Page 30 of Single Mom’s Mafia Daddies (The Forbidden Reverse Harem Collection #22)

RENZO

W e’d made it through an entire week without an attack. I kept my guard up every second of every day, desperate to ensure no one else became a victim of the Verduccis. I’d left exhaustion behind days ago, running now on pure anger and adrenaline that fueled my body like I’d never left the war.

Lila and Leo walked around the corner of the house and stopped at the soccer field I’d blocked out for him a few days after our arrival. Leo loved the excitement of the game and could run the entire length of the field with the ball at his feet.

“Guess what, Renzo?” Leo shouted at me from across the yard, the brightness of his smile rivaling Lila’s. “I get to try out for soccer next year.” He launched the ball into the air with his toe and ran after it.

Lila followed with a light laugh. Leo had returned to school, and she was spending the day secretly working with her insurance to rebuild her shop. It was cute she thought she could hide it from Matteo and me, though Alessio was still successfully in the dark.

In the afternoons, she’d started wearing shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers and spending the warmer hours outside with Leo after he got home.

A golden glow saturated her skin from the sunshine, and she smiled more easily.

It eased some of the fear I guarded deep inside.

Seeing her happiness gave me hope that we might be okay. Someday.

Lila ran past Leo and kicked the ball toward the opposite goal.

“Hey.” Leo spun and chased her, arms pumping and chin down as determination stampeded across his face.

Lila jogged backward. “I’m going to win this time.” She flashed a smile in my direction.

I’d been too busy to spend much time with her. Security on a place this size took up all my time. Even now, I stood guard over them.

The earpiece crackled and Bruce’s voice came through with a rasp. “Security systems are online but I’m noticing a glitch in one of the cameras. Could be nothing, but I’d like Matteo to take a look.”

“I’ll send him in.” I tapped out a text to Matteo.

A glitch could mean anything, but with the Verduccis breathing down our necks, everything became a threat.

They were planning something. We all sensed it but couldn’t put our finger on the pulse of what they might throw at us.

Safety was an illusion. I’d known that for years.

“Renzo, we’re going inside.” Lila waved at me from across the yard. I’d gotten so wrapped up in protecting them that time regretfully spiraled out of control.

Leo’s feet dragged across the yard, and he didn’t argue when Lila said something about a nap.

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 and into 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.

“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 take Lila 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.