Page 70 of Single Mom's Mafia Daddies
The door opened before I had a chance to recover enough to stand. Matteo, Renzo, and Alessio marched in. Renzo’s military precision brought up a ghost of a smile that I tamped down when the intensity of his gaze locked onto me.
“Is it true?” Matteo asked. “Are you pregnant?”
The dread coursing through me rattled my bones, but I strove to keep my voice even. “Do you think I would lie about it?” I almost leaned into the anger and let it consume me, but they had every right to ask questions. “I would offer to show you the pregnancy tests, but they’re in the other house.”
Renzo grinned, the stoic, emotionless façade falling from him like a weight chucked aside. “We’re with you every step of the way. We have been since the beginning, and this pregnancy simply cements the bond and commitment that has already been made.”
“What our suddenly poetic friend is trying to say,” Matteo interrupted, “is that we will love our family—you, Leo, and this baby—with all that we have.”
“Our blood, bones, and souls belong to you, to our family.” Alessio moved first, taking a step toward me. “We belong together, Lila. All of us.”
The hints of jealousy I’d seen in him this last week disappeared. I leapt to my feet and ran into the middle of them. My arms hooked around Alessio and Renzo and pulled them close. Matteo stood directly in front of me, and he brought the circle to completion with his embrace pulling all four of us together.
“Thank you.” I held back the sobs of gratitude. Now wasn’t the time for tears; it was time for rejoicing.
A buzzing sound interrupted the group hug.
Alessio grunted in annoyance and retrieved his cell phone. “Yes?”
“Sir, there’s been a development,” an unfamiliar voice trickled through.
Renzo stiffened and released me. He pressed a finger to the earpiece tucked into his right ear. “Verducci drone at the perimeter. My guys shot it down.” He gave Alessio a crisp nod.
The man on the phone confirmed. “It’s been scanned. No bombs or unusual signatures. Looks like it has a camera, but it wasn’t turned on.” His voice shifted. “There’s something you need to see.”
“Renzo, you and Matteo retrieve the drone. Bring it back here.” Alessio ended the call with a bitter “thank you” to the man on the other end.
“Lila,” Matteo started.
I held up my hand. “Don’t you dare tell me I should leave. I have every right to be here.”
“I was going to ask if you wanted to sit down while you wait. It’ll be a few minutes.” Matteo’s lopsided grin appeared. He winked and held out a hand to Renzo. “Can I hold your hand? I’m scared.”
Renzo smacked Matteo’s hand with a snort. “Hold your own damned hand. I need both of mine.”
“So manly. So irritable.” Matteo locked his hands together at his waist and followed Renzo from the room. “Be right back.” He puckered his lips and made kissing noises.
I ran over and pecked each of them on the cheek. “Be safe.”
“Always.” Renzo’s eyes warmed. “Stay with Alessio.”
“Not a problem.”
Alessio smirked at the snark in my response and guided me to the couch with a hand in the small of my back.
All thoughts of conversation fled under the newest threat. What could I possibly say that might distract us? The sense of impending doom shut down my ability to process anything else.
We sat in silence until Renzo and Matteo reappeared at the door. Renzo held up the drone. “You need to see this.” He dropped it upside down onto Alessio’s desk.
I beat him to the desk, desperate to see how far the Verduccis had gone this time.
Thick scratches marred the drone’s silver exterior. A shocked gasp slipped out, and I covered my mouth to stop the second beat of terror from escaping as I read the chilling words.
“Tomorrow, you lose everything.”
Alessio punched his fist into the desk. “Renzo, double the guards around the estate, then trace this motherfucking drone all the way to its place of origin. I want to know where they are.”
“I’ll put out some feelers.” All of Matteo’s joking collapsed. I’d never seen him this serious, and it proved more than anything that they were taking every precaution. He moved to the balcony, closing the door behind him. He paced with short, furious steps, the phone to his ear and his free hand waving back and forth.