Page 108 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don
Leo sighs heavily. "Antonio, you're allowing this?"
Antonio looks at his daughter, and I see pride as well as a belief in her. "My Gabriella has never followed the traditional path. Why start now?"
The tension breaks slightly as chuckles ripple around the table.
Leo shakes his head but finally acquiesces. "One meeting. And afterward…” Leo’s eyes lock with mine. "We revisit the question of consequences."
Anger boils that he’d threaten Gabriella with punishment, but I meet his gaze. "After we find the traitor, we can discuss everything else."
Dom leans back. "I've got my own FBI problem. Agent Ricci's been sniffing around my operations for months. You think that's a coincidence?"
“I can try to find out,” Gabriella says.
But I don’t like it. If she pokes and prods too much, she might give her intentions away.
"It's risky." Leo echoes my concerns. "For her, especially."
"I'm aware of the risks," she responds, chin lifting slightly.
I turn to Gabriella. "Thank you for your input. We'll handle the rest of the meeting from here."
She opens her mouth as if to protest, then seems to think better of it. "Of course." She stands. "Gentlemen."
I watch her leave, surprised and grateful that she didn't fight to stay.
The meeting continues for another hour.
We discuss logistics, contingencies, the upcoming holiday shipments that need extra protection.
When we finally adjourn, I shake hands with each Don, clasping Antonio's shoulder briefly. "I'll take care of her," I say quietly.
He studies my face. "I believe you will."
I find Gabriella in the library, where I first kissed her a year ago.
She spends a lot of time here.
Probably because it’s the best room for her to work in, not out of sentiment.
She's reading a legal brief, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"I have something for you."
She looks up, suspicious. "What kind of something?"
"A surprise." I hold out my hand. "Come with me."
She takes it, her fingers warm against mine.
I lead her toward the front of the house, feeling strangely excited and a little silly for what I’m about to do.
Ever since I asked my staff to take care of this task for her, I’ve felt oddly nervous.
"Close your eyes," I tell her as we approach the living room.
"Marco—"
"Humor me."
