Page 67 of Raphael (Belles & Mobsters 5)

My lips curved into a smile. I loved hearing happiness in her voice. She deserved it after years of chasing the man who kidnapped her brother.

“I’m so happy for you, Aurora.”

“Thank you. I want you to be happy too.”

My eyes traveled over the horizon. I couldn’t say that I was unhappy. But happy? I didn’t know. Maybe I didn’t know how to be happy.

“I’m going to marry Raphael Santos,” I blurted out.

A long pause followed.

“Are you sure that’s wise?” she asked. It was a reasonable question.

“He knows about Gabriel,” I told her. “He saved me twice already. And turns out my parents sold me to Santiago Tijuana. I’m out of options.”

“Your parents did what?” she shouted into the phone. “My brothers will protect you,” she reasoned.

“I don’t want them in the middle of this,” I retorted. “You and your family have done so much for me. You and Willow helped me survive those first few years with an infant. If something happened to you or them, I’d never forgive myself.”

“My brothers are big boys. They can take care of you and themselves.” I chuckled. Theywerebig boys! “You know–” She hesitated. “I always thought you and Royce would end up together one day.”

Shock traveled through me. “Why would you think that?”

“Because you and Royce always clicked. Yes, everyone talked about what a political match you and Aaron Kennedy would make. But you never trusted him the way you trusted Royce. You two were like the same side of the coin.”

I thought back to all the times that Royce came through. All the comfort he offered. But it was always as friends.

“We were just friends,” I assured her.

Her soft chuckle came over the line. “I know, but I guess I hoped we’d be sisters.”

It was my turn to laugh. “We don’t need that to be sisters. You and Willow have been with me through thick and thin.”

“Although, we’ll be kind of distant sisters-in-law if you marry Raphael.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Raphael is half-brother to Alexei’s half-sister, Isabella Nikolaev. So it connects us.”

Small world. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend how that came to be. Each family had some crosses to bear. It turned out the Nikolaev family wasn’t an exception.

“Those are some complicated family relationships, huh?” I retorted dryly.

“For sure,” she muttered. “I mean look at my father. He got a woman pregnant before he married my mother. He knows he had an illegitimate son. He even knows who he is. Does he care? Fuck no. Same with his illegitimate daughter.”

“Are you still checking up on her?”

“Damn straight,” she retorted. “I hope one day I’ll get to meet her. All of us would have a Christmas together, drink and eat, have little ones run around. And Sailor?”

“Yes?”

“I fully intend to have you at that Christmas party.”

My heart warmed at her kindness. “How did I get so lucky to have you as my friend?”

“My charming personality,” she retorted and we both chuckled.

I sighed. “Can you do me a big favor?”

---