Page 78 of Knocked Up by My Dad's Mafia Boss

I don’t feel like I can breathe again until the intercom buzzes. The calvary is here. I grin and press the button to let them in, running outside to greet them.

Reese scrambles out first, grabbing me in a big bear hug and swinging me around. I giggle wildly and it sounds strange to my own ears. I haven’t laughed like that since the last time they were here.

He finally puts me down, grinning at me, and Sofia walks up, carrying her huge purse that she brings here every time.

We used to hide liquor in it when we were teenagers. Now, it contains a bottle of wine for them and a bottle of sparkling cider for me with the label rubbed off, so that it looks like I’ll be drinking too.

“You’re a smart cookie, Sofia,” I say when she shows me. We head out to the pool house. Dante is gone. I tell myself I’m not looking for him. I grab wine glasses on the way out of the back kitchen door, and we walk down to the pool slowly. “So, how are things?”

“Well, we’ve switched around,” Sofia says glumly. “Vaughn and Reese are back together, but me and Dmitri are on the outs.”

I perk up at the drama. “On the outs? What happened?”

She sighs. “Papa almost caught us. Again. I got spooked. You know Papa will kill him if he finds out. Hell, he might killme.”

“You broke it off?” I ask incredulously, surprised. Sofia has been gone for Dmitri for years.

She nods sadly. I take her hand and squeeze it. Usually I’d tell her she’s being stupid. That she should follow her heart. Rebel against her father. But given my current situation…

“I’m sorry.”

She keeps hold of my hand and we sit together at the edge of the pool, all three of us, dangling our feet in the water as we drink from Mama’s crystal wine glasses. I glance over at Reese. “You and Vaughn, huh?”

“Yeah, well, it’s only because Luciano’s out of town,” he hedges. “I feel like she’ll dump me all over again when he’s back, so I’m not getting my hopes up.”

Sofia looks at me curiously. “What about you? Why’d you go ghost?”

I draw in a shaking breath. “It’s over. He ended it a week ago.”

“The day you found out you were—” Sofia screeches and I kick her in the water.

“Shh,” I hiss. “Maria’s still cleaning up after breakfast. She’ll hear you.”

She nods, taking in a breath. Sofia’s always been protective when it comes to me.

“I’ll kill him,” Reese says darkly, and I snort out a laugh.

“Please, Reese. You’re many things but you’re not a fighter.”

“But he deserves it!” Reese insists. “He ended it after you told him?—”

“I didn’t tell him.”

They both go silent, staring at me with wide eyes. I sigh. “He ended it before I could. And I’m sure as fuck not telling him now.”

“You can’t hide this forever, Sammy,” Sofia warns, pointedly looking at my belly.

“I’m already chubby, I can hide it longer than you think.” There’s an edge of defense in my voice.

“But your father–”

“After all this is over with Luciano, I’ll tell him,” I promise. “By then, Dante won’t be on my security detail anymore.”

“You don’t think Dante is going to put it together when he finds out you’re expecting?” Sofia asks, her voice lower.

I frown. I hadn’t thought of that. “I’ll figure something out. I’ve got some time. Cross that bridge when I get to it, right?”

Sofia smiles a bit. “So you do listen to me.”