Page 40 of Knocked up by the Mafia

It’s been three days since we strew Valentino’s body parts around the hotel room like confetti. Robbie seemed to enjoy it a little too much, and I suspect he took an ear for his collection. He’s sweet, though. They all are. It’s an entirely different family dynamic. Mine is also caring but a little more distant.

I wonder if that’s it. If I’m the final piece of what Ivan is familiar with, and because I’m slipping away in the opposite direction, I wonder if that freaks him out.

There’s a garden behind the pub. It’s enclosed, so I spend my days lounging out there while Daniel does whatever Ronan asks him to do. I don’t get involved unless it’s related to Don Russo, who Daniel is still trying to trace.

Molly comes out with a mop bucket, pours it down the drain outside, and glances at me.

“Afternoon, Molly,” I say with a smile.

She smiles back. “Afternoon, Natalia. Do you want some tea?”

“I would love….”

There’s a massive crash and shouting from the front. I whip around and see smoke rising from the front of the building.

“Stay here,” I say to Molly as I rush inside. I hurry to the front of the pub.

Two cars are on fire, with several men pointing guns at each other. I glance out the windows. Ronan and Robbie are standing outside, surrounded by their men aiming guns at Dominic, Carmine, Frankie, Ivan, and Evgenii.

God, will this never end? I’m so tired of being tossed back and forth. I see Daniel near Ronan, and it worries me that Ivan might shoot him first.

I go outside, and Daniel glances in my direction. “Nat, get back inside. We’ll sort this out.”

“Natalia,” Ivan says my name loudly. “Come with us. We can discuss this on our own turf. I’m not standing here talking to them.”

“Stand down, everyone.” I raise my hands. “Evgenii, stand down.”

“Come home,” he barks at me. “We have things to discuss, and you need to be in a safe, unbiased place to talk about it.”

“Unbiased,” Robbie says sarcastically. “You’re completely biased against us.”

“Robbie, shush,” Ronan says. “It’s the lass's decision. We’re not forcing her to stay here.”

Daniel steps forward, and Ronan looks at him. He stops walking, but he still speaks. “Nat, go back inside. We’ll handle this, then you, me, and our baby will take off to somewhere no one will find us.”

“No! I’m so tired of running. Running from the Dons, running from my family.” I look at my brother. “I deserve my happy-ever-after.”

“This is not like you, Natalia. We’re concerned. If you stay here, we assume it is by force, and we will declare war.”

I walk to Daniel and kiss him softly.

He looks down at me. “Don’t go with them.”

“I’ll be back. We will always find each other. I don’t want anyone from your family to die here.”

I lean up and kiss him deeply before I turn to Ronan. “Thank you for keeping me safe and welcoming me.”

“You’re always welcome here. You have my word.”

I smile and walk toward Evgenii. He reaches for my arm, but I pull away from him. “You’re not my brother. You say that I’ve changed, that this isn’t like me. In all the years I’ve worked for our family, no one has ever questioned how I do things. Now you want to control my every decision. It’s you who have changed, not me.”

I follow the Sorvino brothers to their car. I don’t want to drive with Ivan and Evgenii.

I glance at the cars that are on fire and pray no one was hurt in them. I think if someone were, Ronan wouldn’t have been so calm.

The Sorvino brothers drop me at Ivan’s house, and I follow my brother and cousin inside.

“Evgenii, sit quietly for a moment. I’ll speak to Nat.” Ivan looks at me. “You’re going to your parents in Europe. You’re to remain there until the baby is born and afterward. When you prove you’re of sound mind, we’ll come visit you.”

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