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CHAPTER ONE

Petrov’s Pizzeria ned and operated by Benito Petrov, a great bear of a man, and his son, Tito Those who frequented the pizzeria and stood in line, soet in, considered it the best pizza in Chicago—and that was saying a lot It didn’t see a table was always difficult, and on weekends, it was nearly impossible Takeout was a brisk business, and that was always a wait as well

The pizzeria was right in the heart of Ferraro territory, a large section of businesses and homes that were owned, rented, or leased and protected by the Ferraro family There hispers and rumors about the fao to theo away

Stefano Ferraro was head of the family, and he ruled with an iron fist They owned banks and hotels, race cars and nightclubs, and they ran all sorts of other businesses, but they could be counted on to take care of the small problems in their territory They knew the business owners by na the local deli or pizzeria

Benito kept a booth just for their fauards It was always empty for them, even at his busiest times They’d never asked him to do so, but then they’d helped him out of more than one proble, and they tipped his waitresses and waiters more than fairly It was a in situation

Tonight, only the youngest Ferraro had slipped into the pizzeria through the side door, her bodyguards and Elie Archambault with her Everyone hoped there would be an announceement between Emmanuelle and Elie Emme was a favorite of everyone in the Ferraro territory and she’d seeh, and they wanted Emme happy

Ehed as she dipped a salty breadstick into oil and took a bite The booth in the shadows ed to hide her from most of the other patrons in the restaurant, which hy this particular table was always held in reserve for the Ferraro fao just to be “normal” when she never felt as if she could truly relax anywhere else Eating pizza at Petrov’s with Elie Archaet, and she was extremely happy that she could have this little time to pretend her life was ordinary

“I can’t believe the first thing you put on the plus side of this list was having babies” Elie glared at her

Her laughter spilled out again at the feigned horror on his face He was handsoes That black hair that spilled across his forehead and made women want to tame it

“I anity

She waved the breadstick at him “Don’t be such a baby This is very serious stuff Myaround Tons of them Like maybe a dozen Think about that, Elie We would make beautiful babies And since my mother and the devil have soht of your babies, that tops the list for pros I hope you’re really good with kids and like the idea of staying home with them I’m sure she’ll be around a lot because she’s not allowed in any of le one of their houses”

Elie groaned “That goes on the con list The staying home with the kids and your mother”

“You already wrote my mother She’s at the very top of the con list” Emme pointed with her breadstick “Number one”

“Yourhome with a dozen children to that con list I’m a shadow rider I don’t stay home with children That would be your job”

Emmanuelle made a face at him “Why? Because I’m a woman?”

“No, because you’re the one with the etting through the list,” Elie colanced down at the list and sighed “Your second pro is that I like the saood-looking?”

“No, because you already know you’re good-looking and that estured toward the “con” list “I think that’s nuance I had a difficult ti whether or not to put it up at the top of the list I think I should have”