Page 64 of Mafia Don's Secret Baby

I allowed the words to dance on my tongue for just another moment before pushing them free.

“Callum is yours.”

He didn’t look like he fully understood the words as he stared blankly at me.

“I left when I learned I was pregnant,” I continued, unsure of how else to explain. “I planned to tell you three years ago, but my father told me that I was betrothed to the Petrov heir, and I couldn’t do it. I would have sworn myself to you instead for the sake of appearances. There would have been no choice. I wasn’t ready to marry. I wouldn’t let a child be raised in this life if I had another choice.”

His eyes remained locked on mine as the openness and happiness from sex fell away, and shock replaced it. His mouth fell open as I watched him go from surprise to furious, all in the span of three seconds. His eyes darted back and forth as he took in the information and processed it.

Then, all those emotions fell away, replaced with the cold stare I’d seen time and time again when he played the role of the Don.

Should I keep talking? Should I wait for him to speak?

“Matteo, I didn’t know I was staying until a few days ago. Not for sure. I know you would make a great father, but I still couldn’t take that risk. Not until it was necessary. But you were right. Because of my name, I’ll be hunted wherever I go. So will Callum. I had to get ahead of this, and that means staying.” I reached for him, but he took a step out of reach, dropping the hand that still lingered on my face. I stood bare before him, both emotionally and physically, and for the first time, I felt it. “Matteo…”

“Callum is my son?”

I nodded slowly.

Why wasn’t he showing any emotion? I had expected betrayal. Anger. Hurt. Maybe even hatred.

Instead, he showed nothing.

He reached to the floor and gathered his clothes. He put them on quickly before pausing and looking me over again. This time, no lust sat in his gaze. Only coldness.

He turned and strode out of the room, using his body to shield the gap in the doorway. Even in his anger, he didn’t allow a single person to see my naked body.

He pulled the door closed behind him.

He didn’t let me in on a single thought or emotion.

He locked me out of his reaction entirely, as if I meant nothing to him after what I’d done, and I knew what that meant.

I’d ruined everything.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Lilianna Genovese

Both Sophie and the housekeeper were out on Sunday morning, and Matteo had left before I could speak with him, so only Callum and I remained at home for the morning. He began playing with a small basket of toys but quickly became antsy, wanting something else to do. Sophie liked to frequent a park down the street, but without any additional guards to escort us, it wasn’t a risk I wanted to take. The penthouse had ample protection, and that was what mattered. None of the guards here would be permitted to leave their stations for a walk to the park.

I could have asked for an additional guard to take us, but with Matteo ignoring me, the last thing I wanted was to ask for favors.

Instead, we made our way to the big, open kitchen and began sifting through the pantry for something to make.

“Pancakes?” I asked Callum.

“Cakes,” he agreed with a chipper tone.

I quickly arranged the ingredients on the center island and brought a stool to the side for him. “You remember how to crack an egg?”

Callum grabbed an egg and slammed it into the bowl, allowing the yolk to run through his fingers with a smile. “Trash!” he shouted insistently, holding up the shell.

I grabbed it, and he tossed the mess into the trash before rinsing his hands in the sink and continuing to try to help me with breakfast. It came together quickly, though there was certainly an impressive mess surrounding us as I scanned the floor and countertop. Callum had gotten a little pour happy with the pancake mix, and the blueberries he’d put inside had been distributed between his mouth, the bowl, and the surrounding countertop.

After a few near-meltdowns and a lot of unnecessary steps, a small pile of pancakes sat on a plate beside the stove, ready to eat. I pulled one off the griddle and placed it atop the stack, preparing to pour the batter to make another.

The front door clicked open, and I shot my gaze toward it.

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