Page 77 of Savage Vow (Mafia Marriages 3)

I laugh under my breath, remembering the affair. “Yes, my cousin Nico’s engagement party. Francesco wanted to have you taken downstairs to be interrogated.”

Her eyes widen. “He would have done that? I thought I was fleeing from the police being called.”

She’s so innocent and naïve. It’s cute.

“We never involve the police.”

“Oh.” Karina presses her lips tight together. She glances from the bathroom door to the main entrance of the bedroom. “Does he remember me?”

“If you’re worried whether he’s going to interrogate you now, nearly six years later, you can relax.” I don’t need her running out of fear of what Francesco might do. He’s plenty capable of handling an interrogation or worse.

The bathroom door flies open, and Ashton hurries for the bed, his wet hair dripping all over the marble floor as he throws himself to the mattress. He climbs to the head of the bed and slips under the covers.

“Story time?” Ashton asks.

“I’m going to grab that sandwich,” I say, giving them a moment alone together for a story before bed.

I don’t feel right sticking around the bedroom, invading their private ritual. I may be his biological father, but I don’t want to intrude. The kid and I barely know one another, and after the hellish day we endured as a family, it’s better to let him stick with what he knows.

His mother.

“I’ll see you in a bit,” Karina says and offers me a faint smile.

I bid goodnight to Ashton before retreating out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind me. I head down the stairs, grabbing the abandoned sandwich on the kitchen counter.

My stomach grumbles as I grab the stool at the counter and take a seat.

Silence fills the void.

Several minutes pass before I hear the soft patter of footsteps and glance over my shoulder at the beauty I’m fortunate enough to be married to. If only she were one hundred percent mine.

“Karina?”

“Ash fell asleep the minute his head hit the pillow. I got as far as ‘once upon a time’ before he was out cold.”

I smile and shake my head, finishing the last bite of my dinner. “Are you still hungry?” I ask. “I can get you something else to eat, dessert?”

Karina steps farther into the kitchen, her feet bare against the marble. “That’s okay.”

I climb off the stool and grab a bottle of amaretto from the liquor cabinet. It won’t be missed. “Play a game with me.”

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