Page 19 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don
I find Frank, my father’s right-hand man, in the kitchen making a sandwich.
He's been with our family since before I was born.
"Frank. Do you have a minute?"
He puts his two pieces of bread together. "Of course, Miss Monti."
I sit across from him at the table, glancing around to make sure the staff aren’t eavesdropping. "I need to talk to you about Marco Calabresi."
Frank's expression doesn't change. "What about him?"
"I don't trust him. I think he's making moves against my father."
"That's a serious accusation. What makes you think so?" He takes a bite of his sandwich.
"I heard him talking to Roman Ginetti?—”
“How would you have heard something like that?”
It’s odd that he goes there instead of asking about what was said.
Of course, I can’t tell him I was sleeping with Marco at the time.
I have considered revealing our affair as I know it would cause problems between my father and Marco.
But I went into the affair of my own accord and I worry my father might force me to marry Marco.
So I keep the secret.
“It doesn’t matter how. What matters is that I did. And today, I saw papers in his office. Reports on our operations, our weak points, detailed notes.”
Frank's eyebrows lift slightly. "You were in Marco's office?"
"That's not the point." I wave away his concern. "The point is he's documenting everything, our security rotations, our distribution networks."
"And you're certain these weren't just standard intelligence reports? Every family keeps tabs on the others. It's prudent."
"This was different." I lean closer. "These weren't just observations. They were strategies. And there were financial projections for our territories."
Frank is quiet for a long moment as he chews another bite of sandwich. "I've known Marco since he was a boy. Antonio is fond of him."
"Which makes this betrayal even worse."
He studies me. "I'll keep my ears open. If Marco is planning something against your father, we'll know."
"Thank you." Relief washes through me.
I also feel vindicated. After all, if Marco was helping my father, Frank would know, and he clearly doesn’t. "I knew I could count on you."
Frank reaches out, patting my hand. "You're doing what any daughter would do, protecting her family. But be careful. If you're right about Marco, he's a dangerous man to cross."
I leave Frank in the kitchen, retreating to my own room.
I’ll spend this time wrapping Christmas presents to settle my nerves.
I pull out the paper, scissors, and tape, setting them on my bed.
Then I retrieve the presents I’ve hidden in my closet.
