Page 72 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Prince

It’s just the two of us, alone in this vast space. The intimacy is unsettling, but the champagne is a welcome distraction. I takeanother sip, feeling the tension ease slightly as Mateo begins to serve himself from the platters.

I can’t help but notice the entitlement dripping from his voice when he begins to speak. “I’m the only child of my parents, Gianna. Well, at least the only one they can count on. They’re... indisposed at the moment, but I’m sure they’d love to meet you.” His smile grows wider, unsettling. “I’ve always been the center of attention, you see. And I’ve learned to take what I want, when I want.”

A shiver runs down my spine as he continues, his words painting a picture of a power-hungry psychopath. Maybe all this is my mind playing a trick on me. I mean, he has never given me a reason to feel this way and he’s treated me better than Luca in this short period of time.

“I’ve built my empire from the ground up, Gianna. I won’t let anyone take that away from me.”

That sounds reasonable but, for whatever reason, my discomfort grows as he leans in.

“Enough about me. Let’s talk about you, Gianna. You’re a mother, aren’t you? I can have your daughter brought to you if you’d like.”

My heart skips a beat at the mention of my daughter, but Mateo’s next words send a chill down my spine. “Let’s be clear, Gianna. You’re not a prisoner here. I’ll have you return safely to your family.”

It sounds too good to be fucking true.What is wrong with me?

“What’s your condition? Spill it.”

“It’s nothing out of the ordinary. You just have to sign our marriage papers. I’ve waited long enough. I wanted you from the moment I met you, even after I heard you got impregnated by thatbastardo.”

There it is. “You still want to marry me?”

“Yes.”

“How long do I have to make the decision?”

“By the end of the week; you owe me already. Don’t you agree? I saved your life.”

I stare at him, feeling a coldness in my chest.

Mateo nods, his smile growing wider. “Don’t worry. You’ll have everything you need right here. Food, shelter, even your daughter…. and me. But don’t think about trying to leave. My security is... impressive, to say the least.”

His eyes gleam with maniacal intensity, or so I think, as he begins to outline his twisted plans. “I’m going to be the Capo in New York, Gianna. I’ll take out every rival, every obstacle, until I’m the king of the mafias in this city, and you will be my bride.”

At this point, I can’t tell who is worse, Luca or him. His words are like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless and horrified.

Although, it’s what he says next that sends my world crashing down.

“It can’t be that hard, really. I mean, Salvatore Mancini is dead, after all.” He says it so casually, so callously, that I feel like I’ve been slapped.

My mind reels in shock. Salvatore Mancini... my father.

Dead?

No, it can’t be.

Chapter twenty-one

Luca

It’s been a fucking week since I last went to see Gianna. I’m just returning from a meeting with my men.

I’ve been busy trying to find out who is responsible for the chaos around my business. I can’t let anyone ruin what my father built.

The fucking assholes stealing my products have kept me on my toes, mapping out a way to find them. I need to get to the bottom of it and find any holes in my business. Snitches. Whatever it takes to secure everything I’ve built here.

I swing open the door to where she’s been, expecting to see her sitting there on the bed, but the room is empty, silent.

Something feels off, like a storm is brewing. I check the bathroom, but she’s nowhere to be found. My gut tightens, and my mind races.

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