Page 25 of Wanted Twins with the Mafia Boss

I can’t stop grinning and I give him another kiss.

“But now we’re going somewhere safe, and I’m not letting anyone ever hurt you again. Not even me.” He carefully scoops me up into his arms, and I yelp in surprise.

It’s the love that’s so plainly visible in his eyes that makes me realize I’ve made the right choice. And I’m so, so glad for it.

CHAPTER 13

Adriano

“Hewhat?” I gape at Chiara.

We’ve moved to a safe house in the middle of my territory, and my men are carefully watching everyone. Even if Matteo and Gennaro figure out where I am, there’s no way they’re getting to me easily again. Not without a fight.

And here I have all the security measures. Keypads. Eye scanners. Matteo isn’t getting in here or anywhere near my wife no matter what he tries. I’ll rip his head off with my bare hands.

But what Chiara just told me makes my blood boil even more.

“He offered me to divorce you and marry him instead. He said he would take care of the twins as ifthey were his. I guess that’s why he was trying to convince you that he and I were together,” she says.

“That’s insane.”

She nods. “That’s exactly what I thought. Do you think he was playing a game with me too or was he serious about it?”

“I don’t know.” And I honestly don’t. “It’s been too long. We were just kids when we lived together. But I didn’t expect something like this from him. Going after you and me, yes. But trying to take over my life?” I shake my head.

“He wants what you have.”

“Yeah, he’s always wanted that, but like this... I didn’t see that coming. I thought he wanted to take my territory and my business. But my wife? What the fuck? Why did he think you’d play along?”

She shrugs. “Because if I didn’t, he would’ve killed me and the twins.”

“But the twins would’ve been a threat to him. Someone would’ve figured out the truth about him not being their real father. Even if I was dead and years passed, someone could’ve used that info to make a move against him. He’s the one who’s pissed off about Gennaro adopting me and me not being a real Gaviani, and yet, he’d take my children... And didn’t he think you’d find a way to do somethingagainst him?”

“Unless he planned to kill me once the twins were born and remove all the evidence. I don’t know.” She sighs. “I’m just so glad I managed to escape. My idea was very risky. I wasn’t sure he’d care I was losing the twins. He could’ve lied to me about everything, including his plans.”

I pull her closer to me on the bed, so her head rests on my shoulder. “He probably didn’t even think that far. All he wants is to replace me and take everything that’s mine. Maybe he won’t even admit it to himself, but I’m sure his whole plan is about seeing Gennaro’s reaction. I bet he believes that even if he was in my spot and had everything I do, his father wouldn’t treat him the way he treats me. And he might be right.”

“How do you know?” She furrows her brow.

“Because I met with Gennaro. I thought he kidnapped you, or that he and Matteo were working together and wanted something from me. But instead, he said I was his heir and he gave me the location of Matteo’s safe house. Matteo, of course, expected that, so he set up all those photos and stuff...”

“Doesn’t he understand that his beef is with his father and not with you? You’re not the one making Gennaro do anything.”

“I don’t know if he sees it that way. I’m the one who stole his father’s attention away from him. EvenIwastrying to prove something to Gennaro with my latest project. I wanted to have all the power and everything so he would see that he shouldn’t have abandoned me. But it’s funny because he thinks he did the right thing.”

She blinks at me, an incredulous look on her face. “He thinks he did the right thing by never contacting you again after you ended up in juvie?”

I nod. “He believes I wouldn’t have grown into the man I am today otherwise. He thinks leaving me on my own and giving me enough money to start something was his way of pushing me toward success. I saw the look in his eyes. He really, truly believes that.”

“Whoa, and we’re wondering why Matteo is weird. Who knows what happened after you were no longer with them? But why is he treating Matteo like that? It’s like he doesn’t even love his own son, but he seems to love you... in his own twisted way.”

“I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because when he found me, I’d already been through a lot and I’d seen a lot. I was willing to do anything to get him to keep me, and I learned how to adapt and recognize how people wanted me to behave around them. I wasn’t always perfect at it, but I was trying. Even when I was sick, I’d find ways to steal meds so Gennaro wouldn’t know because I didn’t want him to think I was a burdenor weak.

“I basically cheated when it came to some things because I knew more than Matteo. He grew up in a golden cage, and his father expected him to be like me and know things he couldn’t possibly know. I developed skills that he had nowhere to learn. Our fight for Gennaro’s affection was unfair from the start.”

“Hey.” Chiara places her hand on my cheek. “It’s not your fault, and you didn’t cheat. You were just a kid too, and you didn’t have a choice, because what was the alternative?”

“Ending up hungry and alone on the street. Probably dead.”

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