Page 105 of Knocked Up by My Dad's Mafia Boss

“Seems like she’s trying to move on. Maybe you should let her.”

My heart cracks because she’s right.

I should.

I should let her go, let her explore whatever she wants with Ethan and Reese and whoever else. She’s twenty-five years old. She should be allowed to live her life.

“She wants to settle down.” The words come out of my mouth before I decide to say them.

“She’s young for that, but not too young. Maybe she’ll find someone worthy.”

“And you don’t think I’m…” I trail off.

“Didn’t say that. I think you’re a good man, Mr. Bianchi.”

“Dante.”

“Yes. Sorry. Dante. I think you’re a good man, but I also know how complicated things are. And maybe Miss Samantha deserves something uncomplicated.”

Uncomplicated.

Like Ethan.

Like Reese.

Even if it doesn’t happen tonight, it’s bound to happen. With one of them, or with someone else. She’ll meet someone. Settle down. Get married.

Have babies that have her smile…

My throat closes up into a thin pinhole, my eyes burning. I’m going to lose it if I don’t get the fuck out of here.

I hurry up the stairs, taking them two at the time, fighting the clog in the back of my throat.

“Come on, Sammy. We can go lie down together.”

My feet falter. I look up and Reese stands in front of Samantha, brushing tears from her face with his thumbs.

“Why’s she crying?” My voice booms over the classical music playlist that Elio is playing downstairs.

“Dante,” Samantha breathes.

Reese turns around, frowning. “None of your fucking business.”

I almost want to grin as he bucks up at me. I crack my knuckles. “Give me one fucking reason, pretty boy. Tell me why she’s crying.”

Reese squares his shoulders. “I’m not telling you a goddamn thing. She’s not yours to worry about?—”

That’s all I need. Something snaps inside me and I throw my fist into his face. Something cracks underneath my knuckles and I don’t care. I draw back to do it again.

Samantha’s screams seem muffled, her hands clawing at me, trying to pull me off nothing more than a slight hindrance. I hit him again, and again, until he stops moving.

“Stop it, you’re going to kill him!” Samantha’s screech suddenly goes supersonic. I’ve already got my fist pulled back to hit him again. His face is a mess of blood.

Fuck.I slowly stand up and turn around. Samantha screams again, thin and scared, and flinches against the open bedroom door.

My hands drop to my sides, my shoulders slumping.She’s afraid of me.

“What the fuck iswrongwith you?” Samantha asks, not a scream now but a broken whimper as she couches next to Reese, glaring up at me with streaming brown eyes. “Get the medic! Now!”