Page 5 of Knocked Up by My Dad's Mafia Boss

“I’m fine. So don’t go telling Papa otherwise,” she scolds.

I hum and let down my window, punching in the number for the gate.

“Something kind of weird did happen,” she finally says.

My eyes shoot to hers. “Weird?”

She nods. “Somebody gave me a package.”

I frown again. “Show it to me.”

She rifles in her purse and brings out a small box, around the size of my hand.

“Get out of the car.”

“What?”

I reach across her lap, ignoring her gasp, and open her door, taking the package from her hands. “Get out of the car,” I say, more firmly, my voice lowering, and she swallows visibly.

She gets out of the car.

“Shut the door.”

Samantha huffs out a breath but does it.

I look down at the box. It could be a weapon. An explosive of some kind. Or maybe a toxin. I rip open the paper on the outside and open the box, drawing in a deep breath when I see the contents.

A dead canary, run through with a pin, blood coating its breast. I grit my teeth.

A message. Someone’s targeting Samantha.

She stands at the window, her small hands on the glass, frowning in at me. “What is it?” she yells.

I close the package and get out of the car. “Get in the house.”

“Quit telling me what to do.” She crosses her arms over her chest and her cleavage bulges. I keep my eyes on her face.

“I need to speak with Elio.” I brush past her, striding up the stairs to the front door.

“Dante.” My hand is on the doorknob when for the first time since I met her, Samantha says my first name. I freeze, squeezing my eyes shut.

“What is it?”

Her voice is right behind me now. I turn around slowly, opening the box and showing it to her.

Her hand flies to her mouth. “Oh my God,” she gasps, gagging. “Is that a canary?”

“It’s a sign. You’re in trouble, Samantha.”

She goes silent and pale. “Wh-who do you think sent it?”

“Tell me everything about the man who gave you this.”

She shakes her head. “It wasn’t a man. It was a girl, about my age. She said some guy paid her a thousand bucks to give it to me. Seemed pretty cheerful.”

“When did it happen?”

“Right before you pulled up.”