Free Packing Heat: A Bad Boy Secret Baby Romance (Barone Crime Family) by B. B. Hamel Page B

approach wasn’t working.
    I glanced at Vince. He frowned at me.
    Maybe I could try the political approach. Maybe I could try something else, something different.
    I said the first thing that came to mind.
    “I got her pregnant,” I said.
    The men all stared at me. Nobody moved a muscle.
    I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing. Why the hell did I say that? It wasn’t true. I didn’t even sleep with her.
    But family meant something to the mafia. It was one of the few fucking things that really did.
    “When?” Arturo asked me.
    “I met her before, at the Spiller. She came in trying to talk some wise guys up, and I ended up taking her home.”
    “Fat Jimmy said that was only a couple days ago,” Ernesto said.
    “Wasn’t the first time we met,” I answered. “That was the second time.”
    Ernesto looked at Arturo. “He’s lying.”
    “He wouldn’t lie about something so fucking stupid,” Vince said, “so you watch your fucking mouth, old man.”
    Arturo held up his hands. “Gentlemen, please. Rafa, is this really true?”
    “She’s pregnant with my child, which is why I don’t want you people torturing her.”
    Arturo sighed. “I understand that. This is very bad luck.”
    “Let me talk to her. I’ll find out what she knows.”
    “Arturo, you can’t believe this shit,” Ernesto said.
    “Why would the boy push so hard, Ernesto? Because he got the girl pregnant. Don’t be so fucking dense.” Arturo looked back to me. “It’s admirable that you’re protecting her this way. You know, you were close to getting killed there, son.”
    “I’m sure,” I said, forcing myself to smile.
    “This changes things,” Arturo announced. “Rafa, you may talk to the girl. For now, we do nothing until we have more information.”
    “Fucking bullshit,” Ernesto spat.
    Arturo ignored him. “Go now before I change my mind.”
    Vince and I stood up. “Thank you,” I said.
    Vince nodded at the two men. Ernesto looked angry but said nothing.
    We turned and left the room. The door shut behind us. Fat Jimmy was nowhere to be seen.
    “You dumb fucking asshole,” Vince said softly.
    I grinned at him. “You said to be political.”
    “I didn’t tell you to lie to fucking Arturo like that.”
    “What’s the big deal? This will blow over.”
    “This won’t blow over. They’re angry about the Spiders, and she’s the only link. They’re going to want proof.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t know how to prove it.”
    Vince sighed and stared me straight in the eye. “You better get that girl pregnant, Rafa. You better do it fast.”
    I watched as he turned and started walking.
    I followed him, frowning to myself.
    I couldn’t actually get her pregnant. I couldn’t actually do that.
    Then again, I wouldn’t mind it. I didn’t want a fucking kid, but I sure as hell wanted to feel what it was like to be inside her so badly I could barely breathe.
    Maybe he was right. Maybe I really did need to get Cassidy pregnant to save both our lives.

13

Cassidy
    I woke up early , shaken and confused. The messages on my computer kept ringing in my eras, although they were really just green text on a black background.
    I couldn’t figure out what was right. I felt trapped in the middle of something, getting pulled in multiple directions. There were the Spiders, the mob, and Rafa. Things were happening around me, but I didn’t even know the players in the game.
    I made myself some coffee and sat cross-legged at the kitchen table, sipping the strong black liquid, trying to feel a little more human. I was exhausted and grumpy, and I really didn’t feel like getting back to work, even though I knew I needed to.
    As I stared at the wall, willing my life to suddenly improve, my phone started ringing. I nearly jumped out of my chair.
    “Hello?” I said, picking it up and answering without looking at the ID.
    “Hello yourself.” It was him.
    “Rafa. Uh, how’s it going?”
    “Better now that I’m talking to you.