Page 104 of Knocked Up by My Dad's Mafia Boss

I glance back at Samantha, laughing, face flushed. Happy.

Elio’s right and it makes my head pound.

He trails off, mingling, and I stay put, trying to keep my hands from trembling as I ask for another ginger ale. “Ginger ale is popular tonight,” the bartender mutters. I raise an eyebrow but don’t respond. My mind’s on other things.

Reese spins Samantha on the dance floor. She touches her stomach, moves her hand away. I frown. Is she still not feeling well?

They head over to the couch and find a place to sit. Samantha leans against him. I have to stop watching her before I do find a bottle of scotch and crack it open.

I tear my eyes away. “Yousureyou don’t want a real drink?” the bartender asks.

My throat aches for the burn of alcohol, but I shake my head. I haven’t seen Ricardo all night, and even if he were here, he doesn’t watch her like I do.

Nobody can protect Samantha Capetti better than me, because no one’s ever going to watch her every move like I do.

No one knows that when she sighs, it means she’s tired.

When she starts to hiccup, she’s too drunk.

Or that when she gets extra affectionate she’s been smoking weed.

Right now, she just looks tired. Happy, but tired. All this dancing might be too much for her so soon after being sick.

I turn my eyes away again, and when I turn them back, she’s gone.

“Hello, Dante.”

I turn slightly to see a pretty woman, around my age, wearing a purple sequin dress that compliments every curve. She’s gorgeous, and it takes me a long moment to recognize her as she smiles up at me.

“Maria?” My voice goes incredulous and she laughs.

“Don’t tell me how well I clean up, I’ll be offended.”

“Wow,” I say, genuinely shocked. “You look… great.”

She grins. “Thanks. Elio invited me and I was too curious not to show up.”

“Is your husband here?”

“Ralph? Oh yeah, he’s around here somewhere. Smoking illegal Cuban cigars, if I know him.” She’s complaining, but her tone is soft.

I chuckle. “Well, he’ll find plenty around here. Elio’s got a penchant for them.”

“Oh, I know. Couldn’t keep Ralph away. This party is the talk of the community, you know. Ralph says he wants to know how the other half lives. I keep telling him it’s not so different than the rest of us.”

I turn, scanning the room for Samantha, but I can’t find her. I frown.

“Looking for Miss Samantha?”

My eyes shoot to hers, and I smile sheepishly. “Yeah. Have you seen her?”

“Saw her going upstairs.”

My throat tightens. “Was she with someone?”

Maria looks at me, something curious in her green eyes. “Does it matter?”

“Maria…”