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“You shouldn’t have,” Lorenzo answered her, his tone hard and his narrowed eyes now focused on her.
I couldn’t stop myself, I couldn’t halt the anger bubbling over, the rage flying through me at the speed of a Ferrari on a racetrack. I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around his waist and taking him down. He hadn’t expected it—hadn’t known I could drop him. He had no idea the life I’d led in secret growing up. All he knew was what our father had taught us, but he was about to realize I was much more than the person he thought he knew.
“What the—”
“Dante!” Ma shouted.
“Don’t fuckin’ talk to her like that!” I roared, lifting my arm to take a swing at him. My fist connected with the side of his face. I’d just punched my big brother—the boss—but no one moved to stop me, not that they could anyway.
The mist was starting to descend, and once it took over completely, I wasn’t sure what I’d be capable of.
“Don’t,” I heard from behind me. Navy’s voice was the smallest out of everyone’s, but it was the only one that pushed through the rage. “Don’t do it, Dante.”
I ground my teeth together, staring down at Lorenzo, whose eyes were wide, a smattering of shock echoed on his face. He hadn’t hit me back; he hadn’t done anything but stay on the ground. “What the fuck?” he asked, his voice low.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” I repeated, slowly lowering my raised fist and pushing up off of him. He wasn’t blocking the door anymore, so as I stood, I looked back at Navy, seeing the nervousness on her face. “Come with me,” I told her, holding out my hand.
She looked down at it, then back at my eyes. I’d shown her a side of me that she had no idea about, but then…she didn’t really know me at all.
That would change now though. She’d come to me, putting her cards out on the table without even realizing it. The moment she stepped forward and took my hand, everything would change—we would change. She had no idea just how much, but what I hoped she did know was that I would protect her and our baby until my last dying breath.
CHAPTER 6
NAVY
Everything was happening too fast. It was chaotic and destructive, the last thing I wanted to be around. Yet, with my hand placed firmly inside of Dante’s as he walked me over the threshold of the mansion, I’d never felt so safe.
My gaze pinged off the wide entryway and the huge stairs in front of us, but it was the men standing around with varying degrees of annoyance on their faces that had me shrinking back, trying to hide myself. It was impossible though with my stomach the size that it was. None of them had noticed that yet, though, because all of their focuses were firmly on Dante as he closed the door behind us, shutting us away from the rest of the world.
“As I was saying,” Dante started, rubbing his thumb over the top of my hand. I wasn’t sure if he was aware that he was doing it but it made me feel…I wasn’t sure what it made me feel, but I liked it. “This is Navy.”
“And who’s Navy?” the woman who had appeared before Dante flung himself at the man in the doorway asked.
“Navy is…” He turned his head to look at me, searching my gaze for something but I wasn’t sure what. Was he asking me who I was to him? I had no idea, and I was sure he didn’t either. “She’s mine.”
Mine.
His.
I’d never been the kind of girl who liked it when men said that to women. I never understood the appeal of it, but as he stared into my eyes, refusing to look away, I finally understood it, even if I didn’t fully believe it. We’d slept together once eight months ago and I’d only seen him twice since then.
We didn’t know each other. But we had created a baby together. It was half his. So maybe I was his, at least, for now. I had no idea what the future was going to bring, but all I was focused on was the here and now, and the reason I’d come here.
I’d be his if it meant protecting my—our—baby. Everything I was doing was for the life growing inside of me.
My hand moved to my stomach, rubbing the side of it that had hit the mattress. I was a little sore, nothing too bad, but enough where I felt a twinge now and again.
“Oh my!” The woman slapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes widening so much I thought they’d pop out of the sockets. “Dante,” she admonished, moving her hand and darting forward. “Is this…” She stopped in front of me. “Is this my first grandbaby?”
The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop.This was his mother.I couldn’t help but wonder if my mom would have looked like she did then: full of happiness and excitement.
“Yeah, Ma,” Dante answered, affection laced in his tone. “That’s what I wastryingto say, but your son wouldn’t let us past him.”
His ma tutted, shaking her head, then looked at me. “And your face?” His ma tilted her head to the side, her gaze filled with understanding. I wasn’t sure I liked that echoing back at me. “Looks like you came to the right place.” She turned to look at the men standing around, staring at us like they were watching the most confusing movie of all time. “Romeo, get me supplies.”
“On it, Aunt Rosa,” the man nearest the front door said. He turned, disappearing through a door on the right.
“Christian, tell Aida to get some clean clothes—” She paused, looking down at my stomach. “On second thought, Dante, go get her some clothes.”
