Page 23 of Surprise Twins for the Mafia Prince
“I’m not here to hurt you,” he says, holding up his hands in front of him, palms out.
His hands are big, and I can’t help wondering if he’s used them to hurt people. Has he killed anyone? Is he carrying a gun?
Panic makes my breathing pick up, and I clutch the railing of the staircase to ground myself.
“Where’s Dario?” I ask.
No matter how much I’ve thought of the man as my enemy, I know that seeing him right now would be comforting. I don’t think he’ll let harm come to me while I’m pregnant. I know thebaby is his, and even if he has doubts, he knows there’s a chance he’s the father.
“He had business to attend to.”
“That’s nice and cryptic.”
There goes my mouth again, spewing out the first thing that comes to mind to try to cover up my fear. It’s going to get me into trouble if I don’t learn to rein it in. I’ve heard these mafia guys have short tempers.
But Alessio’s grin widens. “Get used to it, sweetheart. The wives and girlfriends of mafia men aren’t privy to information about our business.”
My nose wrinkles in distaste. “I’m not a wife or a girlfriend.”
His eyes flicker to my stomach before he looks away, and I know that Dario told him about the baby.
“Regardless, I’m here to keep you safe,” he says.
He seems sincere, so he’s either telling the truth or he’s a great liar. I’m sure he’s skilled at deceit, but the more I think about it, I don’t see a reason that he’d bother lying to me. I’m at the disadvantage here.
My throat is tight as I think about my new state of being. I’ll always be at a disadvantage when it comes to Dario and the men he associates with. I’m so out of my depth that I’m practically drowning.
For now, I need to learn to tread water. It’s the only way to survive in this world until I can figure out what my future holds. I can’t stay here forever.
“Are you really here to keep me safe? Or are you here to make sure I don’t leave?” I ask, finally stepping off the bottom step and walking further into the living room. Alessio still has his hands held up in front of him, and I think he’s slouching on purpose, as if he’s trying to make himself less tall and intimidating.
That, more than anything, makes my fear fade away.
But he doesn’t answer my question, which tells me that I’m right. Dario had to leave, and he didn’t trust that I would stick around until he got back. To be fair, I’m not entirely sure that I would have either. I still don’t like that he’s sent someone to watch over me.
“Are you an Andretti?” I ask. I need to know if I’m dealing with one of those bastards.
“No.”
I feel the remaining tension drain out of my body. I’m not foolish enough to think that this is a harmless man just because he doesn’t carry that last name, but I feel better knowing that he’s not a part of the family. I can barely handle dealing with Dario, so adding another Andretti to the mix would be too much for me right now.
“So, what are we watching?” I ask, moving to a recliner and taking a seat. The black leather is cool against my skin, and it’s the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in. It figures that even something as simple as a chair would be luxurious in Dario’s apartment.
“Nothing,” Alessio says, grabbing the remote and pointing it at the TV as if he’s trying to turn off the show he’s watching before I realize what it is. He’s not fast enough. I see he’s watching a familiar sitcom.
“The Office?” I say, a smile pulling at my mouth. “I didn’t expect that from a man like you.”
Alessio raises an eyebrow as he lowers himself back onto the couch. “We just met.”
“Yeah, but I guess I figured someone in your line of work would be more interested in crime dramas or something like that.”
He smiles and those dimples appear again. They give him a boy-next-door look that I could see many women falling for. They’d be in for a rude awakening when they realize he’s not some harmless heartthrob.
“So, because of my profession I should only watchThe Sopranos?”
I can’t help laughing because that’s exactly the sort of thing I was thinking. Now that the surprise and fear have faded away, I feel more comfortable with this man.
He might be here to keep an eye on me, but that doesn’t mean things need to be tense or awkward. I have a feeling Dario will have me watched at all times for a while, and I don’t need the stress of being upset about it. It wouldn’t be good for the baby.
