He stares down at her in affection, like she’s already everything to him.
“She does have Mom’s eyes,” he mutters, staring deep into them.
The same man I feared to marry, who saw bloodshed as a daily hobby, cradles his niece with tenderness.
We give him a moment, allowing him to meet his niece.
“Would you like to hold her, Liliya?” Aurora asks.
“I’d love to,” I whisper.
I don’t look at Angelica, but I almost expect her to stop Aurora, as if I still can’t be trusted.
She doesn’t.
Instead, she tells us she needs to get to her nail appointment and will be back soon. I’m surprised when she tells me goodbye and says it was nice meeting me. As I sit down next to Emilio, I’m not sure if I should take Evalina from him or wait for him to hand her over.
Aurora steps forward, as if reading my mind. She gently takes Evalina from Emilio’s arms and places her in mine.
“She’s perfect,” I whisper, hugging Evalina close.
Evalina purses her lips in her sleep and is smaller than I imagined. She stirs, a sigh escaping her before nodding back off. My heart has never felt so warm and happy.
When I peer at Emilio, his gaze is fixed on me, his features softer than I’ve ever seen.
Could this be our future one day?
A child. A home. A life built on love.
Reality settles through me.
I want this. I’m done running.
I want us to build a family and have a home filled with happiness.
38
“You’re not upsetI named her after Mom, are you?” Aurora asks, leaning against the kitchen counter.
Evalina is in her bassinet, sleeping, exhausted after everyone took a turn holding her.
Liliya is on the patio with Angelica, who’s now back from her nail appointment and most likely asking Liliya a hundred questions. Angelica means well. She’s just cautious about who she allows in her home and around her family. Her husband is king of Chicago’s underworld, so she has every reason to see every new face as a threat.
I shake my head as she plops down in a chair in exhaustion. “Not at all.”
“I know she’ll have Andre’s last name?—”
It’s rude, but I talk over her. “That’s for the best. The Lastro name is tainted. Evalina Ricci is a beautiful name.”
She frowns. “The Lastro name isn’t tainted.”
I give her a look.
“Seriously, it’s not. I hope you have lots of babies to carry on our family name.”
I don’t say anything, only look out the window to check on Liliya. She’s sitting in a chair, posture perfect, nodding and listening to Angelica.
“I like Liliya,” she comments. “She’s good for you.”
