Page 172 of Mafia King's Secret Baby

“Hello,” she said around a mouthful of French toast.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m better. Do you remember how in the hospital they gave me ice cream?”

I chuckle. “Yes, they did do that.”

“That was fun. Can we go again?”

“Not anytime soon. Luna,” I say, shifting slightly in my chair. “I have something I’d like to talk to you about.”

She blinks up at me, powdered sugar falling across her pajamas.

I take a deep breath. I feel Caterina’s hand on my shoulder, supporting me.

I look at the child who is so like me, in both looks and temperament.

And I think about the type of father that I would like to be.

“Luna,” I say quietly. “I’m not just your mommy’s friend.”

She frowns. “You’re not Mommy’s friend?”

“I am. I am her friend. I am also her husband.”

“What’s a husband?”

I look hopelessly at Caterina, who is stifling a giggle.

“It’s someone who loves your mother very, very much.”

“I love Mommy,” she says, nodding as if this makes the most sense anything has ever made.

“She’s easy to love,” I say with a smile.

Luna hums in agreement.

“I’m also something special to you. Someone who loves you, no matter what.”

Luna tilts her head. “Like what?”

This is it.

I can’t put this off any longer.

“Luna. I am not just your mommy’s friend and her husband. I am your father.”

“What’s a father?”

I sigh. “I’m your dad, Luna.”

Her little eyebrows furrow. Then they go wide. “Do you drive a truck?”

I look at Caterina, who shrugs. “Why?”

“At school, Tommy Mancini says that dads drive trucks.”

“I can drive a truck, I venture.”