Page 17 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don

Roman snorts. "The irony."

"Exactly."

He studies me for a long moment. "There's more to this. You and Gabriella…"

I meet his gaze steadily, my expression revealing nothing. "There is no me and Gabriella."

He studies me, and I hold his gaze because looking away would reveal my deception.

“You know, a marriage with her could solve this problem. Antonio would be over the?—”

I nearly do a spit take. “Marriage? How long have you known me?”

He shrugs. “I’m just saying, it would make sense to help Antonio if you were married to his daughter.”

“I’m not marrying her… or anyone. You know that.”

I can see he’s about to argue the merits of marriage, which I don’t want to hear, so I speak before he can. "She's going to be a problem. Gabriella's convinced I'm plotting against Antonio."

“So tell her otherwise. Antonio will back you up.”

“I don’t think my word matters and she seems to think he’s a doddering old fool.” I shake my head. "If she starts spreading these ideas to the other families, it could cause problems.”

La Corona exists in a delicate balance.

Four families, each with their own interests, are held together by mutual respect and careful diplomacy.

Antonio's been the cornerstone of that stability for decades.

If word gets out about his condition before Luca returns, or worse, if the other families believe I'm making a power play against the Monti family…

"It would be chaos," I say quietly. "The peace we've maintained for generations gone."

"So, what's the plan?" Roman asks, thankfully leaving the question of me and Gabriella behind.

"I need to keep an eye on her," I decide. "Her loyalty to Antonio is admirable but misplaced in this case. She could undo everything we've worked for."

"You want me to have someone watch her?"

I consider it for a moment, then shake my head. "No. I'll handle Gabriella myself."

Roman's eyebrow lifts, but he doesn't comment on my decision. "Just be careful," he says finally. "That woman's fire could burn us all if you're not careful."

I don't tell him I've already been burned.

That I'm still burning.

4

GABRIELLA

I fume in the back of the car, staring out the window as New York’s holiday-decorated streets blur past.

I can’t believe I let Marco get to me.

That I was about to let him kiss me.

That I would have kissed him back.