Rafe tried to make small talk. But his gaze kept tracking Diana. Lucia had commandeered her. And JJ, Lucia’s best friend, was regaling her with stories of when they were young. He could only pray that JJ didn’t give away all his dirt. But given that Diana was laughing, they were probably staying away from him as a topic.
He hoped.
Diana accepted another glass of punch and tried to tune back in to the conversation. Lucia had made sure she was introduced to everyone, and her brain was swimming with all the names. But after a few minutes, it didn’t seem to matter. Everyone included her in the conversation, so she didn’t feel like an interloper at all.
To her surprise, Rafe’s family seemed… nice.
It was a startling and incongruous thing that actually made her feel a little grumpy. Every part of her was uncomfortable with getting to know these women who talked about Rafe like some kind of superhero, knowing that she had every intention of exposing his crimes to the world. But now she was being forced to view the collateral damage of her plan. Rafe might be a murdering bastard, but he had family that loved him dearly. They’d be hurt once she got enough evidence to put him in jail. It didn’t change what she had to do. Rafe needed to pay for his crimes. But she’d have to have ice water in her veins not to care that she’d be hurting nice people also.
As soon as she could, Diana excused herself and started toward the hallway she’d seen Lucia go down a few minutes ago. There had to be a bathroom back there. She needed a few minutes of quiet to get herself together. Rafe didn’t trust her completely yet, but he wasn’t threatened by her, obviously, or he wouldn’t have brought her around his family. She needed to stay focused and get him to trust her enough to leave her in his apartment while he went to work.
This was no time to go soft. Not when she was so close to her target.
“Oh, shit! Sorry!” Diana skidded to a halt at the sight of Lucia and her husband wrapped around each other.
Lucia lifted her head, her eyes blurry. Noah didn’t even acknowledge the interruption, burying his face in Lucia’s neck while his hands lifted her higher. He stepped closer between her legs, pressing her against the wall.
“Okaaay… I’ll just go back to the party now.” Diana laughed softly as the couple ignored her and continued attacking each other with their lips.
JJ met her at the end of the hallway. “Are you okay?”
“Oh fine. Totally fine.”
The other woman gave her a strange look. “You’re as red as a tomato. Let me guess, you caught Noah slobbing his wife down.”
Diana choked. “Is that a common occurrence around here?”
“Yes. All the time. Not that I can talk, but at least my boyfriend and I keep it behind closed doors.” JJ shook her head and started down the hallway. The next thing Diana heard was her shouting, “Get a room, you guys!”
Just then there was a loud chime. What was that? As she walked to the foyer, she realized it was the elevator. She hadn’t heard that noise when they’d ridden up.
A beautiful older woman stepped off the elevator, followed by a handsome young man who was holding several bags.
“Nonna!”
Someone rushed by her, and Diana turned to see Lucia walking toward the older woman. She carried a little girl with dark hair and big gray eyes. Diana recognized the baby from her surveillance.
?
??Hello, bambina. I brought your gnocchi and some tiramisu for the boys.”
Lucia accepted a kiss and then suddenly turned, thrusting the baby into Diana’s arms. On instinct, she clutched the little girl against her.
“Oh no, I don’t really know anything about babies.”
But even as she said it, the little girl cuddled against her chest and rested a tiny fist near her throat. Diana’s heart clutched at the gesture.
“Look, she likes you. She’s finicky about who she lets hold her. You know, they say children can sense a good person. I’m glad Rafe has a good woman in his life.” Lucia squeezed her arm gently before following the man holding the bags of food.
“Rafe?” The older woman looked over at Lucia’s words. But Lucia was already gone. Suddenly the older woman paused, and her eyes fixed on something across the room. Rafe.
“Oh. Oh. I didn’t know you would be here.”
Rafe came forward, his expression so painfully tender that Diana found it difficult to watch. Who was this man? He definitely wasn’t the cynical, paranoid one she’d arrived with.
“Of course I’m here,” Rafe murmured. “It’s your birthday, Nonna. I couldn’t miss that. I’ve missed too many already.”
Nonna let out a happy cry and embraced him. “I know you have, bambino. But you’re back now. And so skinny! Well, I’ll fix that.”