Page 39 of Surprise Baby for the Mafia Boss

I won’t allow my baby to be shunned by the Baldini family. Nor will I be paid to disappear from Luca’s life.

“He’s fine. He’s asked me to play the part of his partner while the Mexicans are here next week. They took a liking to me, and he’s worried that the deal will go south if they arrive and I’m not there,” I explain.

“I have agreed, so I’ll be staying at the Baldini’s for the weekend, until the Mexicans have left.”

“They’re coming here?” my father asks. I nod. Luca hadn’t fully explained why or how he had convinced them to come to his home. I did wonder if he was thinking straight.

It’s easy for the two of us to go to them and pretend we’re a couple, but much harder when there are so many other people who know about us. My mind jumps to a thought of Grazia.

Will she keep up the pretense? If I know Luca— and by now, I’m pretty sure I do—he’s not going to allow his sister to ruin this for him, so I doubt she’ll end up being a problem.

I want to speak to Grazia about everything, make her see that things are not as bad as she thinks they are. But she’s blocked my number, and I haven’t had the courage to show up at the mansion since the blow-up.

“He offered me money, quite a bit, as if it’s an actual job,” I tell my father.

“But I won’t take it. I want him to see that we can be a couple, that I can help him with his work and be his real partner—in everything. He needs to understand that before this baby comes.” I hadn’t said anything to Luca about the money, because if I had, I'm sure it would have just ended in a fight.

My father nods, but doesn’t say anything. He might be fighting the urge to convince me to take the money, but I wouldn’t listen anyway.

I need to figure things out with Luca soon. We have a child on the way, and I refuse to have this baby grow up without its dad.

Ginny would have wanted us to do better.

***

“Going somewhere fancy?” my hairdresser asks as she pins up my golden locks.

“Sort of.” I smile. “We have a family party.”

“Ah lovely, dear. I must say, your hair is looking stunning! Have you been taking vitamins?” she asks.

I shake my head no, but it’s a lie. I’ve started taking all of the recommended pre-natal vitamins, I want to keep this baby as healthy as I can.

Leaving the hair salon, I move on to my nail appointment. It’s important that I look my best tonight. I need to show the Mexicans, yet again, that I am worthy of being Luca’s lady, but I also need to show Luca what he could have if he just rethinks the whole proposal idea.

I’ve bought a brand-new dress for tonight. It’s a lot more revealing than the one I wore in Mexico, and it’s royal blue, a color I know Luca loves. I’ve also bought a new pair of stilettos in the same color, and my nails will match.

I’m confident that most of the eyes will be on me tonight, and if that doesn’t make Luca at least a little jealous, I don’t know what will.

I spend three hours getting my nails done, and have to rush home to get dressed and do my makeup. Standing in front of my mirror, even I’m impressed with what I’ve managed to pull off.

I rub my belly, thankful that just for now, the pregnancy isn’t showing yet.

I hope that before my bump does show, Luca and I can reconcile. This baby deserves both of its parents. And I would love nothing more than to raise it in the same house that Ginny raised the Baldini siblings.

That garden is perfect for tiny feet to run through and enjoy the sun. The Baldini house also has the best security, and with Luca getting so deeply involved in this Mexican deal, any blood family of his is going to need to be well protected.

“Don’t worry, baby,” I whisper. “Your daddy and I will sort out a family home soon.”

Grabbing my keys on the way out, I shout to my father that I’ll see him in a couple of days, and get into my car, heading to the Baldini mansion.

As soon as I enter the door, Luca hands me a piece of paper and tells me to follow him to his office.

“Emelia, that’s the story in your hands. There’s a bunch of easy dialogue to follow, and all expectations I have of you tonight.” I look down at the piece of paper he’s given me.

“I did fine when we were in Mexico together,” I say to him. “Do you really think I need a play-by-play script for this weekend?”

“Yes, and a big part of this agreement is that you follow it.” He’s speaking so harshly, he sounds like the Luca that came back from Mexico the first time. I feel tears prick my eyes, but this makeup is too good for me to ruin it.

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