Page 17 of Mafia Don's Secret Baby

“Fee,” he shouted.

I laughed as I heard his excited, shortened version of her name. My chest loosened as he rushed right to her and grabbed her hand, pulling her back into the house. Sophie gave me a smile and a wave as I relaxed in my chair and watched the chef bring out our main courses.

“I have something I’d like to discuss,” Matteo said, leaning onto the table.

“Not tonight,” I said.

His brows rose. “May I ask why?”

“You want to talk to me about this mob shit. I don’t want a part in any of it beyond avenging my brother, and you know that. I’m here to help find the people who killed my family and get justice. I—I don’t agree with the way things are run around here. I don’t like torture, and I don’t want to expose Callum to crime.”

“As far as I remember, you had no problem with torture after the wedding.”

He was right. At that moment, it was the only way I could think of to get information. I’d been prepared to do what needed to be done.

“I can get information other ways,” I told him. “Matteo, I’m a private investigator, and I’m really good at it. I have a life in Italy. One that Callum and I deserve. One away from all of this.”

He didn’t argue. He only nodded and stared at me intensely enough that I could see him reading everything on my face. If he looked hard enough, he’d find the truth. He’d find that I’d been yearning to come home for years. He’d learn that I had nothing but a career in Italy and that I wanted a family. Not distant cousins and aunts, but a real family.

But even here, I didn’t have that option anymore.

I sighed and took a bite of the salmon on my plate. Caviar had been smothered atop it alongside herbs and a generous amount of butter. He’d certainly gone out of his way to have this dinner prepared.

“We can talk business tomorrow, then,” he said, taking his first bite.

His eyes didn’t leave mine. Not even as he put the large bite in his mouth or as he slid the empty fork from between his lips. He held my eyes as he chewed, and then as he gathered another bite on his fork.

It felt almost erotic to watch him eat like this, and I turned away with flushed cheeks.

“Tell me about your career,” he demanded.

I glanced up and found him still watching me.

“You’re interested in hearing about my job?” I asked with a light chuckle.

“I’m interested in hearing about you.”

The meaning behind his words wasn’t lost on me, and I swallowed a bite of food before I replied. I didn’t want to tell him about my job. I didn’t want to further the connection between us. The tension was too thick, and our attraction hadn’t faded over the years as I’d hoped it would have.

“Is that a hot tub?” I asked, pointing to the small tub that overlooked the city through a glass wall.

“It is.”

I didn’t hesitate to move toward it to glance down into the bubbling water. I dipped a toe into it and bit my lip as I looked over my shoulder. “I don’t want to talk about my life in Italy,” I told him. “I don’t want to feel like I need to stay here with you once this is done.”

He pushed himself from the table and stood. “And you’ll accomplish that by not talking about your job?”

“Is it something physical you want with me?” I finally asked.

“Among other things, I suppose.”

“I can handle physical. Physical doesn’t have to mean anything. I’m here for one reason, and once I’m done, I’m going home. I can’t have a reason to stay.”

He moved quickly—more quickly than I was prepared for. His arm wound around my waist, and he pulled me into his chest tightly, looking down at me through lowered lashes. Fuck, I could feel the hard muscles of his arms through his shirt, and I liquified beneath his touch.

“Being with me physically means nothing to you?” he asked.

“It doesn’t have to mean something. Getting to know one another again…that means something.”

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