Page 25 of Secret Babies for the Italian Mafia Boss

“No. Yes. I mean,” she takes a deep breath, closing her eyes and her shoulders fall. “No, he isn’t. Is that really the first thing to ask me after so long?” she snaps, and the breeze kicks up a notch, causing the ends of her hair to get wet. “I’m sorry. That was rude. I’m all over the place right now. Luca, it’s good seeing you. I had no idea you were one of my father’s rivals or what happened that night—”

“—Would have happened anyway. You know of me then?”

“Everyone does,” she clips. “That night wasn’t a mistake, but it was a one-time thing. I’m sorry I left as I did, but it was better that way.”

“No, it wasn’t. And you know it,” I state through gritted teeth, snagging her arm but not adding any pressure. I don’t want her to think I’d hurt her. I’d never inflict pain on someone so precious to me. “You disappeared. Why?”

“I don’t want to get into that. My father just died. I want to move on with my life.”

My gaze softens as I stare at her. She’s so tired and defeated. “I am sorry about your father’s death. He and I understood one another. We had a truce, and we never broke it. You need to listen to me, okay? I know about the fortune—”

She rips her arm free of my hold and turns around to see if her kids are out of view. “—So that’s what this is about? You don’t actually care about me. You’re hoping I’ll fall back into bed with you and tell you where the fortune is. Wow,” she scoffs, shoving me in the chest. “The men in my life are something else.”

“No.” I take a step forward and lower my voice. “No, that’s not why. I’m saying there have always been rumors of it. Everyone in this business knows how wealthy he was and how he never went to the bank. People notice those things, and people talk. You’re in danger. I can protect you and your family.”

She blinks at me, then laughs.

And she finds what I said funny for far too long. She wipes her eyes, then places her hand on her hip, looking me up and down with a shake of her head.

“Someone who wants the fortune would say something like that. My father is dead. And we didn’t leave things on the best of terms, so I’d like to grieve in peace. No one has a hold on me anymore. No one even knows about me because of him.”

“Wrong. Everyone knows about you now. You should have thought of that before showing your face at the funeral.”

“I had to,” she sneers. “He was my dad.”

“And now the people here will talk, and the word will go through the underground grapevine that Thompson’s daughter is back in town. You’re the one with the fortune now.”

“I don’t have it.”

“They don’t know that, and they don’t care. I do. I’m offering you my help.”

“I don’t need your help. I haven’t needed anyone for five years. I know how to be on my own.” She begins to walk away, then stops. “Thank you for coming. I’ll see you around, Luca.”

She will be seeing me because I don’t plan on going anywhere.

She never has to be on her own again. I’ll make sure of that.

“I want eyes on her at all times, Alvize.”

“You got it.”

“Keep them at a safe distance. She’s smart. She’ll know someone is following her.” I can’t seem to pull my eyes off her as she walks away from me.

For the second time, and that’s two too many.

“And I want updates every hour on the hour. I want nothing to slip by me. Okay?”

“You got it,” he confirms. “She won’t be happy when she finds out.”

“She’ll learn to be.”

Before she climbs into the car, I know there is hope for us if she gives me one last look. There’s no way she’s gone all these years without thinking of me. Our story ended way too soon, and I want to start it again.

Look at me. Come on. Look at me, Camilla.

She dips her head as she gets in, then stops, straightening as if she can feel my eyes on her. She turns her chin to her shoulder, not looking at me but sensing me, and it’s enough to give me the hope I’ve been searching for.

“I want security in her shop installed and in Cora’s. I want cameras at all angles. I want to know everything about the people who own the shops around her. I want extensive background checks. I want a guard on her at all times.”

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