The Off Limits Baby

THE OFF LIMITS BABY A SURPRISE PREGNANCY MAFIA ROMANCE BELLA KING AFTER MIDNIGHT CONTENTS Blurb Chapter 1 Iris Chapter 2 Matteo Chapter 3 Iris Chapter 4 Matteo Chapter 5 Iris Chapter 6 Iris Chapter 7 Matteo Chapter 8 Matteo Chapter 9 Iris Chapter 10 Iris Chapter 11 Matteo Chapter 12 Iris Chapter 13 Matteo Chapter 14 Iris Chapter 15 Matteo Chapter 16 Iris Chapter 17 Matteo Chapter 18 Iris Chapter 19 Matteo Chapter 20 Iris Chapter 21 Matteo Chapter 22 Iris Chapter 23 Matteo Chapter 24 Iris Chapter 25 Iris Chapter 26 Matteo Chapter 27 Iris Chapter 28 Iris Chapter 29 Iris Chapter 30 Matteo Chapter 31 Iris Chapter 32 Matteo Chapter 33 Matteo Chapter 34 Iris Epilogue Preview of Sinful Claim BLURB As a journalist, I’m inclined to do just about anything for a good story. So when I got the opportunity to share a room with an undeniably handsome and super off-limits Italian mafia boss to catch my big break and propel my career to new heights, I jumped at the chance. It started off with clear boundaries and respectful conversations. But as I dove deeper into his wicked world, I began to realize that my gorgeous billionaire roommate was becoming more possessive and protective of me, Tempting me to cross boundaries and give in to his forbidden desires. And, little by little, I began playing his game… He was never supposed to be more than a bad decision and a good story, But in nine months, I’ll be having his baby. And once the world discovers my secret, Everything I’ve ever worked for will crumble to dust. 1 Iris From the moment this story was dropped on my desk, I knew it was going to change my career. Nothing has ever come close to this. It’s a topic of conversation that’s been buzzing around the city for a few months now, but I always chalked it up to paranoia as a symptom of suburban boredom. The way people spoke about it always seemed so melodramatic and blown out of proportion that I didn’t give it much thought. At least, not until now. Human trafficking has wrapped its cold, reptilian hands around the throat of my community, and I finally understand why. There have been speculations about it in the past, sure, but now we have concrete evidence that it’s taking place right on the harbor. The same place where our fresh fish imports and manufactured goods roll into is the hub of unspeakable acts. John knew it would be a good case for me to pursue because of my close-held beliefs and values surrounding feminism and equality. However, I truly do wish he had considered the ramifications of putting me on this story. The information I’ve received is simple, to the point, and lacking any nuance – go to the harbor and find any evidence that these crimes are amiss. How the hell could he send a small, young woman to such a place with a clear conscience? I suppose he’s a pretty traditional man in the sense that he sees women as ornamental and fragile until we start demanding equal treatment. Then, suddenly, he advocates for more women in sewage treatment facilities and active combat. He has no understanding of the meaning of feminism, and he’s perfectly happy that way. I glance over the instructions at least three times before I’m able to even get up from my chair to get my coat on. There’s a stone in my stomach that grows heavier each time my eyes scan the paper. Hudson Industrial Harbor Thirteenth Receiving Bay Building 218 Proceed with Caution I refuse to allow my nervous system to psych me out. In a way, it feels like a betrayal of my evolution to push back against the very real, very necessary gift that is innate fear, but I’ve been working for years for the position I’ve found myself in. If I want to stay where I’m at, or hell, even move up in my company, I need to push my limits. I’ve never been the type to turn down an assignment, especially not if I thought that’s what John wanted. I think he offers me assignments like this in order to spook me out of the industry. He thinks he’s so much better at his job than I am when all he writes about is the stock market. After being at this publisher for five years, I thought I would have gained a little more respect from him, but he refuses to see the value in my work. I studied just as hard as he did for my degree, possibly harder. Knowing him, he just partied for four years and did all his assignments hungover. Still, I wonder about how dangerous my male cohorts’ assignments have been in the recent past. I doubt it’s been anything within the realm of grievous bodily harm. Whatever. I pick up my coat off the back of my chair and pull it over my shoulders, pulling it tight as I button it. The weather has been unseasonably cold lately, and of course, tonight the temperature is dropping into the mid-thirties. All I need to do is find something damning to take pictures of, both for my story and for the police department. I check over my DSLR camera a few times to make sure I have the right lens, a strong charge, and no flash on. I’d hate to be caught in the middle of this with any of these issues on the horizon. The drive to the location in question feels surreal. I watch tons of totally average people wander about the sidewalks on their way home from work, and I wonder to myself what they’re all thinking - worrying about making their quarterly goals, stressing about a bad performance review, maybe daydreaming about a forbidden office romance with an intern. Whatever it is, it’s safe to say that I envy the safety of it all. When I