Page 45 of Betraying the Mafia Boss

“They’ll accept whatever makes me happy,” I interrupt, my tone leaving no room for argument. “And you, and our child, make me happier than I’ve ever been.”

Isabella’s breath catches, her expression softening with emotion. “Vincent, I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she confesses, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You’ll never have to find out,” I vow, pulling her into my arms and holding her close. In that moment, with her nestled against my chest, I know that my feelings for this woman aren’t just fleeting. I care for her more deeply than I admit to myself.

When she pulls away, she lowers her gaze and I ask, “Is there something else I should know?”

Tears roll down her face. “I’m so sorry, Vincent. I swear I never meant to deceive you.”

I’m lost. Really lost. “What do you mean?”

“It’s about Elio.” She sucks in another deep breath. “I—I lied to you about my relationship with him.”

“What do you mean, you lied?” My patience is growing thinner as dread awakens deep within me. Whatever it is she has to say, I’m hoping and praying it is not what I’m thinking. Anything but that.

She tucks her trembling hands between her thighs. “Promise me you won’t be mad at me when I tell you.”

I can’t make any promises right now because I know whatever has her this shaken up can’t be anything good. But she’s pregnant, I remind myself. I need to take it easy on her regardless of what she’s about to tell me. “I won’t overreact.”

She nods. A small sound escapes from the back of her throat as she swallows. “I didn’t lie to you when I said I was indebted to Elio.”

“But?”

“He didn’t want me to pay back the money, he wanted something else from me.”

Sex? If that is what he wants, if he as much as laid a hand on her to take it by force, I’ll make sure to find him and rip his balls out, I swear. “What did he want?”

She tilts her head, our eyes meeting. “You.”

“Me? Care to elaborate?” I have a feeling it really is what I was thinking.

“Elio wanted me to lead you to him. He transferred me to LifePlus for that very purpose.” Her voice breaks, her eyes sparkling with tears she’s doing a good job at holding back. “I agreed to do it because I didn’t know you and my Nana’s life was at risk.”

Ice runs through my veins at her confession. None of this is real. To Isabella, I was just a means to an end. My life in exchange of her grandma’s and nothing more. Great! “Why are you tell me this now? Because you’re pregnant?”

“No.” She pants nervously. “It’s not because I’m pregnant. I—”

“Whatever you’re going to say is just an excuse, Isabella.” I let out a mirthless laugh, but it does nothing to soothe the intense ache in my chest. My heart is being ripped apart and there’s absolutely nothing I can do to save myself. “Would you have told me this if you hadn’t find out you were carrying my child?”

She rolls her head back and inhales. Tears roll down her cheeks, cascading down her beautiful face. Clenching my fists at my sides is the only thing I can do to not reach out and wipe away her tears. I can’t let my emotions rule me right now. Before I forgive her, I need to be certain she’s not playing me for a fool. I need to be sure who’s side she’s on.

My thought drifts to my brothers. Dominic once mentioned something about Isabella not being trustworthy. Did he and Marcus already know about her and Elio? If so, why didn’t he say anything? Right, it wouldn’t be unlike him to keep his mouth shut just to teach me a lesson. I’m such a fucking idiot.

It takes a moment before Isabella finally answers my question. “Yes, I would have. I made the choice to tell you before I found out I was pregnant.”

A sardonic chuckle rumbles in my throat. “How do I know what you’re saying is true? You’ve had weeks to come clean and yet you lied to me.”

“I lied because I was afraid. I didn’t know if I could trust you and my Nana’s life is at risk.” She wraps her arm around mine. She’s not fighting the tears now, she’s letting them run freely. “You have to understand, please.”

Despite the rage, I manage to keep my voice calm. “Why are you telling me this? You could’ve led me to him and gotten your Nana back.” My eyes dart to her stomach. It’s so hard to believe there’s a little human growing in there. A human that will make me a father. “Are you afraid our child will hate you for killing me?”

“Yes, I’m afraid.” She doesn’t deny it or try to placate me with words. “But that is not the only reason, Vincent.”

“What is?”

“I care about you,” she says, her tone dripping with sincerity and her eyes boring straight into mine. “I can’t stand by and watch you get hurt, because I care about you.”

Chapter Sixteen

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