Page 57 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don
She slides closer, and the scent of her perfume momentarily distracts me. "I've been thinking the same thing. Look at these." She pulls out surveillance photos. “These were meetings that weren’t on any schedule. Last-minute. And yet someone knew exactly when and where to be."
My jaw tightens as I study the photos. “Has he turned our men or did they plant a man?”
“Whoever it is, it’s someone with access to financial records, meeting schedules, security protocols." Gabriella's fingers brush mine as she reaches for a document, and I force myself not to react. "Could be anyone in La Corona," she murmurs. "Even…"
“Me?” I glance at her and regret it when I realize just how close she is to me.
I can’t help it.
My gaze drifts to her lips, and my mouth waters to taste her again.
“Maybe. Or could be one of the other Dons. Or underbosses, maybe. I mean, you give Roman a lot of access, right?”
“Roman is more than an underboss. He’s for all intents and purposes, my heir. He has no reason to sabotage what’s going to be his when I die.”
A look of sadness flickers on her face, but she looks away.
“Doesn’t mean he doesn’t recognize the opportunity my father’s ailing could mean for you and him.”
I shake my head. “It’s not Roman. I’d bet my life on it. What about Frank?”
It’s her turn to dismiss me. “No. Frank would crawl over broken glass for my father.” She studies me. “You’ve been suspecting someone on the inside all the long, haven’t you?”
I nod once, sharply. "After Salvatore’s betrayal, we’ve all been on edge wondering who is trying to bring La Corona down. They tried to use Isabella, and apparently, you, through Blackwood.”
“Maybe it’s Blackwood.”
I shrug. “He still needs an inside man.”
She sits back, her gaze over all the documents. “My father’s condition has made this easier for them, hasn’t it?”
I shrug. “I imagine they thought so. Probably didn’t count on me stepping in, and when I did, they decided they’d make it look like I was making a power play. Who’d ever believe I’d turn on Antonio, though?”
She gives me a look. “Don’t act so self-righteous. You must worry Don Vitale or Ferraza might or you’d have told them about your deal with my father.”
She’s not wrong.
“If someone is on the inside,” I say, moving the conversation back to the important elements, “We need to be careful.”
“We can’t trust anyone, can we?”
The most insidious part of betrayal is how it poisons everything, making you doubt even those closest to you.
People you've broken bread with, bled for, protected for decades.
“You can trust me and Roman, but that’s it.” I study her, wondering if she’s going to balk at trusting me.
“Do you trust that it’s not me?”
“Yes.” It’s surprising at how quickly I say that.
How sure I am of it, even though she’d be a perfect spy for Blackwood. Isn’t that why she’s here?
“I trust that your love and desire to protect your father are what’s driving you. Do I trust that you won’t throw me under the bus? No. You already have?—”
“You can’t blame me.”
“I can. You should know better.” I shoot up from my chair, going to get yet another drink because I hate how much I want to tell her how her mistrust of me guts me.
