Page 147 of He Should Be Mine
“But you were too loyal. Too obedient. I thought you’d never step out of Riccardo’s shadow.”
“I didn’t want to,” I say quietly. “Until Riccardo forced me to.”
Another beat of silence.
“Andthe boy?” he asks.
I hesitate.
“He’s yours now?”
“Yes.”
“Will he be a weakness?”
“No,” I say firmly. “He’s the reason I’m still alive.”
The Don studies me. His eyes are dark as the wine in his glass. The silence stretches. I don’t dare to blink.
Then he nods as if a decision has been made.
“Welcome to the family, Dario Ajello,” he says. “My son. My heir.”
I feel it hit in my chest. Like a crown placed on my head and a noose around my throat at the same time.
“Thank you, sir,” I manage. My voice doesn’t crack.
He stands. Smooth and unhurried. Walks to the shuttered window, hands clasped behind his back. I rise quickly to my feet, too. The knee brace Molly gave me a lifetime ago, holds me together.
“You’ll be challenged,” he says. “Not everyone will like this. Some were loyal to Riccardo, despite everything. Some will say a man like you doesn’t belong. Since I assume you are determined to not hide your boy.”
“I’ll change their minds.”
He looks over his shoulder at me. “With charm?”
“If that fails, fear.”
He gives the barest hint of a smile. “Good answer.”
Another pause. The shadows stretch long between us.
“You’ll need to move fast,” he says. “Establish dominance. Make it clean. Public. Strategic.”
“I already have names,” I say. “Men who need to be convinced.”
“Handle them.”
“I will.”
He nods once, then turns back toward the window.
I take a step toward the door.
“Dario.”
I stop.
His voice is softer now. “Don’t make me regret this.”
