Page 105 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don

When Antonio arrives, we all take a seat in the conference room.

We have so much to cover. Blackwood. The ambush. The traitor in our midst.

Antonio looks tired today. His gaze finds mine, and I give him a slight nod of reassurance.

“So, what’s going on that we need to meet so close to Christmas?” Leo asks.

I clear my throat. “There’s much going on. We’ll start with Antonio who has some news to share.”

Next to Antonio, Gabriella starts to put her hand on his arm but then resists.

I’m glad she seems to recognize that comforting him now could make him look weak.

"I've been experiencing some… difficulties," Antonio begins. "Memory lapses. Confusion. The doctors believe it's early-stage dementia."

The room falls silent. I scan their faces, gauging reactions. Leo looks genuinely concerned, his brow furrowed.

Dominic's jaw tightens. "How long?"

"About a year," Antonio admits.

Dom's eyes snap to mine. "And you've known?"

I meet his gaze without flinching. "Yes."

"A fucking year." Dom stands abruptly. "So while we've been having meetings, making decisions that affect all our families, you two have been keeping secrets."

"It was my choice," Antonio interjects. "My pride?—"

"Your pride could have put us all at risk," Dom snaps. "And you." He turns to me. "You should have come to us."

I like Dom. A lot. But he can be a little too quick to anger.

“The world doesn’t revolve around you, Dom.”

“What the fuck?—”

“I was respecting Antonio's wishes while helping protect his interests. The same as either of you would do."

Dom laughs bitterly. "No, what you were doing was playing both sides. Getting your hands on Monti business, making yourself indispensable. Maybe we should have let Gabriella join the meeting last time. Wasn’t this what she was accusing you of?"

Gabriella opens her mouth to speak, but I shake my head to stop her. “That’s exactly what someone wants you all to think. Gabriella knows better now.”

Dom snorts. “Right. Are you hearing this bullshit, Leo?”

Leo has been around long enough to know the world operates in shades of gray, not black and white. “I’m listening and need to know more.”

Antonio holds up a hand to stop me from speaking. “I asked Marco to keep my secret as well as to help me. If you have a problem with that, take it up with me.”

Dom sniffs, looking pissed but smart enough not to disrespect Antonio, his elder. “Where’s Luca? Shouldn’t he be here if Don Monti’s health is going?”

“Luca is being dealt with,” Antonio says. “Right now, we have other, more pressing, issues.”

“More pressing than your mind is failing and Marco is positioned to take over for you?” Dom sneers.

“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” Gabriella rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Secretly, I like it. Dom needs to be put in his place. But outwardly, I can’t allow it.

“Ms. Monti.”