Page 66 of Possessive Mafia Vows

The concierge eyes up my clothes and smudged makeup and approaches me before I’ve taken a few steps. He’s naturally suspicious when I tell him that I’m visiting the penthouse apartment, and I almost cry out loud when Victoria answers his call. I haven’t seen her since Holly was born less than a fortnight ago, but it feels as if it has been years.

My legs are shaking as the elevator carries me up to the fiftieth story.

I haven’t eaten since breakfast, but the thought of food makes my insides churn, and I clamp a hand over my mouth as the elevator glides to a halt.

The doors open into the apartment, and I hear voices coming from the living area. Low voices, so as not to disturb the baby, but I recognize them instantly.

Victoria and Caleb are not alone.

Kyle is here.

16

KYLE

“Sienna!”

I’m on my feet the instant the elevator door opens, but Victoria beats me to it.

She crosses the living room, her feet barely touching the floor, and throws her arms around her best friend. They stay that way, locked in an embrace forged on years of friendship, until eventually, Victoria releases Sienna and leads her into the living room, where Caleb and I are waiting for them.

A huge part of me is relieved that Sienna is here and not in the arms of the slimeball Nick Morris. But one look at her puffy eyes and pale skin fills me with guilt that I’m still putting my own feelings first.

Her expression crumples when she spots me, and everything I wanted to say evaporates like condensation on a window.

“I should go.” Sienna’s shoulders drop. “I don’t want to interfere.”

“Not without meeting your goddaughter first.” Victoria’s eyes meet mine briefly as she goes to the bassinet currently parked at the end of the couch, and lifts baby Holly into her arms. She coos at the infant, nuzzles her nose, and then hands her over to Sienna. “Holly, meet your Auntie Sienna.”

I watch Sienna cradle the baby in the crook of her arm and study the tiny pink face, tears welling in her eyes. Happy tears. Not the hopeless tears that she’d shed at the gallery earlier. And my chest swells at the sight of her with a baby in her arms.

Sienna deserves happiness.

She deserves to have everything that she’s ever wanted, everything that she’s worked so hard for.

She sure as fuck does not deserve to have it all crushed right in front of her eyes, by a man who wants to reclaim his ‘father’ title after twenty years’ absence.

He had to be involved in the break-in.He had to be.

“She’s so beautiful,” Sienna whispers.

Victoria’s proud smile lights up the entire room. “She is.”

Caleb rubs his hands together. “Time to open that bottle of Moet we’ve been saving, now that you’re both here.”

“Decaf coffee for me.” Victoria stands on tiptoes and kisses my brother lightly on the lips before sitting beside Sienna on the couch. “I don’t want to get our daughter drunk.”

I’ve never been jealous of my brother, of any of my brothers, but this scene of domestic bliss, of normality and love and warmth, tugs at something deep inside. I want this.

More importantly, I want this with Sienna.

Caleb busies himself in the kitchen, his eyes constantly seeking out his wife and daughter, and I hear the gentle pop of the cork from the champagne bottle. He returns shortly after with three slender flutes filled with bubbles and a cup of steaming coffee for Victoria.

“To family,” Caleb says, raising his glass.

“To family.”

Finally, it is Victoria who brings up the subject of the gallery. “Kyle told us what happened, Si.” Her voice is gentle. “You know that you don’t have to deal with this alone.”

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