Page 25 of Single Mom's Mafia Daddies

13

LILA

“Can you pass the salt?” I held out my hand toward Matteo.

Grinning wide enough to flash his canines, he waved the shaker back and forth. “I can.”

I waited, hand still outstretched, while he continued to grin from across the table. Several seconds passed before I realized what was happening. “You’re such a child. Give me the salt, Matteo.”

“He is not,” Leo argued from beside me, his mouth stuffed with Matteo’s homemade ravioli.

I had no idea the man could cook, but the delicious meal in front of me proved how little I truly knew about any of them. Even Alessio managed to surprise me. He’d spent an entire day making Leo a sandbox and finding out exactly what kind of toys he liked to play with then ordered everything and had it delivered this morning. Leo had more to do than any kid his age, yet he remained intensely focused on making each of these men join him in different activities.

“It’s an expression. It means he’s acting childish.” I ruffle Leo’s hair.

“No one said I had to be serious.” Matteo scrunched his face into a constipated looking pout. “Is this better?”

Leo laughed and spewed ravioli across the table. He grabbed his napkin and cleaned up the mess without hesitation, his constant chuckle driving Matteo to continue making ridiculous faces.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Leo had caught me doing it once and mimicked the action every time I told him to clean his room. It was not something I wanted to repeat.

Alessio wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin, his fingers white at the knuckles. He’d been silent throughout the meal, as he’d been after seeing me and Matteo outside earlier. I’d waited for the outrage I’d seen on his face to explode, but he’d merely asked about Leo then walked me inside to prepare for dinner like we were in a Victorian novel and I needed three hours to dress. Forget that shit. I’d worn the same clothes into the dining room and dared him to ask me to change.

Leo stuck his fingers in the sides of his mouth and stretched his lips while sticking his tongue out and rocking his head side to side.

Matteo mimicked him, which started another bout of laughter that threatened to send Leo falling off his chair.

Renzo pushed his plate aside and set his elbows on the table, his gaze locked on the bay windows looking out over the front drive that led to a massive gate. Matching stone wolves guarded either side of the gate, and from what Matteo said, they were more than showcase pieces. Cameras were hidden in the eyes, and both bases had motion sensors that triggered if anything stepped within six feet of the gate. He’d done his best to reassure me of Leo’s safety.

“What do you call an octopus with no legs?” Matteo asked.

“What?” Leo kicked his feet back and forth and shoved another ravioli into his mouth.

“A nopus.”

I groaned while Leo giggled uncontrollably, his face reddening.

Renzo rolled his eyes and leaned toward Alessio, who nodded. At a look from Alessio, Matteo sobered.

“Lila, would you stay for a few minutes? Renzo and Matteo will watch Leo.” Alessio leaned into his chair and watched me, the intensity disturbing. Strange how a simple request could set my stomach churning.

He and Renzo stood with simultaneous movements, but it was Renzo who spoke, his voice low but somehow sweet. “We won’t let him out of our sight.”

I nodded my acceptance. This conversation with Alessio had been brewing all day. The last thing I wanted was for Leo to hear us arguing.

To Alessio’s credit, he waited until I’d kissed Leo’s forehead and his men walked out of the dining room and closed the door behind them to speak. “Matteo thinks you’ll try to leave.”

The suddenness of the wrenching feeling in my gut left me speechless. I’d hoped for a soft touch leading into the conversation. I should have known better. Alessio no longer knew the meaning of soft. He was all hard angles and sheer, unyielding determination.

“I’ll stay as long as it’s safer here than out there.” Which I had no way of determining, but I’d be damned if I gave more power to Alessio than he already possessed.

He lurched to his feet so fast he bumped the table, rattling the dishes. “You’ll never be safe out there.”

“And who’s fault is that?” I stood even though I didn’t have a prayer of matching his height. My anger more than made up for my shorter stature. “It’s because of you my son has a price on his head.”

“Our son!” he bellowed with the agony of a raging bull. The words echoed across the empty dining room.

The food I’d eaten set my stomach on fire, the feeling climbing my throat and turning my mouth ashy.