Free Fractured (The Volkov Mafia Series Book 3) by Samantha Harrington

Camilla, but I can’t lose you both again. I will get you through it no matter what we face, you will have me there with you.” I hope my words are enough to soothe her a little, make her see that I want us to be family; I want the chance to prove that I can be what they need. Regardless of what I have done in the past my demons can stay there, all that matters are Camilla and Charlie.
    “I won’t give up the house, Malc, if this little trip does not work or if I want to come home, I am coming home.” At last a ray of hope, I think I can deal with those terms, little does she know I won’t ever let her go once I get her home.
    “Fine, go make the calls. I will pay for the rent on the house.” With that I leave her at the table to go up and get a shower and get dressed, it is going to be one long drive back to Surrey.
     
    We finally get on the road three hours later, after she made the call to the nursery and her job to explain that she was going back home for a little while. I was disappointed when she said a little while, but I will just have to show her how good it will be, the only one who I worry about her seeing again is Faith. But I know they will talk and cry and they will move past it, well, I hope they will.
    We stop at services on the way down, Charlie needs his bottle and we need food.
    Camilla has been quiet so far on the journey down, mainly looking out of the window or soothing Charlie when he has stirred in his car seat. I hate that it has come to this but I would be waiting for ever for her to come back to me on her own. She is too proud to do it, what else could I do? My days were becoming desolate, I was not focusing on work or the people around me, I was looking for anything to take the pain away – feeling broken. A man like me is not supposed to show emotion, like some sap. I’m a first in our mafia family, Damien’s right hand man, I’m not supposed to be weak or helpless and most definitely not broken. But over the past four months that is what I have been reduced to. After everything we have been through, it broke me. I need her as much as she needs me.
    I park the car and switch off the engine looking across to Camilla, she sighs as it still sinks in. I have done it, I have taken her away from her little safe haven and I’m bringing her right back into her own hell.
                  “Come on, let’s get this little one fed and changed and grab a bite to eat, we still have five hours left to drive,” I say to her trying to get her out of her own head.
    “Ok…” she whispers to me and I can sense the trepidation she is feeling. I know this is going to be a long hard road to get us out of this but I will be with her every step of the way.
    We sit in the burger place inside the services, after changing Charlie’s nappy. We decided to grab a burger – just a little something to keep us going until we get back. She left her car at the house and I told her I would get someone to drive it down for her. She was worrying over nothing about where Charlie would sleep, if she had enough clothes and nappies for him. It would all work out. I had told her to stop worrying, that I had it covered, I just did not want to tell her about the nursery yet.
     
    ***
     
    We drive down the drive towards Damien and Faith’s house – that was the longest ten hours of my life. She slept most of the second leg, I think she was just too angry to say something that she might regret later because her only replies were yes and no. In the end we drove in silence, the sooner this drive was over the better.
    I walk in the door, carrying Charlie in his car seat. Camilla follows slowly behind me, her eyes scan the room looking for Faith, no doubt wondering what she is going to say when she finds out. We walk further into the house, stopping when we get into the kitchen. I spy, Damien, Faith, Anya and Alekzander all sat around the table, the chitter chatter stops instantly when they see us at the