Page 26 of Single Mom’s Mafia Daddies (The Forbidden Reverse Harem Collection #22)

LILA

T he tense car ride along with the knowledge of the second positive pregnancy test I’d taken this morning churned together until I worried I’d puke in the back of Renzo’s SUV. The way he gripped the wheel warned me we were in danger…more danger.

I tasted the hot, bitter bile and barely swallowed it back down when Renzo took a sharp right. He drove up an incline toward a massive house sitting atop a hill. Green grass sprawled out in every direction, the fortified gates and walls offering protection I didn’t dare trust.

“It’s been built to withstand any attack,” Matteo whispered into my ear.

Leo leaned over my lap and peered through the window, his eyes growing wide. “Holy smokes. That’s the biggest house in the whole world.”

Alessio grinned but didn’t speak. Pride in his home shone in his face, giving me glimpses of the man I’d fallen in love with years ago.

“Why didn’t we come here first if it’s so secure?” The question bolted from my lips without pause, and I couldn’t bring myself to regret it.

“Because it’s the obvious place to look for me.” Alessio turned to face me, the seatbelt stretching taut over his shoulder. “I thought we’d be safer in hiding. Now that we’re not, we’re going into lockdown.”

I didn’t like the sound of that, but what choice did I have when Leo’s life was in danger?

Men patrolled the edge of the property as Renzo drove to the steps and parked.

The golden brick gave off a warm glow as evening descended.

An archway at the top of the steps provided shelter as the five of us moved from the car to the front stoop.

The porch was longer than my whole house, and when we stepped through the door, Matteo, Renzo, and Alessio stopped at my gasp.

Leo bolted through the foyer, racing all the way to the far side before whooping and racing back. “This place is huge. I bet we get lost. Are there secret tunnels? Can I go upstairs?”

“Yes, there are tunnels.” Alessio motioned at me. “I’d like to take you both on a tour.”

“Yay.” Leo ran around the four of us, his black shoes leaving marks on the white floor.

I barely managed to tear my gaze away from the gorgeous paintings and crystal chandeliers long enough to nod. The last house was impressive, but this one blew my mind.

Leo grabbed my hand and pulled. “This way.” He marched along behind Alessio, who led the way across the foyer and up the stairs.

“This floor is bedrooms. You can have your pick of any on the left side.” He flicked his fingers toward the doors standing open.

“Where do you sleep?” Leo asked.

Renzo pointed to the right. “We’re over there.”

I eyed the closed doors. Movement at the end of the hallway snapped my spine straight. “Who’s that?”

Renzo followed my gaze and moved to stand between me and the balcony doors. The tension in his broad shoulders eased. “That’s Tennison, one of the guards. You’ll see them around more often than you did before.”

“There are also more cameras here. Locks on the doors that are engineered to open with your thumbprint.” Matteo led the way over to one of the familiar panels. “I’ve already added yours and Leo’s prints.”

More guards, more security. It should make me feel safe, but everything about this suffocated me.

I liked my independence, the ability to do what I wanted when I wanted, as long as Leo was safe and cared for.

I couldn’t guarantee that here. All my choices were taken away.

I was trapped in a luxurious golden cage.

“Want to see the pool?” Alessio’s attempt to alleviate the tension ground my teeth together.

I meant what I’d said, even if we’d shared tender moments since then. This was his fault.

Matteo scooped Leo up and spun him around. “You know how to swim, right?”

“Yep.” Leo shimmied side to side. “I’m a good swimmer. I can even swim underwater.”

“Whoa, no way!” Matteo bounced Leo up onto his shoulder. “You’ll have to teach me. I can only swim if I’m wearing goggles and a nose plug.”

“It’s easy.” Leo propped his elbow on Matteo’s head and leaned down to peer into his face. “I can teach you.”

Love so powerful it staggered me rose at Leo’s words.

“And your mother has her own queen’s palace.” Matteo spun around and walked backward toward the steps. “You’re going to love it here, Lila. Give it a chance.”

Renzo took Leo from Matteo’s shoulder, laughing when Matteo spluttered. “You’re going to break your neck.”

“You’re just jealous because I remembered the pool first.” Matteo led the way down the stairs, turned right, and pushed open a pair of cut glass French doors. Blue water glistened in the middle of the stretch of white tile.

“We don’t have any bathing suits,” I whispered to Renzo.

He patted Leo’s back and lowered him to the ground. “I’ll take care of it. Anything you need Leo?” He dropped to a knee so they were eye to eye.

Leo’s face scrunched and tapped his finger against his chin. “Let me think.”

Alessio rounded the far side of the pool and lowered himself into a lounge chair. Exhaustion stamped its mark on his face with dark circles beneath his eyes and the crimped lines fanning out around his mouth. He spoke quickly to Matteo.

Renzo stayed by my side, his attention shifting from Leo to me.

A steady heat built between us, and I remembered another time he’d been on one knee in front of me. I cursed my body’s instant reaction to his proximity. I’d had more sex in the last month than in seven years, and instead of feeling satisfied, I wanted more.

“I want to go back to school,” Leo finally admitted.

“Really?” Renzo asked quietly. He didn’t tell Leo no, but the way he questioned him brought a curious sensation crawling across my skin.

“Can you give us a few minutes?” It wasn’t a request, but I framed it as one despite the hardness in my tone and the way my hands curled into fists.

Renzo stood and nodded. “Sure. I need to sweep the grounds.” He marched away without a backward glance.

Regret tempered the anger, but I used it to my advantage instead of giving in to my need and running after him to apologize. I took Leo’s hand and guided him over to the pergola. A circle of bench seats covered in padded white pillows gave us shade and comfort for the conversation.

I had no idea how to tell Leo school might be out of the question. His safety remained my top priority.

“I miss my friends. And I miss my teacher. She says we have to come to school every day or we won’t learn. And if I don’t learn I won’t get to go to the next grade.” All his thoughts poured out in one long breath.

When he stopped and peered up at me through dark lashes, my heart plummeted. How did I tell him no without revealing his life was in danger? How much did he already know? Playing soldier couldn’t hide the secret forever.

“I’m sorry you’re missing school. And you’re right to worry.” There had to be a solution that didn’t put his life at risk. “I can talk to your teacher. Maybe we can hire a tutor to come here and make sure you don’t fall behind.”

“But I want to go to school .” He kicked his heels on the wooden bench seat beneath him. “It’s not fair. I want to see my friends. They’re going to forget about me.”

I trapped the sigh in my throat before it emerged. Poor Leo. The adorable pout pooched out his lower lip, reminding me of Alessio. My son crossed his arms and slammed his spine into the back of the seat.

“I can’t promise you’ll get to go back to school soon.” I smoothed the hair back from his face. “But I promise your friends will not forget you. You’re too cool to ever be forgotten.”

The platitude helped enough to remove the frown. He sat up straighter and dropped his hands to his lap. “You promise I’ll go back to school?”

“Yes. I don’t know when, but you will go back.” I stood and held out my hand. “Why don’t you show Matteo how to swim underwater while I talk to Alessio? You can swim in those clothes.”

“Okay.” He bypassed my hand and took off running. “Matteo, Matteo, come swim with me.” He cannonballed into the pool without a moment of hesitation.

Matteo’s boisterous laugh rolled out. He ran and jumped into the water, fully clothed as well, and came up with Leo in his arms.

I longed to join them, to finally have a moment of peace and joy, but life as a mother came with too much responsibility for me to chuck aside my concerns. Alessio watched my approach, caution in his eyes.

“Leo wants to go back to school.”

He shook his head. “That’s not a good idea. Any place outside these walls is a risk.”

“He needs the enrichment of school.” I pushed because it was my job. Leo’s needs trumped everything else. “Make it happen, Alessio.”

A steady tick in his jaw showed his anger at my demand, but he nodded once in a crisp motion that barely stirred his body. “I’ll find a way. Give me some time.”

Cryptic as ever, but it would have to do. The sound of Leo’s and Matteo’s laughter joined together in a sweet symphony. My emotions were ragged to the point I had no idea if I’d cry or fly off the handle if I had to process one more terrifying thought.

“I’m going for a walk.” I pointed toward the flowers stretching over the half wall behind Alessio. “Is that a garden?”

“Yes.” He started to rise. “I’ll come with you.”

“No. I need to be alone.” I palmed my throat to ease the ache. “Can you and Matteo watch Leo?”

“Of course.” He relaxed again, a tiny smile bringing the light back to his eyes.

I hated that I’d been the one to take it away, but nothing about this situation was okay with me. How could I possibly be falling for three men who put me and Leo in constant danger?

My heavy steps carried me away from Leo and through the swinging gate.

Birds chirped in a nearby tree barely taller than me.

Red roses bloomed along the wall covered in thorny rose vines.

Water bubbled and fell from a round fountain in the center of the garden, and I made my way over to the small gazebo tucked in the shade.

Like the pergola, it had padded seats, and I sank into the plush cushions, dragging one over my stomach and squeezing it tight as hot tears blurred my vision.

It was all wrong. How had my life turned so completely upside down?

Seconds dragged into minutes as my emotions ran rampant. Choking back the tears, I refused to give in, refused to allow weakness when I needed strength. I closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing my way through the emotional storm.

“I brought you something to drink.” Renzo’s quiet voice preceded his heavy weight settling in beside me. One arm went across the back of the seat, and his thumb and forefinger rubbed small circles on the back of my neck.

I kept my eyes shut, determined to make him go away with my silence. Then I remembered who sat next to me. Renzo’s quiet determination could put anyone to shame. And somehow, that gave me the strength to trust him enough to lean into his side and let him comfort me.

A cool glass touched the back of my hand. “Drink. You need to stay hydrated.”

“I’m not thirsty.” I sounded petulant, but Renzo didn’t laugh or insist.

The glass moved away, and I heard the scrape of Renzo sitting it on the glass table on his side of the seat. “I respect your strength, Lila. You’ve held up remarkably well against all the bullshit.”

My eyes flared wide at that. Renzo rarely spoke unprompted.

His thumb continued to press into the back of my neck, the pressure easing the tendons pulled rigid by stress. “I worry about you.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re taking on so much.” He grimaced and palmed his mouth. “That sounds wrong. You’re capable of doing anything, Lila. This situation is unique, and I worry you’re taking on responsibilities that you don’t need because you’re afraid to ask for help.”

The man pried his way into my thoughts with a look and brought my fears up into the light.

“You don’t have to do this alone.” He leaned in, his voice low and sincere. “Let someone take care of you for once.”

“Someone like you?” I turned to face him, drawing our bodies close when he refused to release my neck. Our breaths mingled. “What if I said I needed you to take care of a very specific problem?”

“Then I’ll take care of it.” He spoke every word with the kind of assuredness I’d seen in him during the assault, like nothing in the world was too hard for him.

I framed his face between my palms and kissed him.

“I need to forget about all this. Just for a few minutes. I need to feel connected to someone so the fear will go away.” My throat locked, but I managed to drive out the rest. “I need you.”