Sweet Temptation(85)

We waited six more weeks before we announced the pregnancy to them at the dining table one evening.

For a moment, both of them only watched with wide eyes. Then they began to cheer. They didn’t know what a baby meant: babysitting and diaper changing duties.

Giulia laughed in relief.

Simona jumped up from her chair and rushed over to Giulia, throwing her arms around her.

“Careful,” I said. “Your mom has a baby in her belly.”

Simona nodded wide-eyed and stared at Giulia’s still flat stomach. “Can it hear me?”

“Yes.”

She leaned down. “Please be a little sister. Boys are annoying.”

“Hey! You’re annoying.” Daniele had talked with his mouth full and a few noodles fell out when he spoke.

Simona wrinkled her nose. “You stink.”

Daniele swallowed and let out a burp. “That stinks.”

“Ewww!”

“Enough,” I said firmly. “We’re having dinner.”

Daniele nodded, but he kept his eyes on Simona.

Simona stroked Giulia’s belly as if it was a magic lamp and would grant her a wish before she returned to her place. Daniele stuck his food-covered tongue out at her. She hit him. I gave Giulia a look. You really want another one of these?

“I can’t wait for another one,” she said.





I was in my eighth month when Mansueto had another heart attack. The doctors weren’t sure if he’d ever leave the hospital again. When he asked me to visit him alone, dread filled me.

He was pale and thin in the hospital bed. His eyes were even duller than usual, and he could barely lift his head in greeting when I walked in.

“How are you?” I asked gently as I sank down in the chair beside the bed.

“I don’t have long.”

I touched his wrinkly hand. “You don’t know that.”

He smiled weakly. “I’m going to die, Giulia, and there’s only one thing I need to do before I leave this earth.”

“And what is that?”

“I want my blood to live on, to rule.” He nodded at my belly. “You carry the true heir to the name Moretti in your womb. Daniele shouldn’t be allowed to become Underboss. It’s just not right.”

I leaned back and pulled my hand away. That was exactly why I wished we hadn’t told Mansueto the gender of the baby. If it had been a girl, he wouldn’t have been this obsessed.

“Do a dying man the favor of telling Cassio the truth about those kids. He needs to know.”

I shook my head. “I won’t tell him and you shouldn’t either. Why would you even ask me to do it?”

He smiled tiredly. “I’m an old man. I don’t have long to live. Cassio would never forgive me if I told him. I can’t leave this world with him hating me. But if you tell him…”

“You can’t be serious.”

“He loves you, Giulia. He’d forgive you. How could he not?”

“Even if I told him, it wouldn’t change a thing. He loves Daniele and Simona. He’d still want Daniele to become Underboss.”

“If that were true, then why did he never want to know the truth? It’s ingrained in every man, the need to create a legacy, and his legacy grows in your belly. The only legacy Daniele carries is one of betrayal and incest.”

My eyes grew wide. Fierce protectiveness boiled up inside me. I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to insult my child in front of me. “How can you say that?”

Mansueto struggled into a sitting position. “Because it’s true. Don’t you want your son to become Underboss? Don’t you want him to have the position he deserves?”

I couldn’t speak. I pressed a palm to my stomach, stunned. Mansueto misunderstood the gesture.

“Every mother wants what’s best for her own child, and that baby in your womb is Cassio’s and yours. If you ask Cassio, he’ll disinherit Daniele and make your son the true heir.”

I shook my head slowly. “He’d never do it.”

“He would. For you. He’d do anything for you. Even that. He loves you more than anything else.”

“The person he loves would never ask him to disinherit his child.”

Mansueto’s eyes became imploring. “Then don’t ask him. You could let the truth slip by accident. If people find out about Daniele’s father, they’d never accept him as Underboss in the Famiglia. Incest is something shameful and disgusting.”

“Daniele and Simona can’t help who their parents are.”

“Giulia—”

“No,” I said firmly. “You know I respect you, Mansueto, but that you even consider suggesting something like that…” I took a deep breath. “I won’t do it. I’ll pretend you never even asked me.” I moved closer to him and took his wrinkly pale hand again. “Promise me not to tell it to anyone. Promise.”

Mansueto sighed, his eyes tightening with regret.

My pulse sped up. “Who? Who have you told?”

“Your father.”





How could he have told my father? He might as well have announced it on the news!

I turned around and hurried out of the hospital room, almost colliding with Mia on my way out. She steadied me with a firm grip on my shoulder. “Hey, what’s wrong?”