Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

I headed toward them and hugged them briefly. Christian waited behind them
for his turn. “You’re growing bigger every day.”
“That’s not something you should tell a woman,” I told Christian. “Are you
alone?”
“The flu has taken hold of our house. I’m the last man standing.”
I smiled but it fell when I met Dad’s gaze.
“You must be hungry,” Mom said eagerly, motioning for me to follow her
into the dining room. I gave Elia a small nod so he knew it was okay to leave. He
went into our guard room.
We all settled at the table. Once the maid had served dinner and disappeared,
I bridged the subject. “I assume Dad told you already?”
Christian nodded grimly. His tight expression made it clear he disapproved
of it.
Mom pursed her lips. “You should be ecstatic, Giulia. This is your chance.”
My eyebrows shot up. How was that my chance? I wasn’t going to become
Underboss. “I don’t want the news to get out.”
“You should want what’s best for your child,” Dad said in a reprimanding
voice.
I exploded. “Is that so? Was it for my best when you married me off to a man
you described as the cruelest Underboss in the Famiglia, a man almost twice my
age? Was that for my best or yours, Dad?”
Dad’s face became stone. He glared down at his plate. I almost felt guilty
because despite all his faults, I loved him. He’d been a better father than many
other men in our world.
“How can you speak in that tone to your father? Show some respect,” Mom
hissed.
I took a bite of the beef tenderloin, trying to stay calm. Keeping a level head
had become more difficult since pregnancy hormones were in play. “I respect
you, but your ambition is going to ruin everything. I don’t care if this baby
becomes Underboss. I want only the best for him, but becoming a leader in our
world isn’t part of it.”
“You were always a dreamer, Giulia. It’s what I love about you,” Dad said,
breaking through my rising anger until his next words. “But as a man, I can’t
afford irrational daydreams. I know the realities of our life. And the truth is that
all that matters is a position of power. I won’t have the son of a cheating whore
as an Underboss. Our grandson will rule over Philadelphia and no one else.”
“Dad,” Christian began with a frown.
“No, I won’t discuss the matter further. Once you’re Underboss next year,
you can make the decisions, but now it’s still my word ruling in this home and
city. I don’t care if I have to tell the truth to every member of the Famiglia
myself as long as it means our blood will rule in Philadelphia.”
I dropped my fork and stood. “If that’s the case, today is the last time you’ll
see me.”
Christian touched my arm. “Stay. You shouldn’t drive back again so soon in