Page 35 of Knocked up by the Mafia

“Hello. Remember me?” I growl.

“Daniel. Mr Quinn. I can pay you a lot of….”

I shoot the ceiling, and he cowers as I point the gun at him again. “I didn’t say speak, although if you want to say something to me, why don’t you tell me where your little friends are hiding around the city? Clever not to stay all together. It would have been too easier to kill you then. Pity.”

Robbie comes to stand beside me. “He’s really not a good-looking lad.”

“They never are,” I comment. “Not from his generation, at least. Don Gianno, please tell me where the fuck Don Valentino and Don Russo are”

Robbie leans down with a knife in his hand and grabs the don’s ear before slicing it off. Don Gianno screams and holds the bloody mess that was his ear. Robbie stands up, dangling the ear. “Nice. I can add it to my collection.”

“That’s weird,” I say before kicking Don Gianno. “Robbie here likes ears, so if you want to keep the other one, you better talk.”

Gianno holds up a bloody hand as Robbie starts to lean down. “He’s at a hotel. The details are in my diary in the briefcase under the bed. Please, I will leave for Sicily immediately, and you’ll never hear from me again.”

“Well…I won’t hear from you again,” I say, raising my gun again.

“You said I could live…” he squeals pleadingly.

I chuckle. “No, I said I wouldn’t let Robbie cut off your other ear, you dick.” I pull the trigger, and his body slumps to the floor.

“Can I really not take the other ear?” Robbie asks.

“I’m a man of my word,” I say. “Let’s go get Nat.”

Robbie has the perfect plan. He pretends to have a message for Ivan, and all the guards come to train their guns on him and Deacon, who goes with him.

While they’re all distracted, I make my way around the back.

I’m about to go over the fence when a gate opens to my right. I draw my gun but stop when I see Natalia.

“What are you doing?” I hiss.

“What are you doing?” she whispers, limping over to me.

“I came to get you. You’re safer with me,” I say, taking her in my arms. “Come on, you can tell me along the way.”

“I was sneaking out to get away. To you,” she says softly as we make our way around the property again. I hear Robbie saying he’ll catch Ivan another time as we climb into the car. He and Deacon get in, and he turns to look at the two of us. “Hi. I’m Robbie.”

“Hi,” Nat says. “Are you the rescue team?”

“And the better-looking brother,” Robbie chuckles as Deacon drives us home. Robbie talks Natalia’s ears off the rest of the trip, and I just keep an arm around her and hold her.

When we get to the pub, Robbie gets out, and we both help Natalia out of the car. I lead her into the pub, and she looks around wearily. Ronan looks up from behind the bar and smiles. “Natalia, I’ve heard so much about you.”

“I’ve heard about you too, but not from your brother,” she says.

“My reputation always precedes me, but I assure you it’s worse than I am.” Ronan comes around and takes her hands. “Aye, you’re definitely the one for my brother. I give you my word while you’re on this street, you’re under my protection and welcome in my family. Once we get these stupid Sicilian Dons sorted, I will arrange with Ivan and convince him to allow you and Danny-boy to have a proper marriage, okay?”

She smiles, and I’m glad she likes him. She giggles and looks at me. “Danny-boy?”

I frown instantly, and everyone starts laughing.

Chapter 21 - Natalia

Ronan seems a lot different from what I’ve pictured him. I’ve obviously heard the rumors about him, but he seems like a very genuine person. Any doubt I could possibly have had about him instantly flies out the window. As he takes my hands, I feel his warmth, and I can see when he looks at Daniel, calling him Danny-boy, that he loves his brothers very much. It’s the same love Ivan has for me. That just makes it hurt more that Ivan won’t give Daniel a chance.

Ronan smiles. “Can I get you something to drink, lass? Non-alcoholic, of course.”

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