“Enough,” Penelope snapped. She’d risen and slowly made her way to her friend. “We’re going to forget this ever happened. The Mad Dog is going to go back to his turf, make amends for his rough intrusion before he blows the best business dealof his life, and you’re coming inside with me.”
Poppy wrenched herself out of the other woman’s grasp. “He’s not going anywhere, Penny. You can see it in his face.”
A smile flickered over my mouth. The little flower understood.
As far as the deal? Losing Mancini’s backing would be a tough blow. But I’d recovered from worse. That wasn’t enough of a deterrent.
“If the boy is his son, then he does have a claim,” Mancini added, a warning edging his voice.
“Alessio! This is insanity! Brady doesn’t belong to this man, and Poppy can’t go with him!” Penelope rounded on her husband.
“Get the boy,” I clipped out.
Poppy let out a long breath, blowing air between her lips. “Our bags are in the trunk.”
“Poppy,Poppy!” The signora scrambled after her.
Poppy was already moving to the door of the vehicle. “Don’t you see? He’ll kill you, Penny. This way, Brady and I stay together.” Her fingers closed around the handle. “Don’t breathe a word of this to Brady. Act like it was the plan all along. Please.”
She slid her gaze from the queen of the Italian mob to me.
That please….
She was fighting hard to stay calm for the child’s sake.
I gave her a tight nod.
A blistering smile lit her face as she opened the door and began to chat with the boy. Penelope fumed by her side, but the decision was made.
It was the right one. Furthermore, Poppy would solve the problem of how to care for a child. I didn’t trust a nanny after my son was stolen once before. She knew his likes and dislikes. She would be a good asset.
Plus, this way I could have her around too.
The sweet little mountain flower would make my home brighter with her presence. I could spend my days looking. Watching. And maybe, when her ire cooled, I could touch.
That thought eased the knot of tension in my shoulders. I hauled the three suitcases to my truck and flung them in the bed.
“If you harm a hair on either of their heads, I will destroy you,” Mancini growled, keeping his voice low for my ears only.
I tipped my head to the side, sending him a full glare. “And if you meddle in business that isn’t yours, I’ll make you regret that decision a thousand times over.”
Instead of a business partner and an ally, I now had an enemy in the powerful don.
A pity. He was good for our organization.
But we didn’t need him. We could survive without the posh don’s aid.
“Put his car seat in the truck,” Poppy instructed, her gaze pinned on me.
Brady had his chubby hands wrapped around her throat, sleepy eyes surveying the scene.
My fingers itched to grab him, to rip him from her hold. He was mine.
And yet, the boy wouldn’t like that.
“He doesn’t need that,” I huffed. My bones were restless. The sooner we were out of this area and back in the safety of our home, the better.
Poppy let out a scornful laugh. “Parenting tip number one. Car seats are very,veryimportant.”
