Page 132 of Mafia King's Secret Baby

I examine the rest of the tattoos sprinkled across his chest. Tattoos are just part of life in my family. Everyone has them. I even have one, a crescent moon for Luna, on my spine.

Elio actually has fewer than I expected for a boss of his stature.

However, as my fingers roam his skin, I notice a pattern.

“They’re all covering scars,” I whisper.

“Yes.”

I look up at him. “Why? Those had to hurt even more than regular.”

“They did.”

“Why, then?”

He sighs and tucks me close to him under the light throw blanket on the couch. “Because, carissima, just because the scars come with the job, doesn’t mean I want to bear them forever.”

In that moment, my heart crumples. I snuggle close, and press another kiss to one on his chest.

Elio holds me under the blanket.

We’re tucked together, almost dozing, when his phone rings.

“Don’t grab it,” I murmur.

I want to stay here forever. Here, where it’s just Elio and me. Here, where everything seems simple and easy. Where we can pretend that we’re just a regular family, two parents who made love after their kid went to bed.

Made love.

Did Elio and I do that? Maybe. I brush the thought aside, but another one pops up in its place.

Amore mio.

The phone rings again. Elio sighs, then shuffles to grab it from the pocket of his pants. “Allo?” he snaps.

Rapid-fire Italian pours from the speaker.

I feel Elio stiffen, then watch as he leans forward. He doesn’t say anything, but after the person is done, he pulls the phone away from his ear.

The look he gives me is part fury, part pain.

And it makes my heart sink.

“Get Gia and Sal,” he orders.

“Why?”

“Nico found Dino.”

26

ELIO

Conductingan interview while I still smell of Caterina isn’t exactly ideal.

Especially when I am perfectly willing to torture the brother in front of me, and another one is beside me.

Gia and I decided that she would stay with Caterina, who is currently wringing her hands with worry outside of my makeshift interrogation room.