Page 11 of Secret Mafia Daddy

I could kidnap her and think about what to do with her later. But I can’t just keep her locked up somewhere for life, and I definitely can’t let her go. And with all that happened to me, could I unnecessarily leave an innocent little girl without a mom? A mom who did nothing wrong except be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Fuck. Double fuck. Silver Eyes has me by the balls, even if I’m the one holding the knife.

I have to take her with me, and because I’m me and don’t wish a childhood without a parent on anyone else, I have to take the little girl too. This is a gigantic mess and getting messier by the second.

A memory of Dante and how happy he is comes to me. And one of Nico and how he smiles at his little boy. I think of Dante and how he’d looked at Mia the last time that I spoke to him.

They both seemed so happy. Like they didn’t have to do anything else but be with each other again to feel fulfilled. I want that. I want it so bad I would do damn near anything for it. To find something that keeps away the darkness from my mind, for good.

Looking into her eyes, I notice the darkness isn’t inside me. Hasn’t been any time she’s been there. And this damn pull. This deep-set knowledge of her.

Could I keep her? How? It’s not like she’ll happily follow me. Unless, she doesn’t get a choice.

A lightbulb goes off in my head. There is a way to keep her alive, semi-free, and remain protected against her testimony.

“Are you married?” I ask. Something like possessiveness rolls through me at the thought. But this is not about that.

Wives can’t testify against their husbands, can they? What if… I know it seems like a strange way to solve my problem, but...it really is the perfect solution. She gets to live, and I get to have more time to try and understand this strange pull I have to her and guarantee my own safety.

She looks confused for a second before frowning. “What does that have to do with anything?”

Cute that she thinks she has a choice whether to answer or not. “Answer the damn question,” I say towering over her, and she shakes her head.

Perfect. I hide my smile, but I feel smug. This really is a stroke of genius.

“Here’s the deal. I let you live, and you get to go home to your little girl…”

“Thank you.” The relief on her face is so clear I almost smile. Almost, because now comes the flip of the coin.

“If…” Her back straightens and she tenses all over. “You marry me.”

Her mouth falls open. Then she closes and opens it a few times, like she wants to say something but the words don’t come out. Yeah, doll face, I’m just as shocked as you are by this turn of events.

Finally, she says, “What?”

“Against my better judgment, I’m giving you the chance to live. But for that to happen, you need to be married to me, doll,” I murmur, and her silver eyes, filled with tears, look up at me.

I can tell she is terrified, and I really hope she doesn’t make me kill her, because as much as I don’t want to, I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect my friends and myself.

“So, what will it be? Are we off to get that little girl and get married, or is this the end of the road for you?”

Her mouth hangs open and she blinks once, twice, closes her mouth, and swallows hard. “M-Marry you?”

Her stuttering is cute. Just as cute as her whole fuck-you demeanor before, and I hate that I notice that. I may have to kill her, so why am I thinking about how cute she is?

“You can’t testify if we’re married,” I muse. "If you come home with me right now, I won’t have to make… other arrangements.”

“I can’t go right now,” she says. “I have responsibilities.”

“Like what?” I ask, loosening my grip on her.

“I told you I have a daughter,” she whispers, and I raise an eyebrow. She wipes at her eyes as if angry she’s almost crying. “I need to be with her. I can’t leave her.”

“Of course not,” I say softly. I would never allow someone to abandon a child. No one deserves that. The child least of all.

I wonder how having a little girl in my life may change things. It may be fun. It also may stifle things, but I don’t really have a choice.

I mean, I do, but I can’t kill this little doll in my arms. I feel some kind of connection to her, and I want to understand it, so this is the best option.

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