Page 4 of Under His Control

“Oh, darling,” a tall, Black woman cooed, rushing from the kitchen where she’d been lingering, away from the guests. “Want a hand with her? I’m the family doctor, Danicia.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said as I let her take her. “But she’s not ill.”I hope? I don’t think she’s ill? Babies just cry, right?

She smiled, regardless of Olivia’s cries. “Oh, of course not. But you look petrified and clueless.”

I nodded, amazed at how a little bounce in her step and sway distracted Olivia.

Do they teach a course on that? Bounce and sway? How does it work?I grimaced, watching how Olivia settled quickly.God, I have so much to learn.

The man with Tess chuckled as the family’s doctor bounced and swayed with the toddler. “What would you like to drink?” he asked as he held Tess’s hand and brought her closer.

“Hi, Liam,” Tess greeted, belatedly, as we hugged. She stepped back to the man. “This is Romeo, my fiancé.”

I shook his hand, but before I could get a good read on him, Romeo—seemingly quick to notice my discomfort and figuring out that I needed saving—repeated his drink offer.

“Got any decent beer?” I asked, half joking and half sarcastic.

As a member of the kitchen staff nodded and went to fetch my drink, I was again rocked by how posh and extravagant this place was. A family doctor? Staff to wait on them? Holy shit.

“Danicia seems to have Olivia smiling and happy,” Tess commented as Danicia and Nina cooed at the girl.

I grunted a laugh. “Better than I can.”

“Rough going?” Romeo guessed.

“Yeah. Very rough,” I admitted. “Sorry I’m underdressed for whatever you’ve got planned tonight.”

Tess patted my arm. “You’re going to have to fill me in on alotmore details. But later. Right now, I’m excited for you to meet the family before we join the party.”

Meet the family? Funny, Ijustmet more of mine—family I didn’t know I had.

2

EVA

“MaybeIshould get a job.” I mumbled the bitter comment for my ears only, but I wasn’t alone at the bar like I thought I was.

“You?” Franco asked, laughing once. The family’s highest-ranking capo joined me at the bar as I helped myself to a drink. He leaned over to get a water out of the fridge, opting to stay sober instead of giving himself a night off from all the security matters of our lives.

Security was always a priority, especially with the Constellas waging war—or preparing to—against the Giovanni Family and that damn Devil’s Brothers MC.

Tonight was supposed to be a chance for all of us to relax and celebrate, to be happy for Tessa and Romeo while Dante and Nina hosted their engagement party here at the mansion.

“Why the hell would you be job hunting?” Franco asked, as if I couldn’t have said anything crazier.

“Because it would give me something to do.” I arched my brows at him. “Why else does anyone get a job?”

He smirked. “Well, for those who aren’t born into the lap of wealth like you, people need money.”

“I realize that,” I replied dryly. “Of course I know that.” I never asked to be born into this family. I never asked for my parents to be killed when I was a young child, to be raised by Dante Constella and taught propriety and entitlement. I didn’t blame my uncle for spoiling me, but we all knew I was revered and respected as something like royalty.

Mafia princess.The term was starting to grate on my nerves more and more now. When I was younger, Romeo could get away with teasing me about the moniker that our peers gave me, that I was the icy Mafia princess, haughty and superior.

No one other than my uncle and cousin—maybe Franco here, too—knew that it was all a façade I hid behind, a mask to protect who I really was deep down.

The only problem was that I no longer could be certain I knew who I was anymore.

I was still Dante’s niece, but with Nina engaged to him and expecting his baby, I wasn’t as important to nag after him and make sure he wasn’t working too hard.

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