Page 33 of Mafia Don's Secret Baby

“It’s not just an Italian restaurant,” I remarked as I pulled her chair out from the table and allowed her to sit. “The chef is from Italy, and he trained in a Michelin-star restaurant in Florence. The chef sent him here to make authentic Italian cuisine for Americans. He’s working on getting this place a few Michelin stars.”

“And you know him?”

I nodded. “I make it a point to know as many full-blooded Italian men in the city as possible. My best men and the highest-level soldiers are all full-blooded Italians. Abramo has done me a few favors, and I’ve reciprocated over the years. He’s loyal.”

I could see all the questions in her eyes. “My father only employed people with Italian blood. He said they were the only ones whom he could fully trust. Is that your philosophy, too?” She paused. “How does Abramo work with the mafia while also running this place?”

“You know all about the hierarchies, Lili. I’m full-blooded Italian, just like you, and that’s what sets us apart from the lower men. It’s effective. Employing men like Abramo passively gives me more eyes and ears around the city.”

I sat and leaned back in my seat. Lilianna couldn’t stop looking around the place, and I knew I’d made the right decision.

“My dad didn’t have many people who worked real jobs outside of working for him. People in the business were exclusively employed by him,” Lilianna said. “It’s why I had to leave. There was never the option of having a life outside of the mob.”

“Your father and I had different perspectives,” I told her. Alessio and I may have been allies, but we did things very differently. “I employ a lot of people who never have to be in the line of fire. Most of the men who work for me face the usual threats, but men like Abramo… they can be useful in other ways. The full-blooded Italians are always loyal. They’re never Russian traitors. Some of them help me launder money through their legitimate businesses. Others, like Abramo, do me occasional favors like spying and relaying information. They have my protection in exchange.”

Lilianna nodded slowly as her eyes darted across the table and she processed the information. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she acknowledged something Callum said, and I watched her. She loved her son more than anything, and suddenly everything she wanted made sense. I didn’t doubt she’d do anything for the boy, including giving her own life.

She wouldn’t stay, I realized. Nothing I could say or do would keep her here.

Nothing short of a guarantee of safety.

“Welcome in, friend,” Abramo said as he approached, wearing his usual chef’s apron and a wide smile. He offered a hand, and I took it and smiled. “I’ll have your food out immediately. You always take priority.”

“I look forward to tasting your cooking again,” I told him.

“I have a new menu for you coming in the next couple of days.”

He quickly strode away, and Lilianna giggled. “He seems fond of you.”

“I can be personable.”

Her brows rose. “Since when?”

I narrowed my eyes. I saw the way people looked at me. There was always a tinge of fear buried beneath respect or hatred. The only person who saw me for me was Lilianna. Men like Abramo, who had never seen my brutal side, were more keen to greet me with a smile, but those people were limited in number.

I changed the topic. “I hope authentic cuisine will help with your homesickness.”

Lilianna turned to Callum. “Are you excited to eat food like back in Italy?” she asked.

Callum nodded. “Pasta.”

Lilianna nodded and smiled up at me.

“I’m sure this pasta will be the best you’ve ever had,” I remarked.

Callum’s wide smile filled his small face as he bounced in his seat. “Yummy food?”

“The yummiest,” I replied.

The food came within minutes, and both Lilianna and Callum dug into their plates as I took a bite of mine.

“This is incredible,” Lilianna said, shaking her head. “I haven’t had homemade pasta since being home, and even then, it has never tasted so good.”

“There are things here that make staying worth it,” I told Lilianna.

Her eyes darted between me and Callum before her cheeks reddened. “I never said there weren’t.” She met my eyes. “You seem to remind me of that every day.”

I didn’t have time to consider the comment as my phone rang at my side. I lifted it immediately.

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