Page 19 of Mafia Don's Secret Baby

The only ones who were allowed inside were Sophie and Matteo. Nobody else. No guards. No family. Nobody.

I slipped out of bed, my toes grazing the cool, hardwood floor before I dropped my full weight down. A small creak echoed through the room, and for some reason, I winced. It didn’t matter if I made noise in a home I was safe in, but a creeping feeling itched up my spine as a definitive thud of something heavy falling reverberated through the penthouse.

Maybe Sophie left something behind. It felt far more reasonable than all the disturbing possibilities my mind had conjured.

I had to check. I had to make sure, if only to ease my mind.

I tiptoed through the room. It felt ridiculous to be so worried when Matteo’s defenses on his property were so airtight. He’d shown them to me. Between the million-dollar security system and the guards posted at both entrances, there was no reason to be concerned.

I made my way down the hallway and into the kitchen before veering into the main living area and peeking around a corner.

The front door stood wide open, and my gaze connected with a pair of wide, sightless eyes. I abruptly recognize their owner and clap a hand over my mouth to keep myself from making a sound.

It’s the guard who was meant to be patrolling the front door.

Blood from a gunshot wound between his eyes dripped onto the floor, and I took a step back as silently as possible.

Someone was in the house, and they weren’t supposed to be there.

I took a deep breath as I looked around, ensuring that the intruder hadn’t seen me. I eyed the hallway, realizing that Callum was still safe. The intruder must have gone the other direction first. I didn’t have much time, and I needed a strategy. I needed to find a way to defend myself and my son.

My mind flashed to the gun that Matteo had given me a couple of days ago—the gun that I’d left on the dresser in our room. My phone was still on the bed beside Callum. I didn’t have any more weapons, and Matteo hadn’t shown me where he kept weapons in this house. The intruder had gone toward his room, and I assumed would be able to pick up any weapons which were kept there.

I had to make this work.

I had to protect myself and my son, and I’d been prepared my entire life for this moment. My dad had introduced me to my first weapon, and Silas had taken me to the shooting range every Sunday to practice.

Deep breath in, shoot on the exhale. Know your weapon well.

Silas’s words rang in my mind.

If you’re ever in a situation where you need to fight, don’t hesitate. Your opponent won’t.

Even from the grave, my big brother was the reason I could defend myself. My dad had shown me the basics, and Silas had honed the skills. It was because of my family that I could do this.

I could do this.

I bounced on my toes for a moment before running into the room I was sharing with Callum, thanking every God in every religion that the floors didn’t creak. Not even once.

I had to hide Callum first. I eyed the gun on the dresser, but I couldn’t arm myself until he was safe. I couldn’t waste the precious seconds.

I lifted him into my arms, and Callum mercifully stayed asleep as I moved to the closet and put him on the floor in the back. He rolled over and took a deep breath, but he didn’t wake as I piled shirts in front of him, doing my best to hide his small body behind them.

It would have to work.

I rushed out of the closet and closed the door behind me, and I made it one step.

Only one.

Two large forms filled the doorway. One man had dark skin, covered in an assortment of tattoos across every exposed inch of his face. The man with lighter skin stood a few inches shorter, and he had a wiry frame. I wasn’t significantly smaller than that man, and I knew I’d stand more of a chance in a hand-to-hand situation.

“There she is,” the tattooed man said, tucking away his gun and licking his lips as he intentionally looked me up and down.

“I don’t know you,” I said calmly.

I didn’t allow my eyes to dart to the gun behind him on the dresser. I’d have to pass both men to get to it. But my phone… it was still on the bed between us. I needed to alert Matteo. I needed backup.

I had to make a choice.

---