Page 113 of The Proposal

She places her hand over mine, lacing our fingers together. “Thank you.”

“I just want to be clear: I’m not happy that you’re coming along, so you need to promise me you won’t do anything reckless. You’ll follow my lead no matter what happens.”

“Okay.”

I lift our conjoined hands towards my face, placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles. “Promise me, Arabella. If I’m going to keep you and the baby safe, you need to listen to me.”

“I promise.”

I can only hope when push comes to shove, she means what she says.

Chapter 26

Arabella

Dante reaches for my hand, interlacing our fingers. I honestly feel like I’m about to throw up as we make our way up the front steps of a place I once called home.

“Relax,” he whispers. “We need to act casual if we have any chance of pulling this off.”

“Okay,” I reply, gripping his hand a little tighter. He’s quickly become my anchor, holding me steady amid the impending storm brewing around us.

We don’t have a solid plan, but Dante wants Papa to think we’re here to share the news about our baby in person.

The last thing I want to do is share that news with him, but Dante is worried that if he thinks there’s an ulterior motive—like stopping the wedding between Lucia and Giuseppe—we’ll be lucky to make it inside.

One of my father’s men is guarding the front door, and I’m shocked when Dante extends his free arm and shakes his hand. “It’s good to see you again, Roberto,” he says.

Roberto’s shocked expression more than likely matches my own. My father acknowledges his men only when he’s barking orders at them.

“It’s good to see you again too, Mr Mancini,” he replies ashe opens the front door and leads us down the long corridor towards Papa’s office. I have no interest in seeing this man, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my little sister.

We all pause when we reach our destination, while Roberto knocks on his door. “Cosa vuoi(What do you want)?” Papa barks from the other side.

I can see nothing has changed in my absence. He’s still as rude as ever. Poor Roberto doesn’t even react to the way he’s spoken to. He’s probably used to it after all these years.

“Hai dei visitatori(You have visitors),” Roberto replies.

My father doesn’t respond, but the office door abruptly swings open seconds later. Papa’s brows shoot up in surprise when he sees us standing there, but his expression hardens as he speaks, his eyes narrowing accusingly. “Dante … Arabella, what are you doing here?”

Dante’s hand gives mine a brief, reassuring squeeze. “We have news,” he replies.

“What news?” he asks, his cold gaze momentarily shifting to Roberto. With a sharp flick of his hand, he dismisses him. “Leave us.”

I’ve always known Papa to be a despicable man, but after living with Dante and witnessing the kindness he shows to his men and those around him, it’s only now that I truly understand the depths of my father’s cruelty.

Dante clears his throat, clearly unimpressed as well, before answering. “Your daughter and I are expecting.”

His gaze drops to my stomach, then snaps to my face. “You’re with child?”

“Yes, Papa.” The intensity of his look as he sizes me up is overwhelming. Once upon a time, I would’ve felt the instinct to shrink back, but with Dante by my side, I have a strength I’ve never known before. “We only found out a few days ago and wanted to come here and share the good news with you in person.”

His gaze shifts from me to Dante, and then he doessomething completely unexpected … something I haven’t seen in a very long time. He smiles. Not the usual cold, calculating grin, but a genuine, bright smile that lights up his entire face.

Dare I say he looks handsome when he smiles like that? I can easily understand why my mother would’ve fallen for him all those years ago. It’s a shame it’s all just surface-level because what lies beneath is truly despicable.

He reaches out to clasp my husband’s free hand. “I knew I made the right decision in choosing you. You come from good stock; your parents produced only boys. I can only hope my daughter doesn’t take after that useless mother of hers, and I’ll finally get my male heir.”

His words cut me to the bone as my teeth painfully dig into my bottom lip in an attempt to bite back a snarky response. Mamma deserved so much better than this man.

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