Page 79 of Mafia And Maid

I rise from my chair and freeze in the doorway. “It was delicious, Rosa. Thank you.”

I school my features before entering the office. Marco is behind the desk, while Alessio lounges in a chair with a laptop open in front of him. They look engrossed in whatever it is they’re dealing with.

“What do you need?” Marco clips.

“Advice?” I don’t sound too sure.

His eyes lift from the paper, a dark brow arched. I never come to my brothers for advice.

Alessio’s eyes bore into me before he jerks his chin to the free chair beside him.

“Uh…” I wasn’t expecting to talk to both of them at the same time.

“Out with it. I don’t have all day,” Marco barks.

“This was a bad idea,” I say, starting to rise from the chair.

“Sit,” he growls.

“Gonna call me a good boy if I do?” I fire back.

Alessio’s lip twitches, but Marco’s fierce expression has me looking away as I sink back into the chair.

“Now, what is it?” he says in a terse tone.

My lips move, but I find it hard to get the words out. “How…” I wince, shaking my head, unable to look at either of my brothers.

Alessio sighs with impatience. “How what?”

“How do you get kids to like you?” I blurt out.

Alessio snorts, looking at me like I’m a freak—as if I don’t already know that.

“What kind of question is that?” Marco grits out.

“A serious one?” I try.

“How do you act with our kids when they’re here?” Marco clips.

“I don’t. Or not well. You guys are usually there most of the time. I don’t have to do much around them.”

“You literally babysat them for us before they left,” Alessio interjects.

“Yeah, but for what, a couple of hours? I bribed them with a shit ton of candy and sat them in front of the TV. Anyway, it’s not as if they all really like me.”

“Of course, they like you,” Alessio says in a confused voice.

“I’ve got three words to say to you,” I reply. “Maximo. Shampoo. Superglue.”

Marco sighs. “My son likes your sense of humor. He thought you would find it funny in the same way he did. I get that his actions were a bit misplaced, but I’m telling you, the kids all like you.”

“I don’t know.” I shrug with a heavy sigh. “This feels different, somehow…”

Marco cocks a brow. “You mean with Ethan?”

“Yeah,” I say with a large exhale. “So, any advice?”

“Well, for one, stop doing those smiles at him,” Alessio advises.