Page 22 of Ruthless Vows

The baby blinks up at me, his clear blue eyes so much like his father’s. He looks a lot like my sister, though. He has her nose and her mouth, but those eyes are so very clearly Nico.

“You know, when I first heard his name, I thought it was sweet that you wanted to recognize our father. Now, though, I’m thinking it’s a possibility that the kid could be subjected tobullies later in life. Alejandro Valerio Ramirez is a pretty big mouthful. You could have given him a more generic name. Like Chad. Chads don’t get bullied.”

Aurora scoffs. “Like I’d ever name my baby Chad. Alejandro’s a wonderful name.”

“You say that now, but no one’s going to be there with him years from now in the playground when the kids are making fun of him.”

I don’t really hate his name. I’m just looking for something to gripe about. Something my sister picks up on immediately.

“You’re being ridiculous. Why would anyone make fun of a kid named Alejandro? Since when are you so cynical?” Aurora questions.

I sigh, holding the baby closer to my chest. “I’m just jet lagged,sorella.”

“The flight from New York to here was two hours,” she drawls, calling me out on my bullshit. “Wanna tell me what’s really going on?”

I avoid eye contact, unwilling to let her look into my head and pull out my secrets just yet. She pushed a baby out of her weeks ago; she deserves rest. And I have no plans to bother her with my problems.

“I’m fine,” I assure her. “Quit bugging me.”

Aurora raises both her hands in surrender. “You’re pissier than me and I just gave birth.”

I smile. “You’re right. I’m sorry. What do you need me to do? As his aunt, I nominate myself as babysitter for life.”

“Careful with the promises you make, Luce,” a new voice joins in. I look up at the doorway to find my brother-in-law. “You just might end up regretting that.”

“Never,” I say assuredly.

Nicolas Ramirez chuckles as he walks into the room. He isn’t just a brother-in-law to me, he’s also the closest thing I have to abrother. He and my sister just got together over a year ago, after an embarrassing ten years of pining for one another. I love them both so much.

The baby starts to cry and I step forward to place him in his mother’s arms, where he’s immediately soothed. Aurora starts to breastfeed him, while I look up at Nico.

“You look tired, Nicky,” I say affectionately.

And he really does. I understand they’ve just had a baby, but it’s more than that for him. Nico’s also the Don of the Italian outfit. The Cosa Nostra. A position that used to be belong to my father but passed to Nico upon his death. It must be hard, navigating being a Don while being a new father. Their relationship went through several hiccups, but at the end of the day, I’m glad they were able to find this. And each other.

He looks at my sister like she hung the moon. That kind of dedication and admiration is truly rare. I’m not saying I need something like that, but if I ever found a love half as great as theirs, I’d cherish it forever.

“Thanks,” he mutters. “I can always count on you to be honest.”

I grin at that. He starts telling me about the moment Alejandro was born and I listen attentively, suddenly glad to be back with family. I didn’t feel so positively about things on my flight here, but now I understand that all things happen for a reason. And maybe, just maybe, this is where I’m meant to be.

“So how long are you going to be here for?” Nico questions, crossing his arms over his chest.

I arch an eyebrow. “Already chasing me off? I just got here, Nicky.”

“No, but you and I both know your return is going to cause a few tremors within the outfit. I’m trying to make plans for that.”

I sigh softly. Nico and his plans. “Actually, I haven’t decided when I’m going to be leaving yet.”

That has him raising his eyebrows in question.

“I had the same reaction,” my sister speaks up. “Usually you can’t get her away from that job of hers, and now she’s talking about an extended visit. Something’s up.”

Damn it. Why did I have to be cursed with a family that knows me so well?

I’m saved from having to reply when someone walks into the room. My eyes connect with green ones that are like a shock to my system. The smile that spreads over my face is instinctive. He returns it, his expression shifting swiftly from annoyance to mild surprise.

“Hey, chipmunk,” Adrian Rossi greets, stepping forward to hug me and ruffle my hair. “I see you finally made it.”

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