Page 34 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don

"An explanation?" My voice rises despite my efforts to control it. "She's meeting with federal agents! You know what we do to people who talk to Feds."

"She's my daughter, Marco." His voice carries the weight of his position, reminding me who I'm speaking with. "Not some street soldier."

I jerk away, pacing the room to contain my frustration. "Your affection for her is blinding you. She thinks I'm trying to take over your territory. Now she's looking for allies to stop me, even if it means the FBI."

Antonio stands, and I’m glad to see he’s his old self today, even though, as an elder, it means he’ll put me in place if necessary. "Gabriella is impulsive, but loyal. She wouldn't betray family."

"She believes she's protecting your family from me. Your condition is getting worse, Antonio. She's desperate and making dangerous choices."

I don’t want to betray him, but if I have to go to the others in La Corona to stop all this, I will.

His shoulders slump slightly. "I'll speak with her."

"That's not enough. She needs to understand what she's risking, not just for herself, but for all of us."

Antonio's eyes meet mine. "I won't have her harmed, Marco. Not even by you."

"I'm not here to harm her. I'm trying to protect her as well as you."

Antonio's skeptical expression irks me. After everything I've done for him, after all the loyalty I've shown, he still doubts my intentions.

“And you,” he states.

“Yes, and me. She's playing with fire. If she feeds Feds anything, even accidentally, they’ll use it to destroy us all."

“She’s a lawyer, Marco. She knows how to deal with law enforcement.”

I roll my eyes. “Are you willing to take that risk? Even if she gets you immunity, that doesn’t protect Dom or Leo. It’s not just me she’s risking here. It’s all of us.”

"I'll talk to her. Make her understand."

I shake my head. "I don't think you will. You're too indulgent with her."

"What would you have me do?"

I need her out of here. Not just for all our safety, but for my sanity.

For time and space so that she'll leave my psyche.

Fucking her was the biggest mistake of my life.

Somehow, it tied me to her and I need to break the bond.

"Send her to Luca. At least until?—”

The door swings open, and Gabriella freezes in the threshold, her eyes darting between her father and me, her eyes filled with fury.

"Until what, Marco? Until you've completely taken over my father's business?" She steps into the room, closing the door behind her like she’s another Don.

Antonio sighs. "Gabriella, please?—"

"No. I want to hear what Don Calabresi has to say about me. To my face this time."

The fire in her eyes stirs something primal in me. Anger, yes, but something else too.

The thing I've been fighting since the moment I first tasted her lips in my library.

"I have no problem telling you what I think to your face. You're playing a dangerous game, Princess," I say, keeping my voice low. "Meeting with a federal agent in public? Do you have any idea what kind of target you've painted on your back?"