Page 50 of Secret Mafia Daddy

Angelo shrugs. “He made his bed, now he gets to lie in it.”

I want to ask more, but I don’t want to push. For all his wildness, Angelo is a pretty private guy when it comes to his past and his emotions.

But he continues speaking, surprising me.

“He left us,” he says. “When I was twelve. Walked out to be with another woman when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

“Oh my God,” I say, covering my mouth.

“It’s okay,” he says quickly. “She beat it with a double mastectomy, but no thanks to dear old Dad.”

“And you haven’t spoken to him since?”

“Here and there, when I really needed money,” he admits. “But I always hate it. He certainly won’t be at the wedding. He doesn’t have the right to meet our daughter.”

I nod slowly. “I understand. It’s hard to lose your father.”

“Your father loved you,” he points out. “He didn’t leave you, he died. There’s a difference.”

“I know,” I say softly. “But it’s still hard growing up without one.”

Angelo reaches across the table to take my hand. “You’re right. I’m sorry, kitten. I should be more sensitive.”

I’m surprised as he kisses my knuckles, clearly apologetic. I slowly pull my hand out of his, blushing a little.

“Thanks,” I mutter, not sure what else to say.

“I’m going to speak to him tomorrow about the wedding ring,” he sighs. “I’m not looking forward to it.”

“Do you want me to come with?” I ask, looking up at him over my glass, and he shakes his head.

“Nah, won’t give him the pleasure of meeting my beautiful wife.”

Butterflies float throughout my stomach. His wife. There’s something about the way he says that...

No, Catarina, I tell myself. Don’t get sucked in to how handsome and charming he is. Not again.

I clear my throat. “We should get back to Chelsea. She’s probably driving the nanny and Mia crazy with those fairy wings.”

He laughs out loud. “I hope she didn’t try to jump off anything.”

Angelo takes my hand as we leave the diner, and my hand feels so small in his, my heart racing just slightly.

My heart has been acting weird lately, and I’m a bit worried about it. Not about my physical health, but my emotional health.

I cannot fall back in love with Angelo Bianchi. Not now, not ever.

So when his arm slips around my waist after we’ve gotten Chelsea calmed down, bathed, and in bed, I pretend to be asleep, willing my racing heart to calm down.

I am not going to do this to myself again.

21

ANGELO

I wake up the next morning in a great mood, mostly because the wedding is coming up and I have to admit to myself that I’m a little excited about it.

Catarina is a beautiful, smart, and funny woman, and I could do a lot worse. It doesn’t have to be about love, right?

---