Page 45 of Knocked up by the Mafia

“Please, I’ll make you the wealthiest man! I’ll call off the hunt for Natalia! Just let me go!” He tries to sit up, but Daniel kicks him onto his back.

He holds the gun out to me as he speaks to Russo, “It’s no longer my decision.”

Daniel steps aside, and I step forward. Before he can make any false promises to me, I shoot him through the head. Daniel watches, and when I lower the gun, he steps forward and rolls Russo’s body into the water.

I look up at Daniel and smile. “I knew I’d have to save you in the end.”

“Did you?” he asks, wincing. “Don’t make me smile. They hurt my face.”

“That pretty face,” I tease before kissing his lips softly. “I’ll have to play nurse later.”

He chuckles and takes my hand. “We should get out of here before the cops come for that explosion.”

“They’re… distracted with other fires to put out.” I smile, lacing our fingers together and walking beside Daniel as we head back the way we came. There are no more gunshots, and when we see what I can only describe as a bloody battleground, all the men are working to move the bodies.

The Sorvino men are gone, most likely to bribe the cops, officials, and the media. They are good for that. If any of Russo’s men were left, they would have made a run for it. However, it looks like no one got away.

“Natalia! You damned fool!”

I turn to see Ivan striding toward me. Daniel wants to step in front of me, but I shake my head. I brace myself when Ivan grabs me and pulls me into a hug.

“You damned fool, I thought I lost you.” I smile and hug him back, resting my head against his chest.

“You knew I’d do this,” I say. “That’s why none of the guards stopped me.”

Ivan pulls away, and there’s a knowing look in his eyes. “I condoned nothing, but of course, when I realized you left, I had to involve all our men to find you.”

I try not to smile.

Ivan turns to Daniel, and I look between them, but Ivan holds his hand out. Daniel takes it, and they shake hands. Ivan gives him a curt nod. “Ronan is out of surgery, and they say he’s going to make a full recovery. I know a good restorative crew will return the bar to its original state.”

Daniel nods. “I’d like their number.”

“Perhaps when Ronan is out of the hospital, we can arrange negotiations for the terms of the marriage before the wedding. It will be a Russian wedding,” Ivan stands firm.

Daniel opens his mouth, but I quickly say, “Of course, one of the two weddings will be our traditional Russian wedding. We’d be honored. The other can be a traditional Irish one for the Quinns.”

Ivan nods. “We’ll discuss it later. Take him to see our doctor. Lord knows I’ve seen the botched job the vets do on your men.” He walks off, and I smile.

“He likes you.” I look at Daniel.

He looks back at me, surprised.

Chapter 27 - Daniel

Ronan told me not to say a word, which is hard. I’m not a child; I’m only five years younger than him. He’s still walking with a cane, but I swear he’s doing it because he thinks it makes him look cool. I don’t want to meet at Ivan’s family restaurant, but Ronan insists we are safe. Nat isn’t allowed to attend because she has to go dress shopping with her aunt.

Ronan and Ivan discuss everything about the business. Ronan will provide security details for important family members, at important events, at particular premises, and they will provide protection for businesses aligned with the Italian and Russian families.

It’s rather boring to me, so I stare out the window.

“Daniel?”

I look at Ronan. “Sorry. I had a thought… it’s lost now.”

Ronan tilts his head. “I’m not surprised. Ivan said he’d prefer to have the Irish wedding first so Natalia’s parents have time to get here for the Russian one.”

I nod. Honestly, I’m not interested. I just want to marry Nat and settle down with her. Ronan has promised I can take time off after the wedding until some time after our baby is born to settle. Then it’s back to working with the family. I’m not even mad. The family doesn’t seem as bad as it once was.

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