His Baby My Burden: The Mafia Rider's Claim

"Mommy, can we buy this toy? Please?"

Sofia's voice pulled me right outta my head. I looked over at her, small fingers pressed up against a tiny shop window. She pointed at the small pink doll that costs twenty bucks. Her eyes, all sparkly and hopeful, looked up at me like I was her whole world. Gosh, its expensive. Why do they even sell it?

I squatted down next to her, brushed a stray hair outta her face, and gave her a half-smile. "I’m sorry, baby." I said, softly. "You know Mommy’s saving up for something real important, right? Not today. But next time, I promise."

She looked a bit sad, but she just nodded. “Okay, Mommy.”

I hugged and kissed her forehead to comfort her. Her hair smelled like the shampoo I bought her a week ago and a part of me could breathe easy when I held her like this. Like maybe I was doing some things right after all.

Sofia was my motivation to get up every day. Her very existence is proof that maybe, just maybe, I could love someone I should've been scared of. I made it through all the mess to find one thing worth not regretting

Sometimes, though, I think about how her life could’ve been different. If I'd made a different call here or there. Maybe a real home and a dad to love her would've changed everything.

“Mommy,” she spoke while we were walking. "Will my heart fix itself soon?"

Her question and voice sounded too innocent. I grabbed her hand tighter. "Of course, baby." I told her, even if I wasn't sure myself. "It will. I’m doin’ everything we can."

Her heart’s been sick since... well, since those long, sleepless nights when I was too broken to do anything. I was too afraid to run away, even too scared to live on my own. But I still decided to ran away when I was pregnant three years ago.

I didn’t know where I was going. I just knew I had to get away before I lost me completely. And I paid the price of wanting to live a normal life by Sofia not being able to grow up like the other kids.

But now... we’re better.

Life was never easy for the past three years for me. But it's quiet. And that’s all that matters. Being able to wake up with my little girl beside me laughing rather than waking up to gunshots was my definition of peace. That’s a small miracle. Something I would never trade on anything.

No one knew our name in this side of the country. We were just ordinary people trying to live too. I wouldn't trade it. Not for money. Not for power. Not even for blood.

Because I am not just running away from him. I was running from them, too. My family was a big syndicate. The same family that raised me with cold hands, colder hearts. They taught me nothing but to be their loyal dog. I was taught to always nod and just give orders, because as an heir I should be prepare to take over. No one taught me how to feel...except for him.

And when I fell in love with him and carried his child, he betrayed me. Including my family who saw me as a threat to their perfect image.

And even if they do accept my child, they will force me to raise Sofia in the same cage they trapped me in. Make her numb from any emotions. Over my dead body. If I have to runaway with no money and change names I would do it for Sofia. I’ll never let Sofia's hands be stained with the bloods that haunts me in the night.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard kids laughing in the distance, and the fresh grass smell mixing with morning dew. To some, Sunday is family day. To me, it's just a regular day for me because I have to work in order to save for Sofia's surgery.

"Stay close to Signora Rossi, okay?" I said, kneeling down in front of her and fixing her cute pink bow on her hair.

"I will, Mommy," she said sweetly, throwing' her little arms around my neck. “Don’t work too long.”

I smiled, "I won’t. I’ll be back before you finish your juice box."

She give me a quick kiss on the cheeks before running towards where other kids were already playing. I watched her for a sec before turning to Signora Rossi, who was sittin' on the bench, looking calm.

"Thank you,"

“You know, I love spending time with her.” she said, giving me a soft smile while she watched my kid play with other kids. “She’s the only kid I know who thank me every time I push her on the swing.”

“She enjoys every moment because I only allow her to play outside once a month,” I said, standing up straight and brushing off my jeans. “Too good for the world she was born into.” I said and handed her Sofia's medicine good for the whole day.

Signora Rossi looked at me as if she sees my pain even if she never asked about our past. Maybe she thinks we’d had enough of that.

I felt my phone vibrate, I pulled it out on my pocket and saw a message from Lucia popped up. “Diana, are you coming soon? I really need to go. Plus, there’s a customer looking for you.”

I took a deep breath before typing a reply back, “I’m on my way. I just dropped of Sofia at the park with her babysitter.” shoving the phone back in my pocket, I glanced at Sofia one last time—safe, smiling, blissfully unaware of the shadows.

“I gotta go.” I told Signora Rossi. “Let me know if anything happens.”

"Of course. Go, go. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be alright." I laughed under my breath, then started heading back to the street where my old pickup was parked. I called Lucia as I walked.

She picked up after two rings. “Diana?”

“Already on my way.” I said, dodging a family of three who's laughing while walking at the park. “Keep the customer busy.”

Then, out of nowhere while I was crossing the streets, a loud motorcycle was speedin’ right towards me. “Shit!” I gasped because the bike was too close. I took a step back and bumped into a couple by accident and a man spilling' his coffee.

“Watch it!” the man yelled.

“I’m sorry!” My heart was racing. Everything went too fast. I didn't even knew he didn't hit me and manage to turn his bike the other way. I even dropped my phone. God, I hope it's not broken. I can't really afford a new one now.

The biker stopped just a few feet away, not moving. Not a word. Just watchin'. The world seemed to slow, like I was caught in the middle of some bad movie. And then, as fast as he'd stopped, the biker revved up and zoomed off, without a single look back.

I picked up my phone hoping nothing happened. “Lucia?” My voice was rattling.

“I’m here. You, okay? What happened?” I calmed down realizing nothing was damage on my phone.

“Yeah… A biker almost hit me.” I stared down at the road where he disappeared. “He just stopped. Watched me. Then took off.”

I squeezed the phone, trying to shake the unease. “Nevermind. I’ll get there soon.”

The next few hours flew by—fixing cars, selling parts, conversations that didn’t matter. Lucia left after lunch, mumbling something’. I didn’t care. The quiet was nice. Gave me space to think.

I kept working—fixing stubborn engines, hands covered in oil. The smell of metal and grease was familiar.

Around four, another customer came in, asking for a kit. The other one was looking for a specific part of a bike. Thankfully, we had in stock. I was beyond happy after the man bought that part, I regretted buying that on my supplier because it was way too expensive and probably no one in the town would be able to afford it. Thankfully, someone did. Because it's been here on my garage for a while.

The money I earned today stayed on my mind all day, it'll be a huge help to pay for Sofia's surgery. But that damn biker? He kept bugging me. He didn't even say sorry! Just stared and left.

By the time the sun started setting, I felt my body ached in pain whenever I would stop to stretch my muscles. I wiped the sweat off my face and looked at the clock. Almost six.

“Finally,” I exhaled, and walked towards the door. I flipped the sign to Closed and started cleaning up. Just a few more bucks, and Sofia could get that heart surgery. We'd be free.

Then... there was a couple of bikers that parked outside my shop. They were pretty far but I could still see the. At least four, maybe five bikes. The windows shook with the sound of their engines.

I ignored it. Probably just some weekend riders. I kept workin’, rag in hand. Then the door bell rang, too sharp, too final. I didn't look up. "Sorry, we're closed. You can come back tomorrow—"

“Is it now, dolcezza?” My blood froze.

Matteo Ricci.

He was standing in the doorway like he'd never left. Black leather, hair all messed up, a scar across his brow. Those eyes... same stormy look he'd always had.