Page 24 of Surprise Twins for the Mafia Prince
We watch a couple of episodes together, chatting about nothing significant, and Alessio is nice enough. His laugh is loud and makes him seem a little more human to me. For so long, I’ve thought of the Andrettis and anyone associated with them as nothing more than heartless monsters.
Now, after getting to know Dario a little and interacting with Alessio today, I’m reminded they are all people with layers and complex emotions and motivations. It’s an uncomfortable truthfor me. I’d rather keep thinking of things in black and white terms. It feels safer that way.
At the end of the second episode we watch together, the sound of my stomach growling breaks into our conversation about our favorite TV shows in the past few years. Alessio frowns.
“You haven’t eaten anything,” he says, as if he just realized that I skipped breakfast.
“No, I haven’t. I was distracted by a stranger in the apartment.”
“Hey, don’t blame me. I don’t need Dario kicking my ass.”
I stand from the couch and roll my eyes. “I doubt he’ll care.”
“You could be carrying his baby. He’ll want you looked after until he knows if the kid is his.”
I was heading to the kitchen, but I turn back to glare at him. “Itishis baby.”
Alessio shrugs. “I guess we’ll see.”
I cross my arms and glare, grinding my teeth together. I was starting to like this guy, but he’s changing that feeling quickly.
“Why would I lie about something like that?”
Alessio gestures to the apartment around us. “Dario has a lot of money. It wouldn’t be the first time a woman tried to saddle a rich man with a kid to get their hands on his money.”
I scoff, disgusted. “Please. I don’t care how much money he has. He’s a dangerous criminal, someone I can never trust. I wish someone else was the father of my child.”
For the first time since I walked downstairs, Alessio looks dangerous. His eyes narrow and his mouth turns downward. Something dark passes through his expression, and I take a step back.
“I’ll keep what you said to myself this once, but I’d advise you not to talk shit about Dario again. Men have died for less than that. He’s the next Don of our organization.”
My jaw drops in shock. I’d suspected that his father is Lorenzo Andretti, but I never thought much about what that meant. He’s going to be the head of the mafia one day. What does that mean for my child?
I turn away from Alessio again, continuing to the kitchen secure in the knowledge that Dario doesn’t want me hurt. I’m not sure what the hierarchy is within their organization, but I know the Andrettis run things. If Dario gave orders that I’m not to be harmed while I’m carrying his child, I have to believe I’m untouchable, even if I piss off the man guarding me.
It’s interesting to me that he’s protective enough of Dario to get angry on his behalf. I’d assumed that the people on the Andrettis’ payroll are nothing but employees and fellow criminals that are in it for the dirty money and corrupt power, but it seems that Alessio and Dario have a personal connection.
I’m pondering the way the mafia is run as I open the refrigerator and look inside. There’s not much of anything. Beer, bottled water, and half of a leftover sub sandwich. I let out a disappointed sigh and Alessio’s voice comes from directly behind me.
“Dario eats out a lot or orders take out.”
I open the cabinet next to the refrigerator to find very little inside there as well, but I learn that Dario is a fan of junk food. Doritos, buttery popcorn, and even a box of Twinkies.
I donotfeel a twinge of warm fondness for Dario at the sight of the yellow spongy treat. Not at all.
I close the cabinet with a sharp snap and whirl around to face Alessio. “I guess you’re going to have to take me out to lunch, then.”
I expect him to refuse, which would leave me to stuff my face with Twinkies, but he gives me a curt nod and pulls out his phone.
“I’ll tell the boss,” he mumbles, and I have to wonder how long Dario will be so overbearing. Will he come to trust me over time or will he monitor me for the entire length of my pregnancy?
It doesn’t feel like it’s coming from a place of concern. It’s about control.
It doesn’t help that Dario and Alessio suspect me of lying because of Dario’s wealth, but I don’t care. I know the truth, and Dario will eventually have proof.
Putting on a pair of heeled sandals, I meet Alessio at the front door. As we leave the apartment, he’s tense in a way he wasn’t earlier.
Even in the elevator, he crowds too close to me when an older couple enters the elevator. I look at him in confusion. When we reach the lobby, he steps out of the elevator in front of me, his head scanning the place before he steps aside for me.
