Page 58 of Mafia Baby

William shrugged. “Maybe, but I doubt it. People have to know who you are to get caught. There are very few people who know who The Cobra is. Look how hard it was for you two to find me, and look how pitifully surprised you were that William Bianchi is the dreaded Cobra. Hiding in plain sight is very easy when you launder money the right way and have quality business associates in places where the kind of money that I’m making can be kept safe from the feds.”

I ponder his words for a moment. He’s probably onto something now that I’m thinking about it.

I do know of a few very seedy business people in Chicago who have been linked with all kinds of very nefarious business dealings for years, but who have never gotten caught. The secret to maintaining the kind of business that he’s talking about is having the right connections and the right middle men in the way.

Having a fall guy always helps keep you yourself from getting caught. Having a series of fall guys keeps you even safer. It’s actually a very simple plan if you think about it.

“So, what if we make a deal from here,” I say to Will. I know he won’t go for it, but I have to at least try. “I promise not to work on any contracts except the ones that you order. You pick and choose who the Reaper hunts down from this day forward.”

William looks at me for a moment, then bursts out laughing. “Oh, Dom, how cute. You know I can’t say yes to something that stupid. You’ll never stop hunting me now that you know who I really am. And apparently, you love my sister now, which is pretty gross, I must say. You know I can’t let you wander around doing whatever you want.” He shakes his head like my words are the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard.

I look over at Gianna and feel hopeless. I see a tear slip down her cheek. The sight makes me want to rage and pummel her brother. I want to say so much to her. I want to ask about the baby. I want to tell her that I will try and save her.

I want to do so many things, and none of them are possible right now. I don’t know if I will get a chance, either. I can’t decide if what I’m feeling is rage, sadness, or heartbreak.

“Oh, puppy love,” Will says sarcastically. “So…disgusting.”

“No, Guy was disgusting,” Gianna says. It’s the first sign of her old fire, and it gives me a small amount of hope.

“Hey, don’t say I didn’t try to take care of you,” Will says, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

She sticks her tongue out like she is going to gag and the expression is so cute it almost makes me laugh even though I feel entirely hopeless about our situation.

“Guy was loathsome,” I agree.. “I’m not sorry I beat him up and sent him home to the UK. If that’s the quality of your business partners, your newfound little crime ring doesn’t look too good.”

Will laughs, but there’s a dangerous glint in his eye now. He sets down his glass and walks toward me menacingly.

He stops in front of me and looks at me for a moment with his head tilted to the side. Quick as lightning, he slaps me across the face. I feel the sting of the slap at the same time as the rush of all-consuming rage coursing through my veins.

I restrain myself with difficulty from attacking him. I need to think about Gianna’s safety, but damn it, I want to murder him in this moment.

“Keep your critique of my business to yourself,” Will hisses. He turns his back on me with deliberate provocation. He knows that under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t dare do something like that.

I watch him leave, pondering all the ways I could kill him from a distance. I think about the knife hiding in my clothing, but he’s so close to Gianna.

He glances over his shoulder at me with a big smile. Without looking away from me, he bends over and yanks Gianna to her feet roughly.

She cries out, and my heart pinches tight in my chest. All of my thoughts about the ways that I can kill him go out the window. He’s gripping Gianna by the hair, and he gives the silky strands a sharp yank.

She gasps and closes her eyes. I see her twisting her body away to protect her middle, and I know why. My blood runs cold at the thought of something awful happening to our child.

“Tell him how futile it will be to fight against me, sister dear,” Will says nastily.

Gianna swallows and looks over at me, her eyes pleading. She doesn’t know that I found the pregnancy tests, and I can tell that she’s trying to telegraph something to me. I swallow hard and say, “I know, Gianna. I found out.”

Her eyes go wide and fill with tears. She nods a few times before her brother yanks her hair again.

“Is there a secret that you two want to share with me?” Will shouts. He gives her hair another sharp jerk, then grabs her face in a vicious grip. “Tell me the truth, Gianna. Tell me the secret.”

She shakes her head no, tears slipping down her cheeks. She can’t speak because he’s holding her face so tightly.

“Fine,” he snarls, chucking her to the floor.

He walks over to me in a few quick steps. He pulls a knife from his pocket and grabs my head. I feel the sting of the blade against my Adam’s apple almost before I register that he has the knife.

“Stop!” Gianna cries out. “He’s the father of my baby!”

Chapter Twenty-Two

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