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“Didn’t we hire extra security?”
“Yes, but Rhett, Spencer, Gage, and I are still going to be strapping since the event location was leaked to the community.”
“Can we limit it to just one gun? I don’t want all of our baby shower pictures to look like an NRA endorsement.”
He frowns and starts to protest, but concedes. “Alright, fine. Just one.”
I kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”
We are silent as he drives to the community center. His expression is hard, and he glances at the rearview mirror every couple of seconds.
“What’s going on? Are we being followed?” I spin around in my seat and look out the back window.
“I don’t think so, but there is a white van that’s been three cars back for the past mile and a half.”
A few seconds later, the van turns onto a side road. As soon as we park at the community center, Joseph pulls the guys to the side to let them know about the van.
Savannah and Francesca walk over to me. They pull me into a hug and ask, “Is everything alright?”
“Just another day in the mafia lifestyle.” I sigh and rub my bump.
Francesca offers me a sympathetic smile. “It should get better with time. Times are just rough right now. So what are you having?”
Joseph and the guys join us. Joseph offers me his hand. “I was just about to announce it to everyone. Do you still have the card?”
I nod and hand it to him before following him to the front of the room, where a special table is set up for the two of us.
Joseph clears his throat to silence the crowd. “Thank you for being here to share this wonderful moment with Alexandra and me. As most of you are aware, we just came from an ultrasound where we found out the baby’s gender.”
Francesca yells, “Tell us already. Am I going to be an aunt to a baby girl or a baby boy?”
The crowd laughs. I scan the room for Arturo, not finding him. I lean in close to Joseph and whisper, “Where’s your dad?”
He scans the room and discreetly nods to the far corner where Arturo is standing with Alvin.
He holds up the card and says, “I am so proud to announce that we are going to be the proud parents of a baby boy.”
He opens the pop up card that reads “It’s a BOY!”
The crowd cheers and congratulates us. After being passed around to all our guests, Joseph presses his lips to my temple and whispers, “I’m going to have a chat with my father. Get some food and make sure you rest.”
I narrow my eyes at him, but nod. Now is not the time to get into specifics on what is going on. There will be plenty of time later when we are alone.
Francesca and Savannah join me at my table. They add a third chair and scoot closer to me.
Savannah glances around before whispering, “The FBI agent, Tyler Smith, called me this morning.”
“Wait, what? Why?” Are they still trying to get information on Arturo and the Marino family?
“He asked if I’ve seen Emily recently. When I said no and asked why, he told me she was an undercover agent and has gone missing.”
“She’s an undercover FBI agent?” My head spins. Is that why she was so scared when Joseph, Rhett, Spencer, and Gage came for me?
Savannah waits until people are out of earshot to continue. “According to Mr. Smith, the last time he heard from her, she told him she uncovered something important and it would lead to an all out war if people knew the truth.”
“What could it be?” I glance between Francesca and Savannah. We all have the same questioning look on our face.
“Whatever it is,” Francesca whispers, “is enough to amplify tensions more than they already are and that’s going to cause everyone to come out and try to get their hands on the information. It will not end well, that’s for sure.”