Page 17 of Surprise Twins for the Mafia Prince
PAIGE
I haveto admit to myself that I’m scared after hearing about the danger I could be in because of my pregnancy.
The reality of it hits me like a bucket of ice water. I didn’t think of the danger that came with being related to the Andrettis, and Dario is right about one thing. My child will be a part of the family, whether I like it or not. You can’t change who your parents are or the blood that runs through your veins.
A small voice in my head tells me that it doesn’t matter. No one could know that I’m carrying his baby, but I can’t be completely sure about that.
As a kid, I saw enough of the violent criminals that my dad worked for to know that they can be completely ruthless. If an enemy saw me leave the club with him that night, they could put the pieces together when my stomach starts to grow and I’m obviously pregnant.
It might be unlikely that anyone would figure it out and even less likely that they’d hurt me based on a hunch like that, but itseems reckless to take the risk. I can’t stay in Phoenix with that possibility hanging over my head.
I have no protection here, no one to look out for me. Rosa tries, but she has a full-time job and husband. She wouldn’t be able to help me if I was attacked anyway. She’d probably get hurt, which is why I didn’t call her and ask to stay until I could secure a new place to live.
Dario was right about that too. I wouldn’t want to put her in danger in any way. I hate that he made so many good points because now I’m sitting on a private plane, bound for Las Vegas, the place I swore I would never return to just six weeks ago.
I promised myself I wouldn’t do anything spontaneous anymore. No more stepping outside my comfort zone. I thought I’d learned my lesson when I woke up next to my enemy that morning. But here I am, actually going back to Vegas with this man.
I like to live a careful and low-key life, and a huge part of me says that this isnotthe way to do that. I might as well go skydiving or bull fighting. Going with Dario would be dangerous.
ButI don’t feel like I have a choice if I want to be safe, want my child to be safe. I refuse to think that it’s permanent, even though I’m carrying the newest member of the Andretti family.
I’ll come up with a plan, some way to keep my child out of harm’s way without spending the next eighteen years around those people.
It’s hard to believe that a few short hours ago, I considered myself to be one of their enemies, and now I have no choice but to put some trust in Dario.
“You’ll be staying in my home,” he says, pulling me from my turbulent thoughts. I’ve been staring out the plane window for the past twenty minutes, even though there’s nothing to see but darkness. I’ve been thinking about how I got here and what the future holds.
“I assume I’ll have my own room?”
“Of course. Considering how you feel about my family, I wouldn’t want to give you the opportunity to smother me in my sleep.”
I laugh, despite myself. “Don’t worry. If I kill you, I’ll think of something more creative than that.”
“Are you a violent person, Paige?” he asks with a half-smile that really shouldn’t make my stomach flutter.
I refuse to think about the way I’ve fantasized about this man over the last six weeks. Those thoughts will do me no good.
“Not really, but I think you might bring it out in me.”
Dario doesn’t have much to say after that, and I go back to pondering my situation. The next thing I know, I’m being shaken awake by a hand on my shoulder.
“Wake up, Spitfire. We’re here.”
I blink a couple of times until my eyes focus. My head is resting against the plane window, and there are bright lights outside. We’re at the airport.
Sitting up straight, I stretch my arms overhead and yawn. With all the stress, I didn’t expect to fall asleep, despite how late it is. But the seats on this plane are huge and comfortable, so different from what I’ve experienced on commercial flights.
It’s definitely a better way to fly, with a bonus that we have the plane to ourselves and a dozen seats, so I’m not stuck sitting beside Dario.
“Come on,” he says, jerking his head toward the front of the plane where the door is open. “They’re waiting for us to deplane.”
I stand up, not wanting to keep anyone waiting. The sudden movement just after waking up makes my head spin, and Dario grips my arms to steady me.
“Are you okay?” he asks. His face is impassive, so I can’t tell if he’s concerned or annoyed.
“Yeah, just tired. It turns out that being pregnant is exhausting.”
We leave the plane, Dario going down the steps in front of me with his head swinging from side to side as if looking for threats. I wouldn’t think that the airport is a likely place for that, but he’s focused and even walking with his hand inside his suit jacket, where I suspect his gun is.
