Page 69 of Betraying the Mafia Boss

I giggle. I don’t hate the idea. A baby girl who looks just like Vincent? “I would gladly give her one, but you could also give Sophia a cousin sister.”

Jane’s shoulders sag immediately, her eyes darkening with sadness. “I don’t think I can. Marcus and I have been trying for a year now. It’s just not working.”

My chest tightens and I regret bringing it up. “You’ve been trying for just a year. That’s not enough time to give up. Have you visited a fertility clinic?”

“We’ve tried IVF. The doctor said there was nothing wrong with either of us, so I can’t understand why I haven’t fallen pregnant.” She sniffles and wipes the corner of her eyes. “The last doctor advised we should get a surrogate.”

“You don’t want a surrogate, do you?” I ask, keeping my tone cautious to not upset her even more.

“Not until I’ve given it my all.” She grabs a pair of black baby shoes. They’re so small in her hand. “Marcus and I decided to adopt our first child and use a surrogate for our second if we can’t get pregnant within the four years.”

“I’m sure you’ll get pregnant. Most women at the clinics I worked couldn’t have a baby in the first two years of their marriage.” I try to reassure her. “There’s a fertility doctor I know at LifePlus. She’s really good at what she does. I’ll share her details.”

“Thank you.” Jane puts the pair of shoes down and picks up a knitted blanket. “How about this?”

By the time we leave the store, our arms are full of bags filled with baby clothes, diapers, bottles, and everything else a new mother could need.

Our bodyguards help us carry the bags to the car while we stop at a nearby café for a snack. A barista takes our orders. Minutes later, we’re munching on croissants and drinking iced coffee. I’m glad Maria isn’t here, she’d definitely lose her mind if she saw what I was up to.

“Have you and Vincent discussed your future when all of this is over?” Elene asks.

“We haven’t.” I love him but I can’t say how he feels about me. I don’t know if we’ll have a future aside from raising our child together.

“You totally should. It will be a chaos after they find Elio. It’s better to discuss things like that now,” Jane chimes in. Her cheeks are swollen with croissant and she looks like a chipmunk.

She’s right. I should tell him I love him and see if he feels the same way about me. I need to somehow muster the courage to do so given I can’t avoid it for long.

My phone rings in my purse and a private number displays on my screen. My heart stops for a moment. Elio is the only person who calls me from a private number.

What does he want now?

Goosebumps prickle my skin. I feel like someone’s watching me, but I don’t see anyone suspicious when I look outside through the glass walls.

I quickly decline the call and keep my phone on the table. The device buzzes almost immediately with a text message.

Ignoring my calls?

My phone starts to ring again and terror creeps down my spine. My hands tremble as I pick up my phone and press it to my ear.

There’s a brief silence on the other end of the line, then the voice I dread, laughs. “Haven’t you missed me, darling?” I’m about to scream when he says, “Make a sound and your grandma dies.” I immediately shut my mouth. “Good girl. Now listen, come to the back of the shopping mall in ten minutes, my men will be waiting.”

Jane and Elena are gaping at me. They sense that something is wrong, but I’m afraid of what Elio will do if I raise an alarm. He’s somewhere around here, I can feel it in the marrow of my bones. I can’t see him, but I know he can see me.

“If I refuse?”

“Hmmm. Let’s see.” I hear him walk around wherever he is. “Your grandma will die first, and then those bitches sitting next to you. I’ll find your best friend and kill her and that stupid dog of yours, then I’ll come for you.”

My fingers cramp as they grip the phone. I’m fighting back tears. Fighting the tightness in my chest. I have to go to Elio. I can’t let him hurt anyone because of me. I won’t be able to forgive myself if that happens. “I’m coming.”

I hold the phone to my ear seconds after he hangs up. When I bring it down, I release a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Elena’s worried eyes are on me. “Who was that?”

I need an excuse to leave here. An excuse she’ll believe. “It’s someone from the shopping mall. I seem to have forgotten something.” I pretend to rummage my purse. “I forgot my credit card.”

Jane narrows her eyes on me. “We paid with Dominic’s credit card, not yours.”

“I took it out of my purse and forgot to put it back.” I push up from my chair. “I’ll quickly go get it. Go on without me.”

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