Page 2 of Mafia Don's Secret Baby

He stared at us longer than what made me comfortable, and I scooted closer to Callum.

“Are you related to the groom?” he asked after a moment of silence.

The music in the church shifted to something a bit more melodic and less upbeat, signaling that Aelita would be walking down the aisle soon. They’d gone to great lengths to make this a stunning ceremony. Lilacs and baby’s breath floral arrangements capped the ends of each aisle, and large arrangements of flowers sat at either side of the steps where they’d be officially wed.

“Just a childhood friend,” I lied.

I didn’t need anybody knowing I’d returned. I’d give my father a courtesy visit, and I’d give my brother a big hug and my well wishes before going back to Italy.

“They were supposed to keep this wedding small.”

He looked between me and Callum as if he had much more to say than the initial question. Why did it matter to have another guest on the list?

“I was an important friend, and Silas wants me here.”

He licked his lips and narrowed his eyes as if he wanted to question me further, but I intentionally turned from him. Something about his gaze made me uneasy. There was more to this questioning that I wasn’t understanding. Maybe Silas’s bride struggled with large crowds? Regardless, it didn’t matter.

“Aelita wanted only the closest family here. And it was supposed to be no children.”

I ground my teeth as I glanced back at him. In another life, I might have told him to mind his business. I might have confronted him and been honest about my relationship with Silas.

“Is there a problem?” I asked, raising my brows. “Silas is allowed to have his friends in attendance, too.”

I looked around and found almost nobody else who I recognized. A few distant family members sat scattered along the rows, but most of the people in attendance were Petrov’s—the family of the bride.

He looked me up and down before shrugging. “Not my problem,” he muttered and looked toward the front.

I rolled my eyes and glanced back at the front of the room. They drifted to the one person I wanted to forget more than anyone, and I tensed.

He was staring back.

A night of too much alcohol and too many regrets slapped me in the face as I met his eyes. The last time he had looked at me with those dark eyes—with that heated look—I’d still had the zing of alcohol in my blood from a night of fun. I’d been euphoric from the way he’d touched me.

It had only happened once.

That night… it had been a way of letting him go.

Or at least, that’s what I’d drunkenly told myself before pulling him into my bed.

I couldn’t pull my gaze from his as I bit my bottom lip and tugged Callum into my side. I hoped he wouldn’t notice the boy, but I knew he would. Matteo noticed everything. He always had.

His gaze drifted to my son at my side, and I held my breath as his eyes narrowed.

Then, he looked toward the back of the room, and the trance broke. The traditional Wedding March melody started playing on a grand piano in the front of the room. I turned and saw a petite woman in a modest white dress standing in between the double doors. She held a white and lilac bouquet with some additional foliage that brought it all together.

She looked nothing like the women Silas had dated in the past.

Her sleek black hair had been arranged in a braided updo, and the makeup on her face was pristine. I’d seen Silas interested in redheads with freckles and short blonde women with sizable tits, but never a tall, lean woman like her. Yet when he called to tell me about the wedding, he’d assured me he wanted to go through with it. Yes, it had been arranged. My father and Vlad Petrov had done it to unite our people after I’d bailed on my “duties”, but from the way Silas spoke, he genuinely cared for her.

As she began walking slowly down the aisle with her father at her side, I noted the white tennis shoes, so out of place with the stunning dress and perfect makeup. I stared at them for a moment before shaking my head and turning my gaze back to Silas.

He stared at her with a look of pure happiness.

My chest loosened, and my shoulders relaxed a bit. After this wedding—once Silas had united our people—maybe I could visit home more regularly. I wouldn’t need to fear an arranged marriage anymore, and if the threat of the Russian mob had calmed, it would be safe enough for infrequent visits.

Maybe this wedding would make everything better.

“Mommy, done?” Callum asked at my side.

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