Page 59 of Single Mom's Mafia Daddies

“I’m not mad.” Lila moved into the gazebo and sat, crossing her legs at the ankles and giving me a curious smile as though to remind me what had happened last time we were here together. “But Leo, I need you to understand you can’t run off, even if you’re going with Renzo or anyone else we trust. You remember what we talked about?”

“No leaving with strangers. Even if they say that you sent them. Don’t trust anyone except you, Renzo, Alessio, Matteo, and Bruce.” Leo ticked off the names on his fingers. I didn’t like that he included Bruce, not so soon after our recent betrayal, but the man had been loyal to me the longest. “And if someone tries to make me go with them, do whatever it takes to get away.” Leo chomped his teeth together in a series of clacks. “I can even bite them.”

I hid my chuckle behind my hand, scrubbing my palm over my mouth and across my neck.

“You remember where to kick them?” Lila asked.

Leo nodded slowly. “In the nuts.”

My chest rumbled with a burst of laughter that refused to stay hidden. “Now that’s something I didn’t expect to hear.”

Lila smirked and shrugged. “Self-defense is important, even at his age.”

“Agreed.” I joined her on the bench seat.

Leo scampered over to the other side of the gazebo and picked several roses from the climbing vines.

“I envy Alessio,” I whispered too low for Leo to hear. Pain scraped my emotions raw. “He has something worth protecting.”

“You all do.” Lila dipped her head toward Leo. “You’re more than a bodyguard, Renzo. You have Matteo and Alessio. And you matter to us. As a friend. As my lover.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “I like when you let your guard down. It’s nice to see all the little things you keep hidden.”

“Don’t get used to it.” The warning was automatic. I couldn’t risk lowering my guard for more than a few seconds. “We should head back.” I stood and held out my hand, the motion as automatic as the need to touch her became more obvious every day.

She took my hand and stood, coming close enough for her scent to rush through me. “Thank you for looking out for us.”

“My pleasure.” I squeezed and released her hand.

I’d rather hold onto her, lace our fingers together and stroll around the gardens like we were a normal, happy couple. Those two words had never applied to me. What was normal? And happy? I didn’t know the meaning, but I’d come close a few times in my life.

The hairs on the back of my neck lifted, a sizzle of awareness spreading throughout my body. I grabbed Lila and Leo and hauled ass toward the house.

“What’s wrong?” Lila gripped my arm with both hands. Her feet barely skimmed the ground, but I didn’t dare let her go.

An explosion rippled the ground under my feet. I stumbled but remained upright, pushing Lila and Leo ahead of me. “Get inside.” I shoved Leo into Lila’s arms. “Matteo, I need you to takeLila and Leo to the panic room. Alessio, you’re with me on the north wall. We’re under attack.” No time to mince words.

Leo and Lila blanched white.

“Go.” I pushed her with both hands. The glass door stood open, the stretch of bare floor undulating with another blast. My ears rang, the boom sending bits of brick and mortar flying into the sky. Smoke billowed from the north side, and I aimed my steps in that direction once Matteo appeared and ran for Lila.

I had no choice but to trust their care into his capable hands. He gave the impression of a nonchalant playboy, but when the fighting started, I knew I could trust him.

Alessio sprinted toward the wall, and I fell in step with him.

“Sounds like they decided to use the rocket launcher.” Alessio increased his speed. Weapons bristled along his body, and even in slacks and an open-necked white dress shirt, his viciousness showed through.

“Bruce, lock down the estate. No one in or out except by my command.”

Alessio palmed his Ruger and I swung the AR around into both hands as we ran into the smoke. Phantom screams assaulted my ears. I grit my teeth and forced them away. They could haunt me later, forever if necessary. But not until I’d gotten Lila and Leo clear.

A sharp whistle cut the air. I dove on top of Alessio, knocking him off balance. “Incoming.” My coarse shout was met with a smattering of voices in my earpiece as my men took cover.

The missile screamed overhead and crashed into the estate’s outermost wall. “Matteo, report.”

“We’re okay. On our way down.” The clear, calm words ousted the worst of my fears.

Alessio struggled beneath me. “Let’s go show those Verducci bastards we’re not going down that easily.”

“Don’t get killed.” I pushed to my feet and took off in a crouching run.