I Saved His Daughter And The Mafia Boss Won’t Let Me Leave Chapter 11
Roman wheels over to me and slides his arm around my waist.
His hand is warm through the fabric. My whole body locks up.
“Sera is my wife. And Lily’s mother.”
Derek stares at me.
“No way. We split up a few days ago and you already married somebody else?”
“You were crazy about me. You did everything I told you. No way you just moved on like that.”
“You’re lying. This is all to piss me off, right?”
I laugh. I actually laugh right in his face.
“You think you’re worth faking a whole marriage over? Please.”
“My husband is ten times the man you’ll ever be. You’re not even worth the dirt on his shoes.”
“Quit acting like you matter.”
Derek’s face goes dark.
“Fine. Fine!”
“You’re trash, Sera. When he gets bored and kicks you out, don’t you dare come crying back to me.”
Roman lifts his hand. Just barely.
His bodyguards step in front of Derek instantly.
“Mr. Malone. Leave. Now.”
They drag him off. Somewhere down the block I hear sounds that are definitely not good for Derek.
Lily finally throws herself into my arms.
“Mommy. You won’t go back to that scary man, right?”
“Never.”
I smooth her hair down.
“Mommy’s not going anywhere.”
On the ride home, Lily falls asleep in my lap.
I sit there for a while. Then I just say it.
“Thank you. For what you said back there.”
“But we’re just putting on a show for Lily. You didn’t have to say all that.”
Roman tucks the blanket around Lily’s shoulders.
“Funny. Two minutes ago I was ‘my husband.’ Now you’re back to being all formal?”
My heart does something stupid.
“I wasn’t just helping you out back there.”
He turns and looks at me.
“This was never just a show. Not for me.”
“Sera.”
His voice drops low.
“I’m done pretending.”
My face is so hot I could cook on it. I whip around and stare out the window like my life depends on it.
Behind me, I hear him laugh. Low and quiet.
The next morning, I walk Lily to her classroom myself.
She’s glued to my back. Both hands twisted in my shirt. Won’t let go.
Her teacher crouches down with a warm smile. “Today everyone gets to stand up and tell us about their family.”
Lily goes white. Shakes her head.
I kneel in front of her.
“Hey. You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to.”
“I’ll be right outside the whole time. Okay?”
She stares at me for a long, long time. Then she slowly lets go and walks in.
When it’s her turn, she stands at the front of the room gripping the hem of her dress. Silent.
Kids start whispering.
I tap on the window. She finds me. I wave.
Lily takes a huge breath.
“My… my name is Lily Ashford.”
“I have a daddy. And I have a mommy.”
Her voice starts so small I can barely hear it through the glass. But every word gets a little stronger.
“My mommy makes the best food. And she can beat up bad guys.”
“She told me it doesn’t matter if I talk a lot or a little. I’m still her favorite kid in the whole world.”
“I love my mommy and daddy. So, so much.”
I’m done. Tears streaming. I don’t even try to stop them.
The whole class starts clapping.
Lily blinks. Confused. Then her face lights up, slow and bright, like the sun coming out.
After school, she says goodbye to her teacher all by herself. First time ever.
At home, she runs straight to Roman holding something up.
“Daddy! Look!”
A gold star sticker on the back of her hand. Her teacher gave one to every kid who spoke up today.
Roman takes her hand and studies it like it’s the most precious thing he’s ever seen.
“I’m so proud of you, Lily.”
He looks up at me. His eyes are full. Grateful. Warm.
And something else underneath that makes it hard to breathe.