Page 10 of Pregnant By the Mafia Boss

“Temporarily. Now shut the yakking and get some rest. You’re the one who wanted to stop.”

“So we could both sleep. You were practically nodding off at the wheel.”

“I was not.”

“Now who’s the liar?”

He says nothing more, but I feel the tension coming off him, and decide to quit before this turns into a row.

I close my eyes to rest them, certain I’ll be awake all night.

The next thing I know, I’m jolting upright in bed, screaming at the top of my voice as a pair of hands take hold of me in the dark.

4

Salvatore

Ihad no idea I’d fallen asleep—it wouldn’t normally happen.

I blame the days of torture followed by a restless flight back to the States.

I’ve no idea when I last slept.

I must be losing my edge.

Keira’s screams stir me, and I leap to my feet, groping for my gun in the dark.

In the time it takes me to turn around, I work out she’s having a nightmare.

I drop my gun, running over to quieten her before the other guests think about calling the cops.

“You’re all right,” I whisper in her ear, wrapping my arms around her, rocking her slowly. “Shush now. Shush. You’re all right. Nothing can hurt you.”

She opens her eyes, fixing them on me. In the darkness, I can only see the outline of her beautiful face, but the urge to fight her demons for her is overwhelming.

I thought my time away from Keira had dampened my growing obsession with her, but I was wrong.

From the moment I set eyes on her again, I knew I was in trouble.

I should never have touched her in the first place. How could I have believed once would be enough?

I’m not safe to be around women for any length of time. I’m not safe to be around anyone for any length of time.

I’m a violent man who can’t be trusted to control his temper. Not to mention the dangers that follow me.

Anyone in my orbit will get hurt, one way or another.

I won’t risk that with her. She’s so beautiful, so perfect. I can’t risk her safety.

But I want her. Fuck it—for some reason, I want a wholelifewith her, but it’s a bad idea. I can see that now.

She’s so delicate, like gossamer in the morning dew. One wrong touch from me, and she’ll break in two.

“What’s happening?” she asks in a trembling voice.

“You had a nightmare,cara mia. You’re all right now. You’re safe.”

“Cara mia,” she replies, talking in a whisper. “You called me that during Zoey’s wedding.”

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