Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

talk to anyone. I’ll be there in two hours. Swear it.”
Dad sighed. “I swear it. I’m going to tell your mother to have the cooks
prepare a nice dinner for us.”
I hung up. “We need to drive to Baltimore.”
Elia frowned. “To your parents’ home?”
“Yes. We have to leave right away.”
Elia led me toward the car and opened the door for me.
“You need to tell Cassio first.”
I sank down on the passenger seat as Elia slipped behind the steering wheel.
I dialed Cassio’s number but got the busy signal. Luca was in town to talk to
Cassio and Mansueto. Everyone knew that Mansueto didn’t have long. Maybe
Cassio was in a conference call with other Underbosses and his Capo. “We can’t
wait until I can reach him. It’s urgent.”
Elia gave a terse nod and pulled out of the parking garage. Traffic was
horrendous, and my worry increased with every passing second. Eventually,
Cassio called me back.
“Are you all right?” The worry in his voice warmed my insides.
“I’m fine. The baby’s fine too. Don’t worry. I’m on my way to my parents.”
“What’s the matter?”
I hated lying to Cassio, but I didn’t know what else to do. “My mother broke
down today. I just want to make sure she’s fine, and they’ve been asking me to
visit for a while.”
“Isn’t it too strenuous in your state?”
I huffed. “I’m pregnant, not sick.”
“Be careful. Elia is with you, I assume?”
“Of course. And my parents have their own bodyguards, not to mention
Christian will be there as well.”
“That’s good. Unlike your father, he’s a capable man.”
Usually I defended my father, but today I couldn’t find the words. “I’ll be
back tomorrow morning. I’ll have dinner with them and spend the night.”
“Okay,” Cassio said. In the background, I could hear male voices. “I love
you,” he said quietly so no one but me could hear.
“And I love you.”
I hung up, more resolved than before. Elia regarded me closely. “Is there
anything I should know?”
“No.” I softened the word with a smile. It was bad enough that Mansueto had
told my father. Knowing him, he’d probably already passed the news on to Mom
and Christian. It was only a matter of time before it spread like wildfire. I didn’t
even want to imagine what it would do to Daniele and Simona.
I fell asleep after a while. Elia woke me when we pulled up in front of my
old home. Elia got out and held the door open for me.
Mom and Dad waited on the porch, both of them beaming like a kid on
Christmas morning. I wished it wasn’t because of something that could destroy
the people I loved most in the world.