Page 96 of Knocked Up by My Dad's Mafia Boss

I drink myself to sleep that night.

The next morning comes too early, the sunlight seeming to pierce through my eyelids.

At least I didn’t dream about her. I groan as I stand up, chugging down the glass of water that sober me must have left for the morning. Bless him.

I shower and brush my teeth before heading down to breakfast. The sandwich that Samantha brought me went stale. I’d tossed it in the trash after she left and had scotch for dinner.

My stomach growls audibly as I smell syrup. Jesus, I hope it’s waffles.

It’s pancakes, but that’s not what stops me in my tracks. Elio and Samantha sit at the table and he’s chuckling at something she said. She turns to me. Doesn’t lose her smile.

“Good morning.”

I tear my eyes away from her. “Morning.”

Last night clearly didn’t ruin her the way it ruined me. My stomach twists and I’m suddenly not hungry anymore.

I sit down next to Elio anyway and shove pancakes into my mouth that taste like cardboard.

“You’re serious about this?” Elio asks.

I try not to listen, tearing sausage with my teeth. I can see Samantha’s eyes dart to me out of the corner of my eye.

“Yeah, I’m serious. It’s about time I make the rounds.”

Make the rounds?

“This isn’t the eighteenth century, Sam. You don’t have to debut.”

My shoulders go stiff. Just what in the hell are they talking about?

“Still. It’s time for me to start settling down, and if I can help you with an alliance… so be it.”

“I’m not going to marry you off.”

Marry her off?I’m going to choke to death. I cough and it blows a piece of pancake out of my windpipe. “What are you two talking about?”

Samantha ignores me, focused on her father. “Of course not. But if you introduce me to everyone, there’s a chance Imightfall in love and make the alliance, right?”

Elio sighs. “I mean, I guess. I’ve already invited all my allies and their families to the party, so… mingle. See if something sticks.”

Samantha grins. “Thank you, Papa.” She kisses his cheek, leaving most of her plate untouched. It’s not like her. Maybe she’s more upset about last night than she put on.

I’m still confused about what Samantha and Elio were talking about, but something tells me I won’t like it.

“Don’t ask me what that was all about,” Elio mutters.

I raise an eyebrow. “Oh, I was going to ask.”

“Sam has a bug up her butt about finding someone. Settling down. Asked me to introduce her to my allies, or ‘eligible bachelors,’ as she calls them.”

My blood runs cold as I take a sip of coffee. It doesn’t warm me, just burns bitter down my throat. I forgot to add cream or sugar. “That’s crazy. You told her no, right?”

Elio looks at me. “Why would I do that?”

“Because it’s completely insane!” I burst out, slamming my coffee cup down too hard. “She’s being targeted by Luciano and–”

“Now that we’ve taken the rat out, that won’t be a problem.”