Page 20 of Mafia Don's Secret Baby

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

“Why don’t you tell me what you want with me first, and then I’ll let you know,” I said with a false bravado I didn’t feel. My heart raced beneath the words, and my hands trembled.

I was prepared, but I wasn’t ready.

The wiry man chuckled, shaking his head and taking a step forward. “Boss wants you alive, but he doesn’t care about injuries. He encouraged them, actually.”

The words surprised me enough that I took a small step back. It didn’t make sense. He wanted me alive? He’d gone to great lengths to kill my entire family, and I was the last domino that needed to fall for him to get what he wanted. Keeping me alive felt like an unnecessary risk. I knew I was missing a piece of this puzzle, but I didn’t want to keep them talking. Nobody knew Callum existed, and I had to keep it that way.

I recalled the man preparing to kill me at the wedding. Maybe he hadn’t known it was me. I’d changed over the past three years. I’d ditched the glasses, cut my hair, and started wearing makeup. Maybe I’d just offended him enough that he didn’t care.

It didn’t matter now. He was dead, and I wasn’t.

“He wanted my entire family dead, but not me?” I asked, unable to stop the question from leaving my lips.

“You backed out of the alliance,” the wiry man said. “Because of that, the boss’s son got into a quarrel with you Italians and lost his life. It’s because of you that he’s dead.”

He was dead? I assumed he was working with his father in this quest to kill my family. Part of me had expected to see him again.

But that wasn’t the only thing that shocked me about his words.

Because of me?

Me?

Everything bad that had happened seemed to be because of me.

I couldn’t dwell on that right now. None of it would matter if they got me out of here and killed me.

I didn’t take even a moment to hesitate. I moved. I dove over the bed and gripped my phone, lunging directly at the smaller of the men. I knew I wouldn’t stand a chance against the other, but the wiry man—the one closest to the door—that one I thought I could take down. If I could get past him and get the gun…

He was faster than I had anticipated. I led with a punch and a roundhouse kick that knocked him off balance, but by the time I went to swing again, he had an arm raised to block my attack. The larger man moved in, blocking the weapon from my reach.

The wiry man hadn’t fully regained his composure, and I knew I had less than a second to act.

Nobody noticed the gun.

Nobody looked toward the closet.

If I continued this fight here, I’d risk them noticing one thing or the other, so I did the only thing I could.

I left my entire plan in the room behind me with my gun, and I bolted down the hallway as quickly as possible. I expected them to run after me, but the tattooed man laughed at his friend who groaned, uttering swear words and promises of retribution under his breath.

They were in no hurry. They knew I was cornered, and they knew Matteo wouldn’t be here.

I rushed through the kitchen and glanced around. A knife block sat on the corner of the counter, and I knocked it over in my rush to grab a weapon. I couldn’t take them both without a weapon and walk away. Maybe one. Maybe. I should have kept up on my kickboxing lessons over the past three years. I used to be more fit than I was now.

I glanced at the front door, but that wasn’t an option. I couldn’t leave the house. I couldn’t leave Callum alone.

I looked around, and my eyes caught on the hidden pantry. It looked like nothing more than a series of small cabinets to the naked eye, but Matteo had shown me the inside. It was a massive pantry with plenty of room to hide.

I stormed toward it and pulled open the doors, pulling them closed behind me immediately. I prayed they didn’t know the layout of the apartment. I needed time to think. Time to prepare. I gripped my phone in one hand and the knife in the other. I turned off the volume as I opened Matteo’s contact and typed out a fast message.

Two men. Armed. Help.

I slid my phone into my back pocket and listened keenly to the men walking out of the bedroom and in my direction. My fist tightened on the knife as I prepared to use it.

This spot would have to work until Matteo came home. As long as Callum stayed asleep and they didn’t return to that room, it would be okay.

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