Chapter 30
ISLA
Stupidly I’d expected to hear from Ciro today. I was curious about what his family said about Pippa… and me. I didn’t want them to hate me, but I couldn’t blame them if they did.
Ciro’s family was incredible when we were together. They’d made me feel welcome and special, like they had expected Ciro would marry me.
I could’ve reached out to the family or called Rosa at the very least. We’d become close but I was afraid she’d confront Ciro and make matters worse.
Then God only knew what Luca might have done. He had cared about me more than he should have when I belonged to Ciro.
The two brothers had fallen for me at the same time, but it was Ciro who’d captured my heart and I’d told Luca not to pursue me.
Out of respect for me and his brother, he’d backed off.
But something told me if Luca had known I was pregnant after Ciro had tossed me out like yesterday’s trash, he would’ve stepped up to help me.
None of that would’ve mattered if I hadn’t seen Ciro with the redhead. Things might have turned out differently. Alas, that wasn’t the case. I had left Pasadena to protect myself and my daughter.
Yesterday, remorse plagued me as I watched Ciro with our baby girl. He had been so damn sweet with her. Loving and tender. We’d acted like a family, just like the many dreams I’d had since my positive pregnancy test.
But today? My workday was over, and I hadn’t received so much as a text from him. To say I was disappointed didn’t scrape the surface of how I felt.
In twenty-four hours, Ciro seemed to have forgotten about his daughter.
And what about me? We’d been intimate. I had given myself to him. Now if felt like he had ghosted me after getting what he wanted.
A cocktail of anger, sadness, and confusion rushed through my veins, going straight into my heart.
Having Ciro with us had been glorious. Nothing had ever felt more right, especially after we’d had sex.
The wounds in my soul had started to heal.
His attention had overwhelmed me, but nothing had prepared me for the way he stared at Pippa and me in the hotel lobby, as if leaving us was sheer agony.
Our emotional good-bye had made hope flicker in my heart.
Hope that we might find our way back to each other. Hope that we might be a real family.
I’m so stupid.
I guessed sending a brief text was too much to expect.
Who was I kidding? This was Ciro Remotti. If he wanted to talk to me, he would’ve called. He would’ve sent me a text and inquired about his child.
Falina hip-bumped me playfully as I clocked out on the computer. “Why don’t you just text him? You know you want to.”
“Because I don’t want to bother him. He’s obviously busy and—” Why was I protecting him? Ciro didn’t have ten freaking seconds in his day to shoot me a text?
“And nothing. If Mr. Billionaire wants to start over with you, he will be available. He needs to make an effort. Don’t let him fall back into his old ways.”
I admired her take-no-shit attitude, but…
“I shouldn’t have to keep him in check. If Pippa and I matter to him, he should want to do better than last time.
” I wasn’t going to chase after Ciro and beg for his attention.
I had already been down that begging road before.
Begging him to love me, begging him to let me stay the night with him.
I’d be damned if I went back to being the pathetic woman I used to be, after only a couple days with him and a quickie under the sheets.
“True. But sometimes old habits die hard,” she said, popping up her shoulders.
“Screw old habits,” I hissed, walking away.
Falina followed me through the kitchen. “What are you going to do?”
I opened my locker and grabbed my purse. “I don’t know. He’s Pippa’s father. She’ll be well taken care of.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?” I scrunched up my face. “None of this is about me.”
“Bullshit. This morning you gave me your two weeks’ notice because you were going to move to Canada to be with Ciro. This is about you too.”
“I withdraw my resignation.” The words came out on their own. Everything with Ciro was happening too fast. He’d possessed me as always, told me everything I longed to hear. He’d given me false hope.
How could I be so stupid to let him call all the shots and have sex with him?
Because you love him. And you’re weak around him.
Yes, exactly. I’m so pathetic.
“You’re overreacting.” Falina stared at me with a look of concern. “Just take a breath.”
I was glad this conversation was happening. Talking about Ciro and what happened in the last two days helped me process.
“No. I’m being realistic. Just because we have a baby together doesn’t mean we’ll work as a couple.” My phone buzzed in my pocket. Damn it all to hell. My heart rate spiked.
Falina smiled broadly. “Maybe that’s him calling now.” Her excitement was cute, but it didn’t match her previous words about not letting him fall back into his old ways.
I scoffed, taking my cell phone out of my pocket. “Doubt it.” I didn’t recognize the number, but I knew the area code was from Canada. Maybe Ciro was finally calling… “Hello,” I answered in an irritated tone.
“Isla, dear, how are you?”
Rosa?
My legs wobbled and I sat on the bench beside the lockers.
“It’s Rosa … Ciro’s sister.”
“I didn’t expect to—”
“Ciro didn’t tell you I’d be calling?” she asked with a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
“No, he didn’t.” Because I haven’t heard from him in almost twenty-four hours. I shouldn’t be surprised Rosa called. She was a wonderful, loving woman. She cared about me and would want to know her niece.
Why in the hell hadn’t Ciro given me a heads-up? The jerk.
“Well, let’s not talk about him. How are you and the baby?” she asked.
“We’re fine.” I inhaled and exhaled a cleansing breath. “Rosa, I’m so sorry.”
“Please don’t apologize. Let’s just move forward from here. Ciro showed us pictures of Penelope. She’s beautiful, Isla. Absolutely beautiful.”
“Thank you. She’s absolutely wonderful.” My little lovebug was the best part of my life. Whether Ciro and I ended up together or not, I would never regret having my baby girl.
“I can’t wait to meet her. I understand you’re coming out for a couple of weeks,” Rosa said as if the plans were written in stone.
For only a couple of weeks? Like a vacation, not permanently?
“Um…” My stomach twisted into knots. I was wholly unprepared for this call. How could Ciro do this to me? I was glad to know what he’d told his family. He didn’t want me and the baby to live with him.
“We can’t wait for the two of you to come. I’ll have everything set up for Penelope in the guest wing.”
“I appreciate that, but she doesn’t need much.” Tears burned behind my eyes as the realization hit me. Ciro hadn’t called because he didn’t know how to tell me we’d only be guests in his home. What an asshole for making Rosa do his bidding.
“Don’t be silly. I’m going to love shopping for my niece. Oh, I love the sound of that. I’m a zia, an auntie! What size does she wear? I have so much to make up for.” Rosa laughed sweetly. I adored hearing the delight in her voice.
“Six months. But, please, she doesn’t need much.”
“Six months? I thought Ciro said she was seven months old. My brothers and I were all big babies. I would’ve thought she’d be in nine to twelve months.”
“She’s a little smaller due to being born premature but she’s catching up.”
“Premature? Ciro hadn’t told us. Is she okay?” she asked, sounding worried.
“She’s perfect.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “We haven’t talked about her birth. Please don’t say anything.”
“Isla, I’m so sorry. I imagine you were so scared. I know I would be. My due date is almost here.”
“You’re pregnant?” A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “I’m so happy for you and Stephen.”
“Oh, wow. There’s so much to catch up on.” Rosa went silent.
“Rosa? Hello?” Maybe our connection was bad.
“I’m here. Stephen died last year and I have a new, wonderful husband.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” Damn you, Ciro. He literally told me nothing about his family. Just another clue that he wanted to keep me and Pippa at arm’s length.
“When do you think you’ll come out?” she asked, obviously trying to make me commit to a date. “My new husband won’t let me fly so I’m impatiently waiting for you and Penelope.”
“Before the end of the month, I think.” Although, I might change my mind after talking to Rosa.
I was relieved she and Stephen weren’t together anymore. She had never loved him but was forced into marrying him to form an alliance with his family. She’d told me it was her duty. I supposed having an heir was also her duty. I would hate being forced into marrying someone.
I had unintentionally zoned out for a bit while Rosa talked, mainly about the family and what I’d missed. Regretfully, I wasn’t in the mood and wanted to get home to Pippa. My full breasts ached and needed relief.
The thought of going to the hotel instead of my apartment only fueled the anger building inside me. A familiar dull pain in my chest appeared. As I listened to Rosa’s cheerful voice, all I wanted to do was tell Ciro to go to hell.
“Well, it’s been lovely talking to you. I won’t keep you, but please stay in touch. No matter what happens between you and Ciro, you’ll always be family.” Was she trying to tell me something? What had Ciro told them last night?
No matter what happens…
The kitchen blurred and bile inched into my throat. I swallowed thickly and pressed my hand against my heart as pain spread through my chest.
“I will. Thank you for calling, Rosa.”
“Of course. Let me know when you’ll arrive. I can’t wait to see you both.”
“I look forward to seeing you too.” Tears rolled down my cheek.
“Kiss Penelope for me.”
The call ended and I wanted to scream.
I was so done.
I bolted out of the bistro and power walked to the hotel, hoping to burn off steam and calm down before seeing my lovebug. I was running a little late because of Rosa’s call, so I needed to hurry.
No matter what happens repeated in my head like a scratched vinyl record. No matter what happens… No matter what happens.
Well, if Ciro Remotti was here, I’d tell him what would happen… absolutely nothing.
Zip.
Zilch.
Nada.
We would be in each other’s lives because of Penelope, but only as co-parents, and I was just fine with that.
Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at the suite in a calmer state.
“You’re five minutes late,” Paolo muttered as he opened the door to my suite. It was so strange having a large Italian man standing guard outside of my room. “I was about to go search for you.”
“Don’t speak to me like I’m a child. I needed a few extra minutes to myself.” I slipped past him, rolling my eyes.
“Everything okay?”
I stopped and faced him. “Do you honestly care?”
He reared his head back and stared at me like a deer in the headlights. My question had obviously caught him off guard. But honestly, Paolo didn’t care about me. All that mattered was performing his duties to Ciro’s high standards.
Paolo took his job very seriously and stayed detached from everyone.
Distractions were something he avoided. But I often wondered if his aloofness had anything to do with his position in the family.
He was Ciro’s cousin, and his father had gambled away his fortune.
Ciro’s family had taken pity on him and his mother, and they gave Paolo a job to earn a living and to pay back his father’s debt.
After several awkward seconds, I broke the silence. “I thought not.” I went to shut my door and his hand jetted out, stopping it.
“What happened?” he asked with a slight growl.
“Ask your boss.” I made a beeline for Pippa and Alba. “How’s my lovebug?”
“Perfect as always.” Alba lifted my baby off her lap, but her narrowed gaze was on Paolo.
“Of course, she was.” I held my baby girl against my chest and kissed her. Noticing Paolo lingering I turned my back toward him. “You can go now.”
“If something happened, I need to know.” He stepped closer. “I’m responsible for you and the baby.”
“As you can see, we’re both fine,” I told him honestly. “Totally fine.”
He grunted and paused briefly, then retreated to his post outside the suite. I was confident he’d call Ciro, but I didn’t care.
“What was that about?” Alba asked.
I sat with Pippa and put her on my breast. “Apparently, I was five minutes late.”
“You’re joking right? He gave you crap over five freaking minutes?”
“Mhm.” I caressed Pippa’s sweet cheek and stared into her dark-brown depths. “I’m not a child. Just because Ciro left Paolo to guard us doesn’t mean he can boss me around. We don’t need a bodyguard. We were doing just fine until Ciro showed up.”
“Honey, what happened? You were in such a good mood this morning. Dare I say you were glowing like the drought had finally ended for you.”
“Yes, we had sex, but I haven’t heard from him. Not a phone call or a text.” I raised my gaze to hers. “It’s like he’s already forgotten about us.”
“I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten about either of you. But he is a jerk for not even sending a text after you were intimate.”
“It doesn’t matter. This is typical Ciro, and I want no part of it.” I kissed Pippa’s head.
“Sweetie, don’t overreact.”
“No, Alba. He had Rosa call and do his bidding. He didn’t have the time for me, so his sister handled it… Handled me. She even told me that no matter what happens between Ciro and me, I’ll always be family.”
“Yikes.”
“Like what did he tell his family? That I trapped him? Because I sure as hell didn’t. He came looking for me. I was doing great on my own. Pippa and I don’t need anyone.”
“That’s right. You are an amazing mother and provider. I’m so proud of you for not giving up and doing what is right for your child.”
“Thanks.” I exhaled a heavy breath. “I need to be prepared for anything.”
“What are you thinking he’ll do?”
“I don’t know. He’s capable of anything. But I’m most afraid of him taking Pippa. I doubt he’ll allow her to live in California with me. I don’t want to move to Canada.”
Sadly, it didn’t appear a second chance was in the cards for us.