Page 28 of Mafia Shade's Reluctant Bride
Matteo burst into giggles. “Stinky Boots?”
“Yes. Because he never washed his socks.” I wrinkled my nose. “And boy, did they smell. His crew always fainted when he took his boots off.”
Matteo was laughing so hard he had to clutch his stomach. “Mama, that’s so gross!”
“Well, it gets worse. One day, his talking parrot, Sir Squawks-a-Lot, said, ‘Captain, either you wash those socks, or I’m flying away forever!’”
Matteo gasped dramatically. “No!”
“Yes! And Captain Stinky Boots had to make a choice. So, do you know what he did?”
Matteo shook his head, eyes wide with excitement.
“He threw his socks into the ocean! And do you know what happened?”
Matteo’s voice was barely a whisper. “What?”
“All the fish fainted! Even the sharks swam away! And from that day on, Captain Stinky Boots became Captain Fresh Socks.”
Matteo was rolling with laughter. “That’s the best story ever!”
I grinned, loving the sound of his happiness. I wished I could bottle it up and keep it safe forever.
As his laughter died down, he yawned and snuggled deeper into his blanket. His small hand reached for mine. “Mama, are we gonna stay here?”
I hesitated, brushing a stray curl from his forehead. “For now.”
His brow furrowed. “For how long?”
“Until things settle.” That was the best I could give him. He deserved more than uncertainty, but right now, that was all I had.
I kissed his forehead. “This is about giving you a better life, Matteo. I want you to be safe and have stability.”
His small hands clutched the blanket. “The big man. He’s my uncle?”
“Yes, he’s my brother. So that makes him your Uncle Luca.”
Matteo seemed to consider that. Then, in a quiet voice, he asked, “And the other tall man?”
My stomach dropped. “What other tall man?”
His sleepy eyes blinked up at me. “The tall man close to Uncle Luca. Is he my daddy?”
A cold wave washed over me. I hadn’t expected that. I forced my voice to stay even. “No, baby. Lorenzo is just…helping. Why would you think that he is?”
Matteo yawned and snuggled deeper into his blanket. “Because I don’t have a daddy.”
I bit my lip, the pain of his words hitting me, but I brushed it off immediately, smoothing his hair. “Close your eyes, love.”
He obeyed, his breathing evening out within minutes, but I sat there for a while, staring at him.
Was this a mistake? Coming back? Bringing him into this world? I told myself it was temporary and that I was only doing what was necessary. But looking at my son, knowing he was already searching for a father figure in a man who wasn’t staying, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
I stood, pressing a kiss to Matteo’s forehead. Then I walked out, closing the door softly behind me, wondering if I had made the worst mistake of my life.
I exhaled, dragging a hand down my face. Maybe I was fooling myself. Maybe this wasn’t just about Enrico. Maybe a part of me had hoped for something more, for a second chance.
But hope was dangerous, wasn’t it?
