Page 62 of Wicked Rivals

Never a dull moment.

I slid into my slacks and picked up my laptop from all the shit strewn across the floor. I had plans to make. I had to find out who targeted my son. And I needed to figure out how to make sure he stayed with me.

What Valerie wanted didn’t matter.

I knew what I’d said to her, to win her over.

If not her, then I had to win the boy, had to find out what he wanted, what his goals were, and how I could provide for him in a way he’d want to stay with me, where he now belonged.

The kingdom I’d inherited and turned into one of the strongest on the East Coast would be his if he wanted it.

So fucked up how quickly my mindset had shifted.

Rage and pain no longer fueled the growth of my empire.

No, my new desire for a legacy fueled it now.

For Enzo.

No other Vignali child would ever come along, not from me. Enzo was it.

He’d inherited everything good about his mother, and with my ferocity, his grandfather's bravery, and his uncle's intelligence, the boy was born to rule my kingdom.

And I wouldn’t let his mother stand in the way.

CHAPTER 13

VAL

Once I finally crawled into bed, of course, I couldn’t sleep.

I’d hoped the vigorous work out with Stefano would help, hoped to be out cold as soon as my head hit the pillow.

But no. I had tossed and turned most of the night.

Every time I’d closed my eyes and thought I might be ready to let go, I heard the creaking of a floorboard or wind blowing against a window, making my mind race. Then I just lay there with my eyes open again, wondering if Enzo really was safe.

At some point, I had finally given up, gone to Enzo's room, got into the bed with him, and wrapped my arms around him.

Having him safely protected in my arms had done the trick.

The next morning came, and we woke to someone banging on the door.

I stretched, feeling like a Mack truck had hit me. My body ached in so many places. Some of it was annoying, and some of it was kind of delicious.

My head pounded from the lack of sleep, and I was nowhere close to ready to deal with all the problems waiting on the other side of that door.

Suppressing the urge to yell at whoever waited at the door, I jumped up and opened it, finding no one… just a large silver tray holding coffee and lots of breakfast foods.

Not what I expected.

I carried it into the room as Enzo sat up, yawned, and wiped the sleep from his eyes.

“What is it, Mama?”

“Breakfast in bed, baby. Are you hungry?”

He nodded.

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