I was the harlot, the jezebel, the Delilah of the family. Not wife material and definitely unfit for an arranged marriage. See, a couple of years ago, Achilles had convinced Tiernan that if my brother allowed him to pick a groom for me, this would somehow tame my feminine rage—that if I got hitched, I’d be happy and normal.
So now my mission was to make myself as desirable to Camorrista men as a prostate examination by Captain Hook. Because no matter what, I’d never ever let anyone take away my liberty. Never again.
“Where’s my nephew, anyway?” I changed the subject.
Tiernan jerked his chin to his right. I followed his gaze. His wife, Lila, stood at the foot of the church’s stairs, a circle of women fawning over her. She was holding Gennaro—Nero for short—close to her chest.
Lila was a true beauty. Delicate features, pale blue eyes, and flaxen locks, all wrapped in a flowery pink chiffon dress. Nero, however, was the spitting image of us Callaghans. Same burgundy hair. Same green, shrewd eyes. A chubby-cheeked version of his father, swathed in a white christening robe. It was funny how the sweet little angel found solace in the devil andeven managed to domesticate him. Because for the first time in his life, my brother looked…happy.
Nero gurgled and reached for his mother’s loose curls, fisting a golden ringlet and twisting it between pudgy fingers. Lila giggled, kissing the tip of his nose.
I’d held Gennaro thousands of times. Bathed him. Changed his diapers. Sniffed him. Lila was generous about sharing her son with me, knowing how much joy he brought into my life. And yet, every time I saw them together, it felt like someone speared a rusty nail straight into my heart and twisted slowly. It was a reminder of everything I’d never have.
I yawned, my gaze shifting back to my brother. “Did you choose his godparents yet?”
“Yeah.”
“Who?”
“Luca and Sofia.” He cleared his throat, avoiding my eyes “They chose us to be Ciro’s godparents. It was only appropriate that we reciprocate.”
“Right.” I forced out a smile. “Etiquette is so important in the underworld.”
Luca and Sofia were Lila’s brother and sister-in-law. They were married, with a son close to Nero’s age, so it made sense. But that didn’t soften the blow. They didn’t see me fit to be the godmother. And why would they? I was a mess.
A hot mess, granted, but still a mess.
“Listen, Lila’s nervous as it is. I need you on your best behavior,” Tiernan growled.
I rolled my eyes so hard I saw suppressed memories. Like I’d ever do anything to hurt Lila.
“I mean it, Tier. No funny business.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be a vision of elegance and propriety. Don’t worry.”
The clucking sound of wood hitting concrete entered my ears, and we both turned in its direction. Don Vello Ferrante slapped his walking cane over the stairs up to the church. My father walked by his side.
“It took them almost six months to baptize the baby,” Vello growled. “This is unheard of.”
“Lila didn’t want to put Nero on a plane before he got his vaccinations,” Tyrone replied.
“Who cares what Lila wants?Per l’amor di Dio,” Vello spat out. “She’s just a woman!”
“What’s killing him?” I asked Tiernan, still watching the don.
“Not sure. But it better hurry the fuck up. Now if you’ll excuse me”—Tiernan brushed past me?—
“I need to go bite off my father-in-law’s head before he upsets my wife.”
I flicked the remainder of the cigarette to a nearby bush, tugging the hem of my dress down.
People shuffled into the church, pushing past Camorra soldiers who stood on guard.
Since procrastinating was my favorite hobby, I plucked my phone out of my purse and checked my messages.
An invitation to a wine tasting Upstate with a senator’s wife and her friends.
A committee brunch for a fundraiser.
