Page 43 of Secret Babies for the Italian Mafia Boss

I look over my shoulder before opening the door, and she’s running behind the counter with a small pink and white bag in her hand that has the store logo on it.

“It’s my favorite cookie I make. Take one for the road.” She stretches her arm out, and I make a point to run my fingers down the top of her hand before taking the bag.

She’s nibbling on her bottom lip like she did on the night we met.

“And I’ll bet it will be my favorite, too, simply because you made it.”

“No, I need an honest review.”

“That is my honest review. Anything you make, Beautiful Girl, anything you touch, it’s my favorite.” Unable to stop myself, I bend down and kiss her forehead, feeling her tense before relaxing from the soft touch.

That’s what my girl needs. She needs a soft touch after having such a hard few years, and I can’t wait to give it to her.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say, deepening my voice, so she understands there is no room for argument.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Luca.”

A smile tugs my lips as I walk out the door. I’m making progress. It might be small, and it might barely be seen, but it’s progress.

And it’s so much better than nothing at all.

Chapter Eleven

Camilla

“No. No. No. Please!” I try to open the oven, but it’s too hot. Flames are pouring out of it, and thick gray smoke billows into the air. The smoke becomes a cloud above me, reminding me of a stormy day. Tears from the heat roll down my face, and I run to the door, opening it so the smoke can get free.

I hear sirens in the distance, and I know they are coming here.

While the smoke airs out, I run to grab the fire extinguisher. I’m so thankful the kids are at daycare and don’t have to see this right now. I don’t think I’d be able to keep a clear head if they were around.

I hold the black nozzle in my hand and press, the foam hitting the fire and immediately putting it out.

It’s impossible to breathe because of the smoke.

“Camilla? Camilla!” Taylor coughs as he hurries through the smoke. “Are you okay?” he cups my face, and something about him touching me so intimately has me leaning back. I cough to cover myself, and he wraps an arm around me as he guides me outside.

The firetruck pulls up at the same time a gorgeous Mercedes comes to a stop. The tires squeal, and the scent of burned rubber hangs in the air.

“Are you okay? What happened?” Taylor asks, but I don’t care about answering him.

My focus is on the firefighters running into my bakery.

“Camilla! Camilla, Jesus Christ, let me look at you.” Luca stands in front of me and checks me for any injuries, pulling me away from Taylor.

Luca’s hands frame each side of my neck, and I tilt my head up so I’m forced to look at him.

“Jesus, you scared the hell out of me.”

“I’m fine. I’m okay.” Another round of coughing hits me.

“I need a paramedic!” he yells. “Get me a fucking medic!”

“I’m fine, Luca. It’s nothing. I wasn’t in the store long.”

“I don’t care if you inhaled smoke for less than a second; you’re getting oxygen.”

“I’m—”

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