Page 26 of Single Mom's Mafia Daddies
“You don’t know that.” I lifted my chin trying to stare him down. Silence surrounded us with the vastness of the space threatening to shrink and swallow us whole. The chandelier filled his face with light, but nothing had the power to remove the pain from his eyes. “You’re just another threat to his safety.”
They were mean, cruel words, but they were necessary for mine and Leo’s survival. Whatever life Alessio lived, I wanted no part of it if it meant sacrificing Leo’s safety.
“It was never supposed to be this way.” It didn’t matter how softly he spoke, the twist to his lips said more than enough.
“If that’s an apology, it’s a terrible one.” I threw my napkin over my plate and gathered up my dirty dishes. Alessio asked me to stay and talk, but that didn’t mean I had to stand still and square up with him.
He stopped me with a hand on my arm, pulling the plate from my fingers and setting it back on the table. “I’ll do the dishes. Later.” Which meant he refused to let me distract myself with busy work. “You and Leo were at risk the minute I landed on American soil. My history at the college was never a secret.”
“But we were.” I worked to keep my voice controlled. “No one knew about us.” We’d been too careful.
Alessio set his palms on the tabletop and rested his weight forward so we stood eye to eye. “Few things are truly secrets when you’re part of this world.”
“What world?” I gripped the back of the chair until my knuckles turned white. “You’re rich. So what. I am too. Money doesn’t mean everything. It doesn’t mean you have enemies trying to kill me just because you stopped by to say hello after seven years.”
“No. But it does mean that the people who want to hurt me will come after you and Leo. Especially Leo. If he is my son.” A long pause followed. I anticipated the next words, the question he asked repeatedly that I refused to answer. “Is he my son, Lila?”
“If he is, I wouldn’t tell you. Thisworldyou live in is a danger to him, so why would I give you an ounce of trust when you’ve proven you don’t deserve it?” I gave him the best answer possible, which was nothing at all.
Irritation crimped his mouth and drew a savage line between his eyes. “I never meant for you or Leo to be at risk.”
The hurt that followed the words tore at me, threatening to take me out at the knees and risk everything to make the pain go away. I wasn’t ready to forgive him, especially after the danger he brought with him. If he’d shown up and apologized from the beginning, maybe I’d have the heart to tell him the truth. Maybe. “You have a funny way of showing you care.”
“I care more than you’ll ever know.” He moved around the table, not stopping until we stood an inch apart. Heat rolled off his body and wrapped around me, the familiar bergamot and leather scent yet another threat to my willpower.
“Threat outside the perimeter.” Matteo’s voice shattered the stillness between us.
I wheeled, ready to bolt.
Alessio grabbed my elbow. “Stay here.”
“Leo.” I wrenched my arm side to side, then punched him when he refused to let go. “Don’t you fucking dare try to stop me, Alessio.”
“She’s right.” Matteo moved so quietly I never heard a sound but suddenly he stood at my side, all traces of laughter vanquished beneath the threat of violence. “Let her go to Leo. She’s safer there.”
Gunfire erupted outside. I screamed and covered my head, my feet moving on instinct toward my son.
“Lila.” Alessio’s steps pounded behind me. “Wait. You need to take cover.” Both arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me to a stop. “Avoid the windows.”
“I have to get to Leo.” I punched and kicked, tears streaming as fear tore at every inch of my body. “I have to get to our son.”
“He’s not in his room.” Matteo ran past, pointing toward the stairs. “Renzo took him to the bathroom.” He pulled a pistol from a hidden holster. “We need Renzo.”
Alessio relaxed his grip enough for me to drop my weight and slide from his arms in a move Dad taught me years ago. I rushed up the steps, shouting Leo’s name.
Renzo poked his head out from a doorway and held a finger to his lips. “If they hear you, they’ll come for you both.”
“Where is he?” I needed to be with him. Whatever happened, I had to be with Leo.
Alessio crowded behind me, the weight of his presence reminding me I’d given away the secret when I called Leo “our” son. Had he heard me or did he simply feel responsible for keeping an eye on us?
“My room.” Renzo held the door open. “Straight through the bathroom. I didn’t want him on the lower level so close to the windows.”
I tried to understand why, but it escaped me. All I cared about was scooting past the massive man blocking my way and finding Leo.
Alessio followed me to the open bedroom door. Leo sat at a desk with a pen and paper in front of him, noise cancelling headphones over his ears. His long legs kicked as he drew in broad strokes. A sob caught in my throat.
Alessio ran a hand down my spine, sending shudders throughout my body. “Please stay here, Lila. No matter what youhear outside, do not leave this room until one of us comes to get you. Trust no one else.”