Page 106 of Knocked Up by My Dad's Mafia Boss

I blink down at her for only a moment before turning around, nearly stumbling before I catch my footing. I rush down the stairs and find Ricardo frowning at the bottom of the stairs.

“I heard screaming, what?—”

“Call Doc. Get him out here quick,” I rasp out. I clap a hand on his shoulder before moving past him, walking out the side door into the garage. I get in my car and stare out the windshield for a long time.

I enter the highway having no idea where I’m going. I just know I’m not welcome here.

Not anymore.

27

SAMANTHA

My father hurries up the stairs with Doc, who whistles when he sees Reese’s unmoving form. “What was this, a bear attack?”

“A bulldog,” I spit, glaring up at my father.

Doc’s eyes widen. “What the hell happened?”

“Dante happened,” I rasp out, my voice thick with tears. The only indication that Reese is alive is the breath whistling through his clearly broken nose.

Doc crouches next to him and I slowly lower Reese’s head off my lap onto the floor, standing up and backing away so he can work.

My father’s staring at me, shell-shocked. “Dante did this? Why?”

“I don’t know why! Because he’s fucking crazy. Call your fucking dog off, Papa, because he’s gotten off leash.”

“I didn’t order this, Sam, I would never?—”

“Well, he’s lost his fucking mind,” I mutter as Doc straightens up, his face pale and worried.

“He needs a hospital,” he says quietly. “I can take him, but the bill?—”

“I’ll take care of it. Put him under John Brown,” Papa says quickly.

I bite my lip. “I’ll go with you.”

“No, Sam, you shouldn’t be out and about?—”

“I’m going with him, Papa!” I nearly scream.

Ricardo walks up behind Doc. “I’ll go with them. Keep them all safe.”

“Good,” Doc says, all business. “I’ll need your help carrying him out to the car.”

I hurry out to Doc’s SUV, which is parked in front. The party guests gasp when they carry Reese out. “Party’s over, folks,” Papa says. I can hear his voice booming as I get into the backseat.

I put Reese’s head in my lap. I’m comforted by his breathing, thin as it is. Reese has always been protective, but never much of a fighter. Dante’s first punch probably knocked him out. He didn’t have to keep going. And for what, anyway? Because he was jealous? Territorial? It’s not like Dante ever made a plan for things to work between us. It’s not like he ever thought about going public.

He’s the one that talked me out of it. He’ll always choose Papa over me. I’ve accepted that.

Now he needs to.

We arrive at the hospital and they take Reese back on a stretcher immediately, doctors crowding around him. I wish I could get ahold of Sofia, but she’s gone ghost again.

She must be with Dmitri.

I chuckle bitterly. At least one of our trio should be happy.