Page 7 of Surprise Twins for the Mafia Prince
Rosa grins. “Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome? Of course I remember. I also remember the walk of shame you did the next morning when you returned to our hotel.”
“He’s the only man I’ve slept with in the last six months.”
“Are you going to track him down and tell him?”
Hell no.
“I don’t know anything about him,” I lie. I might only know the guy’s name, but the Andrettis run Vegas. If I really wanted to find Dario, I could.
But I never will. I don’t want my baby anywhere near that violent family. I know from first-hand experience that they destroy lives, and my child isn’t going to be a part of it.
“I’ll do this on my own,” I say, glad that my voice sounds much more confident than I feel. “I’ll be a single parent. Lots of women do that.”
“You don’t have to though.” Rosa’s voice is soft, and I imagine this is how she talks to her patients at the hospital. There’s just the right amount of concern in her eyes, and she’s still touching my arm. “I mean...you have options, you know. If you don’t want to keep the baby...”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t want to do that. I can’t get rid of my baby.”
“If you’re sure...”
“I am,” I say firmly. Something clicks into place inside of me, a feeling of anticipation and determination that overshadows the anxiety I was just plagued with.
I realize that it’s not false confidence. I do want this baby enough to do it all on my own. The birth, the late-night feedings, the chasing around after a rambunctious toddler.
I’m going to be a mom. No matter how hard it is, I’m sure it’ll be worth it. I already know I’m going to love this kid more than anything. I’ll have someone to love and take care of, giving my life a deeper meaning.
“I want the baby,” I say, smiling as I try to imagine holding my child in my arms. I picture little chubby cheeks and grasping fingers. “I’m not going to lie, I’m a little freaked out about how I’m going to handle it all, but I’m also excited.”
Rosa’s smile lights up her whole face. “You should be excited, and don’t worry about the rest. I’ll be here for you, and so will Trey.”
I nod, knowing that Rosa’s husband is a good man who won’t object to her volunteering him to help me. My circle may be small, with no family and a couple of close friends, but I know that I’m lucky. I’ll have support when the baby is born.
I certainly don’t need the baby’s father around.
“How about you come over for dinner with us tomorrow night? I’ll make Chicken Alfredo. I know it’s your favorite.”
I smile. She knows me so well. “How can I pass up an offer like that?”
Rosa leaves after that, giving me a lingering hug at the door. Exhaustion washes over me, and I return to the kitchen, slumping on a stool as I sip ice water.
I place my hand on my stomach again. It’s surreal, imagining a baby inside of me. I know it’s no more than a little clump of cells right now, but that’ll change so fast. My whole life is going to change.
The sound of dripping water draws my attention to the leaky ceiling again. If I’m going to have a baby, I need to make some changes in my life, starting with getting the damn roof fixed.
I’ve just picked up my phone to call my landlord again when there’s a loud cracking sound. My eyes flick up to the ceiling,and I groan as I see a part of the plaster fall away. It’s only a small piece, but that’s enough to turn the slow drip into a steady stream of water.
Shit.
4
DARIO
I stareat the small house from my car parked across the street, waiting. There’s no car in the driveway. There could be one in the attached garage, but the house is completely dark, not even a flicker of life behind those curtains.
Paige probably isn’t home.
It’s too early in the evening for her to be asleep already, just after eight. Still, I sit in place for a half hour before I do anything. It’s taken me six weeks to find her, so what’s thirty more minutes?
But patience has never been my strong suit, and my blood feels like it’s burning through my veins when I finally get out of the car and make my way across the street to the brick house with the bright blue shutters and rose bushes out front.
