Page 26 of Pregnant By the Mafia Boss

“I was safe at home. I washappyat home.”

Salvatore appears behind him. “Come on, Dante, we’ve got work to do.”

“Work?” I call out. “On our wedding day. What a charmer you are.”

People are looking at us. Salvatore grits his teeth.

“I’ll catch you up, Dante.”

He turns to me. “I want a word with you.”

He grabs my hand, pulling me through the nearest door. As soon as it closes, I round on him.

“Couldn’t you at least pretend this is a proper marriage? That you love me? At least until I’m out of the wedding dress?”

Salvatore tenses a muscle in his jaw. He flexes the fingers of his right hand, and I realize he’s doing his best to hold something back. Exactly what, I’m not sure.

“Do not embarrass me like that in public again,” he says.

“Embarrassyou? My husband goes back to work while I’m still in my wedding gown, andI’mthe bad guy?”

“You’re wrong,” he snarls. “I’m the bad guy, so you better get used to the idea.” He points at me. “I already warned you,cara mia. Do you think I’m the kind of guy to back down?”

He closes the space between us, but I stand my ground. When he speaks again, his voice is low and menacing.

“Christian is attacking our businesses for revenge. There’s a rumor he’s going to get the commission to demand we hand you over. We are trying to work out the best way of keeping you alive without war breaking out.”

He places the tip of his finger under my chin and tilts my head back, forcing me to look at him. “I’m putting myself through hell to keepyousafe. So maybe get off my back and give me a break, all right?”

He doesn’t sound angry anymore. He sounds tired. I get a hint of what Zoey was referring to—the darkness is still in his eyes, but there’s something else there too.

He removes his finger from my chin, dropping his hand to his side.

I take it in mine, weaving our fingers together.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I don’t want to appear ungrateful.”

“You have our family’s protection, but you can’t whine like a child all the time.”

“I’m not whining.”

He smirks. “You’re literally doing it right now.”

I scowl. “You’re no better. Acting all aloof and not telling me anything. For all I knew, you guys were planning the next consignment of cocaine or something.”

“You think we sell drugs?”

“You’re in the mafia. Of course you do.”

“What do you think the mafia is, Keira?”

“Criminals. Peddling drugs, running guns. I don’t know.”

“We protect people. We run businesses. Drugs arewaydown the list of our priorities. Since you suggested some other enterprises, we’ve moved a lot of money into legitimate operations.”

“Not all of it?”

He rolls his eyes. “You are infuriating. Look, I’ve got work to do, and I need you to be all right on your own for a while.

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