Page 29 of Hidden Heir, Italian Wife

Christo applied himself to winning over Sofia, asking what she wanted to drink, teasing her with offers of wine and beer. “Is that not what children drink? You’ll have to teach me how to be a good uncle.”

“Now I know.” Nico was watching, too, sipping his own scotch.

“What?”

“What kept you in Como four years ago.”

It was a sucker punch, one that Jax should have seen coming. One he deserved, perhaps. At the time, Dom’s father had recently died and Romeo had just retired. They’d seemingly had Dom on the ropes, financially. Jax had been confident he had the property in Naples sewn up, but his dallying with Bree meant Dom got there first. It was the first good hit Dom had landed against them and hadn’t been the last.

“Don’t take it out on her,” Jax warned. They’d all underestimated Dom if half a day was all he had needed to gain an advantage over them.

Besides, Jax had lost more than that property four years ago. Losing to Dom because he’d prioritized sex was an embarrassment, but it would be a long time before he got over his anger at himself for leaving Bree without taking her number. Now he knew he had missed years with Sofia that he would never get back. That wasn’t entirely Bree’s fault.

You didn’t take my number. Why should I take yours?

Bree had thoroughly captured his interest that day. His dereliction of duty had proved it. After Paloma, he hadn’t wanted any woman to take up that much space in his life or head or heart. So he’d accepted the clean exit that Bree had offered him.

In the four years since, he had tried to convince himself he’d been right to keep it no-strings that day, especially since his inability to forget her proved she had the power to knock him off his stride.

He was still wary of her effect on him, but now Sofia was part of the equation.

“Don’t tell me not to bring them to the party,” he said to Nico. “I have to.”

“You do,” Nico agreed. “Youhave to be there no matter what. If we don’t all show our support for this marriage, the whole exercise is a bust.”

Jax snorted, thinking of Bree claiming his sister had married Blackwood for love. No, Eve’s belated wedding reception was the equivalent of a state dinner where two warring factions would put down their arms and promise to live in peace from now on. If anyone refused to attend, it would give the impression they were still holding a grudge.

“Tabitha would have been a better look. Thiswillcause ripples,” Nico warned.

“I know.” An old sting of culpability spread under Jax’s skin.

He hadn’t expected his actions against Paloma’s brother, Tucker, to impact his whole family. He had stood by his principles when he had reached out to the victim and offered to back her up if she wanted to press charges. He had given a police statement when asked. Jax was the one who had worn the print of Paloma’s slap on his cheek for days and caused Tucker to move to Brazil to get away from the notoriety.

When their family had attacked Jax, he had accepted the retaliation, but his parents and siblings had become collateral damage. Romeo had sent Jax to their grandmother in Italy to cool things off. It wasn’t meant as punishment, Jax knew that, but having his family push him away on the heels of Paloma’s rejection had made him hyperconscious of never letting them down again.

Then he had. By sleeping with Bree.

The very last thing he wanted to do was instigate fresh gossip, but he was about to reveal a secret daughter, looking like a deadbeat dad who had ignored his responsibilities for four years. So much for his lofty principles. That’s how Paloma’s family was likely to frame it. At the time, their hatred toward him had gone so deep they had cozied up to the Blackwoods in a “my enemy is your enemy” alliance.

One Jax feared would show its ugly head at the party.

“Anything less than acting loud and proud to learn I’m a father looks like I’m trying to hide her. I have to announce it immediately and drive the narrative. I need the support of the family while I do it.” He sent Nico a significant look.

His brother held up a hand. “I had to ask the questions. But I agree. You have no choice but to acknowledge your child and marry her mother. You’ll take them to Italy?”

“Yes.” There was no way he’d leave Bree and Sofia here to navigate whatever stones Paloma’s family chose to throw at her.

“Good. I’ll have a press release prepared.”

Exiled again.

Jax tried to forestall the thought, but it was a cut that had scarred over while remaining ultrasensitive.

Bree’s profile was more remote than ever as she tried to insist to his mother that she couldn’t attend the party because she had nothing appropriate to wear.

“Please take pity on my mother, Bree,” Jax said. “Eve got married without telling her. She’s dying to help someone shop for a gown.”

“It’s true. I love an excuse to shop.” Ginny patted Sofia’s hand. “And I have some spoiling to catch up on with this one, don’t I?”

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