Page 138 of The Don's Secret Heir

I stumble backwards against Sonny’s closed door, smiling against her lips as she presses her mouth to mine.

I kiss her slowly, thoroughly.

“Come back to my room,” she says in a sultry voice, and my feet want to carry me right behind her.

“Not tonight, Li,” I say, and she pouts, looking pitiful enough to break my heart. “I want to wait until the vow renewal ceremony.”

“That could be months!” She huffs out a breath. “What if I can’t wait that long?”

I raise an eyebrow. “What’s the alternative?”

“I mean, I could call up Scott Howard...” she teases, biting her lip, and I growl and tackle her around the waist, throwing her over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

She giggles but doesn’t fight as I press her up against the hallway door, sliding my thigh in between hers. She gasps, grabbing my face and crushing her lips to mine.

I groan against her mouth and let her stick her tongue between my lips briefly before I pull away.

“Patience,belissima.”

“I’m not known for my patience, Dario.”

I chuckle. “I’ll make it up to you, baby. Just go get some rest.”

I kiss her soundly one more time before backing up and she keeps pouting up at me.

I pat her on the butt. “Go on, off to bed with you.”

She groans and stomps her foot but eventually trails off to bed.

My little brat. I look after her with what probably is the goofiest smile on my face.

“You know, I’ve never been in love, but I can see it on my daughter.”

Angelo’s voice sounds bittersweet, and startles me.

I turn around to face him.

“Yeah? I hope she loves me as much as I love her.”

“I knew it, you know. That Sonny was yours,” he points out. “She doesn’t think I knew you were sleeping together, but I always have eyes on my girl. I always thought you abandoned her, and honestly, I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same. I hated you for it, but I also saw myself in you.”

“I haven’t always been the best man,” I admit quietly, looking down at my feet.

He laughs. “Who among us has? You make my daughter happy, and that’s all I ever wanted for her. I messed stuff up with her mom. Didn’t want her to turn out like me.”

I look at him, at his wistful smile, and think about how I could have turned out like him. I could have lived my life without love, but God, who would want to?

“I asked her to do a vow renewal.”

“She said yes?”

I smile, feeling almost giddy. “Yes.”

“I’ll pay for it.”

I frown. “You don’t have to?—”

“She's my only daughter, Conte. Let me do this for her.”