Page 70 of Under His Control

“I hate this constant of violence for her.” I stroked my hand over her small body, reassuring her that I would protect her and reminding myself that she was here and well.

“Aren’t you used to it?” Tessa asked. “You grew up in a life of violence.”

I shrugged. “True. But I hate it for her.” I sighed because there was no other alternative. Once you were in the Mafia life, there was no leaving it. It wasn’t like a club that you could decline a renewal of membership to. “If I were to bring a baby into this world, I’d want him or her to live in more peace than this.”

Nina huffed a dry laugh. “Tell me about it.”

I frowned, glancing at her swollen belly. With Olivia asleep on my chest now, I could free one hand to pat her thigh in commiseration.

“You wouldn’t want to start a family with Liam?” Tessa asked as everyone continued to bustle around us.

“We already have.” When they both widened their eyes and dropped their mouths open at my reply, I shook my head. “Whoa. No, no, no.” I pointed at Olivia. “I mean with her. With the three of us.”

Tessa smiled and nodded. “You do look adorable, like a little ready-made family.”

“But he’s serious about staying with you, right?” Nina asked.

“We have yet to figure out where we’ll live, but yeah.”

“No… proposal?” Tessa asked.

I shrugged, careful not to wake Olivia. “Well, a girl can hope.”

“Heseemsserious about you,” Nina said.

“Then maybe he’s just taking his time,” Tessa guessed. “You guys hit it off quickly. Nothing wrong with pacing it out.”

“And I’ll be here for him,” I vowed. I was certain, regardless of whether he proposed or we stayed dating like this, a mini family with Olivia, he would be my man. My only man. The only one I wanted for a serious commitment.

Even though it was whirlwind at first, we were settling into such a comfortable and relaxed companionship. He didn’t get away with trying to control me, and I enjoyed him putting me in my place when I needed to tone down my attitude. Together, we made sense as unofficial co-parents for Olivia.

Nothing could go wrong between us. And that thought put a firm smile on my lips.

Here, at this moment as I soothed and cuddled Olivia after her scare, I knew deep down from the bottom of my heart that the father-and-daughter duo had stolen it. Liam had my heart. So did the sleeping baby on my chest.

Ilovedhim. I loved her as well. With the clarity of that realization, my sense of urgency doubled. Liam had to be safe out there, avenging his daughter for how she was scared and targeted. But when he was done…

Come back to me. Come back to us.

Because I couldn't wait another minute to tell him that I loved him.

That once and for all, this Mafia princess had well and truly found her prince.

27

LIAM

Ablast filled the air, but it wasn’t my gun that fired. Nor was it the burly biker’s.

Romeo grunted behind me, having rolled up onto his knees to shoot at the man who was about to blow my head off. “I knew you were a good shot, but…” he started as the biker groaned in agony.

The Devil’s Brother gripped his hand—or what was left of it. The bloody pulp leaked everywhere, and the gun that dropped was too slippery to fetch. “You motherfucking asshole!” Romeo got him right in the hand, disarming him.

I raised my brows and fired at the biker. Twice. His shattered kneecaps were beyond saving now. Screaming instead of cursing at us, he fell to the ground.

“Butdamn, are you a good shot.”

I nodded. “Thanks for the backup,” I quipped dryly. I wasn’t here for praise about my marksmanship. I earned the compliment from years of service, but right now, I wanted to get some goddamn answers from this fucker before we killed him.

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