Page 33 of Single Mom's Mafia Daddies

I stood, keeping the blanket tight around my shoulders. “Does he need to be quiet?”

“No. It’s soundproof.” A wry smile twisted his mouth to the side. “If no one saw us come in here, they’ll never know where we are.”

“And getting out?” That was the question that haunted me. What if Matteo died and no one came to open the door? “They have to live, Alessio.”

“They will.” He riffled through a stack of papers sitting on the edge of a desk. “You…really like them.”

Did I dare tell him the truth? I’d never shied away from it, except when it involved him as Leo’s father. “They’re incredible men. You all are.”

“But not incredible enough.” He pushed the papers into a drawer and slammed it shut. “No matter what I do, I put you in danger. My one chance to protect you, and you were forced to kill someone because I couldn’t pull it together and think beyond my ego.”

“I protect what I love.” It was a simple statement that meant so much more than words. I’d protect all of them. Anytime. Any place.

“Look what I found.” Leo’s excitement sent my heart into a frenzy.

I whirled, gasping.

My boy had tugged an old gas mask over his face. It covered his entire head, the giant respirator apparatus sticking out from the sides and giving him a bug-like appearance.

“It’s so cool.” His words came out muffled. “I checked everywhere. No artifact. Sorry, Papa.”

Alessio dropped to a knee and hugged Leo with one arm. The other snaked around my waist, and he pressed his face into my stomach. “Thank you.”

I worked my fingers through his hair and down the edges of his jaw, tipping his face up. “We’re going to be okay.” The words were heavy with emotion, and I hoped with everything I had that they were true.

A noise sounded from the doors.

Alessio leaped to his feet, pushing me and Leo behind him and palming a gun in the same breath. I snatched a spare pistol from his belt and guided Leo around to my left side so my right was free to raise the gun and aim it at the door.

17

RENZO

Pain and fear weighed heavier than any kind of exhaustion. Matteo stood in front of the hidden door and pushed his hand through. “Alessio?”

“Matteo?” The heat of relief in Alessio’s voice begged me to smile.

Matteo shoved at the doors. “The doors are stuck. Don’t worry. I brought a muscle man to get you out.”

“What happened?” Lila’s panicked eyes appeared through the narrow gap in the doors. She tucked a gun into her belt. “Is it over?”

“For now.” I didn’t dare comfort her too much. “We eliminated the threat.” I looked over her head to make sure Alessio heard me. “But they’ll be back.”

“We can’t stay here.” Lila scanned our faces, hers turning guarded. “Can we?”

“They’ll expect us to leave.” I’d thought of nothing but strategy since the first shot was fired. “They might be waiting for us out there. Staying here is our best option.”

“Not in here.” Lila’s head shook hard and fast. “Not with the console on the fritz and the doors sticking.”

“Agreed.” Alessio palmed her shoulder. “We’ll retreat to my rooms.”

“I have a better idea.” I gripped the doors with both hands and pushed. They groaned before giving way so fast I stumbled into Lila’s arms. My shot leg threatened to give way beneath me, and I hid the wince with a curse. “Matteo’s tunnels.”

“They infiltrated the tunnels,” Alessio argued.

Matteo shook his head and retrieved the tablet. “They found a portion of the tunnels. The decoys that led into the lower level. The real tunnels are still intact, and we can reach them through here.” He spotted Leo hiding behind Lila and held up a hand. “Sweet mask.”

Leo smacked his palm with a high-five. “Are we going on another soldier mission?”