Ruthless Mafia Daddy (Alpha Mafia Daddies)

Andre leads me into my bedroom. “I’m not due another scan for a few weeks.”

“I just wanted to make sure everything was alright, what with the stress over the last week.” He places a reassuring hand on my back. “You can never be too careful.”

“So overprotective.” I smile at the thought of him wanting to take care of both me and the baby.

“Yes, and it will likely only get worse.” He opens my bedroom door.

Dr. Waite is setting up a portable ultrasound machine by the bed, and he looks up when we enter.

“Ah, Lila, so lovely to see you again. How are you feeling?”

“I’m good, the nausea isn’t as bad, and I’m managing to eat more again.”

“That’s very good to hear.”

I notice the wary glance he gives to Andre, and that’s when I realize they must already know each other. How else would Andre have found out about the baby if he didn’t know who my doctor was? It’s not like he cornered Cassi about it, otherwise I would have heard from her.

I push the information aside, determined to confront Andre about it later. But first, I want to check my baby.

“Why don’t you get yourself ready, and we can get started.”

I slip into the ensuite bathroom and slide out of my panties before heading back out into the bedroom and climbing onto the bed.

Dr. Waite offers me a modesty cover which I place over my legs.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Andre moves to perch beside me, holding my hand as Dr. Waite preps the ultrasound scope.

“Are you excited to hear the heartbeat?” I glance up at him.

He seems tense, but he offers me a nod as he watches Dr. Waite work.

I squeeze his hand to try and ease his nerves, but Andre keeps his eyes locked on the portable monitor as the ultrasound probe is inserted.

I hiss at the coldness of the jelly, and Andre tightens his grip on my hands.

“Let’s see your baby, shall we?” Dr. Waite offers me a reassuring smile before he starts pressing buttons on the monitor.

I look away, wanting to watch Andre’s reaction to seeing the baby for the first time. As the heartbeat sounds through the monitor, his eyes soften in awe as he looks at the screen.

My heart swells at the happiness in his eyes. But there’s something else there too. Sadness? Worry?

Thinking about what Rosa told me, about Andre losing his parents and raising his two siblings, I know he worries.

This past week has shown me some of the realities of his life, and I know he wouldn’t want to do anything to put himself or his child in danger. But he did such a wonderful job with Rosa, and I’m sure he will be the most amazing father.

“That’s our baby.” I turn to look at the screen.

“It sure is,” Andre whispers, pressing a kiss to my hair.

After Dr. Waite leaves, Andre tells me he has some business to attend to with Marco.

I eat dinner down in the kitchen with Rosa, catching up on her day.

She’s finished for the summer with school, despite having to do the last few weeks of the semester online, and now she’s eagerly reading up on her sophomore reading list.

“You’ve got months until you go back,” I remind her, tucking into my cob salad.

Rosa scoffs. “It’s not like I’ve got anything else to do. I’m surprised I’m even allowed outside to play tennis!”

“Who do you play with?”

“Xander.”

I burst out laughing as I look over to the kitchen island where Xander is sitting eating his own dinner. He’s huge, over six feet and built like a brick shithouse, his thick arms covered in menacing tattoos.

“I let her win,” he says gruffly.

“How gentlemanly of you.” I chuckle.

“He’s getting better.” Rosa grins. “But I’ve still got so much time on my hands. My friends aren’t allowed to come over, so I Facetime them, but most of them are off at summer camps.” Her shoulders slump as she picks at her food, looking defeated.

“I’d be happy to play tennis with you tomorrow. And maybe we can have a picnic by the pool and download some of those romance books I was telling you about onto your phone.”

“Thanks, Lila.”

“Do you fancy watching a movie or something tonight? Andre is working, and I’ve got no plans, obviously.”

“I think I might have an early night if that’s ok.” Rosa doesn’t look at me. “I fancy a nice bubble bath and some Bridgerton.”

“You know, I might join you with that. In my own bathroom, obviously.” I laugh.

I also make a mental note to give Cassi a call. She’s been blowing up my phone over the past week, wondering where I am when I didn’t show up to meet her for coffee before work.

I’ve been as vague as I can, not wanting to catch myself in a web of lies that I can’t unravel, but she deserves to know I’m ok. I don’t want her to worry.

“See you for breakfast?” Rosa gets to her feet.

“Sounds good.”

I finish my dinner and head upstairs to run myself a bath. There’s an assortment of oils and salts lining the jacuzzi tub, and I add generous amounts of most of them to the water.

“This beats my crappy shower.”

I turn on the TV built into the wall and load Netflix. I strip out of my clothes and slide into the warm water, moaning as I inhale the lavender and vanilla scent of the oils.

Part of me hopes that Andre will be back soon to join me in the bath, but I never know with him. He still keeps so much of his life secret, which I know is for my own protection, but it only makes me worry more.

I turn on Friends to try and distract myself, long enough for my eyelids to start feeling heavy.

Reluctantly, I climb out of the bath and pull on a more modest pair of pajamas. It’s clear Andre is the one who stocked my wardrobe from the copious amounts of lace and silk, but seeing as he won’t be around to enjoy them tonight, I slip into the cotton check trousers and oversized T-shirt.

I’m asleep before my head even hits the pillow.

Ringing from my phone rouses me from sleep.

My eyes are blurry as I blindly search for my phone on the nightstand, not even looking to see who’s calling before I swipe the answer button.

“Hello?” I croak.

“Lila?”

I sit up at the hint of panic in Rosa’s voice. Her voice sounds muffled, and there’s music blaring in the background.

“Rosa?” I reach for the light. “Is everything ok?”

“Uh… N-no, not really.” Her voice cracks.

I’m throwing off the covers, tucking my phone between my cheek and shoulder as I hastily dash into the dressing room in search of clothes.

“What’s going on? Why do I get the impression you aren’t in your room?”

“Because I’m not.” Rosa’s voice is thick with tears.

I let out a long breath.

“Rosa, where are you?”

“I’m at Vision.”

“What? You’re fifteen! How the hell did you get in?”

“You can get in anywhere if you flash enough cash, Lila.”

“I can’t believe this.” I groan. “Are you alone?”

“I met up with Emilia, but she took off with some guy so I was going to head back home, but this guy’s been harassing me. I’ve already fought him off once, but he’s not getting the message. I’m hiding in the bathroom, but I know he’s waiting outside.”

I put my phone on speaker as Rosa talks, hastily pulling on a pair of leggings and a jumper as I try to think through what to do. “We should tell Andre.”

“No! Please Lila, you can’t tell Marco or Andre. They’ll kill me if they find out I snuck out.”

“How the hell did you get past Xander?” I press. “You know what, it doesn’t matter. What matters is getting you the hell out of there.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger, trying to think through a plan that doesn’t result in Andre wanting to kill us both for disobeying him.

“Lila, you have to help me.” Rosa’s voice breaks. “You’re the only person I can trust.”

I’m touched by the comment, and I’m glad that she can feel comfortable enough around me.

“You’re going to have to help me get out of the house, Rosa.”

“Oh, my god, thank you, Lila. I owe you one.”

“You owe me a million, but we’ll get to that later. Now, I’m assuming you climbed out the window?”

Rosa instructs me to head to her bedroom, so I do as she says.

I tread lightly across the carpet, praying that Xander is a deep sleeper. He’s been put in the room beside Rosa’s, but as I pass it, I freeze at the sight of the open door.