Page 5 of The Obsession
I shake my head. “No.”
“No girlfriend, or future Mrs Rizzo in the picture?”
“Just me,” I grumble.
Mary jots something down, then looks up. “This isn’t going to be easy. Babies aren’t just cute and sleepy. It’s bottles at all hours of the morning, fevers, tears for reasons you don’t understand. And doing it alone?—”
“I know,” I cut in, sharper than I meant. I take a breath and lower my voice. “I understand what it’s going to take. I’m not here to prove I can be perfect. I’m here to make sure Lil’ Peach is loved and not alone. She’ll be safe and cared for with me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to see that happen.”
“You’re a single man with no experience when it comes to caring for a baby.”
As true as that statement is, it still gets my back up. “There are plenty of single dads out there managing just fine. I’m her family, and besides, I have a good job, I own my own house, have money in the bank, and I’ve never smoked, drunk alcohol, or taken drugs. She’s my blood, and I’m not walking away from that just because this isn’t the ideal setup on paper.”
The room falls quiet for a second with the kind of silence that stretches and makes you feel uncomfortable, but I’ll be fucked if I let them give that kid to someone else.
Mary’s eyes are on me, measuring and assessing, trying to decide whether this is desperation or devotion. To be honest, it’s a bit of both.
When she remains silent, I start talking again. If this is my last chance to plead my case, I’m going to get it all out there. “I may not have experience, Mary,” I continue, trying to keep my voice steady, “but I’m committed to this. I’m willing to learn everything I need to. I already am. I’ve been at that hospital every single day, asking questions, taking notes, watching the nurses like a hawk. I didn’t expect this, no one did, but that doesn’t mean I’m not up for it.” I pause, trying to keep the emotion from cracking through. “She’s not a problem to solve. She’s my responsibility now. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Mary watches me as her pen stills in her hand, and she gives me an unreadable expression before nodding once. “Alright. I’ll put it in my report. No promises, but you’ll be given a fighting chance.”
A chance is all I need. “Thank you.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
Mary leaves without another word, and for the first time in years, I let myself hope.
I pull up outside La Riviera, one of Dante Mancini’srestaurants, and switch off the ignition. I’m meeting with him and Romeo De Luca, the underboss of theFamiglia, to discuss joining the family more permanently.
I’m not opposed to becoming a full-time mobster; I have no issues dishing out punishment when it’s due. That part never really scared me. It’s not like I enjoy it, but I’ve made peace with the fact that sometimes you need to be the person others don’t want to cross. But I was supposed to be the one in the background, the guy who handled things when they needed handling. I never wanted the title, yet here I am.
Becoming Dante’s enforcer will give me more time with Lil’ Peach, and I already know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. I tell myself that, like it’s a fact, that doing this ugly job buys me more time with her, time I wouldn’t otherwise have. I’m more than willing to trade my peace of mind for days and nights walking the floor with that little girl in my arms.
I didn’t expect to bond with her this fast. Babies don’t care about reputations; they care about warmth and steady hands. The first time she curled her tiny fingers around mine, something in me unclenched. It was soft, and I don’t typically do soft, but it felt real. It was protective, immediate, and fierce, surprising me because I thought I knew my limits.
I exit the car, close the driver’s door, and after pressing the fob to lock it, I shove the key into the pocket of my dark jeans.
I’m feeling a touch apprehensive as I push through the glass front door and enter the restaurant. It has nothing to do with whom I’m about to meet, but rather why. I can only hope I’m making the right decision, for Peach’s sake and mine.
I stop just inside the doorway as my eyes scan the room,looking for my soon-to-be leader, Dante, and his trusty sidekick, Romeo, but I don’t see either of them.
Glancing down at my watch with a frown, I see it’s just before midday, which is when they asked me to be here. I hate when people aren’t where they say they’ll be. I’m not stupid enough to insult the Don, though, but it still pisses me off.
“Hi, my name is Emily,” a small voice says, pulling my attention from my wrist to the woman standing in front of me. “Table for one?”
Her beauty hits me before her words can even land. Long blonde hair, cute upturned nose, soft porcelain skin, and those wide, clear blue eyes locked on mine, which are innocent and almost disarming. They cut through the noise and hit me like a punch to the gut.
I find myself sucking in a sharp breath before I can stop myself. My reaction to her only pisses me off further. “No,” I growl. “I’m supposed to be meeting someone here.”
It’s rare for me to react to a woman this way, especially on first glance. I’ve just come from spending the morning with my niece at the hospital, and I’m beginning to wonder if this kid is making me soft already.
I’ve bedded plenty of beauties over the years. The ones who can put aside mydon’t fuck with mevibe—and what could best be described as mygrowlypersona—because they’re looking for a taste of the dark side.
I don’t do relationships because, to be frank, my trust in mankind as a whole has diminished considerably over the years. I certainly give the ones desperate for a ride on my cock a good show, though, because I fuck as fiercely as I fight. Hard, fast, and dirty. I’m not a good man, but I never claimed to be.
“Ah, okay,” she says easily, not missing a beat. I’m used to people shying away from my attitude, but not this one. If anything, that damn smile of hers gets even brighter. “Letme check, do you know what name the reservation’s under?”
I scratch the back of my head. “I’m not sure we have one. I’m here to meet the boss, Dante Mancini.”
