Raven smiled.
“What is it?” Carlos asked.
He moved toward her and looked over her shoulder, and she didn’t see a reason why not to show him. “A cute princess party.”
“She is adorable,” he said.
“Yeah, she is.” She quickly responded with a smile and turned the phone to silent before handing it to Carlos. “Will you keep hold of this tonight? I’d like to see the pictures, if that is okay?”
“Of course.” He slid the cell phone into his pocket and took her hand. “Let’s go, future Mrs. Santiago.”
“Okay, you can keep that title to yourself until we’re in company.”
“You know, I still don’t know your last name,” Carlos said.
“And that will keep the mystery alive.” Raven followed him out of the door, aware that his grip tightened a little more around hers.
They made their way to the elevator, where his soldiers were waiting. Neither of them spoke on the journey to the car. Carlos held the door open for her, and she slid inside, waiting for him to join her. The moment he was inside, he pressed a button that slid the screen up, giving them privacy.
“What’s going on?” Raven asked.
“Why won’t you tell me your last name?”
“Why is it important?”
“They’re going to ask who you are.”
“Don’t worry. I can handle it.”
“Damn it, Raven, I do have to keep you safe as well. Smokey will have my ass if anything happens to you.”
“It’s my job to protect you, and trust me, I can handle whatever is thrown at me.” She saw Creed’s face flash in her mind, and she quickly pushed it down deep, refusing to give it a chance to fester.
That asshole was dead. He was never going to hurt her again, and she wasn’t ever going to let him get under her skin.
“I want to protect you.”
“And knowing my last name helps?” She shook her head. “Trust me, knowing last names doesn’t help anyone. That leads to shit, and with someone already after your head, we don’t want anyone bringing you shit.”
Carlos went silent, and Raven didn’t want him to push. Talking about her past was not something she ever did.
“I’m sorry you’re missing that little girl’s party.”
“I’ll make it up to her eventually,” Raven said. She didn’t know how she would, but she’d figure something out.
“You love kids?”
“I do.”
“Do you want kids?” Carlos asked.
Raven turned toward him. “Do you want kids?”
Carlos chuckled. “I asked first.”
“Yes, I want kids, one day, when I find the right man for the job.”
“The right man?”
She nodded. “Yes, I won’t have any random dick being a father.” She tutted.
“I want kids as well. Lots of them.”
“Not just a male heir.”
Carlos groaned. “I should have known you’d lead with that.”
Raven nudged his shoulder. “Don’t judge me. It’s you and your asshole capos who think women can’t rule the world and our place is in the kitchen. Trust me, I think we’d do a better job of it.”
“I have no interest in following old traditions. I’ll love all of my kids. Boys or girls. I think boys would be easier.”
“Why?” Raven asked.
“I’m a guy. I know what guys are after. What they want. Girls, I would have to kill every single fucking guy who even looked at her because I know what guys want and what guys think.”
Raven burst out laughing. “That is … wow, I never even thought of it like that, but you’re not wrong. Poor men if you get a daughter.”
“What about you?” Carlos asked.
She weighed her options. It would be easy to lie to him, but what was the point? Telling him about some of her dreams or fantasies for the future wouldn’t harm anyone. She didn’t have a boyfriend or lover. There was no one waiting for her.
“I’d like a big family,” Raven said. “A close one as well. Probably sounds sappy, but it’s why I don’t want some random jerk knocking me up. It has to be a guy I … respect. Who I can see myself spending the rest of my life with.”
“You’ve thought about this?”
“Not really. I mean, I’d like someone I can depend on. Who won’t fuck up and leave me to pick up the pieces, you know?”
“Yeah.”
“Who’ll love our kids. I’d also love to have a house that I can dress up for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Maybe even host fireworks and all of that stuff. It’s completely lame and I’m going to shut up now.”
“Sounds perfect to me,” Carlos said.
“It’s never going to happen,” Raven said.
“Why not?”
“I doubt I’ll ever find a guy I can stand to be with for more than thirty minutes at a time.”
The car came to a stop, and Raven glanced out the window to see they’d stopped at a restaurant. “I thought we were going to your guy’s place?”
“Sebastian changed it at the last minute. He owns this restaurant, and it’s closed for tonight. The capos have already arrived. I will warn you, this is likely going to be an engagement celebration. You cannot lose your temper or give them any idea that you’re not my fiancée.”