Page 72 of Secret Babies for the Italian Mafia Boss

“Excuse me?”

“You don’t want it, Camilla. There are others that do. Just give it up already.”

I narrow my eyes at him and uncross my arms, wondering why he is so adamant about the money. “It isn’t that I don’t want it. It’s complicated. With all the questions, I’m starting to think you want it for yourself.”

He jerks back as if I slapped him. “What? How could you think that? No. I don’t care about the money, Camilla. I’m worried about what chaos it will bring to the street. Your shop. Cora.” He spread his arm out in the direction the ambulance went. “Cora is hurt because of this. I mean, how selfish can you really be to continue to let this happen?”

I don’t know what gets into me, but I slap him across the face. “How dare you,” I hiss at him, pointing a finger into his chest. His cheek became red, and his head is still turned, shocked that I slapped him. “You don’t get to call me selfish. I have given everything of myself to the people that need me. You don’t get to call me selfish.” I poked him in the chest again. “That money is the last thing from my father, and I might still be angry at him, but it’s what he left me. Me. So for this one time, this one moment, I’m allowed to be selfish. That fortune belongs to no one but me. No one else, so if someone wants to pick a fight, then let them fight.”

“And you’re willing to put your friends in harm’s way?”

“I’m not responsible for the actions of someone else.” I begin to walk away, and Taylor grabs me.

“I’m sorry. Okay? I’m so sorry. I’ve been worried and stressed out. Work has been slow, and I’ve been crunching numbers. It’s been hard, okay? I didn’t mean to take it out on you. I’m sorry.”

“I need some time, Taylor. I feel guilty enough as is, and I don’t need someone who I thought was my friend to make it worse.” Luca wraps his arms around my shoulder and guides me to the Range Rover.

“Let me see the keys.” He holds out his palm, and I don’t argue with him. I drop the keys in his hand, and he opens the passenger side for me to get in.

I buckle in and stare at the red blooming across my palm. I can’t believe I did that. I’ve never hit a person in my entire life, but Taylor was pushing all the wrong buttons. He was too pushy, too adamant about the fortune, and maybe I got so mad because I thought he was right. Maybe I am selfish. I can’t keep Cora at risk.

“You know he’s wrong, right? You’re the least selfish person I know.” Luca’s palm engulfs mine, and he brings it to his lips to kiss the burning flesh.

“I don’t know if he is wrong,” I exhale, leaning my head back against the seat. “I can’t believe I hit him.”

“It was sexy. I’ve wanted to hit that asshole ever since I met him.”

“Luca,” I warn him.

“What? I do this for a living, Beautiful Girl. Something about that guy doesn’t sit right with me.” Luca puts the car in drive and then pats his pockets, cursing.

“What is it?”

“I left my wallet at home. How about I drop you off at the hospital? I’ll be right behind you.”

“No. I don’t want to be alone. It will only take a few minutes. I bet the doctors won’t let us see her right now.”

“Okay. I just want you to know he’s wrong. And I’m sorry about the bakery. We will get it fixed.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t.” I press my forehead against the window and take in the destruction of the coffee shop and bakery as we make a U-turn to go home.

“Why would you say that? You love baking.”

“Not if it means people are getting hurt. Even Taylor is being affected by it.”

“How the hell is….” Luca pinches the bridge of his nose. “How is he being affected?”

“He said something important was stolen from his shop, and he’s really upset about it.”

Luca’s hand tightens on the steering wheel. “Don’t listen to him. He’s wrong. And his store hasn’t been vandalized. It’s yours that is the target, and someone knows about Cora being your friend too.”

He’s not telling me something. “Do you know who it is?”

“No, but I really do not like Taylor, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had something to do with it. For me, can you stay clear of him until I figure it out?”

We pull into the driveway of the estate, and the gates open for us. “I don’t think that will be a problem, considering how I slapped him.”

“Good. Better than the barrel of my gun.”

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