Chapter Twenty-Five
Evelina Bianchi
I knocked once on Aria’s front door, taking in the stunning home in Morris Park. The house, despite being owned by a renowned crime lord’s nephew, fit in with the rest of the uppity houses. Nothing set it apart.
But I saw traces of my sister everywhere. From the landscaping with her favorite flowers to a “welcome” sign at the door, the house looked like Aria’s.
The door opened, and Aria smiled at us, gesturing us inside.
I couldn’t help but scan the room, looking for Beatrice. But Aria stopped me by gathering me in her arms and pulling me into a tight hug.
“I’m so sorry,” she cried. I winced as she tightened her grip a bit more, and she jumped back. “Oh my gosh, I completely forgot.”
I took a deep breath as the ache of her embrace faded. “Aria, why would you apologize?”
Zeke stepped to my side, also noticeably scanning the area. Aria took note and shook her head. “How about we talk after you see her? She’s napping, but I’ll go get her up.”
My oldest sister rushed out of the room, and I smiled up at Zeke. I felt myself bouncing on my toes as I waited to see my daughter for the first time in months. I could hardly contain the love in my chest as I heard a small cry from the other room.
My feet were moving before I could stop them. I rushed forward and rounded the corner, stopping in my tracks when I saw her.
“Oh, Bee,” I whispered, tears running down my cheeks.
I knew I missed her. I knew I had done everything in my power to get back to her. But I didn’t realize that when I saw her, I would finally be able to breathe. Something inside me loosened as I covered my mouth.
Beatrice gave me one of her brilliant smiles.
“Sit down,” Aria said, gesturing toward the nursery chair she would soon use for her baby. I sat in the reclining chair and opened my arms.
Aria settled her into my arms.
“Oh, Bee,” I whispered, kissing her head and then her chunky cheeks. “I missed you, sweet girl.”
Beatrice lifted a hand and swatted at my face, making a cooing noise that further melted my heart. Each of her movements caused slight discomfort in my chest, but it was manageable. I could hardly focus on it as her bright, beautiful blue eyes met mine. Maggie had been certain the color would fade as she grew older, but it remained just as vibrant as the day she was born.
Beatrice arched her back and released a small, content squeal.
“She is the easiest baby,” Aria said. “Excluding the nighttime wakings. But that will come with time.”
I smiled as her eyes focused on mine again. “There is so much I will tell you when you’re older, Bee. I hope you know that everything I went through was to get back to you. Everything is for you.”
I felt someone settle at my side, and I turned my head to find Zeke kneeling beside the chair, a single tear in the corner of his eye. His gaze was fixed on Beatrice as he reached for her hand, and she wrapped it around his finger. The smile on his face was tear-filled but completely content.
“She looks just like my mother.”
“She looks just like you, ” I told him.
With them in the same room, I could see the resemblance more than I thought possible. They had the same faces. The same structure and coloring. The same dark hair. The same eyes. Good God, their eyes had been copied and pasted, though Beatrice’s eye shape resembled mine a bit more.
I gave her a small squeeze and finally focused my full attention on Zeke.
“Do you want to hold her?” I asked.
His eyes widened. “Could I?”
I nodded, and he immediately reached forward, holding her as if she were a fragile piece of glass. His hands trembled as he pulled her to his chest, and she reached for his face the same way as she had with me.
I pulled myself upright and pointed to the chair. Zeke settled into it, and I watched as he cradled his daughter, staring down at her as if she was the most extraordinary thing he had ever seen. It was difficult to look away, let alone take a step out the door and into the main living room where Aria waited.
Her gaze turned up and met mine with a hesitant smile. Aria rubbed her slightly distended belly almost absentmindedly.
“Is it all you were hoping for?”
I nodded and moved toward her, sliding gently onto the couch beside her and leaning back. The dull ache in my ribs was noticeable but not too concerning. I was on the mend.
“It’s me who needs to apologize,” I told her.
She shook her head. “Absolutely not. I was the one who gambled with your safety and lost. Dad used you as leverage because I didn’t listen and do—”
“Aria, stop,” I said, gathering both of her hands in mine. “You are not to blame for what our father did to me. You did everything to get me out. You spent your entire life keeping us guarded. You took the punches. You took his anger. You kept us hidden and shielded. I’m sorry for not seeing it until you were gone. I always thought you treated me like a child, but I understand now. I do. You were trying to keep me safe.”
“I felt like I was acting as your mother. I never saw you as immature or stupid. I guess I saw you as my own daughter in some ways.”
“And I hid my pregnancy and baby from you because of that. I didn’t come to you until I needed you, and that was messed up. I never let you see who I really was as a person. But… if it’s okay with you, I’d like to show you now.”
“Of course it is,” she said, sliding her hand up my back and rubbing softly. “In a lot of ways, you were like my first child, you know. I will always love you as a sibling, but I’ll always see myself as your parent figure, too.”
“Thank you for keeping her safe.”
Aria didn’t need to reply as she leaned closer and gave me a loose hug. I could feel her restraint as she shook and cried. If I had ever been uncertain about our relationship, it faded now. After everything we just went through together—after the effort she went through to see me and my daughter safe—I owed her everything.
I owed her forgiveness and understanding.
“If you’re interested, I would love to tell you all about the life I kept hidden for so many years.”
Aria nodded excitedly, and I told her all of it. I started with meeting my friend Maggie, and then I focused on my art career and how it seemed to prosper over recent years. She learned about Zeke and how he came into my life in a way that neither of us expected, leaving me with my daughter. And then, I told her all about my most recent experiences. She cried and laughed and told me how proud she was, and I felt, for the first time, the connection with my sister I had always wanted.
Zeke came walking into the room, cradling Beatrice in his arms as he looked between me and my sister. We sat close, and I didn’t doubt he could read everything on our faces.
“Where are you two planning to go now that this is over?” Aria asked, looking between us.
Had Giovanni not told her?
“Actually,” I said with a shrug, “We’re staying here for a little while longer. Maybe indefinitely.”
Her eyes widened. “But, I thought you wanted to get away from him.”
We both knew the “him” she spoke about.
“I do, and I will. But I’m not leaving you alone to handle it this time. We’re family. We can do it together. And since you never had the chance to be part of my pregnancy and her early months, I thought you would want to be part of her life for a while longer.”
“Do Noemi and Livia know?” Aria asked.
“Not yet, but I’ll tell them when the time is right. Maybe when we get Livia out of the house.”
Aria’s brow scrunched. “Did she not tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“She wanted to stay. I think she has something planned, and I hope it helps us in whatever is to come.”
Knowing my youngest sister—the resilient and most cunning of us all—I had a feeling she would be a big part of this, too.
“But we don’t need to talk about that right now. You’re not at the top of his hitlist, and you’re safe. You are finally safe.”
Zeke settled beside me, and I leaned into him.
“And together,” I whispered.
He pressed a small kiss to my temple, then one on our daughter’s forehead as she began dozing in his arms.
“Together,” he repeated back. “For the rest of our lives.”