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“You grew up too. Look at your hair,” I say softly, reaching up to touch the gray strands.
She slaps my hand away, and I pout, rubbing the area.
“Boundaries, child. I see that still hasn’t changed,” Mona notes.
I grin. “Only with you.”
“How is your sister?”
“Lucia’s fine. She’s away right now, but I know she’d love to see you.”
Mona nods. “I hope you took care of her. After all, you did take her away from us all without a word.”
The bitterness in her tone is impossible to ignore. Mona was like a mother to most of the kids who lived at the compound growing up, including my sister and me.
“I’m sorry, Mona,” I say softly.
She huffs. “It’s all right. I’m just glad the both of you are okay.”
“It’s really good to see you.”
Mona turns to Corinne, who is still standing around waiting for her orders.
“You can move all of Mrs. Ramirez’s stuff into the Don’s bedroom.”
“Mona,” I protest, a little annoyed she’s making the decision for me.
But I’m also a little glad. When Nico asks why I moved into his space without asking me, I can just say she was responsible. He always did have a soft spot for Mona.
“I will not have you and your husband staying apart, young lady. It’s not proper,” Mona says sternly.
Oh well, that’s was that then.
“All right, fine. Do it,” I say to Corinne. The maid nods once and then leaves to get things ready.
Meanwhile, I wrap my arm around Mona’s, leading her toward one of the sofas.
“You have to tell me everything that’s happened while I was gone, Mona. What was it like taking care of all the boys on your own?”
I spend the rest of the day talking to Mona. Nico’s meeting runs late, and I don’t see him until later that night when he comes into the bedroom. He doesn’t blink at the sight of me seated in the middle of his bed with a book in my lap. I had been reading before he walked in.
“Hey, baby,” he greets me easily.
I arch an eyebrow. “I’ve been moved in,” I decide to inform him, pointing at the opened closet, which has been filled with my things.
Nico looks in that direction and nods like that’s perfectly normal before looking back at me.
“What do you mean moved in?”
“Mona forced me into it,” I state. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me here.”
He smiles, taking off his jacket before coming to sit beside me on the bed. He places an arm around my shoulder and strokes it once, twice.
“Mona made the right call. Your place is here, Aurora. Right by my side.”
I let out a soft breath. Maybe if I hear that enough times, I’ll finally start to believe it.
CHAPTER 22
