Page 56 of The Don's Secret Heir

I take her hand as she steps out of the car and surprisingly, she doesn’t pull away.

Aunt Liza is the first to come up with me, two glasses of champagne in her hand.

She hands one to Liana.

“Liana Rossi, you’re a sight for sore eyes!”

I inwardly groan. I suddenly remember getting drunk at one of these parties and telling Aunt Liza all about Liana. I should have never have brought her here.

Liana smiles. “I haven’t seen you since Uncle Vincenzo’s last party.”

She chuckles. “Oh honey, when champagne is involved, I barely remember. How have you been? And what are you doing with this tall drink of water?”

“We’re married,” I blurt out. Liana glares at me for only a split second before her face breaks out in a smile.

“Surprise!” she titters, and Aunt Liza blinks her faded brown eyes up at her.

“Married? How did I miss that?”

“It was a private affair,” Liana tries to explain.

“Just close friends and family,” I back her up.

“An elopement of sorts. Juicy.” Liza takes hold of Liana’s elbow. “Let’s get you some more champagne.”

Liana dutifully drinks the rest of the flute and smiles, letting Liza drag her away.

I watch them go, and it’s only a moment before Rocco walks up to me, offering me a scotch on the rocks.

I take it, sipping it slowly.

“So you’re definitely doing this, then?” Rocco asks, sounding slightly exasperated.

“Doing what?”

“Falling back in love with Liana Rossi.”

I scoff. “I’m not. This is just to keep Aunt Liza off my back about settling down.”

“You don’t even normally go to the Gallo parties. Technically, we’re enemies.”

I shrug. “That’s an old grudge my father had. Not me.”

Rocco nods. “I still don’t think this is a great idea. If it all goes south, you know who to find to drown your sorrows.”

“It’s not going to go south.”

He shrugs and walks away and I stare after him, frowning.

I’m not falling in love with Liana again. That’s not what this is. This is me using the benefits of being married. Tit for tat, and all that.

That’s it. Right?

I stick to one drink while Liana makes the rounds. She’s drinking scotch with my uncles an hour after Liza drags her away, and she’s making them all laugh. I can’t help but smile as I watch her. I want to catch her alone, out on the balcony, but she’s busy all night.

Soon enough, she’s taken over to the kid’s table and the next thing I know, I look up and she’s holding a newborn, nuzzling against his neck.

My heart clenches in my chest.