Page 11 of Bellini Born

I held up a hand, cutting him off. “Weren’t you just telling me that your job is to have my back?”

“Fuck my life,” he muttered under his breath. With a roll of his eyes, he let out a heavy exhale. “Fine. Let’s party.”

Clapping him on the shoulder, I guided him from my office. “If I’m in hell, get used to riding shotgun.”

Enzo’s head dropped back on a groan. “Greaaaaaat.”

A four-year-old’s birthday party, here we come.

“Who the fuck are all these kids?” I kept my voice low enough that only Enzo could hear me as Francesca took off with Bianca to change into her swimsuit.

Grimacing at the screams echoing through the enclosed space containing the indoor pool, he replied, “I think it’s one of those deals like back in school, where you couldn’t just invite a few kids you liked. You had to invite the whole class so no one got their feelings hurt. Can’t be seen to have favorites when you’re the boss.”

“’Course you can.” I scoffed. “That’s why some men hold a higher rank than others.”

“That’s true,” Enzo conceded. “But you have to remember that your survival relies on their loyalty, and it isn’t in your best interest to start breeding resentment over whose kid did or didn’t get invited to the Don’s daughter’s birthday party.”

“Whatever.” I needed a drink, stat.

“Consider it practice for when she gets married.” I could hear the fucking smirk in his voice.

Even though he was joking, it still didn’t keep me from choking on my own saliva at the thought of my baby girl all grown up and marrying some dipshit who didn’t deserve her.

There were a few strong slaps to my back. “You okay there, Boss?”

I shot my cousin a death glare. “You’re a fucking asshole, you know that?”

“Shh.” He placed a finger over his lips, which were curved into a shit-eating grin. “Little ears, remember?”

“How could I forget?” I muttered. At this rate, my ears would be ringing for weeks.

“What are we gonna do with this one?” Enzo lifted the car seat containing Serafina.

“Uh . . .” My eyes darted around the space, praying one of the women would take pity on me and offer to keep an eye on my sleeping baby so I could grab that drink I so desperately needed.

Like magic, Francesca reappeared, crouching down to peek at my daughter. “Oh! Look at the little lamb all tuckered out.” Sheplaced a hand to her chest as she rose to her full height. “Makes me miss when mine were that little. Goes by so fast.”

“Mm-hmm.” I gave her a tight-lipped smile.

“Let me show you to a quiet room where this sleeping angel can finish her nap in peace. Just give me a minute to grab my daughter, Sofia, who can keep an eye on her, so you’re free to focus on the birthday girl.”

Before I could thank her, Francesca turned on her heel, weaving through the crowded pool deck, a woman on a mission.

“See?” Enzo said from my side. “Told you there’d be tons of willing babysitters.”

I hummed. “Any chance I could con one of them into taking up the nanny job?”

A snort sounded. “Yeah, good luck with that. These women didn’t even raise their own children.”

“What about Francesca’s daughter?”

“Alessio Russo is as loyal as they come, but it might be pushing it to ask that his fourteen-year-old drop out of school to watch after your girls.”

My head dropped back on a groan. “Fuck. When am I gonna catch a break?”

“No rest for the wicked, my friend.”

Who knew that proverb would turn out to be so damn literal?