Page 61 of Bossy Ex's Brother

But as I hopped back on my bike, continuing down the winding path until the roads appeared familiar again, it wasn’t long until I found myself in front of my mother’s door, even though I had little recollection of getting there.

I knocked once, telling myself that I would leave if she didn’t answer. But at first knock, I heard footsteps against the floorboard.

“Who is it?” she called out.

“Me,” I responded, steeling myself for a scolding.

My mother opened the door, peering at me and rubbing her eyes, clearly having been woken up from sleep. “What are you doing here, Luca? I didn’t know you were coming over.”

“Yeah, I know I didn’t call. I’m sorry.” It was rude as shit of me, but I needed to see her. My brain was in overdrive, and she was the only one who had any hope of answering at least some of my questions. “I need to talk to you about something.”

My tone of voice made my mother look up at me, all traces of tiredness vanishing from her expression. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes. I just wanted to talk.”

She nodded, slowly stepping back to allow me in. I bolted the door behind her as I stepped into the room, and she walked to the kitchen.

After I sat down, she came out with two mugs of hot coffee, handing me one. Then she sat with her cup, watching me with curious eyes.

“What did you want to talk about?” she asked.

I wasn’t sure how to begin.

“How did you feel?” I asked her, hedging. “When you found out you were pregnant with me?”

She raised her eyebrows, and cautious surprise flashed in her expression. “Why are you asking me these questions,bimbo?”

“Nothing,” I told her, keeping my expression neutral. “I was just curious.”

But I should have known better than to think I could deceive my mother. I may be a ruthless mafia lord who made my living from bluffing and clawing my way to the top, but my mamma could always read me like a book.

“You came to my home at midnight because you were just curious….” She mused it over in her head, then shook it. “No, you’re not that impulsive or sentimental. You’ve never brought up your childhood before either, unless….”

A gasp filled the atmosphere as her hand flew to her mouth, covering it, and her wide eyes shot up at me. She didn’t say anything for a few seconds, and then she finally blurted out, “You got someone pregnant, didn’t you?”

I was going to lie, but it was difficult to lie to my mother. It was hard to keep secrets from her too. The woman knew me like the back of her hand, even when I thought I’d been covert with my criminal affairs. I found out later that she knew. She’d always known.

Just like she knew now.

But instead of how I thought she would react—immediately start yelling out curses and appeals to the Virgin Mary—she clapped her hands together in delight.

“I’m going to have a grandchild!” she announced, laughing happily. She kissed her finger and raised it to the sky, immediately muttering up a quick prayer.

I blinked at her. “Wait. You’re happy about this?”

“Of course, I’m happy about it,” she said. “You’re nearly fifty years old. I was worried for a second there that it would never happen. But now I see that it has, and I couldn’t be happier. Who’s the girl? Is she a good girl, or is she one of your floozies? Oh, I don’t care. I’ll love the child anyway, even if I have to put up with the mother to do so.”

“No, Ma.” I couldn’t help but laugh at my mother’s one-woman conversation. “She’s a good girl. A very good girl. More than that, actually. She’s…” I tried to think of a description that was worthy of Jane. “She’s the kind of woman who would sacrifice her entire life for those she loves…strong, beautiful, and amazing in just about every way.

My mother cocked her head at me. “You like this girl very much.”

“Yes.” I found that I could admit it to my mother, the turmoil of my feelings. I wanted to fight them, but I couldn’t. My affection for Jane now came as easily as breathing. “I do.”

“You love her?” my mother asked, and I could see the hope in her eyes.

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t think I loved Jane, but then again, I didn’t fucking know what love was. I’d thought I was in love with Kamina Q, a dancer I dated for a while, but the feeling faded the minute I had sex with her, and I realized how annoying she was. It was too much to even tolerate her admittedly gorgeous looks.

But I’d slept with Jane and still felt that punching desire whenever I saw her. And yeah, I thought she could be annoying, but somehow, it became endearing to me. Somehow, I adored her even more for it.

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