Chapter 13 #2
Summer wiped her hands off on a towel. “Matteo didn’t mention how far along you are.”
Like he knew we were talking about him, there was a flutter from my little guy. “Twenty-three weeks.”
“Right in the sweet spot between morning sickness and debilitating back pain. Bellini men make big babies. The recovery from a C-section sucked, but I was mildly relieved I didn’t have to push out an almost nine-pound baby.”
“I already feel huge, and I swear my belly gets bigger every day.” Tugging at the waistband of my leggings that were cutting into my skin, I grimaced.
Summer tracked the movement. “Are you okay?”
“It’s nothing.” I waved off her concern. “Just haven’t had a chance to shop for proper maternity clothes.”
She fixed me with a sympathetic expression. “You poor thing. Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
When I merely blinked at her, having no clue why it sounded like she had the power to wave a magic wand and transform my current ill-fitting outfit into one that was more comfortable for my expanding body.
Easing Aurora from my arms, she set her on the ground before urging her girls to go play. Then she walked toward the staircase in the corner of the room, calling over her shoulder, “Come with me.”
Curiosity got the better of me, and I obeyed, trailing after Summer as she climbed the steps and pushed through double doors into what appeared to be the primary suite.
She disappeared into what I could only assume was the closet, then returned carrying a large plastic tote. “I’ve been meaning to donate these for a while, but maybe there was a reason I kept procrastinating. You’re welcome to any or all of it.”
Lifting the lid, I found it full of designer maternity clothing, ranging from workout gear to pajamas to jeans to fashionable tops.
I trailed my fingers over the high-quality fabrics. “Thank you. I’ll return them once I’m able to buy some of my own.”
“Oh, they’re yours to keep. We are definitely done.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Matteo doesn’t want to try for a boy?”
From my experience, mafia men in the direct line of succession were so focused on male heirs that they’d force their wives to carry an infinite number of babies until they birthed a son.
While Irish Catholic families were typically large, I’d watched my own mother suffer through high-risk pregnancy after high-risk pregnancy, giving my father six daughters before dying in childbirth while delivering my younger brother.
Summer shook her head. “Matteo had closed off the possibility of more children before we got together. Allegra’s death really messed him up.
And that was just fine with me. Our family was complete with Bianca and Serafina.
They weren’t mine, but I loved them like they were.
Aurora was . . . a surprise. But we took steps to ensure she would be our last.”
I sat on the edge of the mattress. “You seem really nice. How did you get tangled up with the Bellinis?”
She huffed out a laugh. “Matteo and I found ourselves on a collision course after a chance encounter when I was a substitute lifeguard at Bianca’s 4th birthday party.
According to him, all it took was one look to decide he would do just about anything to make me his.
Within a few weeks, I found myself living under his roof, nannying for his girls.
And only a couple of months later, I was his wife. ”
“Damn.” A whistle pushed past my pursed lips. “The man worked fast.”
With a dreamy sigh, Summer breathed out, “We fell so hard for each other.”
“And you’re not concerned about the danger that comes with his position inside the organization?”
Her gaze grew distant, and a shudder rolled through her body.
I gripped her hand. “You’ve experienced what it means to be a target, haven’t you?”
She gave a tiny nod, and her voice came out hoarse. “Yeah. There was a minute, early on, when I had to take a step back and really think about whether this life was what I wanted.”
Under my breath, I muttered, “At least you had a choice.”
“For what it’s worth, none of us agree with Gio’s methods to bring you back. Not me, not Matteo, not Enzo, not Allie.”
“Who’s Allie?”
Before she could reply, a woman with dark hair burst into the room. “Summer, Bianca said you were—” She sucked in a sharp gasp, her eyes growing large when they landed on me. “Oh my God, it’s you.”
The girl was vaguely familiar. “Do we know each other?”
She shifted on her feet. “Uh. Not officially, no.” Then she turned her attention to Summer. “Has Allie seen her?”
My sister-in-law shook her head. “No, she’s not here yet.”
I repeated my earlier question. “Who’s Allie?”
Ignoring me, the stranger circled a hand in the direction of my midsection. “Does she know about that?”
Summer rolled her eyes at her friend. “Of course she does. She’s been hiding out over here every time Enzo is summoned to the Bellini Estate.”
“Hey!” I shouted, and both women’s heads whipped in my direction. “Who’s Allie?”
“Enzo’s wife,” Summer said softly.
“Okay . . .” I was still confused. “Does she have a problem with me or something?”
“Not with you, personally. But don’t be surprised if she keeps her distance. She couldn’t be anywhere near me when I was pregnant either. And she’s only just started coming around to spending time with the girls again.”
My heart twisted inside my chest, imagining why she might avoid pregnant women and small children. Instinctively, I pressed both palms to my belly, praying that whatever the cause, it wouldn’t happen to me.
“I’m Gabi, by the way.” The dark-haired woman introduced herself.
“Gabi,” I repeated, and suddenly something clicked in my memory. “Cecelia’s daughter, right?”
She blinked at me with wide eyes. “Uh, yeah. You know my mom?”
“Mm-hmm. I know all the capos’ wives.”
Gabi grimaced. “Former capo.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry for your loss.”
She shook her head. “He’s not dead. Just . . . retired.”
“Retired? I didn’t think anyone would want to step down from a position of power even if it was allowed.”
Summer explained, “Matteo cleaned house. Got tired of his father’s men questioning every decision he made.”
“Huh. Good for him.”
Gabi edged closer. “So, is Gio really as unhinged as people make him out to be?”
A scoff fell from my lips. “Unhinged is almost too nice a word. Psychotic is more fitting.” I tapped my bump.
“This baby only exists because the man went to extreme measures to disguise himself so that I would believe he was a completely different person. He changed his face, his voice, bulked up and covered himself in tattoos.” I huffed out a wry laugh. “Even pierced his damn dick.”
Shifting her wide eyes to Gabi, Summer said, “And you were worried about me falling for Matteo. Could have been a lot worse.”
Gabi nodded her agreement. “You definitely got the sane brother.” She cringed. “Sorry, Rory.”
I ducked my head. “I always knew he would find me. I just never thought it would go down like this.”
“Mom! People are here!” Bianca’s voice called from somewhere in the distance.
“Gotta get back to my hosting duties.” With Gabi hot on her heels, Summer headed for the door, pausing on the threshold to speak to me. “Feel free to change and join us when you’re ready.”
After slipping into a sweater dress, I found my way downstairs to where the double birthday party was in full swing. There were children laughing as they ran around the giant mansion, playing hide and seek. Adults mingled, enjoying casual conversation and the food spread.
When it came time for the presents, I was transfixed by the happy family at the center of the action. Aurora was perched on Matteo’s shoulders while Serafina sat in his lap. Summer kneeled beside Bianca, taking note of which gift came from whom for thank-you notes.
Then there was Enzo and his wife, curled up on a couch in a corner of the room, sharing a whispered conversation, yet even from this distance I could see the love shining in their eyes.
Though foreign to everything I’d ever known of relationship dynamics, the scene was breathtakingly beautiful, and I longed to experience the type of warmth these Bellini couples exhibited.
Especially when my own husband stood as far away from me as he could get, because outside of sex, he gave me the cold shoulder, intent on continuing to punish me for running away.
We were broken beyond repair.