Page 53 of Mafia Doctor's Secret Baby

“Is that everything?”I call to Cara, as she leans in the doorway to my old apartment building to catch her breath. She flashes me a thumbs-up, and I grin. Looks like we’re finally on our way…

It’s hard to believe that the day has finally come—the day when I leave this city behind and move to Harrotsville for good.

In the months since the proposal, things have been a whirlwind. Luca finished up his last few weeks at the hospital, spinning them some story about being called to another ward to work across the country. Once he was done, he headed back to Harrotsville to get everything ready for us—I have no idea what it’s going to look like, our new home there, but I get the feeling he will have pulled out all the stops.

“Jeez, I don’t think I could manage another box!” Cara exclaims, as she makes her way over to the car where Polly and I are waiting. She holds her hands up in mock shock, covering her eyes.

“Though at least I know where I’m bringing everything, given your ring could steer ships at sea away from the rocks,” she teases, as she grabs my hand and pulls it toward her. “I can’t believe you’re engaged!”

“Why, you never thought I would find a man willing to spend his life with me?” I fire back playfully.

She laughs. “No, it’s not that,” she admits. “I just didn’t expect him to be some mafia heir who whisks you away to another city to start a new life!”

Her face drops slightly as she comes out with that last part. I feel a pang of guilt, knowing that I’m leaving her behind, but it’s not like I’m going to renege on my choice. I pull her into a quick hug, rubbing my hand along her back to soothe her.

“Hey, we’re still going to see plenty of each other, alright?” I promise her softly. “I know it’s hard to wrap your head around, but we will. Luca has already got an apartment set up for you there, so you’ll have somewhere to stay whenever you want to visit…”

“Whenever I can get time away from work,” she sighs heavily. “I’m going to have to pitch a story to my editor about something that’s going on down there, and then maybe he’ll give me the time off work…”

“I’ll see if I can stir up some drama,” I suggest lightly. “Give you something to come up there and cover, right?”

“Yeah, I don’t think I’m entirely sold on that when I know what drama looks like for this world,” she replies, raising her eyebrows at me pointedly. “I’d rather you stay safe.”

“I will,” I reply, but I can tell from the look on her face that she’s not entirely convinced.

“You’re not nervous about meeting his father?” she asks me, lowering her voice and leaning forward slightly. “I mean, I know I would be…”

“He told me that his dad is committed to the family,” I reply. “I’m not exactly looking forward to it, but I have to trust that he’s telling the truth. And besides, I helped them bring down the man who’s been causing them all this trouble for years—that has to count for something, doesn’t it?”

“I hope so,” she agrees, giving my hand a squeeze. “Now, come on, we need to get on the road if we’re going to make it to Harrotsville by the end of the day…”

“You sure you want to make the trip with me?” I ask. “It’s a long journey…”

“Yeah, and I’m going to make the most of the time I have left with my best friend while I still can,” she shoots back, grinning. “You think you’re going to get rid of me that easily?”

“One of these days, maybe,” I counter, and she giggles as she pulls open the car door and slips inside. She reaches back to give Polly’s hand a squeeze—she’s strapped down into a car seat so firmly it looks as though she’s been lightly mummified, but I’m not going to risk anything happening to her on this trip up.

Luca sent me this car for the journey, after he offered to come down and make it himself—but I insisted that I do it on my own terms. I’ve relied on myself for a long time, and I’m not going to let that change, no matter what else might have shifted in my life.

I roll down the window as we hit the highway, and let the wind rush in over my face—it’s a beautiful, bright day in the midst of summer, and it feels as though the whole world is as carefree and happy as I feel right now. Polly dozes off pretty quickly in the back, leaving Cara and me with some time to talk.

“And what are you going to do now you’re not going to be part-time nannying for Polly?” I wonder aloud. “Guess you’re going to have a lot more free time on your hands…”

“Guess I am,” she agrees, as she swims her hand through the wind out of the open window. “I suppose I’m going to focus on my career. Get some big story on the go, something that will make it so the editors have to sit up and take notice of me.”

She flashes me a grin. “Hell, maybe I’ll make you the subject of it,” she adds. “That’s one hell of a love story you’ve got there.”

“I don’t know about that,” I reply. “I don’t think most love stories that people want to read start with a hookup at some sleazy public event.”

“Hey, you never know,” she protests. “Could be the next big thing. You could start a trend of getting with mafia guys.”

“You thinking of trying to score one for yourself?” I fire back, glancing over at her, and she laughs again.

“Oh, trust me, you can keep them all to yourself.” She pulls a face. “I don’t want to get in the middle of anything like that. Too much drama. I like to keep that in my stories, not in my personal life.”

“I don’t know, there’s something to said for it,” I muse aloud. “Having some big, brave man come swooping in to save you…”

“Yeah, I’ve never been the type,” she replies, nudging me playfully. “You really think a guy would put up with me for long enough to rescue me from something like that?”

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