Page 9 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don

“Your little bird must have been confused,” Marco says in reply. He crosses his arms over his chest. “This is a family event.”

“Well, the special guest I’m thinking of is technically your family,” I say. “At least she has been since you knocked her up. I must admit, I was shocked when I learned you never married Kate and that you are now marrying a Baldini. Does your lovely wife know about your little ‘accident’? Grazia’s a well-bred little mafia princess. I can’t imagine her taking that bit of information well. Your first-born son, a bastard?” I make a tsking noise at him, circling around him slowly as I speak.

Marco snorts at my words. “You imagine everyone is as small-minded and evil as you are, La Rosa,” he says scornfully. “Not all of us think of murder every time we have a disagreement with someone we love.”

“Did I murder my betrothed when I was confronted with the evidence of her lack of discretion and her lies?” I ask Marco as I circle back to stand before him. “Did I kill you for being willing to help her cheat on me before we were even married?”

Marco sighs. “Surprisingly, you were very restrained.” He fingers his nose, which I note isn’t as straight as it once was.

I feel a thrill of pleasure that I hurt him, even if I only injured him physically. Usually, I destroy my enemies from the inside out, but I will take what I can get in this instance.

When I found out, all those years ago, that Kate was pregnant something in me broke. Where it seems that my natural instinct in that moment would have been to kill, all I could do was flee.

“You know why I’m here,” I say to him. “I want what’s mine. You can keep your brat, but I want my betrothed.”

“Why do you want Kate after all these years?” Marco asks me. I hear the genuine interest in his voice. “Has it never occurred to you that she might have remarried? Even if you haven’t moved on, she has.”

I hear a lie in his words and I bare my teeth in something that might be mistaken as a smile.

I would have known if Kate had moved on. She has loved me since we were children. Nothing could overcome that kind of attachment easily.

“You’re lying,” I say flatly. “And we both know it. Hand Kate over, and I’ll leave without causing a scene.”

Marco sighs. “And if I say no?”

I laugh. “Oh, you won’t say no,” I tell him.

I pause in front of him. His arms are still crossed over his chest. I regard him with my head tilted to the side, my lips curving into a soft smile. And then I drive my fist into his face.

Chapter Four

Kate

I sip at my champagne and watch Grazia from across the room. She’s a beautiful bride and just Marco’s type.

I don’t think that Marco has told her about me, which makes sense because he wouldn’t want to open me up to being discovered by Elio.

The fewer people who know about me, the better.

But it’s tempting to talk to her, to spill everything to her. I think of how lonely my life has been for the past seven years.

Marco provides me with everything that I need, a home to live in, school supplies to homeschool Mateo, and as many movies, books, and painting supplies as I need to keep myself entertained.

That doesn’t change the fact that the only person I have to talk to besides my child is Marco.

Before he met Grazia, Marco was always busy with work, but he still came over a few times a month to hang out for a while and chat. Now that he’s married, I know that I won’t see much of him.

The thought of months of being all alone with no one but a seven-year-old for company is not a happy one.

I know it’s time for something to change. This lifestyle is no longer sustainable.

I know that’s why Marco finally caved and decided I could come today. The isolation had reached a boiling point. I just had to agree to be low-key and blend in. Easier said than done.

I drift toward Grazia, hearing her bright laughter as she talks to her family members. They are all beautiful women, spoiled, pampered, and easily recognizable as mafia princesses and queens.

A bitter smile curls my lips. I was like them once, rich and comfortable, so confident in my own worth. My life was a house of cards, though.

The safety of the women in mob families rests entirely in the hands of the men who run the families. Without strong men, there is no safety for the women and children in mafia circles.

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