Page 148 of The Don's Secret Heir

“Of course I’ll help you.” He stands and heads into the kitchen. I follow.

It’s a lot of work, making the ziti from scratch. Giovanni honestly does most of the work, but I help.

Dario keeps peeping his head into the kitchen and I push him out.

“Out!”

“What’s so secretive in here?”

“We’re running away together,” Giovanni drawls.

Dario growls but there’s no bite to it. He knows how loyal Giovanni is.

“Real fucking funny, Giovanni.”

“I’m a laugh riot,” Giovanni calls back and I burst out laughing.

“Don’t laugh at his jokes, you’ll only encourage him,” Dario says flatly, and I giggle more.

“Just... go to your office. I’ll text you when dinner is ready.”

“I’m starving,” he says with a pout. He’s socutewhen he wants to be, my big intimidating mobster.

I push at his chest and he goes, still sulking.

When the ziti is done, Giovanni puts it on the table for me.

“Thank you so much,” I say, exhausted. How does Sofia do this all the time?

He cracks a smile and leaves.

I text Dario and he comes down to dinner. Sonny’s spending the night at a friend’s house, so I don’t have to worry about telling him yet.

He’ll be thrilled to have a baby brother or sister.

Dario sniffs the air. “Is that... my mother’s ziti?”

I smile. “Surprise!”

His eyes well with tears. “How did you do this? You can’t even boil water.”

I pout. “I can make pancakes. Giovanni taught me. Well... he did most of it. I helped.”

He smiles. “I’m sure you were very helpful, baby. But what’s all this about? You never have to cook for me.”

“I wanted to,” I mumble. “Besides, I have... something to tell you.”

His face goes a bit pale. “Don’t tell me you’re leaving.”

“What?”I rush to him, perching on his knee. “No, baby. I’m never leaving you again.”

He nuzzles against my neck. “You swear?”

“I swear,” I say firmly, threading my fingers through his hair. I reach into my back pocket and place an ultrasound picture in front of him on the table.

He looks down at it, his face blank and still pale.

“This is?—”