Between Ice and Oaths (Crimson Ice #2)

Chapter 1

One

Harper

Dante retrieves a file that has been sitting on his lap, hidden beneath the table. He opens the folder, the contents staring me straight in the face.

The air rushes out of my lungs as I stare at the birth certificate.

No one was supposed to know.

“You failed to mention that you have a son.”

I glance at Luca. This isn’t how I wanted him to find out. I had planned on telling him when things got serious between us.

We jumped from planning our first real date to an engagement overnight. That somehow is entirely my fault. I thought I heard a whimpering puppy and followed the sound in the middle of the night.

Turns out, I was wrong.

It wasn’t an animal, but a little boy all of eight years old, being held prisoner in the Ricci’s basement.

From there, I made the near-deadly mistake of trying to help the little one flee on foot, which only got us both dragged back down to the dungeon and nearly killed.

Dante, Luca’s father, offered me one way out, to shoot one of his men who had betrayed him.

I’m not a murderer.

I could never hurt anyone, unless perhaps it were in self-defense, or I suppose if anyone laid a hand on my son.

A mother’s fury is undeniable.

Dante wanted me dead. Ordered my execution. That was last night.

Of course, Luca stepped in, my proverbial knight in shining armor, in sweats and a t-shirt, insisting that we marry, he would work for his father, and I would be protected by the family.

It still doesn’t sit well with me, the idea of marrying for protection instead of love, and marrying into this family, filled with monsters and murderers.

But my life is on the line, as is Luca’s.

I heard the order, that Ashton Rinaldi was tasked with executing both Luca and me if we don’t follow orders.

Can’t say I’m disappointed that Ashton isn’t sitting at this dinner table tonight. He left early and returned to Evergreen University.

Wish I could have gone back to campus, too, but instead, I’m forced to face Luca’s parents in the flesh and Nova’s parents, because they happen to work closely with the Riccis.

It’s like a family reunion, and I’m being served as the meal.

Luca’s eyes tighten, and I can see the pain that I’ve caused. His gray eyes swirl like a December sky, heavy with clouds, turbulent winds blowing in and a winter storm brewing.

“You have a son?” he seethes, shock evident on his face.

The birth certificate—a reminder of the little boy I love desperately, who I’d do anything to protect.

I knew this day would come. I just thought I would be the one explaining to Luca about my son.

He deserves to hear the truth from me.

“I do,” I say and nod slowly. Admitting the truth is the only way through this, with all eyes on me, like I’m the villain in this story.

Meanwhile, I’m seated at a table with actual criminals, men who live and breathe for the mafia.

“His name is Zeke,” I say. My heart floods with warmth just thinking about my son. I love him more than anything, anyone. It pains me to be apart from him right now.

“Did you give him up for adoption?” Luca asks.

It’s a fair question. I’ve never mentioned Zeke to Luca or to anyone at Evergreen. Not even my best friend, Kensley, knows about my son.

While I live on campus because of my scholarship, I had to choose between my education and raising my son at home with my parents and getting a job straight out of high school.

The decision was made for me.

Just like every decision since I got pregnant. I have to put my son first, my family first, and myself a solid second or even third.

“No, he lives with my parents,” I say.

Luca pushes his chair from the table and gets up, walking away in a huff.

“Luca!” I call after him.

“Let him go,” Dante growls. “We’re not done.”

I hate watching him walk off, even more so knowing that he’s hurting and I’m the reason for his pain.

I did intend to tell him, but it’s not a conversation that just comes up when you’re studying together, as friends.

Our relationship has barely scratched the surface.

I have to let Luca walk off the anger. What other choice do I have right now?

If I could wish him to come back, sit down, listen as I explain everything, it would be so much easier. But his footsteps disappear over the marble flooring, and I no longer can hear him in the distance.

“What do you want to know?” I ask, turning my attention back to Luca’s father, staring at Dante pointedly.

Since he dug up my past, there must be some reason he decided to expose it.

“For starters, when were you going to tell us you have a child?” Nikki asks. “You’re intending to marry my son; did you not think this is important information that, at the very least, he should have?” Her voice rises, and I recognize why she’s upset.

But the engagement wasn’t born out of love; it was out of need and survival.

“Zeke doesn’t live with me.”

“Obviously,” Dante says, rolling his eyes. “You live on campus. We’ve established that Zeke lives with your parents. Does he believe them to be his parents? Did you relinquish your parental rights to your parents?”

It’s a lot of questions, and I reach for my water glass, feeling parched.

“My parents are helping me raise Zeke.”

“Seems more like they’re raising him for you,” Dante quips.

It’s a gut punch, and I take it, because maybe I do deserve it. Every day that I’m not with Zeke, I feel guilty.

“My education is important to both of my parents. They want me to be able to take care of Zeke on my own after I graduate.”

“So, his biological father isn’t in the picture?” Nikki asks. “The birth certificate didn’t list a father.”

“He relinquished his paternal rights,” I say. “He has no involvement with Zeke and never will.”

Dante and Nikki exchange a glance. I’m not sure what they’re thinking.

The table is momentarily quiet. Moreno and Paige sit farther away, and Nova is seated next to me, but apparently, I’ve left her speechless as well. I’m glad Moreno isn’t butting in, but at the same time, I feel like I’m left alone to defend my actions, which happen to be none of their business.

Nova reaches for my arm, resting a hand on it. Her gesture is comforting, but it’s not nearly enough with the interrogation going on right now with Luca’s parents.

Dante glances at the birth certificate. “Based on his date of birth, your son is little more than a toddler.”

“He’s two,” I say, staring at them.

“What kind of a mother leaves her child and goes off to school for four years?” Dante’s question is cold, and I can’t help but know how it looks.

“My scholarship requires me to live on campus. I tried to get an exemption and even requested to live on campus in one of the houses or apartments instead of the dorms, but I was denied because I filed too late and didn’t have the additional funds to cover the added expenditures for the application. ”

That is on me, but I also hadn’t known about the scholarship until the last minute. A secret my parents had kept from me while they were deciding my future.

“You live in the dorms; won’t that be problematic once you and Luca are wed?” Nikki asks.

I take another sip of water and place the glass back down. “We haven’t exactly discussed living arrangements. The engagement was just last night,” I say and glance at Dante.

I’m not sure how much Nikki knows about what happened. Luca seems to believe she knows the entire story, but I’m not ready to divulge it if she doesn’t.

“Given the requirements of your scholarship, we have secured a more suitable property for all of you to live in, which is still on campus. Beginning the first Monday in January, the house is yours. That includes a room for Nova,” Nikki says, glancing at her, “as well as for Ashton and Liam.”

“Thank you,” Nova says, her eyes widening with delight. “We get to live together,” she says, grinning at me.

I wish I were as excited, but knowing that Ashton will be on the premises has me slightly concerned. After all, he was ordered to kill Luca and me.

“And it won’t affect my scholarship?” I ask, needing to know that my education will continue. I don’t have the funds to pay for four years of college.

“It is considered on-campus housing. You’re not the only one on a scholarship,” Nikki says. “As for the additional expenditures, Dante and I will handle those costs, as we do for our son, we will do for our newly appointed daughter.”

Dante glares at Nikki, displeased, but he doesn’t argue aloud.

“Thank you, that’s quite generous of you,” I say.

While I don’t intend to accept their money, knowing the arrangements have already been made is a huge relief.

I’ll get to have Zeke with me soon.

“And the wedding, are you still requiring that we remain here until that happens?” It’s a heavy ask, considering Luca and I have school on Monday. I can’t miss my classes. I need to keep my grades up to retain my scholarship.

I’ll also need to find time to get a part-time job while raising Zeke to cover any additional expenses, which is going to cut into my studying.

Overwhelmed is an understatement, but at least I feel slightly hopeful. I hadn’t wanted to live in the dorms.

While Nikki might be offering to help cover a few dollars in regard to the housing expenses, which I won’t let her do, I will gratefully accept the opportunity to move out of the dorms, away from Quinn.

But I won’t owe Nikki or Dante.

Not now. Not ever.

Dante and Nikki share a brief glance, and then she leans in, whispering something to him. I’m hoping that she’s on my side. I spent time with her, we went to lunch, maybe she can talk reason into her husband.

Nikki pulls back briefly, and Dante glowers at me.

“We trust that you won’t tell anyone our family secret, because it would put your family, including your son, Zeke, in danger. You wouldn’t want to hurt everyone you care about, would you?” Dante threatens.