Page 63 of The Boss

“Are you sure you want me in here?”

Her smile drops. “Why do you assume that I don’t want you around? You’ve been doing that since we met. Every time something happens, you think I’m upset with you. Sorry to tell you this, but my anger and frustration are not at you. Even though it seems like you want it to be.”

“I don’t want you to be mad at me, but who else would you be mad at?” I ask.

“Probably the son of a bitch who kidnapped my husband,” she sighs. “I could never be mad at you. Irritated, sure, but not angry. Never angry. I know you are doing everything you can to find him, and it’s taking longer than anyone could have imagined.”

I nod my head.

“I do have an important question for you,” she grins at me.

“What?”

“Would you like to meet your niece and nephew?” She smiles widely. Proudly.

And almost like she planned it, the door opens, and a nurse comes in with two bassinets and brings them next to the bed.

“These two wanted to visit their mom.” The nurse coos. “I’ll leave you all alone for a bit. Let me know if you need anything.”

The door shuts, and I turn back to Vanessa, a soft smile on my lips. “You planned that, didn’t you?”

“Of course I did,” she smiles at me.

I look at the two babies; both have brown hair, and one has green eyes, while the other has hazel ones.

I clear my throat, looking down at them.

“What are their names?” I ask.

“Victoria and Julian,” she replies.

“The names Mateo picked,” I whisper.

“He’s never told me why he picked those names.”

I snort. “I don’t even think he knows. But he picked them shortly after his mom died. She always wanted grandchildren one day.”

“She really seems like she was a great woman.”

“She was. I never thanked her for raising me.” I pause briefly. “I don’t think you know this, but my mom and her were like sisters. They grew up together and met Dad and Mateo’s dad on the same night.”

“Really?” she laughs.

“Yeah, they did everything together. Of course, they would marry two men who were like brothers.”

We stay in a comfortable silence until Vanessa clears her throat.

“I do have something important to ask you.”

I brace for the impact of what she’s about to ask. Something regarding Mateo, or what to do if we can’t find him?

“Don’t look scared; I promise it’s something important but not bad. How would you feel about being their godfather?”

I look at her and smile.

“I would love it, ” I reply.

TWENTY-EIGHT