Page 69 of Knocked Up by My Dad's Mafia Boss

I don’t tell him that he’s staying the night at Doc’s, because I’m planning to tell Dante about the baby and I’m not sure how to say it. I’m worried they’ll try to talk me out of it.

Reese bounces on the bed to wake up Sofia and she swings at him. I laugh again. By the time we’ve explained everything to Sofia and they leave, Dante’s pulling up. They pile into the car and I look out the bedroom window, watching Dante get out and walk inside.

I wait for a few minutes before I head out into the hallway. I stand at the top of the stairs as Ricardo leaves and Dante comes in. They speak to each other briefly, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. It seems kind of… tense.

I make my way downstairs and Dante doesn’t look up at me, sitting down hard on the couch and putting his head in his hands. “Are you alright?” I ask quietly as I pad down the rest of the stairs.

His head snaps up but he still doesn’t meet my eyes. “I’m fine.” He drops his hands, but not before I see them trembling.

“It’s okay if you’re not.”

“I’mfine, Samantha.”

His words are clipped. I frown. “How’s Papa doing?”

“He’ll be alright in a couple weeks.”

“I didn’t know he’d be with you.”

Dante doesn’t answer. “I’m glad you were there,” I continue. “Papa tends to go off the rails.”

Dante still doesn’t respond. “Dante?”

“What?” he snaps, his blue eyes flashing as he finally meets my gaze. I take a step back, stunned at his reaction.

Then I step forward and sit next to him. I try to take his hand. He wrenches away from me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Everything’s wrong,” he mumbles, running a hand through his hair. It’s a nervous habit I’ve noticed.

I need to talk to you about something.I’m about to say it when he continues speaking.

“I can’t do this anymore.”

His words fall on me like a hammer on the top of my head. “Can’t do what?”

He gestures between the two of us with his hand. “This. Us. We need to stop.”

My stomach knots and my mouth fills with saliva like I’m going to throw up.

“You’re just a kid.”

I gasp softly. It’s like every word he says is a punch to the stomach. “Dante–”

He cuts me off. “I’m serious this time, Samantha. It’s over. Just.. meet someone new. Find some guy who you can be with out loud. Someone Elio would approve of.”

I swallow and it feels like my throat is full of razorblades. “You… you want me to move on?”

He chuckles bitterly, dragging a hand across the back of his neck. “No,” he says, and at least that sounds honest. “But what I want doesn’t matter. This isn’t going anywhere, and we both know it.”

I put a hand on my stomach unconsciously, then realize I’m doing it and move it away.

But the baby….“We can… we can talk about this,” I start.

“You can talk until you’re blue in the face,” he says flatly. “I’m not going to change my mind about this. It’s over.”

“Don’t say that.” Tears start to slip down my cheeks and I angrily wipe them away. “You don’t get to justdecide?—”