The Mafia's Babies by Kaycee Romano (rocket ebook reader txt) 📖

He grinned as he set the bottle down. "There was a shootout at Leo and Lia's wedding."

River nodded, feeling herself start to freak out yet again.

Okay, maybe my motherly instinct was more right than my logical side? The voice in her head spoke up. And River had to admit that if the daredevil in her was as scared, then it was indeed a situation worth rethinking.

She felt her resolution starting to waver yet again.

Maybe she shouldn't have come down. That way she wouldn't have seen the new scars, had the small chat and realized one more time how dangerous his life is and also unpredictable the danger.

"So you still remember my body huh?" He smirked, climbing on to the kitchen counter.

River rolled her eyes and made her way to the coffee maker, turning it on.

"You okay?" He asked. She felt him watching her every move.

"Mmhmm." She turned back to face him.

"Aren't you sleeping at all?" He asked. He was concerned; She could see it in his eyes. How was she supposed to keep their kids from such a caring man?

The dilemma was killing her!

"Just a lot on my mind." She rubbed her nose, feeling the overdue sleep starting to catch up.

Mateo got off the counter and moved toward her and before she could even ask what he was up to, he lifted her off the floor and placed her on the counter, caging her in as he placed both his hands on either side of the counter.

"It's about the children, I don't even have to ask." He stated. "Is there anything I can do?"

River sighed as she stared at his face, his rough skin wrinkled with concern. And then she realized how close they were, noses almost touching and the strong masculine scent of his sweat invading her senses.

"You could move back because you stink." River blurted out as she scrunched up her nose.

He threw his head back, laughing aloud.

But he still didn't move a step back.

Dumbass.

"Why?" He cocked his head. "Is my proximity affecting you?"

"By affecting, if you mean in a nauseating way then yes." She cocked her head, imitating him.

He chuckled some more.

"Let me make you some coffee." He stood up straight. "Or maybe you should go sleep. I am free till the evening. I will take care of the children."

River was ready to decline but she realized that he shouldn't be having to look for such excuses to spend time with his own blood and flesh.

Who was she kidding? She wanted to keep them apart because she didn't want the kids to have to lose their Papa but she was taking their precious time together from them.

Her resolve strengthened yet again, for now.

She realized that this was a perfect opportunity for the father and children to spend some time together before she told their babies the truth.

"Yeah. That sounds like a good idea." River finally said.

Mateo gave a single nod and lifted her off the counter and placed her back on the floor, as if she was the most fragile thing on earth.

Of course, he never felt that she was weak. To him, she was one of the strongest, fearless and amazing women he knew. She was like a tree that thrived in the middle of a drought.

He turned off the coffee maker and the couple made their way back upstairs.

River turned to the side of the stairs where Alessia and the kids' rooms were.

"The kids slept in their room?" Mateo asked.

"No, they are so comfortable I didn't want to disturb them." She said, deciding to sleep on one of the twins' bed.

"Wait, you should use my room." Mateo said.

She turned around and gave him a confused look. "Why?"

"Because the kids are going to be running in and out of their room the whole day so you won't be able to get much sleep." He explained. That was a fair point but why his room? As if he could read my thoughts, he continued, "And it would arise suspicion if you slept in a guest room. We are married, remember?" He quirked a brow, a smirk lining his lips.

River rolled her eyes. This dumbass was incorrigible. But she was also confused. "So they don't get suspicious if we sleep in different rooms? "

"Are you suggesting we sleep together?" He teased, cocking his head again.

River did a three-sixty degree jump in annoyance, groaning. All the while, Mateo was laughing at her.

She poked at the inside of her cheek with her tongue to calm herself, and then smirked. "Not that I mind.." She took a step forward and Mateo abruptly stopped laughing. "But.."

"But?"

She really had no idea what to say.

"But.. "

Think River, think!

"But?"

She just gave him a playful grin. "Never mind."

He looked disappointed and worked up. Men!

"So back to the question..." She spoke.

"Janet knows and she cleans the four bedrooms here so..."

River nodded. "I will be using your bedroom then."

She didn't wait for his reply as she made her way over and in to his room. She didn't even bother turning on the light as she bee-lined for the bed, knowing where it was from the peak, she had at the room last day.

And somehow, she managed to fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

.
.
.

"Found it!" Kiara ran into the kitchen with a book in her hand. "It should be in here!"

Mateo picked her up and placed her on the stool as she started to flip through the pages, trying to find the recipe for the lemon cookies in their great-grandmother's recipe book that she had packed along with River's belongings because Lilith Johnson knew that her orthopedic surgeon of a grand daughter would want to brush up on her culinary skills now that she had all the time in the world.

Kiara was initially not into the idea of spending the day with Mateo. But he had given all of the staff a day off and kicked the two other idiots – his sister and best friend – out. So, she had no choice. He knew that it was quite mean of him but he couldn't help it – after all, all was fair in war and love and he was doing this for the love of his little girl. And luckily, Kiara had warmed up sooner than he thought when he asked her to help him bake cookies for her Mommy.