The Mafia Heir’s Hidden Child

3- Questions

The silence stretched.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Parker could practically hear her pulse pounding in her ears.

Maxton’s gaze remained fixed on Luca.

Not casually.

Not politely.

Studying him.

Analyzing him.

As if trying to solve a puzzle.

Luca stared right back.

Completely unimpressed.

Parker knew that look.

It was the same stubborn expression he wore whenever someone told him he couldn’t have dessert before dinner.

The same expression she’d seen in the mirror six years ago.

The same expression currently staring at her from Maxton Sutton’s face.

Her stomach dropped.

“Mommy?”

Luca tugged on her sleeve.

“Who’s that?”

The question seemed to snap everyone back to reality.

Parker swallowed.

Hard.

Before she could answer, Sophia stepped forward.

“A very old friend.”

Old friend.

The words felt painfully inadequate.

Maxton’s eyes flicked briefly toward Sophia.

“Still speaking for Parker?”

Sophia smiled.

The smile wasn’t friendly.

“Someone has to.”

Parker wanted to disappear.

Unfortunately, life never gave her that option.

Especially not where Maxton Sutton was concerned.

His attention returned to Luca.

“What’s your name?”

Parker’s entire body tensed.

Luca, oblivious, grinned.

“Luca.”

Something shifted behind Maxton’s eyes.

A flicker.

Gone before she could identify it.

“That’s a good name.”

“I know.”

Sophia choked on a laugh.

Parker closed her eyes briefly.

Of course.

Of course her son would compliment himself.

Maxton’s mouth twitched.

The smallest hint of amusement.

The first c***k in the cold mask he’d been wearing.

And somehow that hurt worse.

Because for a second she saw the boy she’d loved.

The one she’d left behind.

“How old are you, Luca?”

Parker’s grip tightened.

Danger.

Danger.

Danger.

The questions were innocent.

The answers weren’t.

“I’m five.”

The world seemed to stop.

Not visibly.

Not dramatically.

But Parker noticed.

Because she was watching Maxton.

And for a split second, he went completely still.

Calculating.

Doing the math.

She saw it happen.

Sophia saw it happen too.

Their eyes met briefly.

Neither spoke.

Luca continued cheerfully.

“I’ll be six soon.”

Maxton’s gaze remained locked on him.

Then slowly lifted toward Parker.

The look in his eyes made her chest tighten.

Six years.

The exact number of years she’d been gone.

The exact number of years Luca had existed.

Coincidence.

Nothing more.

At least that’s what she desperately wanted him to believe.

“Luca,” Parker said quickly.

“Didn’t you tell me you wanted pizza?”

His face lit up.

“PIZZA!”

Thank God.

Distraction.

Her favorite parenting tool.

Sophia immediately jumped in.

“I know a place.”

“You always know a place.”

“That’s because I’m talented.”

Luca nodded solemnly.

“Aunt Sophie is very talented.”

“See?”

Sophia pointed.

“The child understands.”

For a moment, the tension eased.

For a moment, Parker thought maybe they could escape.

Then Maxton spoke again.

“Is his father around?”

The question hit like a punch.

Sophia nearly dropped her coffee.

Parker froze.

Luca blinked.

The air vanished from her lungs.

Of all the questions.

Of course it would be that one.

Maxton wasn’t looking at Luca anymore.

He was looking directly at her.

Waiting.

Watching.

Parker forced herself to breathe.

“That’s none of your business.”

His jaw tightened.

“Fair.”

It wasn’t fair.

Nothing about this felt fair.

Because she knew exactly what he was asking.

And why.

The resemblance wasn’t impossible to miss.

Not if you knew what to look for.

Not if you’d spent years looking at your own reflection.

Luca tilted his head.

“I don’t have a dad.”

The innocent statement shattered something inside her.

Parker’s heart squeezed painfully.

Before she could respond, Luca continued.

“Well, I do.”

The panic returned instantly.

“Oh my God,” Sophia muttered.

“But Mommy says he doesn’t know about me.”

Everything stopped.

Absolutely everything.

Parker felt the blood drain from her face.

Sophia went completely rigid.

The courthouse.

The traffic.

The people.

Gone.

There was only terror.

Pure terror.

Luca frowned.

“What?”

Parker’s mind scrambled.

Think.

Think.

Think.

“Buddy—”

“I wasn’t supposed to say that?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

Sophia pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Fantastic.”

Luca looked genuinely confused.

“What happened?”

Maxton hadn’t moved.

Hadn’t spoken.

Hadn’t blinked.

His eyes were locked on Parker.

Sharp.

Focused.

Dangerous.

Questions filled his expression.

Questions she couldn’t answer.

Not here.

Not now.

Maybe not ever.

Finally, Maxton spoke.

His voice was quieter than before.

Far more dangerous.

“He doesn’t know about him?”

Parker’s pulse thundered.

She forced herself to hold his stare.

Forced herself not to look away.

Forced herself not to crumble.

“No.”

The answer hung between them.

Maxton studied her for a long moment.

Then Luca.

Then her again.

Whatever conclusion he reached, he kept to himself.

For now.

But Parker knew that look.

She remembered it from years ago.

It was the look Maxton wore whenever he found something he intended to uncover.

And Maxton Sutton had never been good at letting things go.

Especially when it came to her.

Especially when it came to secrets.

For the first time since leaving six years ago, Parker realized something terrifying.

Seeing Maxton again wasn’t the danger.

The danger was that he was already asking questions.

And sooner or later—

He was going to find answers.