Page 168 of My Sweetest Temptation

“Yes. Can we talk for a minute, in private?” he asked me.

“Of course.” I stepped aside, allowing him to enter. Enzo's gaze pierced me with a warning, his expression saying, “I don’t think this is a good idea,” but I dismissed him with a friendly eye roll.

“Would you like to sit down?” I asked Dan, motioning toward the couch.

He nodded, but before I could settle beside him, Enzo’s hand wrapped around my upper arm, halting me. “This isn’t a good idea, Winter. He needs to leave,” he said in a no bullshit tone.

“That’s Liam's father. It’s fine,” I reassured him. “And can you please give us some privacy?”

Enzo’s gaze shifted between me and Dan, and I caught a flicker of apprehension in his eyes. But after a moment, he finally relented, releasing my arm. “I’ll be outside the door.”

He redirected his glare toward Dan. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you,” he warned.

Enzo strode out of the apartment, leaving the door slightly ajar, without giving me a chance to interject.

“I am so sorry about that,” I said, flustered, as I took a seat across from Dan.

His deep chuckle reminded me so much of Uncle Malik’s. “That’s okay. He’s just doing his job, and I respect him more for threatening me. I would be more concerned if he didn’t.”

I smiled, thankful he understood. “So, what’s in the box?” I asked, gesturing toward the package cradled in his hands.

“It’s a collection of letters she wrote… to you. I was asked to bring them to you when the time was right.”

My breath hitched as I reached for the box, hesitating for a moment. “How did you know my mother?” I asked him.

“Read letter number eighteen first and I will explain everything," he replied.

After releasing a breath, I hesitantly opened the box. Tears sprang to my eyes when I saw what was inside. The box was filled with pastel envelopes, numbers written on them in numerical order, all wrapped in burlap string. There was one for each year since I was born. Underneath the letters were pictures of just me, Mom while she was pregnant with me, and Dad. I unwrapped the string and sucked in a breath while looking over my mother’s signature. The delicate strokes moved straight up and down with a slant, like a teacher’s handwriting. I wished Mom was still alive to give me pointers on how to deal with Nico and everything else. Pushing those thoughts aside, I began to read my mother’s words. When I reached letter eighteen, my heart sank to my stomach.

My dear loving daughter,

From the moment you entered my life, you became my reason to fight until the very end of my days. But it's time to tell you the truth about me, your father, and where you come from. Please find it in your heart to forgive me.

I want to tell you about your biological father.

I first met him at the flower shop where I worked part-time. A handsome man walked in one day to buy flowers for a funeral he was attending. After we met, I couldn’t get him out of my head. There was something about him that made me feel safe and secure.

As time went on, he began to visit frequently, bringing me coffee, bagels, and my favorite chocolate treat; chocolate-covered strawberries were my guilty pleasure, just like sweets are yours.

He warmed my soul with his love and attention, and that’s when I realized I had fallen in love with him. We shared an intimate moment the night we confessed our feelings to each other.

When I found out I was pregnant with you, I realized it wasn't long before I would tell my parents the truth about my relationship with your father. The day I my family confronted me, I could tell they had already suspected something.

My father threatened to end my pregnancy if I chose to keep you and continue my relationship with Alphonse.

I made the hardest decision of my life to ensure your safety, and though it has pained me to keep this from you, my love for you has always guided my choices.

To protect us both, your biological father helped with my escape, but he was not to be informed of my new identity or my whereabouts for my safety. He didn't even know about you.

Why am I telling you this?

Because, sweetheart, you are the mafia princess. Your birth father is Alphonse Gambino, the leader of the Italian mafia. But he was also a compassionate and loving man who would do anything to protect me.

I never wanted this life for you.

If you are just now getting this letter, that means your dad and I are dead, and you are in danger. It could also mean that Uncle Malik and Madison may also be compromised.

No. No, this couldn’t be happening. I turned my gaze from the letter, and tears spilled down my cheeks. I wiped my tears away and then continued reading the letter. That must have been the reason I hadn’t heard recently from Uncle Malik.

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