Page 23 of The Mafia's Surprise Gift

“What?”

“The Italian Families in and around New York all came together under my father’s rule. It’s my birthright. It shouldn’t have been mine for at least another ten years, but my father was assassinated. We’re on the brink of war between all the Italian Families, and the Irish and the Russian and whoever else wants a piece of us now that my father is dead, and I…” Rocco stopped and pressed a hand to his mouth, massaging his jaw. “When the Don dies, there’s a rule. An old law.”

“A really old law,” Dino remarked.

“Peace until after the funeral. A grieving process. But some fuckers decided it was the best time to take us out and I… I can’t tell you why because I don’t know why. But I can promise you that wasn’t supposed to happen. I wouldn’t have asked you to come if I thought there was going to be danger.”

This… had to be a dream. Rocco was talking so casually as if every word out of his mouth was as normal as discussing a grocery list. The Mafia? Rocco was in the Mafia?

“Mae—”

He stepped forward, and I raised both hands, taking a step back. “Wait… you–you’re in the Mafia? And what–what about you?” I glanced at Dino, who shrugged.

“His best friend. Bodyguard, head of security. Whatever you wanna call it.”

“You’re both…?” I pointed between them and tried to repeat what Rocco had said in my mind. “And your Mom, is she…?” In my mind, I could still see her on the ground in a heap.

“She’s fine,” Rocco replied with a weary sigh. “She’s pissed but she’s fine.”

The Mafia.

Rocco and Dino were Mafia men.

Killers. Criminals.

Dangerous.

“Take me home.” In that moment, the only clear and certain thing I knew was that I had to get home to my son, Zack.

“Mae, please.” Rocco started forward again, but I stepped back once more.

“No. No. This is insane. This is fucking insane. Take me home.”

“Mae, I’m sorry. You were never supposed to?—”

“What?” I snapped. “Never supposed to find out you’re a criminal? Never supposed to get shot at? I don’t care. I don’t want to listen to any of this. I don’t want to be involved.”

“Please,” Rocco tried again, but this time, he didn’t move. “Please, let me explain.”

“No!” I snapped. “Are you insane? Whatever the fuck this is, whatever it really is, I don’t care! You’re dangerous and I–I nearly died. I have a child, for fuck’s sake, and you!” I pointed at him, pouring all my fear into the rage in my heart.

The rising feelings for him that had confused me for so long were suddenly no longer worth it. No matter how he was, how hot Dino was, or how amazing it was to see him again, I couldn’t listen to this.

I couldn’t listen to anything that would make me a criminal too. The only thing I wanted, the only thing I needed, was to go home to my son and never see either of them ever again.

“You’re an asshole and I want to go home. Take me home. Take me home! And you stay away from me, you hear me? Whatever is going on, I want nothing to do with it. You stay away from me.”

“Okay.” Rocco’s face fell and then hardened to the same look he had when he walked in. “Dino, take her home.”

I couldn’t breathe until I was back outside, stuck on the revelation that Rocco was Mafia. A career criminal. I could have died because I wanted to see him again, could have lost my life and left Zack with nothing.

Nothing in my life would be worth that.

“Mae,” Dino said, holding the car door open. “You have to let him explain. None of this is what you think.”

“Did I get fucking shot at today?” I snapped, glaring up at Dino.

“Yeah.”

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