Page 100 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don

"Well, looks like you're stuck with me a bit longer," I tease, watching his profile for a reaction.

Marco gives me a sidelong glance, his expression unreadable to most, but I catch the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. "Somehow, I’ll make do."

"Very funny." I bump his shoulder with mine. "Admit it. You're glad I'm staying."

He opens the car door for me. "I'm glad you're safe.”

I roll my eyes. “Careful, I might figure out how you really feel.” I slide into the passenger seat.

Marco rounds the car and gets into the driver’s seat. “Your father says he’ll be talking to Luca about staying when he’s home for Christmas. You should talk to Luca too.”

The amusement I was feeling quickly dissipates. “Did something happen?”

“No. Your father was lucid today, but you know as well as I do that -with everything going on, we need all hands on deck. I think your father is as resistant to turning the reins over to Luca as Luca is about coming home, but it needs to happen, Gabriella. Surely, you see that.”

I nod, sadness filling my chest. “Yes. I’ll talk to him.”

Marco’s hand covers mine, the show of comfort surprising me. “I’ll help too. Who knows? Maybe we’ll get this sorted before Christmas.”

Considering Christmas is just a few weeks away, it seems unlikely, but I nod.

When we arrive back at Marco’s, Roman is waiting.

“Join us for a minute,” Marco says to me. If it surprises Roman, he doesn’t show it as he settles into a chair in Marco’s office.

Marco recounts the meeting with my father, including our plan to ferret out information from Agent Blackwood.

“I’d like to set that up sooner rather than later,” I say.

“I wonder if we should wait for him to call you again?” Marco says, more like he’s thinking out loud. “Don’t want to appear too eager. He might get suspicious. Plus, we need to meet with Dom and Leo first. Get them on board.”

I hate the idea of waiting. Not with hitmen after Marco and saboteurs after my father.

But I nod slowly, recognizing the wisdom in his caution. "Fine. But we don't wait too long. Every day gives whoever's behind this more time to plan their next move."

“I imagine it won’t be long before he calls,” Roman says. “Not after last night’s incident. You need to know what info you’re going to feed him.”

“He’ll want something that he thinks will be usable for an arrest and conviction,” I say.

“But it can’t be obvious. Marco isn’t stupid. There’s a reason he’s avoided legal hassles,” Roman reminds me.

“We can brainstorm that later.” Marco picks up his phone. “I need to call Dom and Leo and set up a meeting.”

That’s my cue to leave, but before I do, I need to let them know what Frank told me. “Frank mentioned that some of my father's men are worried they'll be blamed for the warehouse ambush."

Marco's expression darkens. "Blamed? By whom?"

"You or your men. He says you and your men appear to have been the target.”

Marco’s eyes narrow as he sits back in thought. I swear I can see the wheels turning in his brain.

Roman curses under his breath. “Another situation to create distrust between the families.”

“Did Frank say anyone in particular was blaming them?” Marco asks.

I shake my head. "No. He said his men were worriedyoumight blame them, not that anyone had actually blamed them.”

Marco glances at Roman, a knowing look passing between them.