The Mafia Boss’s Baby Wouldn’t Stop Crying—Until a Single Mother Did the Unthinkable
«I’m scared,» she admitted.
«So am I.» Dominic kissed her forehead, soft and reverent. «But I’m more scared of letting you walk away.»
Before Sarah could respond, Marco stirred, letting out a small whimper. She automatically began rocking him, maternal instincts kicking in. Dominic watched them, and the expression on his face stole Sarah’s breath—possessive, protective, and full of so much longing it hurt.
«Let me put him down,» she said softly.
Together, they moved to the crib, a massive thing of carved wood and soft linens. She laid Marco down gently, and Dominic immediately adjusted the blanket, checked the baby monitor, and performed all the little rituals of a father who’d been doing this alone for two months. When he straightened, Sarah was right there, and suddenly the air between them was charged again.
The nursery lights were dimmed, Marco’s soft breathing the only sound. They were alone in this bubble of domesticity, and Sarah felt the last of her resistance crumbling.
«I should go to my room,» she said, but didn’t move.
«You should,» Dominic agreed, also not moving. «We need boundaries.»
«We do. This is happening too fast.»
«It is.» But when his hand found the small of her back, pulling her closer, Sarah didn’t resist.
When he kissed her again, deeper this time, with the hunger of a man who’d been holding back for days, she kissed him back with equal fervor. They stumbled away from the crib, mindful of the sleeping baby, until Sarah’s back hit the wall, and Dominic was pressing against her, all hard muscle and controlled power.
«Tell me to stop,» he murmured against her lips.
«I should. But will you?»
Sarah looked up into his eyes—those dark, dangerous eyes that somehow made her feel safer than she had in months—and made a decision that would change everything.
«No.»
The word was barely out before his mouth was on hers again, and Sarah forgot all the reasons this was a terrible idea. She forgot about his criminal empire, about the danger, about the fact that she’d known him less than a week. All she could feel was his warmth, his strength, the way he held her like she was something precious he’d been searching for his whole life.
When they finally broke apart, both panting, Dominic rested his forehead against hers.
«Three more days,» he said. «Your contract gives you three more days before you’re free to leave.»
«Yes.»
«If you still want to leave after that, I won’t stop you. I’ll honor our agreement.» His hands framed her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. «But Sarah, I’m going to spend those three days convincing you to stay. I’m going to show you that what we could have—what we could be—it’s worth the risk.»
«And if I still want to leave?»
Pain flickered across his features, but he nodded. «Then I’ll let you go. I’ll make sure you’re protected, set up somewhere safe where the other families can’t touch you. But I’ll let you go.»
Sarah searched his face, looking for lies, for manipulation, for any sign that this was a trap. But all she saw was honesty and a vulnerability that this powerful man probably showed to no one else.
«Okay,» she whispered. «Three days.»
Something fierce and possessive flashed in Dominic’s eyes. «Three days,» he repeated. Then he kissed her once more, soft and reverent, before forcing himself to step back. «Get some rest. Marco will be hungry in a few hours.»
Sarah nodded, her lips still tingling from his kisses, and slipped out of the nursery. Her legs felt shaky as she walked the short distance to her room, her mind spinning with everything that had just happened. She’d kissed him. She’d agreed to let him try to convince her to stay. She was falling for a man who probably had more blood on his hands than she wanted to know about.
But God help her… when she was in his arms, none of that seemed to matter.
Sarah locked her bedroom door and leaned against it, one hand pressed to her racing heart. Three days. In three days, she’d either be walking away from the first man who’d made her feel alive since losing Emma, or she’d be stepping fully into a world that terrified her. She didn’t know which option scared her more.
Down the hall, Dominic stood in the nursery, watching his son sleep peacefully. For the first time since Isabella’s death, he felt something other than guilt and grief. He felt hope.
He felt the stirrings of something that might be happiness. Sarah Mitchell had walked into their lives like an angel, offering salvation when he’d been drowning. And now… now he had three days to make her understand that this thing between them wasn’t just about Marco needing a mother, or about ancient traditions binding them together.
It was about the fact that when he looked at her, he didn’t see the broken nurse running from her grief. He saw his future. He saw the woman who could stand beside him, who could be strong enough to survive in his world, who could love his son as fiercely as he did.
He saw his queen.
The problem was, Sarah didn’t see herself that way. Not yet. She still saw herself as the woman who’d failed to save her daughter, as someone too broken to take on something as big as loving them.
Dominic pulled out his phone and sent a text to Luca: Cancel all meetings for the next three days. I’m not to be disturbed unless the city is burning.
Three days to convince Sarah Mitchell that despite the darkness, despite the danger, despite every rational reason she had to run, she belonged here. With them. In this strange, fractured family that was somehow becoming whole again.
Three days to make her fall in love with them.
Dominic Santoro had built an empire through force of will and ruthless determination. Surely he could win one woman’s heart in three days.
As Marco let out a soft sigh in his sleep, Dominic made a silent vow. He would give Sarah every reason to stay, and no reason to leave. He would show her the man beneath the title, the father beneath the Don, the heart beneath the armor.
And if she still chose to leave after that? Then he’d have to let her go. Even if it destroyed him. But first… first, he’d fight like hell to make her want to stay.
The game was on, and Dominic Santoro never lost. Not when it mattered this much.
Sarah woke to chaos. An explosion shattered the predawn silence, rattling windows throughout the mansion. She bolted upright, heart hammering, and her first thought was Marco.
She ran barefoot across the hall into the nursery, finding Dominic already there, his son clutched protectively against his chest.
«What’s happening?» Sarah’s voice trembled.
«They made their move.» Dominic’s face was carved from stone, all vulnerability from their kiss the night before replaced by the cold Don she’d glimpsed on the plane. «The Morettis. They just bombed my warehouse on the docks.»
Before Sarah could respond, Luca burst through the door, blood streaking his temple.
«Boss, it’s a distraction. They hit three locations simultaneously, and they left a message.» He glanced at Sarah, hesitation clear.
«Say it,» Dominic commanded.
«They want the woman. They said if you don’t hand over the Santoro heir’s wet nurse by midnight, they’ll level every property you own.»
The room spun around Sarah. This was her fault. Her presence had painted a target on this family.
«Give me to them.» The words tumbled out before she could stop them. «If it stops the war?»
«No.» Dominic’s voice was absolute, brooking no argument. He handed Marco to Teresa, who had appeared silently in the doorway. «Take him to the safe room. Now.»
Then he was in front of Sarah, his hands gripping her shoulders with barely controlled intensity. «Listen to me very carefully. You are under my protection. That means I would burn this entire city to the ground before I let anyone take you. Do you understand?»
Sarah saw it then—the monster everyone feared. His eyes had gone black and cold, his whole body radiating lethal intent. But his hands on her shoulders remained gentle, even as fury rolled off him in waves.
«They’ll kill you,» she whispered.
«They’ll try.» A dangerous smile curved his lips. «They’ll fail. But Sarah?» His expression softened fractionally. «I need you to trust me. Can you do that?»
She should say no. She should demand he let her leave. End this before more people died. But looking into his eyes, seeing the fierce protectiveness there, she found herself nodding.
«Good.» He pulled her close, pressing a hard kiss to her forehead. «Luca will take you to the safe room with Marco. Stay there until I come for you. Don’t open the door for anyone else.»
«Dominic…»
«I’ll come back.» He cupped her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. «I promise you, Sarah Mitchell, I will come back. We have three days left, remember? I’m not done convincing you to stay.»
Then he was gone, barking orders into his phone as he strode from the nursery. Sarah stood frozen until Luca touched her arm gently.
«Miss Mitchell, we need to move.»
The safe room was deep in the mansion’s basement, accessed through a hidden door in the wine cellar. It was surprisingly comfortable—a full apartment with bedrooms, kitchen, and enough supplies to last weeks. Teresa was already there with Marco, the baby miraculously still sleeping through the chaos.
«How long will we be here?» Sarah asked as Luca secured the heavy door.
«However long it takes.» Teresa’s face was grim. «The Don won’t rest until every threat is eliminated.»
Hours crawled by. Sarah fed Marco when he woke, her body going through the familiar motions while her mind screamed with worry. What was happening up there? Was Dominic safe? How many people were dying because of her?
When Marco finally went back to sleep in the portable crib, Sarah found herself pacing like a caged animal. Teresa watched her with knowing eyes.
«You love him,» the older woman said quietly. It wasn’t a question.
«I barely know him.»
«That doesn’t answer my question.»
Sarah stopped pacing, her shoulders slumping. «How can I love someone whose world is so violent? Someone who probably has blood on his hands?»
«My husband worked for the Don’s father,» Teresa said. «Thirty years in this life. It took him in the end. A rival’s bullet meant for the old Don. But those thirty years? They were full of love, loyalty, and family. Yes, there was darkness. There’s always darkness in this world. But there was light too.»
«Does the light make up for the darkness?»
«That’s for you to decide, Miss Mitchell.» Teresa stood, moving toward the small kitchen. «But I’ll tell you this. I’ve worked for the Santoro family for forty years. I’ve seen three Dons. And I’ve never seen one look at a woman the way Dominic looks at you. Like you’re his salvation.»
Sarah was still processing those words when the lights flickered. Once, twice. Then the backup generator kicked in, bathing everything in emergency lighting.
«What does that mean?» Sarah’s voice rose with panic.
Teresa’s face had gone pale. «It means someone cut the main power. It means they’re here.»
The sound of gunfire erupted from somewhere above them, muffled but unmistakable. Sarah ran to Marco’s crib, scooping him up protectively. The baby woke with a startled cry, sensing the tension. Then the lights went out completely.
In the darkness, Sarah heard Teresa move closer, heard the distinctive sound of a gun being cocked. «Stay behind me,» the older woman commanded, all grandmotherly warmth replaced by cold efficiency.
More gunfire, shouting, the sounds of combat filtering down through the reinforced walls. Sarah clutched Marco tighter, tears streaming down her face as she whispered nonsense reassurances to the crying infant.
