Page 191 of Ruthless Claim

He wisely does not finish it. Emma smacks his arm anyway, on principle.

Leo is so lucky I’m so blissfully happy because otherwise I definitely would tease him for crying.

He thinks he’s being subtle about it, standing in the corner pretending to be very interested in something on his phone, but his nose keeps running and he keeps sniffling. He claims its allergies. I let him have his dignity and don’t say a word. I’m generous like that.

My mother arrives twenty minutes later.

Gianna Santoro does not cry. She didn’t even cry at Gabriel’s or our father’s funeral.

We’ve always thought our mother was a robot. She sweeps into the room and kisses my cheeks, her eyes darting around, looking for someone.

When she sees Nora, her face just crumples. She takes her granddaughter from Emma with trembling hands and she openly sobs, not even bothering to hide her emotions.

“Her name is Nora,” I tell her, my throat tightening. “Nora Gabrielle.”

My mother sobs again, pulls Nora closer, and cries harder. Emma’s eyes are teary, but Leo stares at Mamma in amazement. “I have never seen that happen before in my life.”

Emma smacks him. “Are you serious right now?” she hisses, wiping her eyes. “This is a beautiful moment and that’s what you decided to say?”

“No, I’m being genuine,” he says, still looking shocked. “I didn’t know she could do that.”

Emma smacks him again.

“Emma, I’m serious, I once broke my arm when I was eight and she told me to walk it off.”

“Leo.” Emma sounds pleasant, which means shit is about to hit the fan. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll shut up right now.”

Leo closes his mouth but looks at our mother crying over his niece before he looks at me. Finally, it seems to hit him what the baby’s middle name is and his throat bobs.

This time I can’t resist. “Are you crying, Leonardo?”

“No,” he says immediately.

“Yes, you are. I think it’s very sweet.” I smile at how uncomfortable my brother looks.

“I’m not crying.” He straightens up to his full height. Pfft, as if that’s going to intimidate me; I stopped being afraid of him by the time I was six. “I have something in my eye.”

What a shitty excuse. I’m almost disappointed in him for it. “Both of them?”

“It’s very dry in here. Hospital air. It’s a known phenomenon.”

From nearby, Cillian stifles a laugh and I roll my eyes. “Sure it is.”

“Valentina.” He points at me with the hand not holding his phone. “You just gave birth. You’re supposed to be tired and incapacitated. Stop being annoying.”

I shrug, smiling at him sweetly. “I’m a multitasker.”

He looks back at his phone, his jaw working. His eyes are absolutely wet. He looks so emotional that my traitorous heart goes out to him. I decide to stop teasing him.

“Leo,” I say, more gently.

“I’m fine,” he says curtly, still staring at his phone.

I smile and let him have it.

Eventually Emma settles into the chair beside my bed with Seraphina asleep in her arms. The room sorts itself into separate conversations, and it’s just us for a moment.

“How are you feeling?” she asks, eyes raking over me as if to check herself.