Page 43 of Knocked Up by My Dad's Mafia Boss
Papa digs in like he’s starving. “Out with it,cara mia.”
“I’m getting older,” I say slowly.
He raises an eyebrow, smirking. “Oh? Is twenty-five over the hill these days?”
I chuckle nervously. “Nothing like that. I’ve just been thinking that maybe… maybe it’s time to settle down.”
“You? Settle down?” He leans back in his chair. “I can’t believe it.”
I groan. “I’m serious, Papa. What if I met someone?”
“Like a boyfriend?”
“Sure.”
His face goes blank. “Who is he?”
I huff out a breath. “Nobody! This is hypothetical. Like, if I were to meet someone and get serious with them, how would you feel?”
“You’re trying to tell me you don’t have someone in mind?”
“Let’s just say it’s someone you know. Someone you like.”
“I don’t like any of your friends,” he says, deadpan, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“Like I said, Papa. Hypothetical.”
He looks at me for a long moment, then his shoulders relax and he sighs. “It’s hard for me to say without knowing who it is, but if it was someone who was good to you… someone who protected you, who respected me…” he trails off.
Dante’s good to me.
He protects me.
He respects Papa.
Check. “So you wouldn’t be angry or overprotective?”
“Not angry.”
I pout. “But overprotective?”
“Maybe a little.” He lets out a breath. “There has to be a reason that you’re asking me this when my blood is half tequila. What’s going on?”
I raise my hands in defense. “Nothing. I swear. I’ve just been thinking about settling down, like I said.”
His gaze is shrewd as he searches my face, and I fight to keep it as blank as possible.
Then he nods and I let myself relax. “Alright,cara mia. If you find someone you love, I won’t stand in your way.”
I grin and throw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. “Thank you, Papa.”
He smiles as I kiss his cheek. “You should get some rest,” I tell him. He has bags under his eyes from not sleeping the night before.
He nods, groaning as he gets up. “I’m too old for all nighters.”
I chuckle. “I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”
He nods and exits the dining room, and I let out the biggest sigh of relief. I can’t wait to tell Dante.
