Page 7 of Possessive Mafia Vows

Victoria offers me a tight-lipped smile. “The pains were intermittent. I thought I could deal with them so long as they didn’t get any stronger, and I wanted to be here, for Sienna.”

On cue, Sienna appears beside me, and I force myself to ignore the scent of her perfume and the swish of her dress against my legs. “V?” Her eyes are wide. “Are you in labor?”

Victoria doesn’t answer. As another contraction grips her body, she squeezes her eyes shut and inhales deeply, releasing her breath through her button-hole shaped mouth.

Nick waits for it to pass, watching Victoria so closely, I don’t know how Caleb hasn’t throttled him yet. “Two minutes between contractions. They’re getting stronger, aren’t they?” At Victoria’s nod, he turns to Caleb. “I’m a surgeon not a gynecologist, but I delivered my sister’s baby. Long story. But let’s just say that I’ll do what I can.”

Victoria’s breathing is already growing ragged, and her knuckles turn white as she grips Caleb’s hand. A low groan escapes her lips, and I don’t think she even registers it.

“This is going to be quick.” Nick’s tone is firm, reassuring. He’s confident that he’s the only person here who knows what to do in the circumstances and he’s reveling in being in control.

“I’ll get the car brought to the door,” I say.

I’m already two steps away when he chimes in, “There isn’t time.”

Victoria turns huge dark eyes to me.

“We’ll get you to the hospital, Victoria.” I hold her gaze. “We can alert the gynecologist. You’ll be in safe hands.”

I’ve seen the birth plan. Mom made sure we all knew what was to happen in case she or Caleb weren’t around when Victoria went into labor. Tonight, Mom and Emily are at a charity event, and one glance at Caleb is all I need.

Victoria gives me the briefest nod.

This isn’t a power struggle, even if that’s Nick’s agenda. This is about delivering my niece safely into the world and ensuring that my sister-in-law gets the medical care she needs. I’m taking no chances. I’m not about to start playing God with my family’s lives.

My phone pressed to my ear, I alert the driver, and clear a path through the gallery to the exit. I turn around to find Caleb and Sienna supporting Victoria as she makes her way slowly across the room, Nick trailing behind them as though poised to catch the baby before she hits the floor.

“I’m so sorry, Si,” Victoria murmurs. “This was supposed to be your night.”

“Hey, don’t you dare apologize. This is my goddaughter you’re bringing into the world.” Sienna glances at me, and I’m relieved to find that we seem to be on the same page: getting Victoria to hospital.

I step outside first and open the rear passenger door of the car that’s waiting with the engine running.

Victoria climbs onto the back seat and clings to the headrest in front of her, body bent double as another contraction takes hold.

I pat Caleb’s shoulder as he gets into the car, close the door, and stand back, watching the vehicle enter the steady flow of traffic. They’re about to meet their baby girl. It’s the start of a whole new adventure for them as a family, and excitement gurgles inside my chest.

I turn to Sienna. Swamped with emotion, I want to tell her how privileged I feel to share this moment with my brother and sister-in-law. How happy I am that she’s here too. But she has already gone back inside.

Peering through the window, I spot her immediately in her green velvet dress. She has her back to me, so I can’t see the expression on her face. She’s with a small group of guests, but there’s no mistaking the lanky guy in the Armani suit standing right beside her.

Head down, I walk back to my apartment.

My niece, Holly Marie Murray, arrives safely at one minute past midnight weighing eight pounds and six ounces. She’s a December baby. A Murray. Although, studying the photos from Caleb that are currently taking over my inbox, and the mop of dark hair on the baby’s head, she’s going to look like her mom.

I don’t sleep. The adrenaline fades, and I’m left balancing the scales between excitement about the baby’s arrival and concern for Sienna. Was it my imagination, or was Nick pushing the boundaries between friendliness and slimeball aggression?

And if so, what am I going to do about it?

I rise early. The sky is dark and heavy, the city is already a hive of flickering lights and humming traffic. The long winter nights and gray days that barely make an appearance before darkness descends again, don’t usually affect me. But after the vast openness of Ireland, the city is starting to feel claustrophobic.

In my office, I ask the concierge to bring me coffee and fruit, and power up my computer.

Nick, clearly not a fan of formal introductions, said that he was a surgeon. He wasn’t on the guest list, and Sienna was surprised to see him. He also injected into the conversation the seeminglycasual comment that she’d mentioned the gallery opening the last time they met.

In the moment, I’d taken the bait. I assumed, as insinuated, that he and Sienna were perhaps more than friends. But she seemed uncomfortable with his proximity, and thinking about it now, I didn’t see her reciprocate his touchy-feely approach. She didn’t lean into him the way two people who enjoy each other’s company would.

I’m no expert on body language, but I’m almost certain they know each other on a professional level, and it has nothing to do with art.

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