Page 28 of The Mobster’s Present

“I think she’ll love it.”

What I don’t say is that there’s no doubt in my mind now that I’ve fallen for him. Completely. Irreversibly.

Now he just has to keep his promise and keep showing up. Somehow, I don’t doubt that he will.

CHAPTER 10

SALVATORE

Oriana insisted that tonight, when I read her a story, that I had to lay in her bed so she could snuggle against me properly. The way she pouted while telling me, very seriously, about the only way story time was going to go down, was dangerous. This little girl already has me wrapped around her finger.

She knows it too.

Even though she’s only three, she knows how to work someone over and I am her new favorite patsy.

I don’t mind in the least. My daughter can use me and trick me all she wants.

Feeling a love like this wasn’t something I anticipated, ever.

After I witnessed Angelo’s fall when he met Dove, I was jealous. I never said it out loud, and I wouldn’t, but I know the feelings I was harboring in the dark. Watching how he changed around her was both baffling and strangely inspiring.

I had never seen the man show a soft side, but when it comes to Dove, all of his hard edges smoothed out.

When Carlotta comes in to check on us, she gives me a soft smile. I barely look at her beyond acknowledging her presence. My entire focus is on Oriana and the way she’s curled up against my chest.

She’s shocked me with how open and accepting she is of me. I’ve met so many men in my life who feared me before even knowing why they should.

This little girl is different. She didn’t meet me and see the lives I’ve taken or the power I can wield with one phone call.

Oriana looked at me and saw someone she could rely on.

I never want to let her down. Not in this life, or the next.

Ashleigh is the same way. There have been moments over the last few days when she’s pushed back and tried to fight me. But I don’t waver in those moments.

Everything I’ve done and all the plans I’ve put in place are for her. For her and our family.

It feels like our time is winding down in LA and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. There is a part of me that is on edge the longer I’m here because this isn’t Amato territory. Moretti has been more than welcoming, I just don’t like being somewhere I don’t control the security protocols.

The other side of me doesn’t want to pop this bubble. When we get back to Seattle I’m going to have to share my girls.

With Dove.

With Oaklynn and her guys.

Even with Angelo considering Oriana is his niece.

I look over and watch my woman as she talks with Carlotta, their heads bent toward each other and a pad of paper between them. She looks better today than she did when I first saw her at Second Circle.

She’s not making herself smaller, her shoulders curled in on themselves, anymore. There is color in her cheeks which makes me wonder what she’s thinking about. If it’s naughty, I want to know about it.

Ashleigh’s smiles are genuine now, no longer brittle with worry about how she’s going to handle the next crisis on the horizon.

I’m aware that she doesn’t trust me entirely and is waiting for me to change or to turn my back on her. She’ll figure out that it’s never going to happen. It’ll just take a little time.

Thankfully, I have plenty to spare when it comes to her.

I gently slip Oriana off my chest making sure to keep my movements slow, steady, and without hesitation. She stirs, but she doesn’t wake up.