Page 34 of The Merciless King

I’m not taking any chances. The last thing I need to do is get a mafia princess pregnant.

Jesus fucking Christ.

––––––––

I GOT ALL of thirty minutes of sleep last night as I ran through stage two of my plan.

And imagined Gianna pregnant with my child.

It was both a nightmare and...weird.

Weird as in it fucked with my brain. One minute I found myself with another hard-on, completely turned on by the image of her swollen with my baby inside her. Then I imagined myself proposing.

The final imaginary movie premiere showed me floating along the Hudson River.

Not in a boat, if you get my drift.

Something shifted between us after that happened. A more somber vibe and I’m worried it’s fucked everything up.

We’re now on our way to breakfast, then to the pharmacy, as James and the other security dude walk behind us.

“You didn’t need to do this,” Gianna says, running her hand down the mid-length cream wool dress I had delivered for her.

Mia arranged it, saying it would be a nice touch, so Gianna didn’t have to do the walk of shame the next day.

It worked well.

Now she thinks I’m wealthy, dangerous, mysterious, and thoughtful, along with being a brilliant lover.

I’m none of those things.

I know my way around a woman’s body.

Hers is my current favorite.

“You look fucking beautiful,” I say, placing my hand on the small of her back as our eyes lock and the door to the restaurant opens.

I’m not lying. She is stunning. Knowing she doesn’t have panties underneath makes it even sexier.

We’re greeted and directed to a table at the restaurant we choose for breakfast.

“Gianna,” James says, and she turns. “Your father wants you home this afternoon.”

Wow.

She’s twenty-five years old...and a mobster’s daughter, so I zip my lips.

“Okay.” Gianna nods, and then we continue to our table and place our orders.

“Are you an only child?” I ask, digging into my eggs Benedict.

“I have a brother.” Gianna chose oatmeal with fresh fruit. “What about you?”

Being undercover means always being on guard. I nearly told her about my two brothers but caught myself. However, the Dark Kings said it was always best to stick as close to reality as possible. While keeping details slim.

“Two brothers. In banking,” I reply, then take another mouthful. “They don’t know what I do. Not really.”

She watches me.

---