Page 76 of Mafia Boss's Baby Surprise

“What do you think she wants?”

“I don’t know, but I’m about to find out. We’ll talk later.” I end the call as I see Marya sitting on the terrace of the restaurant where she wanted to meet.

Her guards are sitting at the other tables, and I hope this isn’t a setup. But this is my territory, and Theo and my men are very close by. If she tries anything, she’ll regret it.

“My son.” She gives me a wide smile as I take a seat across from her.

“It’s weird when you call me that.”

She just keeps smiling.

“What do you want? Why am I here?” I ask.

“You know why. We can eat something. Have a nice conversation.”

“Let me guess. You’re trying to play me like you played Marcello. You’re acting all nice to get in my good graces, and then you’ll stab me in the back when it suits you, like you did it to him.”

She pouts. “Don’t be like that. You’re my son, and despite what you think, I care about you.”

“Yeah, right.” I chuckle. “That’s why you basically blackmailed me into signing a deal with you instead of just giving me the info. That’s why you sent me all those messages.”

“I had to play a game so that Marcello would trust me. But I let him see only what I wanted him to see. I had to tell him you were my son. He couldn’t find any proof of us ever having any contact, so he believed me when I convinced him I was willing to make a move against you.”

“Ah. So that’s why you abandoned me. Because you’re clairvoyant and predicted that there’d be a time in the future when not knowing me would come in handy. Do you really think I’m stupid enough to fall for that bullshit?”

“Do you know why I made you sign that deal? It was to get what I wanted, yes. But I also wanted to see if you were like your father. It was a test. You’re nothing like him. It’s a good thing. I couldn’t trust him, but I know I can trust you. You chose love over anything else. Your new family over anything else. That’s something your father could’ve never understood.”

I roll my eyes. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“I was very young. I knew you’d have everything you needed if you lived with your father. His wife failed to give him an heir, so he would’ve come for you anyway. And it was better that no one knew you were a Balakin too. It would’ve caused way too much trouble for everyone. Everyone would’ve wanted a piece of you. You would’ve been in more danger than ever.”

“And it never occurred to you that I needed a mother?” I meet her gaze.

“You had Elena.”

“My stepmother hated me.”

“Well, I couldn’t have known that.”

“Her husband cheated on her with you, and she miscarried when she found out. You couldn’t have known? Really?”

“It wasn’t her first miscarriage.” She leans in. “Your father told me all about it. Elena was worried your father would divorce her, and she hated how everyone looked at her because she failed at something that was seen as her only duty. She should’ve been happy to finally get that burden off her shoulders. Everyone thought she finally succeeded.”

I shake my head at her.

“You turned out all right.”

I honestly don’t know what to say to that. “What are you going to do now? If you take Marcello’s territory, you’ll have a lot of trouble. Everyone will want it.”

“I know, but don’t you worry about that. I have it all under control.”

I raise an eyebrow at her.

“The Balakins are going to be strong again. Reborn from the ashes. Even more powerful than ever.” She smiles.

“You’re the only Balakin left. Are you sure that’s going to work out?”

“Soon I won’t be.” She grins.

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