Page 97 of The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Mafia Princess

“I made it the way she taught me.”

“With enough garlic?”

“Enough to protect the property.”

“Good.”

“Mr. Russo?” someone called beyond Daddy’s screen. “Dinner’s ready.”

He turned his head. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

Then he faced us again.

“I have to go downstairs.”

“You’re having dinner with everyone?”

“Yes. Your cousins have already started arguing about where to sit.”

“Put whoever keeps leaving the table near the kitchen.”

“I already did.”

“See? You still need me.”

“I never said I didn’t.”

I let out a slow breath.

Daddy looked at Jonah. “Take care of her.”

Jonah stood close behind me. “I will when she asks.”

Daddy nodded.

“Call tomorrow,” he said.

“We’ll call after breakfast.”

“I love you, Princess.”

“I love you too, Daddy.”

His gaze moved between us. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.”

The screen went dark.

For several seconds, I looked at my reflection in it.

Jonah kissed my hair. “That went well.”

“He moved a family call for therapy.”

“He did.”

“He also accepted an invoice without adding seventeen unrelated tasks.”