The Blood Debt

Chapter 33

Roman

I send Noah downstairs in his pajamas and head into the shower. When I come down a little while later, I find him having breakfast with Rejab who's down most weekends now.

"Daddy sleeps naked," I hear Noah telling Rejab as I walk into the kitchen. Rejab passes him a plate of pancakes Emina's cooking without missing a beat while his eyes beeline for me.

"And how do you know that?" he asks Noah, staring straight at me with a shit eatin' grin.

Lou, who's pouring herself a cup of coffee behind me, turns to me, handing me her cup.

"Here," she says. "Sounds like you're gonna need it."

"He was naked this morning and he was cuddling mommy," Noah blurts out.

I got fuckin' muzzle this kid.

Lou chokes on a mouthful of coffee before turning to me, her brows raised with an I-told-you-so look.

"Oh was he now," the fucker says, revelling in my embarrassment.

"What else did you... ah.... exactly see Noah?" Lou chimes in.

"Daddy grabbed me be..."

"Enough," I yell, stopping Noah mid-sentence.

He stares at me wide-eyed like he's about to cry.

Oh fuck!

Emina hands me a plate of eggs and toast before she turns to Noah and pats his head soothingly.

"Babi's not mad at you," she says, leaning down to speak to him. "He's mad at uncle Rejab. How about you eat your pancakes quickly and aunty Lou can take you to the stables" she says, kissing him on the head.

He wipes a lone tear as he looks up and smiles at me. I wink back at him.

"Why do I always gotta miss the good stuff," Lou whines, but before I can get to her, Emina does, slapping the back of her head as she heads back to the pancakes she's still cooking.

"Shut your mouth; the both of you," I hiss. "She'll be down in a minute," I say, eyeing the staircase behind me with unease, "and wipe that fuckin' smirk off your faces," I say leering at them both.

"Daddy said a rude word," Noah says before giggling.

"Morning," she says walking in behind me.

"Mommy, aunty Lou is going to take me to the stables if I eat all my breakfast," Noah calls out.

I sit down at the head of the table, but not before glaring daggers at Rejab and Lou, while Ayla pours herself a cup of coffee. She comes around and kisses Noah on the head before telling him to slow down and give Lou a chance to eat her breakfast in peace.

"It was cold last night, wasn't it," Rejab says, looking at Lou and then turning to me. "I had to pull out an extra blanket."

"Might need to crank up the thermostat," the fucker says turning to me, knowing he has me cornered.

"Were you cold last night," Lou says, turning to Noah. "I was freezing," she tells him.

Great! Now they're fuckin' tag-teaming.

"Nope. My Paw Patrol pajamas keep me real warm," he says, not taking the bait this time.

I'm about to put a stop to their little game, but before I can get a word in, Rejab interrupts me.