the resignation of parental rights for Antonia de Silva. Signed posthumously in absentia for one Massimo Andretti.”
“What if we could establish paternity?” I asked.
Everyone turned to look at me.
Shit. I hadn’t expected to become the center of attention.
“Explain, sorella,” Mas said.
I swallowed. “Well, if we could run DNA…stuff on Massimo and Amara, that could wipe out all of the fiasco with Andretti, correct?”
“But the child is missing, figlia,” Momma reminded me gently.
I shook my head. “Perhaps, but you can’t tell me Antonia didn’t keep any of Amara’s stuff. A lock of baby hair. Cord blood. Something.” I looked at Daphne. “That would work, right?”
She nodded. “Yes, that could be used to establish paternity. It would make any document null and void from Antonia as she wouldn’t be the surviving parent. But we would need to find genetic material of Amara and send it out for comparison.”
“You said you have Amara’s birth certificate,” Nico said.
Daphne nodded again. “Yes, it’s in the file. I would start there. See if they have actual birth records or if the certificate has been manufactured as well.”
Mas snarled softly. “I cannot submit to DNA testing.” He looked at his family.
“We can send it to a private lab,” Daphne said. “As long as the lab is reputable and the results come back to my office unopened, then your DNA would never be part of a database.” Her cheeks colored. “If that was your true concern.”
Mas nodded. Blew out a breath. “Yes. That was my worry. Thank you for helping again.” He laid a hand to his chest, bowed his head slightly.
Turo looked at Ryker. “Do you think Nik would be willing to help?”
Ryker shrugged. “That will be a Nik question. I don’t own her. Although I’m sure she wouldn’t have an issue accepting the job, I certainly won’t be doing so on her behalf. I can call her though.”
Turo smiled, got to his feet. “I can call her.” He walked down the hall and disappeared.
“Could Jessa do the draw for the DNA?” I asked. “Might as well see about keeping it in the family as much as possible.”
Daphne shook her head. “In this case, an unaffiliated third party is going to be the best bet so no one can later contest the results. But I do have a lab we can use. Very reputable, very trustworthy. Been in business for over seventy-five years. They recently moved into DNA assays with the big ‘who are my people’ craze.”
Mas nodded. “Yes. If you will give me the information, I will submit a sample immediately.”
Daphne nodded. She grabbed her portfolio from her bag. Flinging it open, she scribbled down a few lines of words. “Call and ask for Martha. She’ll get you set up at the soonest possible time.”
Mas rose once more to his feet and took the paper Daphne offered. “Grazie.”
“Prego,” Daphne replied with a slight grin.
“Ah! I knew I liked you,” Momma said with a huge grin.
Daphne laughed. “That’s about the extent of my Italian.”
“A little is more than enough.” Momma waved away Daphne’s statement.
My belly grumbled, drawing every single person’s attention. My cheeks went red. “Sorry.” I curled my arms over my midsection.
Tali, quiet and observant through all of this, glared up at Ryker. “You don’t feed my girl?”
Ryker snorted. “I feed her, but it’s not real—”
I slammed my elbow back into his belly. Glared up at him.
Everyone laughed.
Ryker chuckled, rubbed a hand over his own stomach. “I was going to stay, it’s not really been in our schedule today. We’ve been at the DA’s office since we left the hospital.” He leaned down, kissed my head. “I can see if anyone’s open for takeout or delivery.”
Momma snorted. “No. I will make dinner. Come, Papa. We need to feed our brood of babies.” She pushed to her feet, helped pull Papa to his and walked into the kitchen area like they owned the home.
Ryker whispered, “Are they going to disown me once they see I don’t really have any food in here?”
I snorted. “Maybe. Or stock your shelves. One of the two.”
Momma looked through each shelf, peered in the fridge. With a glare over her shoulder at my man, she pulled her phone from her pocket. “Raphael, you must go back to the lofts and bring food. Ryker needs to stock his pantry, his woman is hungry. And we all know what happens when our Willow gets the munchies.”
The room burst into laughter.
I couldn’t even be mad. It was only the truth.
Chapter 18 – Ryker
Everyone was squished