Page 28 of Pregnant By the Italian Mafia Enemy

The only thing that kept me in my seat was the mental reminder of what Dante’s family had taken from me. He knew what he was risking by staying in this business despite being the caretaker of a child.

“Now, I live with Uncle Dante and Uncle Gabe.”

My lips parted as I considered all the information I had on Dante and his family. I knew about one brother, Silas Guerra, from my research into his family history. I hadn’t realized he died years ago.

I didn’t know there was a third sibling.

Bria had said she didn’t have a mother, so that meant…

“Your daddy was Dante and Gabe’s other brother?” I asked.

She only nodded, and a somber expression fell over her face.

I couldn’t sit and question a young child about her dead family. It wasn’t fair, especially when I stood to take so much more from her shortly.

“I lost my daddy when I was little, too,” I finally said.

Her eyes shot up to mine. “You did?”

“I was a little older than you are now,” I admitted. “But I know how it feels. I had someone who took over for my dad, too. It’s a really nice thing that Dante and Gabe love you so much.”

“They do,” she admitted. “They’re like my other daddies.”

“That we are.”

I shot my head around at the male voice coming from the doorway. Dante leaned there, and I wondered how much he’d heard. I supposed it didn’t matter. I hadn’t revealed anything to the girl.

“Sienna, are you going to be part of the family soon?”

I bit my lip. Where did I even start with that question? She had no idea why I was here, and she didn’t need to know. But I wouldn’t give her false hope and lie about my intentions here. The girl had gone through enough, and a betrayal like that would cause her a lifetime of distrust.

I supposed it didn’t matter. She’d feel the same weight of betrayal when I killed Dante.

“No,” I said at the same time as Dante said, “We’ll see what happens.”

“In the meantime, I have somewhere to take Sienna for today. Bria, Lucia has some lessons ready for you when you finish your breakfast.”

I shot daggers at Dante as he stared down at me emotionlessly.

***

I looked around the eclectic diner full of people as Dante strode into the place as if he owned it. “Why are you bringing me here?” I asked again.

The questioning had been nearly nonstop since we left the house, but he hadn’t given me any indication of where he was taking me. I began to wonder if he’d learned about my real last name or my intentions, but he gave nothing away as he brought ushere.

“Follow me,” he demanded, gesturing toward the back of the diner.

The sound of the kitchen was the first thing to greet me, and the uncertain-looking cooks all eyed Dante with a combination of fear and respect.

“Stellina,” he drawled. “You saw me carry out a questioning on the morning we first met. It was an exploitation gone wrong, and you tried to run from me. But in light of recent events, I can’thelp but wonder if you’re truly that scared of me and what I’m capable of.”

“I think watching you kill people is a pretty good reason to be afraid,” I shot back, slowing my steps.

“I think you have a stomach for this sort of thing—more of one than you’re admitting.”

I froze mid-step.

“What are you talking about?”

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