Page 90 of Dark Mafia Heir

She raises her hand. “Wait! What if I leave in two days? I need to see my father… and Harper. Please.”

The way her usually bright eyes glow cloudy makes my chest constrict. I don’t want her to leave. Scratch that; I don’t think I’ll even be able to function properly without her here, but I’d rather have her far away and safe than have her near and unsafe.

Still, I can’t deny her the chance to see her father and her sister before she leaves. “Fine. I’ll get everything ready for you. You leave in two days.”

31

Vivienne

The diamond earrings in my hands catch my eye as I twist them slightly, letting the diamond tilt toward the light. It shimmers, a cascade of colors bursting from its facets—fiery reds, electric blues, and glimmering golds dancing like tiny fireworks.

It’s the day before I leave for Sicily, and goodness, I still hate the idea of being far away from Antonio as much as I did when he mentioned it during dinner last night.

I’d rather stay here with him—die with him if need be, but I know it’s useless arguing with him. He made it clear as day that it wasn’t up for negotiation, and nothing I said would’ve made him change his mind. He’s just that kind of man who’ll do anything to keep his family safe.

I rub a hand over my belly. I’ve been nauseous all night, and now I’m just anxious. What if he gets hurt when I’m away or worse? What if he loses to?—

No, he can’t lose. Antonio just can’t lose to anyone. He’ll be safe. He has to be. I don’t want to imagine a world where he isn’t here with me.

I run a hand over the diamonds on the earring. “They’re beautiful.”

Antonio takes them from me and helps me wear them. “They look even more beautiful on you.” He kisses the top of my head before pulling back. “They have trackers in them. Don’t take them off for any reason.”

I smile at how overprotective he’s being. “Are you afraid my dad will hurt me?”

“I just want you safe. I am sure your father had something to do with Dante’s death.” He pauses and inches closer, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Call me if anything happens.”

I don’t agree that my papa will try to hurt me. He’s not the best dad in the world, but he’d never try to hurt me. I don’t try to argue with Antonio, though, because he has every right to be wary of my father.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I peer into his eyes and tell him the words he wants to hear. “I won’t take it off, I promise. And I’ll call you if anything happens.”

He presses a soft kiss to my lips, and then he cups my belly. “I hope you understand why I am doing all of this, Vivienne. You and our baby mean the world to me. I’ll lose my mind and burn the world down if anything happens to you two.”

My vision blurs with tears. “I know. You have to stay safe, too, 'cause if anything happens to you, I’ll do more than burn the world.”

“I have our child’s birth to look forward to, and we’re yet to pick out baby names. I won’t let myself get killed before I get to do that.”

I narrow my eyes on him. “Don’t tell me you plan to die after that.”

He chuckles. “No, I don’t. I’m not dying until I get to raise our kid and grow old with you.”

I laugh, but tears stream down my face instead. I’ve been an emotional mess since I got pregnant. “That is enough for me.”

He’s about to say something when Luca and the new guy, Angelo, join us in front of the house, where the car I’ll be leaving to see my father in is parked.

“We’re ready to leave, boss,” Luca says.

“Make sure nothing happens to her,” Antonio orders sternly. “You know what to do if anything goes wrong.

He nods.

Antonio nods back at him, and then he pulls away from our embrace. “I have a meeting soon. I may not be back on time, but I’ll have Agatha prepare some of the things you’ll need before I leave.”

I mouth“Thank you”to him.

He opens the backseat for me and doesn’t walk away until the car reels out of the mansion.

It takes almost an hour before we get to the Cole mansion. There are guards everywhere as Angelo drives through the driveway, and there are new faces I haven’t seen before. I can’t tell if Papa is being extra careful, just like Antonio, or if something’s off.

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