The aroma of garlic and basil filled the small kitchen as I stirred the pot of marinara sauce, my mind racing. Tonight was the night. I couldn't keep putting it off. Kylie needed to know the truth about me, about her father, about the world she had unknowingly stepped into.
I wiped my hands on a towel, glancing at the clock on the wall. She should be back soon. I had one of my men keeping an eye on her, ensuring she was safe at the park. I hated having to keep tabs on her like this, but it was necessary. In our world, safety was never a guarantee.
The front door creaked open, and I heard Kylie's footsteps in the hallway. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead.
"Hey, D'Angelo," she called out, her voice tinged with weariness as she stepped into the kitchen. "Something smells good."
I turned to face her, giving her a small smile. "Just thought I'd make us a nice dinner. How was the park?"
She shrugged, dropping her bag by the door and heading to the sink to wash her hands. "It was fine. Met up with Theo and Gina."
"Good," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual. "Are you hungry?"
"Starving," she said, drying her hands and sitting down at the small kitchen table. "What's the occasion?"
I hesitated, turning back to the stove to hide the unease in my expression. "Just felt like doing something nice. We need to talk, Kylie."
The change in my tone didn't go unnoticed. She stiffened slightly, her eyes narrowing. "What's going on, D'Angelo?"
I served up the pasta and sauce, setting the plates on the table before sitting down across from her. "There's a lot you don't know about me. About your past. It's time you learned the truth."
She frowned, her fork paused midway to her mouth. "What do you mean?"
I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "I'm involved in something... dangerous. The people I work with, the things I do-they're not exactly legal."
Kylie's eyes widened, the fork clattering to her plate. "Are you in the mafia?"
The bluntness of her question caught me off guard, but I nodded slowly. "Yes. And it's not just me. Your biological father was also part of this world. He was a leader."
She stared at me, shock and confusion warring in her expression. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"I wanted to," I said, my voice softening. "But with everything you've been through, I didn't want to add to your burden. I needed to make sure you were safe first."
Kylie looked down at her plate, her hands trembling slightly. "So all this time, you've been keeping tabs on me, making sure I didn't find out?"
"I've been protecting you," I corrected gently. "This life-it's not something you can just walk away from. And I needed to be sure you were ready to hear it."
YOU ARE READING
Guns 'n Roses
FantasíaIn a world where loyalty is a dangerous game, kylina finds herself torn between danger and desire. When a forbidden romance with D'Angelo, A mafia leader ignites, the line between love and survival blurs. As she pulls back, her breath heavy with ant...