Page 136 of The Don's Secret Heir
Liana walks into the room, dressed simply in a pair of yoga shorts that stretch across her ass and a camisole. She looks good enough to eat, but I’m focused on Sonny.
She looks at me as if for permission, and I nod.
She crouches down to get eye-level with Sonny.
“Baby, I lied to you once.”
“Everyone tells lies,” he says matter-of-factly. “It’s important that you say sorry.”
Liana smiles, tears in her eyes. “That’s right, Sonny. And I am, very sorry. I lied to you when I said Dario wasn’t your dad.”
His eyes flick to mine and then back to her. “For real? He’s my dad?”
She nods slowly.
He looks up at me, his gray eyes flashing just like hers. “Then why weren’t you around when I was a baby?”
He crosses his arms over his chest and he looks so much like her it’s painful.
But as I look, I realize he looks like me, too—his lanky frame, his generous mouth and Roman nose.
“He didn’t know,” Liana says quickly. “I lied to him, too.”
He glances over at his mother, pouting, but then he hugs me around the legs again.
“I’m glad you’re my dad,” he says, so low I barely catch it, but I feel my chest swell with pride as I pick him up.
I don’t actually eat dinner. Instead, I snack on chicken nuggets and fries with Sonny, playing video games, playing with his trains.
He’s smart, my boy, smarter than me. He tells me about how a steam engine works and I just can’t stop staring at him, awed.
He falls asleep on my lap while we’re watching a cartoon, and I hold him for a long time, pressing my lips to the crown of his head.
Liana walks into the den, smiling. “I wanted to give you guys some time alone. He conked out?”
“Couple hours ago,” I admit. “I can’t seem to let him go.”
She smiles, sitting next to us and brushing his hair back from his face.
“He’s lovable, isn’t he?”
“He’s perfect,” I say in a hoarse whisper. “You did such a good job raising him, Li.”
She blushes. “I’m trying.”
“You’re succeeding.” I pause. “I’m still mad at you.”
“I know.”
“I could have helped you. I could have been there for you. For him.”
“I know.”
“I love you anyway,” I say, sighing. “Guess I always will.”
“I love you, Dario,” she says, putting her head on my shoulder.
We sit there for a long time until I start to doze off, and then Liana stands, tugging at my wrist.
