Page 119 of Mafia Daddy's Christmas Bride

She smiles. “She’s a lucky girl.”

I’m reminded of my visit to Isabella’s father. I’m pretty sure he never curled ribbon.

Isabella works with me, wrapping the avalanche of presents I’ve bought for my daughter.

"You're good at this," I say, sliding a finger under a piece of tape to secure the snowman paper around a science kit for Angelica.

"My mother taught me." Isabella's voice softens at the memory. "Every Christmas, we'd spend an entire day wrapping gifts together. She had this rule that every present needed three elements. Perfect paper, ribbon, and some special touch. An ornament, a candy cane, something."

Her mention of her mother gives me the opening I've been waiting for.

"Speaking of your mother," I say carefully, "I saw your father today."

Isabella's hands pause mid-fold. "Why?"

"I keep thinking about that notebook that Vinny mentioned your mother having. The one the cops kept. There has to be something in it."

"Like what?"

I shrug. "That's what I went to your father about. He gave me some bullshit that she was always writing things down."

"She was, but that notebook was different. A diary, maybe. I don't know." Isabella's eyes widen slightly. "Actually, I asked her about that one notebook because it was never not with her. She said it was her insurance policy."

This is exactly what I need, confirmation that the notebook matters. “What sort of insurance did she need?”

Isabella shakes her head. “I don’t know.”

“Could it be related to her attempt to gain your freedom from your father? Maybe she had something on him or La Corona.”

Isabella considers this, her fingers absently smoothing a piece of ribbon. Her expression turns stricken. "God, would she really do that? Take on La Corona?—"

"You have."

"No. I wasn't looking to take on my father or La Corona. I was looking for answers. It's different."

I suppose it is, but it still put her in our crosshairs.

Still, if her mother found something and one of us killed her, that's a whole other ball of wax.

Isabella looks at me, and I can see she's thinking the same thing. "If she did find something, that means La Corona?—"

I shake my head. "I feel like that is something I'd know."

"But would you? You're close to Marco, but you're not actually part of La Corona. They must meet and make decisions without you."

Isabella asked me once what I’d do if it turned out her mother was killed by La Corona. I feel like I’d know if they did, but now I have to consider that there are things I’m not privy to.

"It could be just as easy that she found something else. Maybe Ernie killed her because she figured out he was playing both sides. Once La Corona found out, he'd be dead."

"He is dead. Maybe by my father, so that notebook and my mother?—"

"Maybe one of your father's police contacts told him what was in the notebook and that’s why Ernie is dead," I say, grasping at straws. All of this is conjecture.

"Then why not tell you? Why is my father being obtuse?"

I shrug. "Maybe the hit wasn't approved by La Corona and while Ernie wasn't made, he was Salvatore's brother." I shake my head. "Honestly, I don't know."

"I'm sorry I'm not more help."