Page 96 of Broken Prince

“Sorry for the delay in getting you in but I have excellent news. I was on the phone with the Family District Court and frankly, Ms. West, your lawyer did a very poor job in this case.”

“I, um, I didn’t have a lawyer, you see.” I fidgeted on my chair, suddenly feeling like I let my brother down. “I didn’t do anything wrong and I didn’t have money so—”

Luca reached for my hand and squeezed it. “It doesn’t matter, what is it?”

“A couple of people offered to take your brother temporarily. A Mrs. Broussard and a distant relative—India Cassidy?”

I nodded. “Yes India is my cousin from Vancouver and Mrs. Broussard was our old maid. I was staying with her.”

The lawyer rested his arms on his desk and looked up at me. “All that to say that you were dismissed as a suspect very early in the investigation. I suspect some laziness and a lack of collaboration to have played a part in this mess, but your brother should have been given back to you weeks ago.”

Does— No, it could not be that easy. I was not that lucky. “Does it mean I can—”

“Have him back?” The lawyer smiled. “Yes, certainly! They made a mistake and are expediting the procedure. My assistant will be chasing daily but I suspect you will be able to pick up your brother in the next couple of days.”

“Oh, this is— This is—” I rested a trembling hand on my mouth, the relief bringing tears to my eyes.

The lawyer smiled. “I understand and you are welcome.”

Luca squeezed my hand again. “How do we go about adoption?”

I turned my head toward him. “You want us to adopt a child?”

He gave me a teasing smile. “Not right now, I rather we work on trying to make one.”

I blushed crimson in mortification at him saying that in front of a stranger.

“I’d like to adopt your brother, take away the stigma his name is causing him.”

“I see… Because Montanari doesn’t come with any preconceived stigmas?”

He laughed. “Yes, it does, but at least it comes with the type of stigma that will keep him safe no matter what.”

I turned toward the lawyer. “Is it doable?”

The graying man nodded. “Well, yes, it is doable, but the issue is that his parents are still alive and even if they are in jail, they still have parental authority. The only way that it would work is if—”

“They died?” Luca tried.

“Oh, for God's sake,” I muttered. I sometimes forgot my man was Mafia.

The lawyer was not even shocked. I wondered how often he dealt with men like Luca.

“No, the simplest way would be to have them relinquish their full parental rights to you or…” He gestured toward me. “Miss West. You can then start the process of adopting Jude West.”

“You’ll be okay with that?” Luca asked me.

“Yes, but—” I sighed. “As you know, my parents are very bad people. If they know it will make our lives easier, they won’t do it.”

Luca smiled at me, and it had a predatory edge I'd never really seen before; that was Capo Luca in front of me. “Oh, they will, trust me.” He turned toward the lawyer again. “Start all the paperwork; we’ll do that soon.”

“Perfect. I will get started.” He turned toward me and swirled a pile of documents toward me. “If you could please sign the agreement of guardianship. I will be able to finalize the release of your brother in the next day or so.”

I signed everything, still having a hard time believing the nightmare was ending.

When we reached the street, waiting for the car, I couldn’t contain my happiness anymore and pulled Luca in a hug.

He hugged me back with a startled laugh.

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