Page 29 of Secret Baby for the Italian Mafia King

“How you raise your daughter isn’t my business.”

She huffs slightly under her breath. “I’m having a hard time figuring out what is and isn’t your business…”

“I’m happy to clarify any questions,” I counter.

“How generous.” Her smile clenches.

We finish picking up slivers of glass without looking at each other again. “I’ll get her out of your hair. Take her out and burn off some of that energy. Harper, go put some outside clothes on, please. We’re going out for a while.”

“Can Ren come?” she asks. She sounds almost hopeful. I don’t know why.

The room plunges into cold silence.

“I’m sure Ren has better things to do—”

“I’ll join you,” I interrupt, before she can make the decision for me. Nadia stares at me, her mouth tight, as Harper celebrates. I take the tray out of Nadia’s hands and head downstairs, feeling her eyes following me as I go.

***

Harper gets free rein on where she would like to go. Anywhere at all. On her request, we take a car over to Battery Park, where there’s some carousel she wants to ride, and which she talks about endlessly on the ride over. She wants to ride all by herself this time—or at least, her and her giraffe.

Nadia lets Harper do the talking, keeping a cold shoulder toward me as we drive.

“You didn’t used to be this quiet,” I remark as Nadia and I walk side by side into the park. Harper skips ahead of us.

“Things change,” she says, keeping her eyes forward and her steps quick. I match her pace, my long strides an easy advantage.

“If things change, then they can change back.”

“You want me to talk to you? Fine. Why are you out here with us, Ren?” she finally asks, quieter now that Harper isn’t within listening range.

“Am I not allowed to spend time with my wife?” I ask, the words warm against her ear as we walk too close to each other. Her silence goes up like a brick wall. Not convincing. “You clearly have something to say, Nadia; you may as well say it.”

“I have plenty to say. I just have enough common sense not to.”

I slide my hand against Nadia’s lower back. Tension tightens up her spine. Under my touch, her posture is immaculate, unease radiating like an aura. She has the good sense not to step away and lets my touch guide her along our route.

Harper bounces in place as she waits at the gate.

“Is there other stuff we can do, too?” she asks, breathless, like the world has cracked open like an oyster. “Like the slide?”

“Of course.”

“I didn’t know you had such an open schedule,” Nadia remarks.

“I can make time where needed.”

I slip my hand into hers, squeezing against her slack, empty grip. A firm reminder that I am not going anywhere. I bring the back of her hand to my lips to kiss, the way couples do. The taste of her warm, soft skin sets my blood on fire. She shudders and yanks her hand away, leaving me with my teeth bared.

Being with her makes me half mad.

Being without her makes me fully mad. I guess this is what they calla step in the right direction.

“Once Harper has tired herself out, where do you want to go?” I ask Nadia.

She scoffs like I’m joking.

“That isn’t an answer.”

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