Page 65 of Mafia Billionaire's Surprise Baby

I know exactly how she feels.

Marco is… Marco. He’s my oldest brother, and he’s always looked out for me. I have nothing bad to say about him, exactly.

Except that he’s a terrible choice to lead our family in this world.

Marco is hot-headed. He’s got a temper on him that will set fire to the world if he’s not keeping it under control.

But more than that, he’s so devoted to us that he can’t see straight.

He’d lead the family straight into the Atlantic and sink us, if he thought it would keep all of us happy.

It makes him terrible as a leader of this family.

More than once, I’ve wished that I had Marco’s place. I’ve even considered asking him for it, to tell him to step down.

Now, it’s kind of a moot point.

Marco is missing.

Elio has taken over all of the dock industry, as well as all of the other stuff as well.

We’ve effectively been absorbed into Rossi Industries.

Ironic, I guess. Marco fought so hard to keep the De Luca family name alive and well in the world of organized crime.

Now it’s basically gone.

I’m certain that it could be revived, but I don’t see the point.

“I know how you feel,” I whisper.

“Do you?”

I consider that. I don’t know how it feels to be her, specifically.

But I know how it feels to be consistently overlooked.

“No, Gia. But I do know that you’re right. You would be an excellent head of the family. You deserve it.”

She tucks herself against me. “We have to find Marco. If I do, then Elio might see that I’m better than he is.”

That makes me pause.

I have no doubt that Elio knows how effective Gia is. He’d be stupid not to, and he’s definitely not stupid.

But I also don’t think he’s willing to give up on the Rossi empire either.

“We’ll find him, Gia,” I whisper.

She tucks herself close again, and I pull her near.

I don’t think either of us sleep for a long time. But after Gia does, I listen to the beat of her heart.

I did hold her close like this after Belarus.

I don’t know why Gia let me. But I knew what I needed.

I couldn’t sleep without her in my arms. I couldn’t sleep without knowing that she was safe. Whole. And close.