Three Men Knocked Down My Door for a Newborn

The night before her engagement, my twin sister Jinx climbed out the window and ran.

The newborn twins barely out of the incubator were dumped into my bed.

My dad, Steve, planted himself in the doorway.

These babies belong to mob boss Ethan Holt. You're going to marry him in your sister's place. Refuse, and this whole family dies.

I didn't say a word. I took a high-res photo of one baby's birthmark and posted it online.

Newborn twins. $50. Free shipping.

An hour later, someone kicked my front door clean off its hinges.

Three ridiculously good-looking men stormed in, and all three of them locked their eyes on me.

"Where is my child?"

Steve's legs gave out. He dropped to his knees with a thud.

"These kids have nothing to do with me!"

He jabbed a finger at the twins in the crib. "Jinx is the one who was sleeping around out there. Go find her!"

I watched him with cold eyes and reached over to adjust the windshield on the crib.

I recognized one of the men. Nate Cole movie star.

Nate spoke first.

"Where's Jinx? She posted my ultrasound on Instagram and then vanished. What, does she think I'm dead?"

Standing beside Nate was billionaire Ryan Lux.

Ryan kicked a broken plastic stool out of the way, pulled out his phone, and shoved the screen in Nate's face.

"Mr. Cole. Check the date. When Jinx posted that ultrasound, she was on my yacht with me."

Nate stared at the screen. His face went pale.

"Enough."

Ethan Holt the mob boss pushed between them and walked to the crib.

He was holding a shipping receipt from a local delivery app. Printed on it was a photo of the red birthmark on the back of the baby's neck.

"You two got played. The birthmark Jinx sent me? Only someone from the Holt bloodline carries that mark."

Nate and Ryan both went still. They stared at the two babies in the crib.

I reached into my pocket and set a payment QR code on the table.

Then I pulled open the drawer and took out three medical tweezers, placing them on the table one by one.

"Line up."

I tapped the table. "Three hairs each. With the follicles attached."

Nate pointed a finger in my face. "Who the hell are you to order me around?"

"Rush processing fee is two thousand. Out of pocket."

I didn't look up. "Don't want to do it? Then get out."

Ryan stepped forward and stared at my face the same face as Jinx.

"You think just because you look like her, I won't touch you?"

He raised his hand to flip the table.

"You all spent serious money tracking this birthmark down. You came all the way here for one reason a paternity test."

I slid the tweezers forward. "You think flipping a table is going to tell you who the father is?"

Ryan's hand froze mid-air. His face cycled between pale and green.

Ethan looked at me for a long moment, then picked up the leftmost set of tweezers. In one clean motion, he pulled three hairs from his own temple and dropped them into the sterile bag I had ready.

"Three days for results."

I sealed the bag. "Until the results are in, don't come to my place causing trouble."

Steve was sprawled on the floor, screaming at me. "Olivia, you little bitch how dare you talk to Mr. Holt like that!"

Ethan didn't even glance at him. The bodyguard pressed his foot down harder. Steve let out a shriek and passed out cold.

Nate and Ryan exchanged a look. Both clenched their jaws, picked up the tweezers, and pulled their hairs.

Ethan turned and walked toward the door. At the threshold he stopped and looked back at me.

"You've got more nerve than Jinx."

He gave a cold smile. "Three days. Let's see who's still standing."

The next morning, the rumble of three cargo trucks shook the whole alley.

Case after case of imported formula. Two solid wood cribs. Diapers from three different brands, none of them the same.

My four-hundred-square-foot dump was packed so full there was nowhere to step.

Steve and my stepmother showed up first thing.

My stepmother ran her hands over one of the cribs, practically drooling.

"Oh my God, this wood alone has to be worth tens of thousands."

Steve didn't say a word. He picked up two cases of formula and headed for the door.

"Olivia. Take the rest of these down to the corner store."

He didn't look back. "Old Larry will take them at half price. Good cash."

I stepped in front of the door.

"Put it down."

Steve glared at me, spittle flying.

"I'm your father! What's wrong with taking a little food?"

My stepmother had gone quiet. She was already sidling up to the crib, eyes darting around.

"Steve. These two little ones are a gold mine."

"Take them straight to the Holts. Ask for a few million up front."

Steve dropped the formula and lunged for the crib.

I stepped back, pulled out the black communication device Ethan had left behind last night, and pressed the red button.

"Holt family assets under threat. Second floor, 4 South Alley, Village District."

Steve threw his head back and laughed.

"You think a broken walkie-talkie is going to scare anybody?"

Two minutes later, the security bars on the window exploded inward with a crash.

Glass shattered. Three bodyguards in black broke through the window.

Steve's laughter died in his throat as the lead bodyguard's fist connected with his face.

Two bloody teeth flew out and hit the wall.

My stepmother spun to run. She got a kick to the lower back and went sprawling face-first into the floor.

The head bodyguard turned to me and lowered his head.

"Miss Olivia. Your orders?"

I pointed at the open front door.

"Throw them out with the trash."

"Don't let them dirty the babies' space."

The bodyguards grabbed both of them by the collar and dragged them out.

Steve clutched his busted mouth and slurred curses through the gaps.

"Olivia, you little bitch! I'm calling the cops on you!"

I walked over and looked down at him.

"Go ahead."

"Tell them you tried to steal food out of Ethan Holt's son's mouth. See if anyone dares to touch me."

Steve started shaking all over. He couldn't manage a single word. He scrambled up, grabbed my stepmother, and fled.

The head bodyguard held out a set of keys and a key card.

"Mr. Holt's instructions. This place isn't fit to live in."

"A secured riverside apartment has been prepared for you. Please move in immediately."

I took the keys and surveyed the room full of supplies.

"Let's move."

That night, I moved into the riverside apartment with the babies.

Once I had the twins settled, I started sorting through the pile of junk luggage Jinx had shipped back earlier.

When I got to a cardboard box stuffed with old diapers, my fingers hit something solid in the lining.

I tore the cardboard open. Inside was an old phone with a cracked screen.

I charged it, typed in Jinx's birthday, and unlocked it.

A document in the notes app popped open. The title read: Man Management Schedule.

I tapped it. The screen filled with a dense, color-coded calendar. My finger stopped on the screen and didn't move.

The phone lit up with a new message.

From Jinx.

Be a good girl and take my place. Don't ruin my fun in Vancouver.

I sent her a screenshot from the security camera the one of three men lined up pulling their own hair along with the schedule.

Less than ten seconds later, the typing indicator appeared on her end.

Ten voice messages came in. Sixty seconds each.

"Olivia! Where did you get that?! If you show them that schedule, I swear I will come back and kill you!"

I pressed the record button.

"Before you kill me, you might want to think about how you're going to explain your scheduling system to these three gentlemen."

"They're out looking for you everywhere right now."

Silence from her end.

I put my phone on silent and tossed it on the table.

A soft sound came from the window.

A man in a baseball cap and black face mask climbed through, tripped over the stroller, and fell flat on his face.

Nate Cole yanked off his mask and pulled a black card from inside his jacket, slapping it on the table.

"Ten million. You tell everyone I'm the father. The money's yours."

I picked up the card and spun it between my fingers.

"Big movie star, doing charity work in the middle of the night?"

"Ten million to buy a kid?"

"Jinx loved me most. The baby has to be mine." Nate tilted his chin up. "I can't let Ethan and Ryan take what's mine."

I threw the old phone directly at his face.

"Read it yourself."

Nate fumbled to catch it. He stared at the screen, and the color drained from his face one shade at a time.

Thursday Nate Cole gallery date. Friday Ryan Lux yacht party

He kept reading, and his voice started to shake.

"I'm just the Thursday slot?"

"She told me I was her one and only soulmate!"

"She said I was the only person whose singing she ever loved!"

I pointed at the crib, where one of the babies had started crying.

"Since you're here, go mix the formula."

"Stop talking and do something useful."

Nate walked to the electric kettle with red-rimmed eyes. He cried while he scooped formula into the bottle.

"How could she do this to me? I wrote her three songs!"

"I held front-row seats at every single concert for her!"

I tapped the table.

"Water at 104 degrees. Don't burn the baby."

"Cheap deal for a soulmate, honestly."

Nate sniffled and shook the bottle clumsily.

"This isn't over. What gives Ryan the right to be Friday? How am I less than him in any way?"

I took the bottle from him and slipped it into the baby's mouth.

"Pray the kid is yours first."

"Otherwise you won't even have the Thursday slot anymore."

Nate crouched beside the crib and watched the baby blow bubbles. Tears dripped steadily off his chin.

"This baby looks just like me, don't you think? Look at that nose. Strong bridge."

"Definitely the Cole family genes."

I glanced at the infant, whose features had barely formed yet.

"Ryan and Ethan both said the same thing."

"Funny how your genes are all remarkably identical."

Nate shot to his feet and pointed at the door.

"Bullshit! This is my kid! When those results come back, I'm going to shove the report in both their faces!"

At three in the morning, my phone on the table went crazy with vibrations.

The testing center.

I answered. A burst of static screeched through the line.

"Miss Olivia something's wrong, please don't"

The call was cut off.

A text message popped up, the red exclamation mark impossible to miss.

DNA comparison reveals extreme anomaly. Report under full lockdown.

Three days were up.

I left the babies at the apartment and took a cab to the testing center alone.

The moment I stepped out of the car, a dozen armed men had the entrance completely blocked.

Steve was at the front, a cigarette between his fingers, blowing a smoke ring.

"Olivia. Hand over the report."

"Don't make me get physical."

I stood at the bottom of the steps and looked at him.

"What gives you the right to that report?"

"You call yourself a father?"

Steve dropped his cigarette and ground it out with his shoe.

"I'm your father. And Jinx said if I destroy the report, she'll wire me ten grand a month."

He waved his hand. A few thugs moved in with metal pipes.

"Pin her down. Search her."

"Don't let her ruin your sister's plans."

"Nobody is walking out of here with that report today."

Engines roared from around the corner like a thunderclap.

Three limited-edition sports cars fishtailed onto the sidewalk and blocked the thugs in completely.

The doors flew open. A dozen bodyguards in black suits piled out and dropped everyone to the ground in seconds.

Ryan Lux stepped out of the McLaren in the middle and took off his sunglasses.

"Steve. Bold move."

"You think you can put your hands on my people?"

Steve's legs buckled. He went straight to his knees.

"Mr. Lux, this is a misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding!"

"I was just disciplining my daughter no disrespect to you, sir!"

Ryan kicked him in the shoulder and sent him sprawling.

"Get out of my sight before you get blood on my shoes."

"I see you again, I break both your legs."

He turned and looked at me, tilting his chin toward the door.

"Let's go. Get the report."

"I need to know if this baby is mine. I've already got the birthday party hotel booked."

I ignored him and walked straight through the testing center doors.

The lobby was wrong completely deserted. Not even the front desk nurse was visible.

I went to the counter and knocked on the glass.

"I need the DNA comparison report. Jinx versus the three men."

The front desk nurse was cowering in the corner. Her voice barely held together.

"Miss Olivia the report the report can't be released."

I frowned.

"What does that mean? System crash?"

The nurse shook her head rapidly and pointed upstairs.

"Half an hour ago, the Holt family locked down the entire system."

"They took the attending doctor with them."

"We don't know anything."

Ryan had followed me in. He heard every word. He slammed his sunglasses down on the counter.

"What is Ethan Holt playing at?"

"Trying to rig the results and keep the baby for himself?"

"The Holt name may be big, but even he doesn't get to break the rules like this!"

I took out my phone and called the number Ethan had left.

It rang three times before he picked up.

"The results are in. Whose kid is it?"

Dead silence on the other end. Just heavy, labored breathing.

"Ethan. Playing dead isn't going to work."

"Somebody settle the bill. I don't have time to play rich-family politics with you."

When Ethan spoke, the arrogance from our first meeting was gone. His voice was low and carried something cold and unreadable.

"It's more complicated than you think."

I pushed back.

"How complicated?"

"Three men fighting over who gets to be a dad?"

"Don't tell me they're quadruplets."

"It's not just about the father."

Ethan paused.

"Bring the children. Come to the West Estate. We talk face to face."

The line went dead. The dial tone echoed through the empty lobby.

Ryan leaned over, his brow furrowed.

"What did Ethan say?"

"Is he bribing the doctor to change the results?"

I pocketed my phone and walked toward the exit.

"He said it's not just about who the father is."

Ryan stopped cold. Then he caught up to me.

"What does that even mean? Did the baby fall out of a rock?"