Patriot and his Secret Baby (The Rossi Family Mafia Book 1) Read Online Free

emotionless, even when a bit of red appeared at his lip.
    “No!” I yelled. In an instant I was on top of my brother, pulling him away from Lance. To my surprise, he allowed me to drag him away toward the car.
    I glanced up at Lance with an apologetic look on my face, but he didn’t look back. We were ghosts to him.
    Matteo shook my arm off and spat in the direction of my crush before opening the door to the small black sedan.
    “Come on, Rosabella.” he said. I stood by the passenger-side door, wishing that I didn’t have to get in with my violent brother.
    Finally, Lance turned toward me. Our eyes locked on to each other, having a conversation without words.
    My eyes pleaded to him and his replied.
    “I’m sorry.” they said.
    “I’m not going to ask you again, Rosa!” After giving him one last, parting glance, Lance nodded for me to do what my brother said. Tears were filling my eyes. I opened the car door and slammed it behind me.
    As the car pulled away from the high school, I looked back at Lance. At that moment, I didn’t expect that would be the last I saw him in 6 years.

The bastard broke my heart and I wasn’t one to forgive that so easily. My mind had compartmentalized him into the category of one of those annoying boys who tried to court me during high school, but my heart said otherwise.
    My hands did quick work filling my plate with enough food to last me the rest of the wake. The last thing I wanted was to mingle any longer with the guests and up the chances that he would approach me. It took everything in me not to stuff my face full of creampuffs out of stress.When I turned to make my getaway, our next-door neighbor, Ms. Fulton, stood in my way.
    “I’m very sorry for your loss my dear,” one of her hands reached out to grasp my forearm. My mouth tried its hardest to form into a polite smile.
    “Thank you, my family and I appreciate your support.”
    “Federica was a fine, church-going Catholic. Why, I have many stories about our knitting club ― "
    “MMMhmm …,” My head bobbed up and down, looking for an excuse to escape. But it seemed like everyone I knew was preoccupied or too close to make a clean getaway.
    “Excuse me ma’am,” Lance said. I swore internally and about dropped my plate. Ms. Fulton’s large, glassy eyes admired the man in front of her. He went on.
    “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Miss Rossi and I have a previous engagement we must attend to.”
    “Wha-" My mouth opened in protest, but closed when I felt a strong hand squeeze my shoulder.
    “Oh it’s no matter. Rosa, please send my regards and well wishes to your father.”
    “Yes, Mrs. Fulton, thank you,” I said through clenched teeth. The woman left me with a smile. I whipped around to start an argument as soon as she had wandered to the next family member.
    “Not here,” Lance said, cutting me off. “Not with your entire family watching. He took my hand in his and I snorted, placing my plate down on the nearest table.
    “Whatever you want to say, you can say in front of my entire family,” I retorted. As much as I hated the thought, it was refreshing to feel his skin against mine. His palms were rough; thick calluses had formed on his fingers. I remembered how his hands felt years ago when we kissed in the forest. They had still been strong, but not as hard and rugged.
    Lance knew that my reply was half-hearted. He kept leading me, raising his eyebrows as he did.
    “I think you want to hear what I have to say.” His voice was low, just loud enough for me to hear. Finally, I sighed.
    “You get two minutes,” I said with venom in my tone. He seemed to be more than happy with that and held the door to an empty hallway open for me.
    “This way,” I said, turning the tables and pulling him down another side hallway. Lance didn’t protest, but I heard a deep breath escape his nostrils. When we got to the door at the end of the hallway, I nodded at it. It was a little surprising that