Page 12 of The Mafia's Omega Queen

Gavin clears his throat and pins me with a behave look. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but Andre said he heard voices coming from the room and figured you guys were up and probably hungry.”

He’s got the hungry part right, but not for food. For him. For Arden. For Hunter. My libido never ruled me before, but after one heat—if that’s even what that was—I’m suddenly ravenous for them. Yeah, I almost died. So what’s that saying? Carpe diem? Yeah, that’s it. Seize the day. Except I’m not seizing shit until these damn wounds finish healing. But you can bet your sweet ass I’ll be riding them cowgirl style the first moment I’m able.

Arden sits up in the bed, the sheet falling down to his waist, exposing his golden sinew muscle and lickable abs. Gods dammit. I avert my eyes, focusing on Gavin and the food he’s graciously brought us. As he strides across the room, a cell phone starts ringing, the shrilling tone making me grit my teeth.

After setting the tray on my lap, he pulls out his phone, and a wide, beaming smile lights up his handsome face. A growl of jealousy rips through my gut at the sight. Who the fuck is calling him that’s making him smile like that? He’s my fucking man.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

Gavin raises a curious brow as Arden chuckles from beside me, but he makes no move to answer the damn thing. Before he can put the phone away, I snatch it from his hand, hitting the button for the speakerphone.

“You must have one hell of a fucking death wish to be calling my fucking boyfriend.”

“I never took you for the jealous type, sweetheart.”

My face heats as embarrassment washes over me. Fuck, fuck, fuck. No wonder those assholes laughed at how I was acting.

“You could have warned a girl,” I whisper-hiss, pinning both of them with my best fuck-off glare. “Hi, Dad!” I chirp, acting as if I didn’t just get pissed at two of my men. “How are you? How’s Mom? I miss you guys.”

Dad chuckles down the line, the surefire sign that I’m not fooling him for a second. “I’m doing good, sweetheart. Pretty much all healed up. Your mom is doing good too. We miss you like crazy and can’t wait until you get to come home. But the real question is, how are you doing?”

The guys choose that moment to leave the room so I can have a moment alone with my dad. It would be so much better if this were happening in person, but beggars can’t be choosers right now. I’m immensely grateful for their forethought to give us the time to talk.

“I’m okay, Daddy,” I murmur, picking at the fruit on the tray. “I’m healing which is the best thing for me. But I won’t lie, I feel like I should be out there, doing more to put an end to this madness.”

Popping a strawberry into my mouth, I groan as the juice squeezes from the fruit, trickling down my lip. The bacon calls my name next, and I crunch on a piece of perfectly cooked meat as Dad continues talking.

“I know, Haylee. What happened is one of my worst nightmares. It’s why I gave you the option to not even join this life. It’s the kind of shit we deal with all the time.” I can remember numerous instances where people have tried to take out our family, but they’ve never been successful. But shit, there’s starting to be one too many close calls. “We’re doing everything we can on our end, but it’s hard when the threats are not only happening here but also there where you’re supposed to be safe.”

I finish chewing and then suck the bacon grease from my fingers before answering. “I am safe, Dad. Well…relativity. All of this is just a bunch of bullshit that never should have happened. But it did, and the person responsible will pay for their actions. It’s only a matter of time. But we also need to be focused on the big picture, which, as you know, is taking out Kilroy. He’s the biggest threat between the two instances.”

“Alright, who are you, and what did you do with my daughter?” Dad’s loud guffaw punctuates his words, his laughter warming my heart. Tears well in my eyes, and I flutter my lashes, trying to banish the damn things. I don’t think it’s really hit until now that I could have lost him when he was shot, or he could have lost me when Bianca stabbed me. “I’m kidding, sweetheart,” he says gruffly.

“I know. It’s just,” I take a deep breath, willing my voice not to crack, “I almost lost you, and it made me realize that I haven’t been taking the threats seriously enough. Just because they aren’t breaking into the compound, doesn’t mean they aren’t there just waiting to strike. Maybe I just got too comfortable when I should have been on higher alert.”

That is the hardest thing I have ever had to admit. I fucked up, and I know it. I’ve gotten so damn cushy here, regardless of the crap that Bianca has been pulling. I should have been spending my downtime doing what I can from here to eliminate threats, but instead, I’ve been living the highlife with my men. It’s a mistake I won’t make again.

“Sweetheart, none of this is in any way your fault. We all know that, and you don’t need to be so hard on yourself. After all, you’ve found your mates, and that’s something that should be celebrated as you grow your bonds together.”

I sputter. “The mafia doesn’t just pause because someone found their mate. Hell, that’s the perfect time to take someone out because they wouldn’t see you coming.” Carefully moving the tray to the foot of the bed with as little movement as possible, I lay down, setting the phone on the pillow next to me, and stare up at the ceiling. “I’m so grateful for them, and Gods, Dad, I love them, but not at the cost of almost losing you.” Tears break free from my eyes, rolling paths down my temples. “I think it’s time for me to come home.” I sniffle. “We’re all safer together, and maybe…” I bite my lip, wondering if they would agree.

“Maybe those mates of yours will join you?” Gods, he knows me so well.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“Funny you should say that, sweetheart, because they’ve already spoken with us about coming into the family.”

I swiftly sit up, a groan splitting my lips as my stomach twinges in pain. Jeez, this shit needs to hurry up and fucking heal.

“Haylee? You okay?”

“Yeah. Just sat up too quickly. But what do you mean they’ve already spoken to you? They won’t leave. They can’t. They’re tied to Vinny. Vinny is family. They can’t just leave him to handle this place by himself.”

“We’ve given them the okay to change. Vincenzo also has agreed.” Holy shit! Is Vinny fucking mad? “We’ve been thinking about making the move when you’ve fully healed, and the doctor gives you the all-clear.”

“Dad, I—” Shit. I, what? Don’t want to leave Vinny to handle this alone? Don’t want something to happen to the asshole? Gah, I think the prick is growing on me. Plus, Gods forbid something does happen to him, my guys are going to be heartbroken. They can talk all the shit they want, but they love him. Always will, no matter what kind of bullshit someone pulls. That’s what family does. “I think it would be best if we stayed until this current situation is fully handled before making the move. Plus, it’ll give Vinny time to bring people into the positions the guys will be vacating.”

“That’s very…diplomatic of you, sweetheart.” I blink. Yeah, I think I’ve totally surprised myself there, too, pops. “But we’ll get it all figured out when the time comes. You just focus on healing, and then we will put all the necessary plans into action.”

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