Page 98 of The Godfather’s Christmas Twins

“Let me talk to him. This is about me and him,” I say to her.

She shakes her head. "No. We face this together."

“We need to talk privately, Max.” Nic nods to his car parked outside her place.

I’m not gonna lie. I have a feeling that if I go, I’m a dead man. I’ll become one of the many missing people at the hands of the Nardones.

“No. Don’t go.” Gia grabs my arm, and I get the sense that she’s afraid of what Nic will do to me as well.

"Gia—" Nic starts, but she cuts him off.

"I won't let you hurt him." Her voice trembles. "Not after everything."

Pain flashes across Nic's features. "You really think I'd…" He shakes his head. "My own sister thinks I'm capable of murder over this?"

"You killed our father," she reminds him softly.

“Jesus fuck, Gia, he was a sadist. He sold you to Aldo, he was trying to kill me…” He’s so shocked at her allegation that he can’t find the words to finish.

I place my hand on Gia's shoulder, drawing her attention. "Hey, it's okay. I can handle this."

She turns to me, green eyes blazing. "Max—no, please don’t.”

"My conscience is clear. Whatever happens, I’m good. If something happens to me, I'll know I finally did right by you and our children."

"Don't you dare." She grabs my shirt, her knuckles white. "Don't talk like that. I just got you back. The kids just learned you're their father. You don't get to be noble about this."

“Fucking hell, not you too.” Nic rolls his eyes.

“You did say you wanted to kill me,” I remind him.

“If you want to talk, you talk here,” Gia says with authority.

“Fine,” Nic says through gritted teeth.

Gia leads the way into the house.

“Let me talk to him alone,” I say to Gia. “I owe him this.”

She narrows her brows at me. “Don’t let him kill you.”

“I don’t think he’ll try.” I want to kiss her, but I don’t want to upset Nic more.

“I’ll be in the kitchen cleaning up the breakfast dishes.”

Nic is waiting in the living area when I finish talking to Gia.

My brain is scrambling to find the words that will make him understand my feelings for Gia.

Before I can speak, he says, "I've had time to think.”

“And what conclusion have you drawn?” I ask cautiously.

“Well, I’m not going to kill you.”

“Thank you.”

“Bella thinks I’ve overreacted, but fucking hell, Max, you’re her godfather. What the hell were you thinking?”