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“Um, Nora doesn’t need anything right now. Having another aunt is great, though,” Lyla said.
Luci kissed the camera and then wiped her lipstick off. “I can’t wait! Ugh, I want to come so bad. Who are you, gorgeous?”
Carmen grinned. “I’m Carmen, Vinny’s wife.”
Luci’s mouth formed on O. “I’m sorry about Vinny, honey. I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. It’s the worst pain in the world. You never really get over it.”
Luci’s sincerity radiated through the phone and made her nose sting with tears, but she forced a smile and said, “Thank you.”
“I can’t wait to meet you two! I need to be around women. It’s been my brothers and me for so long. I can’t believe Angel left me here with Raul. I mean, Raul’s fine and all, but all he does is work. Angel was my lifeline. I don’t know when Raul will tell Roque that Angel took over Las Vegas. Roque is gonna be pissed, but, hey”—Luci shrugged—“Angel wants to make his own way, and it’s perfect since Gavin wants out. That’s his right.” Luci beamed at Lyla. “Gavin is so gone for you. I never thought he’d get out of the game, but family is more important. Besides, you and Gavin need to give me more cousins. We’re supposed to have big families. We need the next generation to take over, you know? Besides, it sounds like the fuckers in the underworld need a new flavor of crime lord, yes? Angel loves fucking with people. He’ll do well there, I’m sure.”
Luci was clearly confident about Angel’s ability to take over the underworld. Even as they stared at her, something cold and calculating replaced her friendly warmth.
“I heard what happened to Uncle Manny. Everyone involved will pay,” she said simply. “You don’t fuck with our family.”
Lyla looked awed by Luci’s unapologetic creed. Maybe Luci was exactly what Lyla needed to help her come to terms with her bloody deeds. Speaking to another woman who had grown up in the underworld and adopted the same cutthroat principles as her brothers was breathtaking to behold.
“You know, Luci,” Carmen said. “I think we’re going to be best friends.”
The ruthlessness vanished, and once again, Luci’s face flooded with warmth. “I know, right? I haven’t seen Gavin in years, and when he showed up and told us he was married with a baby, I was like, ‘we need to reconnect with our family outside of New York.’” Luci looked hopefully at them. “Sounds like I can’t come there, but maybe you two can visit me here!”
“I’ll come,” Carmen said promptly.
“You will?” Luci was clearly thrilled. “When?”
Lyla clamped a hand on her thigh and squeezed. Apparently, Lyla wasn’t ready for her to be on the other side of the continent.
“Maybe in a couple of months. I’ll keep you posted,” Carmen said smoothly and squeezed Lyla’s hand. Of course, she wouldn’t leave when her cousin needed her.
Luci looked a little disappointed, but she nodded. “Yes, keep me posted. It’s probably for the best since it hasn’t even been a week since Angel left, and things are a bit out of sorts here.”
“Where did you get your earrings?” Carmen asked.
“Oh! You like them?” Luci did a close up of the gorgeous, glowing jade. “I made them.”
“What?”
“I’m a jewelry designer. I take on clients every now and then and make custom pieces. I spend most of my time sketching.”
“They’re beautiful,” Lyla said.
“I can make anything! What’s your favorite stone? Do you want a ring, earrings or necklace—?”
An incoming call interrupted the video. Angel materialized behind the couch and snatched the phone from Carmen.
“Luci, you’ll have to chat with them later,” Angel said.
“Give them my number and call me tonight, asshole!” Luci snapped.
“Will do,” Angel said indulgently and answered the call before he ambled away.
Carmen looked at Lyla. “Well, that was interesting.”
Lyla nodded. “For sure.”
“You should talk to her about”—Carmen waved her hands—“your stuff. Sounds like she’s been there, done that.”
“Yes.” Lyla stared fixedly at the glass coffee table. “She called us family.”
