Page 112 of Forced Vows

"You've never had a time you didn't know you'd be underboss one day?" I know the answer.

He already said, but it's hitting me harder right now for some reason.

"No."

"Our child will be just as trapped." But not as trapped as the children born into the AOG.

My aunt's warning is on my brain because her concern came through the short note, but so did her hopelessness.

"It's not a trap, mi dolce fiore. It's a privilege."

Of course, Miceli would say that. "What if he or she doesn't want that privilege?"

And also, why do I love that he calls me his sweet flower? Is it a play on my name? I feel like it is. The words he said the first time he used it play over in my brain when I should be thinking about other things.

Your perfume is all I want to smell.

Even now, my core gives a throb and my thighs clench at the memory.

"Not all people born to a mafia family are meant for the mafia life." He says it like everyone knows that.

But that's sure not how my family sees it. Not even moma.

"That's not an answer."

"There are children every generation who walk away from the life. If our child is one of them, we will respect that choice." Miceli doesn't sound like he's lying.

"Will you still love him or her? If they don't want to be part of this world?" Like my dad loved me?

"Love is not a word I use, but my children will always know they are part of the De Luca family, whether or not they are part of la famiglia."

Love is not a word I use. What does that even mean? I figured he isn't going to fall in love with his wife, right? But his children? He'll love them, won't he?

"You love your family, don't you?"

"My family knows I will kill for them and die to protect them."

Okay, yeah. In this world, that's one definition of love, I guess. But even when it comes to his family, he's not going to use the dreaded L-word.

I sit up and rub my chest. "You're giving me heartburn."

"Stop eating so much crap on campus and you'll be fine."

I don't bother asking how he knows my preference for tacos, pizza and smoothies. Allessio is a born tattletale and Zoey probably is too.

"I don't eat crap." I eat the food that I never even tasted before going to college.

And it's yummy.

"Tell that to your heartburn."

The pain in my chest didn't originate in my stomach, but I'm not admitting that to either of us. "What do you want? You called for a reason, right?"

"I am checking up on our cat."

"Our cat?" The big ball of fur chooses this moment to jump onto my lap, knocking my tablet over.

Like she knows Miceli is on the phone.

---