The Mafia's Babies by Kaycee Romano (little readers TXT) 📕

She was surprised because it was the first time she had seen the man smile like that. He looked ten years younger!

I didn't know he could look so happy. Her inner voice said.

The man worked day and night in his fifties to look after his autistic son and pay for his own heart treatment. It was like his smile was weighed down by his burdens and sorrow. But he loved his son, with every fiber of his being.

River aspired to be the kind of parent he was. And she believed she was successful to some extent.

"Dr. Johnson." He nodded with a smile as he walked past her.

"Dr. Erwin." River returned his smile and made her way to the room, guarded by two large intimidating men.

"I am Dr. River Johnson." She flashed them her ID card. "Orthopedic surgeon."

She glanced at the name plate on the door.

Mateo Adesso.

Italian.

The patient from earlier today.

What? He didn't like the color of the bandage?

.

.

.

"I can't believe you didn't call us until after the surgery!" Katrina was beyond mad. She was madder at her husband and mother-in-law for leaving for Chicago nevertheless though she knew her Alessio had gone unwillingly due to Abrianna's pestering and constant reminder of the duties of a true Boss.

After the stunt that Alessia had pulled earlier by not appearing for the family dinner, Abrianna was furious and she felt utterly insulted so none of them had the guts to oppose any other decision of hers and they all just followed her instructions without question.

Katrina was of no use at the meeting in Chicago so she was excused and allowed to tend to her son, at whom Abrianna was extremely disappointed. How could he get shot at such an easy encounter? And that too when his opponent was a measly woman?

Leonardo and Luigi had to go with them as well.

Adam would be over in a while. He had a meeting to attend in Mateo's place. And he had convinced Katrina that he will be the one staying the nights and she could rest in Mateo's place.

And Alessia hadn't shown the least interest or concern when her mother had called her to inform her that her brother was attacked and now hospitalized.

The conversation was short between the mother and daughter.

"Is he dead?"

"No Alessia. How could you even say that?"

"Then don't waste my time."

Alessia had hung up on her without asking any further questions about her own brother's well-being. Katrina was hurt but she understood that Alessia had been hurt in the worst ways, in ways a mother could never imagine for her daughter and she was so proud of her daughter for rising up from ashes and not scattering into the wind.

She missed her little Sia dearly but she was proud of the new woman she had become.

Mateo gave her a flat look before staring ahead, waiting for the doctor who had treated him earlier today. He had thanked one of the surgeons who had attended to him when he had come in and was said to have operated on him after he had fallen unconscious.

Now, he had the infuriating woman who had walked into the operating room while he was writhing in pain to thank.

He really didn't know whether he should thank her for her service or shoot her for her insolence towards him. After all, he was the Capo of the New York unit of the Sicilian Mafia and whether she knew it or not, she had the audacity to run her mouth in front of him, lowkey mocking him with her every word. Maybe he was imagining it but he really was surprised and annoyed at the way she spoke.

The door opened and one of his men walked in front announcing,

"Doctor Johnson is here, capo." [capo - boss]

Mateo nodded. He moved out of the way to reveal her.

Brown, almost black curls were tied up in a ponytail, though some of them managed to escape their restraint and frame her small slender face. Her eyes were a chocolate brown, but dulled with exhaustion. Even with chapped lips and bags under her eyes, there was no denying the fact that she was a beauty.

And suddenly Mateo remembered seeing her somewhere before though he couldn't point out from where. Had he slept with her before?

She gave him a smile when she saw him. It was a tired but polite smile. In no way was she showing any attraction or flirtatious intentions. As much as that hurt Mateo's male ego, he was impressed by her professionalism.

And he saw no sign of recognition. Even if he had forgotten, he didn't think any woman could forget him. So he came to the conclusion that he might have mistook her for someone else or maybe saw her somewhere randomly and remembered her face because she was so beautiful.

"How are you feeling, Mr. Adesso?" River smiled as she walked over to his side, her eyes darting to the monitors. She was indeed a doctor.

Again, Mateo couldn't help but notice the weariness in her voice and features.

"I think I should ask you. You look like you are about to pass out any second now." He replied, keeping his face expressionless. Smiling was not for him. But so was concern, but he found himself worrying about her condition. Maybe it was because she looked like she hadn't slept or eaten properly in days or because he thought he owed it to her for saving his life, or at least his leg.

"Life of a surgeon." She shrugged, not taking her eyes off of the monitor. She held her hand out and the nurse rushed to her side, handing her the clipboard with Mateo's reports.

She demanded respect with her mere presence. Mateo found it amusing and attractive at the same time.

She pulled her upper lip back with her teeth as she paged through the papers. And Mateo found himself studying every moment on her delicate features.

"Give him a shot of ephedrine." She hummed. "The effect of cocaine has gone down and now his blood pressure is low due to the nitroprusside we administered."