Page 115 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don

I laugh. “I don’t want you to twist his arm. I want to be loved. He doesn’t love me.”

“You should be loved.” My father pats my hand. “I just want you to be taken care of when I… when my mind goes.”

“I’m a strong, independent woman, thanks to you. I don’t need a man to take care of me.”

“I know that, but as your father, I need to know you’ll be safe and happy when I can no longer protect you. Marco has agreed to provide that.”

“What?” I gape. What has he arranged?

“I just asked that he look after you, protect you.”

I rest my head on my dad’s shoulder. “He doesn’t want that sort of responsibility. He doesn’t want a family.”

"The love of a good woman can change any man.”

“You’re too much of a romantic,” I say, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

“It’s your mother’s fault.” He frowns. “When do you think she’ll be home?”

My heart sinks. In an instant, he’s in the past again.

“When is Luca arriving?” I change the subject and pray that when Luca sees how Dad is struggling, he’ll decide to stay on his own.

I have no doubt that my father has been hiding the severity of his condition from Luca, but he won't be able to when Luca is here to witness it in person.

“Soon.” He pats my hand again. “Soon, the family will be together for the holidays again.”

I take his hand and squeeze it.

Maybe Marco is right and it’s time for me to return home.

My father needs me.

I need to make sure Luca sees how important it is that he returns home and takes his place at the head of the Monti family.

21

MARCO

I pour a glass of scotch for Roman and hand it to him, taking a seat behind my desk.

"Gabriella said all went as planned.” It’s not that I don’t believe her, because I do. But that doesn’t mean someone wasn’t watching. Someone who could put her in danger.

Roman takes a slow sip of his Scotch. "It did. She handled Blackwood like a pro. Fed him exactly what we discussed, nothing more."

The knot in my chest loosens slightly. "And Blackwood? Any sign he's on to us?"

"None that I could see.” Roman swirls his drink. "You know, she's smarter than most of the men we work with. Quick on her feet too."

I give a curt nod. Her intelligence has never been in question. It’s one of the many things I lov—I respect about her.

“I didn’t see anything unusual in or around the café," Roman continues. "Just Blackwood's standard team. Regularcustomers.” He downs his drink. “I’ll admit, it took a great deal of self-restraint not to throttle the man. Blackwood is a snake."

I arch a brow.

“That fucker nearly got Isabella killed. He manipulated her, made her believe we murdered her mother." His eyes meet mine. "How much do you want to bet he knew what Sal was?—”

“But Isabella is safe now.” There’s no sense in rehashing the past. “And you have a beautiful wife and new baby.”