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That was the last thing I wanted to happen.

Too much work had been put into maintaining a peaceful existence.

But if bloodshed was needed…

That was fine by me.

CHAPTER3

Carmella

“Mama. Look at the cookies and the cake!” Gabriel’s little face was electrified as he pointed toward the dining room table, the six-tier cake the centerpiece.

Decorated in Amber’s two favorite colors of pink and purple, the artistic creation rivaled every wedding cake I’d ever seen.

There were dozens of other desserts from chocolate lava cake to cocoa pinwheels, wedding cookies, and Amber’s favorite chocolate fudge.

I assumed without looking there were other tables full of yummy creations from beef carvings to shrimp the size of my hand. If I knew my father, he’d hired an ice sculptor, tasking him to create an exquisite dolphin.

I knew that because for my sixteenth birthday he’d hired four caterers, an ice sculptor, and an orchestra alongside two award-winning pastry chefs. Sadly, Amber’s sweet sixteen had been spent in a hospital bed, so this birthday was more lavish than any before.

Guests were already milling about, incredible music coming from hidden speakers. When I’d driven up, I’d noticed the two huge white tents located on the lawn. My guess was the teenagers Amber’s age were partying out there with their own DJ.

Good for her.

I sure didn’t want to be stuck with my father and stepmother’s prissy friends, but I plastered on a smile anyway. A requirement of being a tarnished mafia princess.

“I know, baby. You can have some cake later. After you eat a little dinner. Okay?”

My son scrunched up his face, immediately folding his arms. It was exactly what his father used to do when he was angry with me. Which had become all the time during the last year of hell together.

“O-tay. I don’t like it though, Mommy.”

I had to fight to keep from laughing, even putting my fingers across my mouth. “I know you don’t, honey, but your little tummy would hurt if you ate too many sweets. Then I’d need to take you to a doctor.”

He peered up at me and I knew at that moment the sun rose and set on the little boy. He was my greatest joy and accomplishment. Graduating medical school first in my class and opening up my own practice didn’t mean anything in comparison to creating such a little life force.

“Mommy. You’re a doctor.” When he spoke that way, I could see the little adult in him clawing to escape. And he was only four and a half.

“Is that the most handsome grandson in the world?” My father stormed into the room with his arms outstretched.

Gabriel broke free from me, racing toward his grandfather, who scooped him up and smothered him in kisses. I felt a twinge of guilt for keeping my son from his blood, but it was more about keeping Gabriel from the life.

I wanted him to be a kid, not forced to be surrounded by bodyguards and weapons. I walked closer, noticing my father was studying what I was wearing.

As he always did.

So, I’d selected a pantsuit. I wasn’t a dress kind of girl and my father knew it. He also rubbed it in that while growing up, I’d been mistaken more than once for a boy. That had changed when I’d gotten boobs.

Thankfully, he said nothing, instead moving to the sweets table and selecting a cookie. I didn’t bother trying to stop the man. This was his house and as he’d always told me, his rules.

I noticed Sasha out of the corner of my eye and smiled. She seemed pleased I wasn’t in a bad mood, which I was half the time I arrived at the house. Mostly because my father usually never asked me to come. He summoned me.

“Sasha. You look beautiful,” I told her. And it was the truth. I’d never hated my stepmother, even though my mother hadn’t been dead and buried for longer than fourteen months before they’d gotten married. It had been tough for a ten-year-old girl to handle. A few years later, they’d started a new family and I’d felt completely left out. Thankfully, I was brilliant in school, graduating a year early from high school and entering college.

My father had wanted peace in the house from all the bickering. It was the only reason he’d allowed me to head several states away to attend college then medical school. They’d been the happiest, wildest days of my life. Thankfully, I’d stopped seeing her as the enemy years before.

And I absolutely adored my half-brother and half-sister. They were amazing little people. Well, not so little any longer.

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