Patriot and his Secret Baby (The Rossi Family Mafia Book 1) by Avery Hawkes

worried about?
    We both stood, facing each other in the gravel. I realized that my face was still wet and my eyes puffy and red. Sniffing, I brought my blouse sleeve up to try to wipe my face off the best I could.  
    “Uuugh,” words were difficult for me at that moment, but I tried anyway. “Look at me, I’m a m-mess,” a half-laugh, half-sob escaped my chest as I tried to make light of the situation. Lance didn’t say a word, my attempt at a joke not phasing him. He wasn’t one to skirt around an issue. I didn’t blame him after what happened at the club.
    “I-I’m sorry for what happened back there,” I said. “There’s b-been a lot of bad b-blood between my family and me, lately.”
    There it was again, the tears burned in my eyes. Dammit, I swore to myself, why couldn’t I keep myself together for two seconds? Then, Lance’s hand was there, rough against my soft cheek. His thumb brushed off the wet that was streaming from my eyes.
    “It’s because of your Great Aunt’s will?”
    I nodded in reply, letting my head rest against his large hand.  
    “She left me a large sum of money, but not my family. I don’t know why ….” I looked away from his steady gaze, “I wish she had never left me that money.”
    “What your Aunt did is not your fault,” Lance said, “You had no control over what she left you.”
    I know.” I replied. “Whether it’s my fault or not, their reaction will be the same. I’m the black sheep of the family, the only one who has spoken out against the mob.
    “In what world is it alright to run drugs, embezzle businesses, or even KILL people?” I said.
    Silence fell between us. My chest was heaving in anger, and Lance watched me. He looked hurt at my words, darkness in his countenance.
    “I’ve killed people,” Lance said. His words cut me like a knife. My voice stuttered as I tried to string thoughts together.
    “That’s different,” I retorted. “You were at war.”
    “Your family probably feels it’s at war too.”
    “They are CRIMINALS. Don’t lower yourself to their level, Lance. For too long I’ve been living under my Father’s thumb, turning a blind eye to the messed up shit around me.”  
    The tears were starting again, but this time, Lance didn’t wipe them away.
    “And for the first time in YEARS, I thought I was going to get away from them. My aunt’s will would give me the money to get out of this shit-hole and find my own way!”  
    “You thought?”
    I turned, unable to look at him. The emotions were sweeping over me in waves. My hand rose to cover part of my face, hiding my ugly sobs from Lance. I struggled for air for a while and was finally able to speak.
    “M-My aunt ― she … she left a few stipulations in the w-will ― "
    Lance grabbed one of my hands, carefully prying it from my wet face to hold it. It was a sign of his support and I could see the same warmth in his eyes. Whatever I had to tell him, he was ready.
    So I did. I started at the beginning and told him about the details of the will. The document was now seared in my mind, so I had no difficulty giving him all the info. Finally, the difficult part came. My entire body shook as I prepared myself for the blow.  
    “Remember when you came back? At my Aunt’s funeral?”
    He nodded.
    “Well, I think … maybe in the passion of the moment the condom slipped. I-I’m pregnant.”
    “Oh.” Lance stared at me with wide eyes. Of course he was surprised, anyone would be in his situation.  
    My mind raced as I waited for him to reply. I pictured the worst case scenario in my mind, that he’d treat me like Regina did. Call me a whore, a slut, and deny he was the father. “Are you sure?” he asked me.
    I nodded. “I took about a million tests. Unless they were all wrong ….”
    “Yeah, yeah of course.” He stepped back from me, like he needed another few inches to himself to process the bomb I had dropped on him. I allowed him to have it. To be honest, I could barely