Page 95 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don

"Why not? This is our chance to find out who's targeting La Corona."

"Because he's fucking dangerous, Gabriella!" The words explode from me. “I lost good men last night?—”

“Not because of Blackwood. Or is there something you’re not telling me?”

“I don’t fucking know and that’s the problem. Whoever came after us last night was hired. Professionals. Maybe even ex-military. You’re not going to play spy.”

Her eyes flash. "If I were Luca, would you be nixing this idea?”

"You're not Luca."

"Because I'm a woman?"

"Because you're—" I stop myself, struggling to articulate the storm inside me. "This isn't about your capabilities. It's about what it would do to me if something happened to you." The confession makes me feel even more naked than I am.

I grab my robe, thrusting my arms through the sleeves.

Gabriella's expression softens. "Marco…"

"I've buried enough people," I say with irritation. "I can't bury you too."

She steps closer, her hand cupping my face. "You won't have to."

"You don't know that." I catch her wrist, my thumb tracing her pulse. "These people are playing a game where everyone loses. Your father, La Corona, me… we're all pawns, and I can’t figure out the players."

“So let's change the rules.” She’s bold, I’ll give her that.

"You don't understand what we're up against. I don’t even know what we’re up against except that they’re willing to kill to win."

"La Corona has survived for generations because we protect each other. I know I don’t have a dick, but I can be useful. Especially with the FBI. I know the law. I can find out the casehe has against you and maybe who in La Corona is betraying the families."

Her confidence both infuriates and captivates me.

"Think about it, Marco. If we work together, you, me, Roman, even Frank, we can set a trap. Feed bogus info to Blackwood and see who acts on it.”

I shake my head. “Blackwood is receiving info from our mole or moles. How does giving him bad intel help identify them?”

“Because it must go both ways. Blackwood learns something and asks the mole about it. If we give him bad intel, he asks the mole, and the mole does something that reveals himself.”

Fucking hell, she has a point.

I stare at her, torn between frustration and grudging respect.

She's fearless, brilliant, and completely maddening.

A part of me wants to lock her away somewhere safe, far from Blackwood and whoever's pulling his strings.

Another part, the strategist, the Don, recognizes she's got a good plan.

“If it will make you feel better, we can present the idea to my father. If he agrees?—"

"If he agrees?" I scoff. "Your father has never been able to deny you anything. You've had him wrapped around your finger since you were born."

Her smile shifts. As she steps closer, her hand slides through the opening of my robe and grips my dick. “Guess who else I have wrapped up in my fingers?”

My breath catches as she gives me a slow, deliberate stroke. My body responds instantly, hardening under her touch. “You play dirty.”

"I thought you liked it when I played dirty." Another stroke, more insistent this time.