time ago brought a question to her mind. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything.”

  “You said you were sorry for leaving. But why did you leave?”

  “I had to move. You know that. My parents died and my grandfather lived the next state over.”

  “No, I know that. I know why you physically left, but why did you leave me? Why did you end things if you loved me so much?”

  “I don’t know. I guess at the time it made the most sense.”

  She waited for him to elaborate and when he didn’t, she said, “That’s it? It made sense?”

  “It was a long time ago, Hannah. I don’t remember my thought process, but I do know it was a mistake.”

  “You never even called. You could have called.”

  “I know.”

  She sat up and found her panties on the floor. As she pulled them back on and fixed her skirt, she knew what she had to do. “Tonight was really great. But I can’t keep seeing you.”

  His expression and demeanor changed instantly. “Why?”

  “I should have told you this before, but I have a daughter. I can’t be out late, having sex in limos. I need to be there for her.”

  “I already knew you were a mom.”

  “You did?” How was that possible? Did he also know Melody was his?

  “When I left, I didn’t call. But one time, I came back. It was a few months later. My grandfather had taken me to my parent’s house to get some things before the house was sold. I saw you. Pregnant. With another guy. I was shocked you’d move on so fast, and took it to mean you were over me. Obviously, you were serious about him since you were having his baby.”

  She swallowed hard. So he didn’t know.

  “I guess it’s just as well,” he said. “We had one night together. I don’t know if I’m ready to do the stepfather thing anyhow. Maybe it’s better this way.”

  The prick of tears stung her eyes. She hadn’t wanted this to be true. All night, she’d been thinking of ways to tell him. She wanted him to know and she wanted Melody to meet her father. But he’d just admitted it. He was clearly trying to downplay his hurt at her not wanting to continue seeing him, but admitting he wasn’t ready to be a father felt like the truth. She couldn’t tell him. Not now. It would be stupid to willingly bring Melody’s father into her life when he wasn’t ready for it. It would only end up hurting Melody in the long run.

  The limo stopped and Hannah saw that they were outside her apartment building. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Anton’s eyes.

  “Thanks again for tonight,” she said. “It was nice to get out, and… well, that was nice, too.”

  “I’d say it was more than nice.”

  She nodded and put her hand on the door’s handle. “I don’t think we should see each other again. It would be too hard to make this a casual thing, and I can’t be in a relationship.”

  “I understand,” he said.

  “I’m sorry.” She looked at him, but now he wouldn’t meet her eyes. “You’ll make some woman very happy one day.”

  She opened the car door and stepped one foot out.

  “Hannah, wait.”

  She braved a look at him and wasn’t sure what his expression revealed. He looked somewhat pained as he spoke.

  He opened his mouth but seemed to reconsider his words. “If you ever need anything, or if you happen to change your mind…”

  She pressed her lips together. “I have your number.”

  With that, she stepped out of the limo and closed the door behind her, letting Anton drive out of her life. Again.

  She held back tears as she entered the building. It was too late to get Melody from the neighbor’s. They’d all be asleep. She went inside her apartment and got into her pajamas.

  As she hugged her pillow, feeling very alone, she wished things could be different. The tears came as she recalled him saying he wasn’t ready to be a father. Maybe her daughter would never know her father. She didn’t want that for Melody, but having no father was better than a father who showed up, then vanished when he couldn’t handle it.

  Hannah thought of the pain he caused when he left her, and the pain he caused now. Tears leaked silently from her eyes as she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 7

  Anton took a long pull of his coffee. The warm liquid ran down his throat, but the half pot he’d drunk so far wasn’t enough to make him feel more awake. He hadn’t slept well the night before and the thoughts of Hannah that kept him up all night still plagued him this morning.

  He could not get his mind off her, hard as he tried. His mind went over every detail of their night together. But it also replayed every moment of their earlier relationship together. And in the most vivid detail—their ride in the limo—kept coming back, exciting him over and over again.

  He tried to read the paper, but had to reread whole paragraphs over as his mind drifted back to Hannah. So many of his feelings had resurfaced. She seemed to be feeling the same, yet she’d walked away from him.

  He couldn’t get over it. Not only had she walked away, she’d resisted him twice now. Once after a hot kissing session outside the restaurant and now, after sleeping with him even, she still didn’t want him? The rejection did not sit well. Anton couldn’t even think of one time he’d been rejected recently, let alone by someone he’d gone out with and slept with. She should be his easily after all that had happened this week.

  He’d gone over the conversation so many times, he had it practically memorized now. Maybe his comment about not being ready to be a step-dad had bothered her. But that was after she said they couldn’t have a relationship, so it couldn’t only be that. What had he done wrong?

  He’d picked her up in a limo for goodness sake. He’d taken her to one of the most expensive restaurants in all of this part of New Jersey. He’d apologized, he’d said nice things, he’d charmed her. It had worked well enough that she slept with him in the limo, so he couldn’t have gone that wrong in his approach. Yet he was here alone with no hint of a promise that he’d see her again.

  When the thoughts became too much, he threw the newspaper aside and grabbed his laptop. Then he entered her name in the search bar and started reading through results. He wanted to find a profile or something online with photos. He wanted to see her, even if this was the only way he could.

  He poked around a little and clicked on several other Hannah Malcoms until he found her. And there she was, with her daughter. He opened the tab where all her photos were located and started scrolling through them.

  Apparently, her new employers posted something on their page about hiring her. There was a photo of her wearing the same blue dress he’d seen her in at the restaurant. She gave a simple smile, but it was beautiful.

  There were photos of her at events and during holidays, but most were her and her daughter just hanging around the house. She had said something about not getting out much, and her photos confirmed that. She wasn’t like most women he looked up online who had feeds full of selfies and pics with friends when they were out partying. There wasn’t a single pic of her partying, and the only photos of her alone were those other people had taken.

  There were many of just her daughter that Hannah had likely taken. Melody was the girl’s name. He opened a few to get a better look. She looked a lot like Hannah. Melody was only a few years younger than the age Hannah had been when he’d first met her in high school. It was obvious. She could
almost pass for Hannah back then.

  As he kept looking through the photos, something about the girl bothered him. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it until he landed on one specific photo. There was nothing special about the photo itself. It was Melody standing in front of their apartment building, but the lighting was dim, like it had been taken in the evening. Something about the way the warmer light hit her face made him see it.

  She looked like Hannah, sure. But she also looked like him. In this one photo, he recalled a photo of himself close to her age, and there were many similarities between them. The set of her eyes, the shape of her mouth. Those weren’t Hannah’s. They were his.

  Anton’s mind spun as he started thinking. He clicked back through the photos to get to one he’d already looked at. One of Melody at her birthday. She’d turned nine. He looked at the date of her party. The party might not have been right on her birthday, but he was pretty sure it was sometime in July. He calculated back. That would mean Hannah got pregnant sometime in October. When he’d still been in New York with her.

  They’d slept together in October. He knew this for a fact because his own birthday was in October and they’d celebrated together. He had left just two months later. And when he’d seen her that May, he hadn’t thought about how much time had passed. Or maybe he didn’t know what seven months pregnant looked like. There was no way Melody could be that other guy’s.

  Unless Hannah cheated on him, Melody was his. He’d never suspected Hannah of cheating. She wasn’t like that. Plus, there was the undeniable fact the Melody looked like him. As if on a mission, he clicked through every single photo of Melody he could find on Hannah’s page. He saw glimpses of his own family in her face through the years. A certain expression reminded him of his mother. A certain angle of the camera and she was his spitting image.

  He sat back, his mind ready to explode. How could this be? There must be some mistake. Surely, if Hannah had gotten pregnant by him, she would have told him. If not back then, she would have said something now, wouldn’t she? Didn’t she want Melody to have a father?