Page 32 of The Don's Hidden Heir

She shifts her gaze behind me. When she sees Lucas is inside my Porsche and he can’t hear us, she glides her eyes back to me. “I told you I didn’t mean it.”

I smirk. I like that she is getting worked up. “It didn’t sound like a mistake,mio cara.” I tuck my hands in my pockets and take a step forward. “Tell me, do you type mistakes like that to other men?”

“No.” She crosses her arms.

“Correct answer. If there’s even a single man who’s had the notion of touching what’s mine, I wouldn’t let it slide.”I mean it.

Her chest heaves in and out rapidly. “I’m not yours, Dominic. The only reason we’re around each other is because of Lucas.”

“You seem to have a habit of making up excuses with his name. Not a good habit, if you ask me.”

She peels her gaze away from mine. Her throat bobs as she swallows. “Lucas will be late for school.”

“Right.” Another excuse using our son’s name. Elena will learn sooner or later she simply cannot escape me. “See you later.”

“Let’s not meet unless it’s necessary.”

She tenses when I close the gap between us. I pick up the scent of strawberries and vanilla when I lean in and kiss her forehead. “You don’t get to decide,mio cara.Have a day as beautiful as you are.”

I feel her gaze burn my back as I stride to the car and climb in. She doesn’t look away until I bring the engine to life and peel from the driveway.

The first five minutes of the drive is silent. I glance at Lucas through the rearview mirror and see he’s looking at me.

I never thought a day would come when I’d say this, but I’ve never been around a kid before, much less one that’s mine. I don’t care about first impressions and whatever else other people care about, but I want to impress this kid for a reason.

“Hey, buddy.”

“Hey,” he says quietly. We don’t speak to each other for another minute, then he asks, “Don’t you think it’s rude that you know my name when I don’t know yours?”

I smile. “My name is Dominic.”

He furrows his brows. “I have a friend at school and his name is Dominic, too. He is not as handsome as you, though.” He tries to push forward bit, but let’s out a frustrated groan when his seatbelt won’t let him. “What do I call you?”

“Dominic. Dad. Whatever you want, kid.”

“I’ll call you Dad.” He giggles happily. “I now have a Daddy too.” He kicks the back of my seat. “Dad?”

I try to bite back the grin attempting to force its way out, but I fail. It’s easy to wear a blank mask around anyone else, but not with this kid. His presence pulls at my heart in sweet way. He reminds me of the time when I was just a boy, without the burden of the Cosa Nostra weighing down my shoulders.

“Yes, kid.”

His giggles fill the car. “Daddy?”

God, this kid makes my heart flutter. I guess this is what it feels like becoming a father. “Yes, son.” Warmth spreads across my chest. It’s still feels like a dream that I have a son.

“It feels good to call you Dad.”

I maneuver the car onto the busy road. “Did you miss having one so much?”

He nods his head. “All my friends have daddies. I’m the only one who didn’t have any. I didn’t have anyone to play football with last week.”

My chest constricts, knowing my son must have been so lonely without me. “You have someone to play football with now.” I want to cheer him up. “What do you love to do in your free time?”

His smile returns, along with a happy gleam in his blue eyes. “I love to play video games, visit the zoo, and do things that make Mummy happy.”

The last one catches my interest the most. “What are the things that makes your Mom happy?”

He seems lost in thought for a second. “Pizza nights with Aunt Moira. Popcorn and SpongeBob nights with me…” he trails off and thinks some more. “But I think she’ll be happier if she has a boyfriend.”

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