Page 53 of Brutal Vows

“Look, you either trust Ermanno or you don’t—” Alarm courses through me, and I glance at Ermanno, worried for Natalie’s safety, but he doesn’t look the least bit perturbed. In fact, mirth glints in his eyes. It’s almost as though he expects nothing but chaos from Nico’s sister. I turn my attention back to Natalie and almost sink to the floor as her eyes pierce my soul asshe continues. “—and since she survived whatever shithethrew at her, I’m voting on Loretta.”

My heart skips a beat. She’s standing up for me. We’ve never met before. She doesn’t know me.

What the hell did Ermanno tell them?

“Natalie,” Nico scolds, but she drops the sassy attitude and lifts overly wide, faux innocent eyes at him.

“Nico, haven’t you learned the best way to see a woman’s true colors is to toss her in with the local gossiping hags?”

His nostrils flair, but no storm clouds build in his eyes, and when Serenity clears her throat at the picnic table, he sighs.

“Don’t call me a hag, Nat. I prefer swamp witch,” Serenity calls over the breeze.

Bella laughs and avoids Nico’s glare by leading Scraps into the grassy part of the roof for a round of fetch with a big red ball. Kara’s gentle smile as she looks up from pouring Pops a glass of ice water is so full of love and adoration for Bella my chest aches from bittersweet memories of my mother.

“Just admit it, big bro. You’re so head over heels for your wife you just lostanotherargument,” Natalie says.

“I am. I did. Go,” Nico relents with a sidestep and a sweep of his arm to indicate I follow Natalie.

She scampers forward, grabs my arm, and pulls me away from Ermanno. Relief and worry wriggle through me as he lets me go.

“Don’t mind them, Loretta. Join us. We’re much more interesting to talk to. But also, get ready to be grilled. Nitty is on bed rest, so her outside time is limited and she’s been chomping at the bit to talk to you,” Natalia says as she leads me to the picnic table.

Her chatter would overwhelm me if it weren’t for her arm looped in mine. The casual touch seeps deep within my bones and calms the angst of the day.

“Oh, so I’m a horse now?” Serenity mock chides.

“The cutest horse with the most precious cargo in New York,” Natalie says.

She guides me around the table and settles me on the bench beside her. Kara breaks away from the older men and sits on my other side. Sweat gathers in my armpits from stress.

“So, which martial arts is it?” Serenity asks.

I reel from the unexpected question.

“What?” I ask.

“You’re from a mafia family, so you probably know how it goes, right?” she suggests.

“Um, I’m from a mafia family, but how doeswhatgo?

“The vetting of a person to make sure they’re safe before you introduce them to the family,” Natalie says.

“Oh.”

It’s a lame response, but I don’t know how else to answer. Considering the type of people my father surrounded himself with, I’m not sure he ever did.

Serenity props her elbows on the table and meets my eyes over her interlaced fingers.

“Well, I’m not going to lie. I gave your information to Aurora, my brother’s wife—”

“She’s like our not-so-secret secret weapon. Absolutely slays at hacking,” Natalie interrupts.

Serenity smiles and nods in agreement at the description before continuing. Kara picks up the pitcher of ice water and a glass from the center of the table.

“Aurora did a bit of digging and found you purchased some boxing gear—which, by the way, my brother Giorgio loves boxing, so she wants your gift suggestions for him—but you also have a ton of martial arts equipment in your wish lists. So, which martial art?”

Kara offers me the glass full of ice water. I thank her, take it, and sip while I form my response.

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