Page 54 of Pregnant By the Mafia Boss

“Good.”

Our coffees appear in front of us. “Decaf for you,” Jimmy says. “Better for the baby.”

I give him a pout, but he’s already walked away. I take a sip. “Worth coming back for,” I say.

“Have you heard the news about Dante?”

“No, what? Don’t tell me he’s stopped the wisecracking and grown up?”

“Becoming temporary bodyguard to Kathy’s niece.”

“Kathy? As in head of the commission?”

A voice in the booth behind me speaks up. “Not anymore.”

I spin around and find myself looking at Kathy.

She’s got a half-finished plate of fries in front of her. She is acting for all the world as though she comes here every day. Given the mystery around her, maybe she does.

“You quit?” I ask, motioning for her to join us. “How come?”

“Couple of reasons. One, I’m not getting any younger, and running the commission is stressful.”

“What’s the other reason?” Zoey asks.

“I’ve taken over as head of the high council.”

“Seriously?”

“Got you to thank,” she says, pointing a finger at me. “I’d have had to fight you if you’d taken the job, and I’m not a fan of fighting pregnant women.

“They have that momma bear instinct. You’d have shredded me.”

She smiles. “Wanted to come and thank you before I leave for Rome.”

“You’ll be back, won’t you?”

She’s been a regular at our house since we returned, but she kept this plan very close to her chest. I feel a pang at the thought of her going to Rome for good.

“You’ve been like a mother to me,” I say, feeling tears forming in the corner of my eye. “I’ll miss you.”

“And I’ll miss both of you but don’t worry. I’ll be back more often than you can handle. I intend to keep a close eye on things here.

“Bella will watch things there while I’m here. The Valentinos have had three bosses in the space of a year. Such things are bad for discipline. Need to keep an eye on those boys.”

Zoey chuckles. “I wouldn’t call them boys to their faces.”

“They’re all my boys, just as you two are my little girls.” She picks up a fry and pops it in her mouth. “Now, I better make a move. Got to say goodbye to Grace before I go.”

She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You did everything right,” she says. “You turned Salvatore back into a human being. I wasn’t even sure if that was possible.”

Once she’s gone, I sink back into my seat, finding the food has appeared.

“I’m not sure I’m hungry anymore,” I say. “I’m going to miss her.”

“Eating for two,” Zoey replies. “Dig in.”

The door to the diner opens, and Salvatore appears. “Has she gone?” he asks. “I got here as quickly as I could.”

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