Page 7 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Prince

I squeeze my eyes shut, feeling a knot form in my chest and throat as I stop myself from crying. “I got rejected again.” My eyes sting from holding back tears. I lean into the comfort of my brother as he pulls me in for a hug.

This isn’t the first rejection I’ve gotten in weeks of endlessly searching for a job. Every company I apply to as a marketing specialist rejects my application.

Word has it that it is because of my family. I wouldn’t doubt Giovanni’s involvement in any of it, as he has been just as opposed to the idea of me having a normal job as our parents.

“You have everything you need, Anna. Why do you need a job?”

I pull away from his hug, slightly offended by his words. “You are just like them. You could never understand.”

He holds my hand for a second, about to speak, before he swallows his words and lets go of me.

I turn my back to him as I walk to my bed and fall on it.

Luca hasn’t returned my texts yet and it makes me worried. He doesn’t go this long without a response. It’s been hours since we last spoke and had sex. Too long for me, as I ache for him.

It’s getting harder for me to keep what Luca and I have going on a secret, but I fear how my brother would react. He could do something stupid if he discovered the truth about his best friend and me. The weight of this secret is weighing me down. I want to stop hiding what we have.

“I wish I could help you; I really wish I could.” Giovanni walks to the door, pausing at the entryway. “Nevertheless, this is what’s best for you, Anna. You’ll soon realize it.” He shuts the door gently as he steps out.

I don't understand anything about this family. I sigh as I look up at the ceiling. I’m left alone with my thoughts turning to Luca and us last night. His mark is still visible on my neck where he gave me a hickey. I have been walking around the house with a hoodie to keep the mark hidden. The feel of his fingers and lips still lingers on my body. He understands me.

My phone beeps with a message notification on my dressing table. Hurriedly, I jump out of bed to see who the text is from.

Luca’s name appears. It makes my belly tingle with excitement. I click on his text to read it. It is a reply to my earlier message, him suggesting we meet in an hour at his place.

The thought of seeing him after a rough day makes me feel slightly better already. I stare at myself in the mirror, unzipping the hoodie just enough to reveal the hickey. My blonde hair is in a messy bun.

My lips are full, just like my mother’s, and I have a diamond-shaped face from her. A sigh falls from my lips as I walk into the bathroom to wash my face.

Luca will be waiting for me at his place while I have to come up with an excuse to sneak out. It is a few minutes past seven o’clock in the evening when I walk out of the bathroom.

“Shit!”

I had lost track of time when I decided to have a long bath. There’s only half an hour left for me to dress up and meet with him.

Giovanni’s words keep replaying in my head. He says he is protecting me but never reveals who it is he is protecting me from. I’m very aware of the dangers of my family’s business. I’ve learned to live in fear for most of my life as I watched men get killed for making the wrong move.

Giovanni has always protected me, since I was little, from any harm. Even from our father, though it meant he had to endure Father’s cruel teachings. It was Father’s way of preparing him to take over the business someday.

I slip into a pair of blue jeans and an oversized black T-shirt, grabbing my car keys from my nightstand.

The living room seems to be empty as I walk to the front door. I hear Father’s loud shouts. He seems to be arguing with my brother. They tend to fight and disagree more often these days.

It makes me wonder what exactly they have going on that they argue about every night. The heated argument gives me room to slip out of the house easily. I unlock my car and slide into it. I drive to the same local bar, Velvet Spirits.

The bar is full tonight. The bartender pours my usual as I walk to take a seat at the counter table. I steal a glance at my phone to check the time. I only have five more minutes to get to Luca’s place.

“Everything okay, miss?” the young male bartender asks as he makes me a margarita.

“Yes, yes. I’m alright.”

“Here you go. I made it extra strong today.”

I force a smile on my lips as I try to silently thank the bartender for trying to lighten the mood. I take a sip of the drink, welcoming the sweet taste on my tongue. A soft moan comes from me. I take more than a few sips before I am stopped by a new text from Luca stating he is already at the house.

“Thank you very much. I really enjoyed this one,” I say as I pay for the drink, tipping him a few extra bucks.

I leave the bar in a hurry. It is colder now. I hug myself, making my way to Luca’s house, when I’m stopped in my tracks by a familiar voice.

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