Page 58 of Single Mom's Mafia Daddies

My phone pinged a response from Matteo. I checked it while following Lila and Leo into the house and up the stairs. Once they were safe in their rooms, I sped up to the third floor andinto the security room. Matteo and Bruce sat side by side in front of a bank of screens.

Matteo tapped one then zoomed in with the control stick. “I don’t like this shift in view. Maybe a squirrel or bird landed on it and that’s why it’s pointed down. I’ll fix it on my way out.”

“What’s the issue?” I squinted at the camera Matteo pointed out. “That’s the one pointed at the rear of the estate.”

“Yeah. Probably nothing.” Matteo stood. “I’ll take care of it now. Call me if anything else happens.”

I took his seat and scanned the remaining cameras. All the angles were on point. The motion sensors remained untriggered. No unauthorized entries or exits. It all pointed to us being perfectly safe.

“Something’s coming.” Bruce rubbed his palms down his thighs. He wore the same black tactical ensemble as myself and the rest of the team, and I’d grown to trust him enough to listen.

Plus it backed up my own suspicions. “It’s been too quiet. These men are ruthless, but Luca is psychotic. He understands how to play the long game. Throw in psychological warfare and it’s his perfect playground.”

He’d love nothing more than to have us break without laying a finger on us.

Bruce and I ran security checks after Matteo fixed the camera, neither of us finding anything to worry about, which worried me that much more.

“I’m going to patrol.” Sitting in the small space caused my neck to prickle. “Radio me if anything comes up.”

“Yes, sir.” Bruce tapped his ear without losing his focus.

Leo sprinted up the stairs as I walked out of the security room and latched onto my leg. “Found you.”

“Was I lost?” I ruffled his hair and chuckled when he spluttered. “Where’s your mom?”

“Sleeping. She was really tired.” Leo squeezed my leg tight. “I’m not tired anymore.”

“Want to walk with me?” I sent Lila a text letting her know Leo was with me. I didn’t want her waking up and panicking, thinking Leo was missing.

“Sure.” Leo bounced up and down, stomping on my foot with every leap. “Outside?”

“Yep.” I shortened my steps so he’d be able to keep up and led the way through a side door that opened into the gardens. Sunshine and birdsong were exactly what I needed after being cooped up inside. I pointed out a squirrel dashing across the top of the wall. “First time I ever saw a squirrel, I didn’t know what it was.”

“Really?” Leo’s nose wrinkled with his frown. “How come?”

“I lived in the city my whole life. A big city. Nothing but concrete, steel, and glass. No room for animals.” I fixed the strap on my bulletproof vest and made sure all my guns were strapped down and locked in tight. I’d heard about Lila grabbing Alessio’s gun in the last fight. I didn’t want Leo getting any ideas.

“How many bad men have you killed?” Leo stopped in front of the gazebo.

I’m not sure this is the kind of conversation your mother would approve of.” I continued down the path while waiting for Leo to decide if he wanted to pursue the conversation or move onto something more appropriate.

His steps tapped out behind me. “Do you remember them?”

I paused, turning to watch him. Leo’s eyes were dark and serious.

“Yes.” Every face. Every night. They played on repeat as I fell asleep and haunted my nightmares with their screams.

“There you are.” Lila’s voice interrupted the collection of faces spinning through my mind.

Relief curled my shoulders, and I turned to face her.

“Thanks for the text.” She waved her phone side to side then stared at Leo. “That doesn’t mean you’re not in trouble. You know you were supposed to wake me up.”

Leo scuffed his toes across the concrete and dropped his chin to his chest. “Sorry.”

Did I tell her what Leo said about being tired or leave it alone? Probably best if I stayed out of the domestic drama. I knew my place, and it wasn’t in the middle of a mother and son as she set boundaries I fully respected. Leo’s good intentions didn’t save him from being wrong.

“I’m sorry. I should have sent him back to wake you.” My own good intentions didn’t mean shit either.