“Asshole,” I mutter. Heaven had a pretty major falling out with her family after her father promoted her dickhead brother, Conor, over her months ago. She’d just married Matteo at her father’s request, and he shoved her aside, giving the reins to his oldest son, a complete shit heel who tried to kill her while high as a goddamn kite. He’s been running that organization deep into the core of the Earth since she cut ties with them, and in my opinion, it serves them right for fucking her over like that.
Marchella furrows her brow. “None of them? Not even her father?”
Sergio shakes his head, his jaw tight. “And she’s upset. Of course, she won’t admit to it, but you can see it. Matty is ready to flip his shit right now.”
“At least the two people she’s closest to are here,” I say as Matteo comes up behind me, a grimace on his face.
“Those assholes don’t deserve this kind of air time, not when there is someone very important you need to meet.”
“Well, before I meet that very important person, I’d like you to meet my important person.Inperson.”
A smile spreads over Matteo’s face and he pulls Marchella in for a bear hug. He’s not a huggy type of guy, so he must really be feeling the love today. Her face glows, her smile stretching from ear to ear.
“I’m so happy to be here,” she says, her face buried in his massive chest. “And so happy for you both. Congratulations!”
A minute later, Matteo leads us into the suite, every available space filled with flowers of every shape and size and bunches of helium balloons. There’s barely any room for visitors.
I leave Marchella with Jaelyn and Sergio and walk right up to the bed where Heaven is sitting up with a tiny pink bundle in her arms. She grins at me, looking every bit as gorgeous as she usually does, despite the fact that she just gave birth.
“That motherly glow is a good look for you,” I say, giving her a kiss.
“Roman, meet your niece, Aisling Lucia,” Heaven murmurs, gazing down at her daughter.
“After Mama,” I whisper, grazing the tip of her nose with the pad of my finger. Her skin is smooth and pink, her lips shaped like a perfect heart.
“She looks just like you,” I say. “Beautiful. I love her already.”
Heaven giggles softly. “You’re going to have to make some more trips out here.”
I furrow my brow, leaning back slightly. “You mean, you guys are staying?”
Matteo joins me and smiles at Heaven. “We’ve tossed the idea around. There’s a lot to do out here and farther west in California. Maybe it’s time for a change of pace.” He lifts an eyebrow. “You think you can handle things in the city?”
“Well, you haven’t fired my ass yet, so I’m thinking you already know the answer to that question.”
“You narrowly escaped my firing squad,” he says with a pointed look.
“Escaped is the key word there,” I say.
Matteo snickers. “Lucky is another word. Just saying.”
“Admit it. Baby bro has the skills he needs.”
Matteo lifts an eyebrow at me. “Baby bro needs to keep a closer eye on shit in the future or I’m gonna poke them both out.”
“Noted,” I say as Heaven chuckles.
“Matty, can you just get back to being the big ol’ pile of mush? Save the badass stuff for another day. Today is a special one. It’s your daughter’s birthday and we’re celebrating, not making thinly veiled threats about gouging out eyeballs.”
“My favorite sister-in-law,” I say.
“Hey!” Jaelyn says, walking over with her hands on her hips. “Maybe now she is, but pretty soon, she’s gonna be sharing that title!”
Heaven gives an exaggerated eye roll. “My God, you are so competitive. Just like your fiancé.”
“There’s no reason to be competitive when you know you’re the best,” Sergio calls out from his spot against the wall.
I catch Marcella’s eye and wink. “What can I say? Love it or leave it, but this is us.”