Life Begins (28 page)

Chapter 29

              Žarko purchased a large piece of land outside of the city. With Srecko in Chicago helping to dismantle some of the more illegal aspects of the business, he was able to focus more on getting everything set up where he planned to live. It gave him a chance to further his reach, because he still wanted to keep his ties in the US.

              He just had to choose the right person to head the US front. Originally, he wanted to choose Srecko, but he changed his mind, because he knew that he needed his second by his side. Nenad, too was out of the question. The kids loved him and he made too good a guard for Josie to let him be promoted to a different position, even if Žarko knew that the young man could handle it.

              That just left a few slightly less qualified individuals from his inner circle. Josie wouldn’t like it, but Žarko knew that he was going to have to establish himself even further as a ruthless individual. He couldn’t afford to trust anyone that could operate against him. So, that meant anyone who owed him money had to pay up immediately. If they couldn’t, then they were finished. No excuses, and no extensions. Those that had made themselves his enemy would also have to go.

              As soon as he gave the word to Srecko, he knew that his directions were followed to the letter. Not even being one of his people would save them. With a move in the works, he had tighten his reins, the tighter, the better, so that the very thought of him would keep his people in line.

              Now, he was able to concentrate on making sure that his house suited the needs of his family. Desa and Ljiljiana wanted a pool, which he did them one better of having a natural lake like pool put in, mostly because of Josie’s love for all things Animal Planet. He’d even made sure that the property had a sufficient grouping of trees so that they could put in treehouses.

              He had to shake his head at that one. Josie’s shows were silly, but he would never tell her that because he knew that she enjoyed them with the children. Even he had to admit that for all that he hated her choice in television, the people did a good job on whatever they built. If it didn’t cost more money than he wanted to spend, he would fly this Pete Nelson and Anthony to Serbia, just so that Josie could have something authentic.

              But, he didn’t want to risk being put on television, so was forced to use locals to get what he desired. It worked out better anyway because he gave jobs to his own people and everyone got to learn a new technique or trade. It was nice and by the time he was ready to reveal his purchase to his family, he had to admit that he felt so much peace about the move his family was making.

              It was just in time too, because Juljiana was turning one years old on this day and his parents wanted to have a party to celebrate both children being part of the family. He didn’t know why it was important to have parties for small children who wouldn’t remember it in the first place, but he would never say a word to his mother or his wife. They were in full happy party mode, with the girls excitedly running back and forth to make sure that everything got done.

              “
Tata
, can we go into the house?” Josif asked for the tenth time. Žarko had literally taken to carrying the young boy to keep him from running away on the property. Josie had forced him to take the little ones with him so that they could prepare the house for the party. Žarko didn’t know why it mattered, but he and his father obeyed anyway. Josie’s pregnancy hormones made space necessary.

              So, he brought them with him to help check out the property. Josif immediately wanted to explore the house, the first treehouse, and the pool, but Žarko wasn’t having it. Not with construction men running around working diligently.

              His father held tight to Juljiana, who now that she had taken her first steps, thought that it was only proper to move her legs to where she wanted to be all the time. “It looks nice,
sin
. But why is it so big?”

              Žarko released a sigh. “It is an American thing. It’s supposed to be like a whole other living space.” He then shrugged. “Josie wants it, so she gets it.”

              He knew that his father understood some of what he was saying. When Žarko had taken over the organization from his previous father-in-law, his own father had thought him insane. Then, came more power and money, money that Žarko used to do some good for the nation. Moving to the United States hadn’t changed who he was, but it had allowed him to grow things greater than what the Marković family had created.

              Again, it involved making some sacrifices, but the more he had to do what he had to do, the better he was able to settle that part of him into his personality. But that wasn’t what his father referred to. It was the fact that Žark’s life involved those close to him having to live that life. So yes, he often made purchases to ensure that his family remained okay with the life that he lived. As his wife, Josie received the greatest gifts simply because she lived in the greatest amount of danger.

              “It will be good for the children, too,” his father finally said. “Perhaps you will get many years of usage out of it.”

              That was the hope. “We should be getting back to the others. I think that we’ve delayed enough.” Josif wasn’t too happy to hear about that. He cried the whole way off the private property and to the vehicle. It was starting to get on Žarko’s nerves. “Josif,” he said firmly, calling the little boy to pause his crying. “What have I said about you being a big boy for your sister and baby brother?”

              It took a bit for the little boy to calm down, but once he did, peace came back to the car. “That will be our house soon and you will be able to play anytime that you wish. Just not yet. Okay?” The little boy nodded. “Good,” Žarko said, ignoring the amused smile on his father’s face.

              As soon as they reached the house, Žarko was quick to send Josif running inside. Juljiana wanted to run after him, but he wasn’t having that until he got her in the house first. Then, once her little feet met wood, she was off in the cutest waddle he had ever seen.

              Josie met him at the door, smiling at the cheering she heard in her son’s voice once he realized they were having a party. She wrapped her arms around her husband, baby Juljiana wrapped tight around her left leg.

              “Did you guys have a good time?” she managed to get out just as Josif ran into the room.

              “
Tata
, it’s a party. Come on Julji, we’re having a party.” He raced over to grab his little sister’s hand and rushed the little girl into the kitchen where they had everything set up.

              Žarko pressed a kiss against his wife’s lips before she could race after her children to make sure that Juljiana didn’t fall and hurt herself. “They have energy.”

              She laughed. “Now you know how I feel chasing after them. You’re just lucky that you don’t have this belly getting in your way.” She ran her hand across her burgeoning stomach. “I told you that it would be nice if the baby didn’t start walking.”

              He began tugging her toward the rest of the family, the smell of cake drawing him in. “What kind of cake did you make? It smells delicious.”

              Josie’s smile widened. “I made Red Velvet cake. My favorite. I just haven’t had the chance to make it for the house before. If you haven’t tried it, you’ll love it. Of course, the girls have already been picking at it.”

              Of course they had. He would probably have to fight his way to a single slice what with the scent of things. He flexed the muscles of his free arm. “Let’s go before they actually finish the cake. Desa is particularly greedy for sweets.” He just managed to grab a large piece for himself, because just as he thought, everyone tore into the cake, even his mother who always seemed to be on a diet.

              Baby Juljiana was the cutest though, using her tiny hands to stuff food into her mouth. She was covered in cake and frosting, but appeared at her happiest for it. Žarko couldn’t help but to kiss her chubby cheek. It made his life feel complete.

              For once, Josie didn’t care that her husband was hiding something from her. Her back hurt like crazy and she found herself not really wanting to get out of bed, even if he wasn’t in it. She didn’t mind the kiss he laid on her before commanding her to stay in bed if she felt bad.

              He went off to do whatever it is that he did during the day while her mother-n-law kept up with the children. Josie didn’t know why she felt such discomfort throughout the day, but it drove her crazy and made it impossible to want to move around, but she tried forcing herself just so she could get some exercise.

              Jovana tried not to hover around, but she could feel the older woman’s presence, constantly asking her if she were hungry or if she felt like something was wrong. It was slightly irritating, even knowing that her mother-in-law was only trying to help.

              Josie didn’t feel the slightest bit worried about how she was feeling. She would have known if she were in labor, having done it twice before. Maybe. The doctor she’d visited before she left did say that not every pregnancy was the same.

              She didn’t know, but as long as she was going to the bathroom normally and lying in bed, everything seemed to be okay. It was even better when her son came in to check on her and bring her whatever treat or snack that he had been given so that he could share with her. It was cute and it made her feel so loved.

              Sometime in the afternoon she took a long, but painful nap. She kept feeling the pain in her back and it somehow seemed to start wrapping around her to stomach, increasing the cramping. She woke up feeling really worried, but didn’t want to get out of bed to ask someone what was going on with her body.

              Žarko finally showed his face in the early evening, just when she convinced herself that something really was wrong. She had no idea what he had planned to do, but he seemed to change his mind as soon as he saw her face.

              “You have been in bed all day?” he asked her.

              She grimaced. “It’s really been hurting me a lot. I think we may need to go to the hospital.” He didn’t delay, instead, helping her stand to her feet and grabbing the bag they kept by the doorway.  She really hoped that there was no need to worry, but wasn’t sure considering the way that she felt.

              “How long have you felt this pain?” he asked her, as they moved through the large house. They passed his mother and the children watching Serbian television.

              His mother asked something in Serbian and Žarko waved her away when she would have stood. She had no idea what her husband told his mother, but she was glad for it because she hurt too much to say anything.

              She actually didn’t make it out of the house when she felt the first signs of pressure, telling her that she desperately needed to push her baby out. She paused, staring at her husband. “The baby’s coming.”

              “That’s why we are going to the hospital,” he told her.

              But she shook her head. “No. I mean, the baby is coming now. I need to push.”

              Jovana, having heard that took quick command of the room, instructing Žarko to take Josie back up the stairs and to put her in the bed. Nenad took quick possession of the children, taking them all outside and to the cinema, where they could hopefully be distracted from the situation at hand. With the help of Dušan, Žarko’s father, Jovana was able to get the bedroom set up for a birthing.

              Žarko put in a call to a doctor he knew, demanding that the guy come to the house as soon as possible. Josie barely heard anything. She could only concentrate on the fact that her son was ready to come out and face the world. The pain was incredible, much more than what she experienced just a year ago with her daughter. She had to wonder, just how big was this child and what the hell was he doing because it felt like he was ripping her insides apart. “Oh my God, I need this kid to come out,” she said through gritted teeth.

              “If your son is like his
tata
, then he’s going to be a big boy,” Jovana told her, patting her knee in some bit of comfort. Not that she could find comfort in something like that, because a large child is not something that she wanted to have when not in the hospital.

              She stretched her body as much as she could to relieve some of the pressure she felt down below. “I don’t think that I can wait for this doctor to make it. I really have to push.”

              Žarko reached for her hand and brushed the hair from her forehead. “Push if you need to. The
beba
will be okay. He’s ready to come out.”

              That was all that she needed to hear. Josie pushed as her body commanded. It hurt and she wished that she had medication, but she didn’t let herself get distracted. She had a baby that needed to come into the world and she was more than ready to meet him.

              She couldn’t say how long it took her, but before she knew it, the major pressure she’d felt released as her son slipped from her body. She lay back, listening for the sound of angry cries. Instead, she heard a smack and then finally, really angry crying of an infant. She turned to look at Žarko holding a small bundle in his arms, his face saying all she needed to know. “Did you really slap his bottom?”