Page 120 of Mafia And Maid

“Momma. I’m full now. Can I go play and tell Bernie Bear all about the yummy cupcakes?”

“Sure, honey,” I say with an indulgent smile at him as I watch him skip away.

I watch as the others give birthday greetings to Marco. It’s an open display of affection and warmth. And it sends a jolt of longing straight through me.

“Happy birthday, bro,” Camillo says.

“Thanks,” Marco murmurs as he heads for the hot pot of coffee before freezing. “What the fuck is that?”

My hands shake at the growl in his voice.

“A birthday cake?” Lorenzo mumbles over the rim of his cup, his brow arched. “Rosa made it.”

Marco’s body spins to face me.

And I fight the urge to sink against Camillo.

Fury is etched into Marco’s dark eyes, his upper lip curling in a snarl.

“I…” I swallow hard. “I wanted to surprise you with a cake.”

Eyes narrowed, he strides toward me.

Camillo jerks up and stands between his brother and me. “Marco.”

“Move,” Marco orders.

“No.”

The temperature in the room plummets.

No one dares move as Camillo and Marco clench their fists.

“Move, Camillo.”

“No.”

“This is a shit time for you to grow some balls.”

The hard clap of Camillo’s hand into Marco’s chest makes me wince.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble, easing from my chair gradually.

My breathing is coming in small pants.

Anxiety winds tighter and tighter around my chest.

“I just wanted to do something nice for your birthday,” I whisper. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

My chin wobbles, and I bite down hard to keep my lips from trembling. Tears blur my vision.

Why is he so upset? Does he not like cake? Have I messed up and misunderstood something important here? And now, to make things worse, Camillo is squaring off against Marco.I’ve ruined it all.

My hands tremble against me, my coffee cup long forgotten on the table. I stand with my eyes downcast.

“I’ll—excuse me,” I stutter, moving past the looming figures in the middle of the kitchen.

Guilt claws through my body, tearing me apart with its talons, shred by shred.