Page 80 of Knocked Up by My Dad's Mafia Boss

Elio points at me, anger now flashing in his eyes. “Don’t fucking lie to me, Dante. Not after last night. We almost lost three of our men, including Ricardo, who’s trying to take care of his dying mother. You don’t get to lie to me now.”

A laugh bubbles up in my throat, but I push it down. I’ve been lying to him for months. I’ve been in love with Samantha since practically the moment I first saw her.

“Remember the girl I told you about? The young one?”

Elio sits back in his seat. “Yeah?”

“I… I ended things.”

“What? Why? I told you to follow your heart.”

“Yeah, well. It’s… complicated. Her father… he hates me.”

Elio hums. “And they’re close?”

“Very close.”

Every word that I say that has any truth in it makes my heart feel a little less broken. Makes me breathe a bit easier. Not enough, but something.

“Shit. How’d she take it?”

I do laugh, then, a bitter chuckle that escapes my throat. “Better than me.”

“Yeah. No shit. You look worse than I did after Grace died.”

My eyes shoot up to his. “I know I’ve been distracted. I’ll do better.”

“It’s not just distracted, Dante. You almost got people killed last night. I’m benching you.”

My mouth opens to protest. Closes. I hang my head. “Alright. For how long?”

“You’ll still watch over Samantha, of course.”

Oh. Great. Wonderful.“Of course,” I say bitterly, but Elio doesn’t seem to catch it.

“Ricardo can’t do it all on his own.” Elio smiles slightly. “My girl is a handful and a half.”

Don’t I know it.

“I’ll take tonight’s shift,” I offer, even though my voice comes out strained.

Elio shakes his head. “No. Not tonight. She’s going out with her friends, and you look like you haven’t slept in a week. I’m ordering you to stay home and get some rest.”

“Elio–”

“Don’t argue with me, asshole. I’m doing you a favor here.”

I blow out a breath but don’t protest. I”m not going to put up too much of a fight, because as much as I’m aching to see her, I don’t think it’s a good idea right now.

That spider crack in the shell around my heart keeps growing and growing. It’s only a matter of time before it shatters.

“Sleep. And lay off the scotch, will you? It’s not helping.”

Shows what you know. It’s the only way I can get a few thin hours of sleep.

I look at him. “Alright, Dad. We done here?”

Elio cracks a smile. “Yeah, we’re done. If youdoget drunk, at least call your girl. Something good should come out of it.”