Page 43 of Mafia Don's Twisted Union

“And I told you I deserve to know the truth,” I snap, standing to face him. “These are my parents, Carlito. This is my inheritance. You can’t keep shutting me out.”

His expression hardens. “I’m trying to protect you,” he says, his voice rising slightly. “This isn’t a game, Mia. The more you dig, the more dangerous this gets.”

“Dangerous for who?” I demand. “For me, or for you? What aren’t you telling me, Carlito?”

The silence between us is suffocating. He looks at me like he’s weighing whether or not to say something, but the wall goes up again, and I see the decision in his eyes.

“I can’t tell you,” he says finally, the words clipped and cold.

The frustration boils over, and I shove the papers toward him. “You think you’re protecting me by keeping me in the dark? You’re not. You’re just making me doubt everything—doubt you.”

His hand slams down on the desk, making me jump. “Don’t you get it, Mia?” he growls. “I would burn the entire world to the ground to keep you safe. But I can’t protect you if you don’t trust me.”

“And I can’t trust you if you keep lying to me!” I shout back, the words spilling out before I can stop them.

The air crackles with tension as we stare each other down, neither willing to back down. My breathing is shallow, my chest tight. The nausea I’ve been ignoring all day suddenly hits me like a tidal wave.

My knees buckle, and I reach for the desk to steady myself, but my vision blurs. “Carlito—” I manage to whisper before the world tilts sideways.

“Mia!” His voice is panicked as he catches me, his strong arms wrapping around me before I hit the ground.

The last thing I hear is the pounding of my heart and Carlito’s voice, low and desperate, calling my name before everything fades to black.

Chapter 20

Carlito

The sound of muffled voices filters through the closed door of the guest room. I stand outside, leaning against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. The doctor’s words echo in my head, clear and inescapable:“She’s pregnant.”

I’m not sure what hits me harder—the shock of the news or the flood of emotions that follows. Relief. Fear. A fierce, primal protectiveness that courses through my veins.

I glance toward the door again, my hand hovering over the handle. Mia’s in there, resting after fainting last night. I haven’t seen her since the doctor arrived, but I can imagine the look on her face when she finds out. Will she be terrified? Angry? Happy?

I push the thought aside and step into the room. The air inside is thick with quiet tension, the faint scent of antiseptic lingeringfrom the doctor’s visit. Mia stirs on the bed, her lashes fluttering as she slowly comes to.

Her hazel eyes meet mine, dazed and unsure at first, but then a flash of recognition flickers in them.

“Carlito,” she murmurs, her voice hoarse. “What... what happened?”

I pull the chair closer to the bed, my movements slow and deliberate, as if any sudden action might shatter the moment. “You fainted,” I say, my tone soft. “The doctor came to check on you.”

She sits up slightly, wincing as she props herself on her elbows. “The doctor?” she repeats, her brows knitting together. “Why?”

I hesitate, the words caught in my throat. How do you tell someone that everything they know about their life is about to change?

“Mia,” I begin, my voice steady but low. “You’re... pregnant.”

Her breath hitches, and she stares at me, unblinking. “What?”

“The doctor confirmed it this morning,” I say, leaning forward. “You’re going to have a baby.”

For a moment, she says nothing. Her hands move to her stomach, her fingers trembling slightly as they press against the soft fabric of her shirt.

“A baby,” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I reach out, taking her hand in mine. “Mia,” I say gently, “this changes everything. You and our child... you’re my world now. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you both safe.”

Her gaze lifts to mine, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Carlito... I don’t even know how to process this,” she says, her voice breaking. “Everything feels so... overwhelming.”

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