Chapter 47
CIRO
The car pulled up to the mansion and my family rushed out the door like a bunch of K-Pop groupies, eager to see their favorite stars. Except for the celebrity of the hour was Miss Penelope Giovanna Martin, not seven Korean hotties as my secretary Millie called the members of BTS.
Martin twisted inside my mind. My daughter was a Remotti. If Isla wouldn’t agree to change her last name to Remotti, I would accept Martin hyphen Remotti. But I wouldn’t worry about that now.
“Oh, my goodness, let me see this sweet little girl.” Rosa gingerly went down the steps with Wolf holding her arm, so she didn’t tumble down them.
I nodded at my brother-in-law. He showed no emotion, but I was confident he was grieving the loss of his mother, having just found out she was dead and to a lesser degree, Kira’s fate. But like most men like us, we pushed our emotions down and focused on other things, so we didn’t show weakness.
“How’s Isla?” I asked Luca.
“Okay, I guess.” He studied my daughter with an admiring glint in his hazel-green eyes. “When she woke up, she had a meltdown but recovered quickly.”
“That sounds about right.” Isla was a lot tougher than I’d given her credit for her. Being fourteen years younger than me had made me treat her differently than someone my age. But she’d proven herself to be strong and mature, raising our daughter alone.
“She didn’t have a meltdown.” Rosa touched Pippa’s hand, smiling at her. “She reacted appropriately as any mother would who loved her child more than life itself. “You are absolutely beautiful, Principessa.”
I smiled at her calling Pippa princess in Italian. “I like that. Principessa. Isla calls her lovebug.”
“Aww, that is precious. Little lovebug.” Rosa jiggled her hand. Pippa stared at her and the others with wide eyes. Her other little hand clutched my coat collar possessively. Sort of reminded me of myself.
Padre stood at the door, waving at me to go to him.
“I know you would all love to be with Pippa, but I really should take her to her mother.”
“Yes, go.” Rosa moved aside. “I see Padre is anxious to meet his granddaughter, too.”
I went up the steps and stopped in front of my father. “Here she is, Penelope Giovanna.”
“This is what Italian perfection looks like.” He leaned in and kissed Pippa’s cheek. “Perfecta.”
“How are you feeling?” It’d only been a week since his surgery. He was recovering as quickly as I would expect a Remotti to do. Nothing and no one kept us down for long.
“I’m not even seventy yet. I’m good. Now, go take her to her mother.” He pushed me along.
“Okay. I have some business to discuss with you. Will you have time later tonight or in the morning.”
“You just got your daughter back from the Bratva and Isla under your roof, and you want to talk business.” He pfft and socked me in the shoulder. “Take care of your family. Everything else can wait.”
I chuckled and went inside. He was right, of course.
“This is your new home, Pippa.” I bounced her a little. Her curious eyes roamed the vaulted entrance and the black and white marble floor.
Some of the staff appeared to greet the newest member of the Remotti family. They made a line and quietly admired Pippa from afar.
I kissed her cheek and she cooed. On the plane ride, we’d gotten reacquainted with each other.
As Zotov had said, Pippa was in perfect condition.
I couldn’t tell if she’d been traumatized, but I would expect some trauma after not being with people she knew, like her mother and Alba.
And for that, I was grieved for what she’d gone through.
When we arrived on the second floor, Jon appeared.
“Glad you made it back. She’s doing well.” He nodded toward Isla’s suite. “And how is this little girl? Would you like me to examine her?” He accessed Pippa.
“Maybe after she sees her mother. Isla can decide after that.”
“Sure thing.” He went to open the door. “Alba is with her.”
“Good.” I inhaled a deep breath and stepped one foot into Isla’s room.
“Oh my God. Bring her to me.” Isla extended her hands out, wincing in pain and tears flowing out of her eyes. “Lovebug. My precious baby.”
Pippa squirmed just as eager as her mother. I lowered her onto Isla’s lap; fearful the baby would accidentally kick her fractured ribs. But Isla didn’t seem to care. She hugged and kissed Pippa, while sobbing.
The sight of them together nearly shattered me.
Alba stood with her hands steepled at her mouth, crying tears of relief and joy.
“Oh, my baby. I’ve missed you so much. So, so much.” She cradled her and tried to lift her shirt. “When did she last eat?”
“I don’t think it matters, My-la. She needs you.”
Isla looked at me and held my gaze for a long beat. It was like she hadn’t noticed me until this second. “You’re right. Alba, help me, please.”
“Of course.” Alba helped Isla to roll on her side, so the baby wasn’t on her.
Pippa curled toward her momma and latched on. The relief on Isla’s face showed all was right in her world, and I felt tremendous remorse for putting them both through hell.
I dropped my head. “I’m sorry. I know you must be furious. After everything you went through because of me.”
“I’m not angry.” She gazed up at me. “I’m actually not sure what I’m feeling.”
“You have every right to be angry.” I kneeled beside her to get on her level.
“As do you. I put Pippa in danger leaving the hotel and taking her home to the apartment. Roy wouldn’t have gotten to me if I’d stayed like you wanted me to.”
“You should always be safe in your own home. That asshole trespassed and assaulted you. He broke the law.” I ran my finger down the curve of her jaw, needing to touch her. If Roy was alive, I would have killed him myself for hurting her. But the Bratva had gotten to him first for his fuck up.
“Still, in my hurt and anger, I left when I should’ve stayed at the hotel.”
“I won’t argue with you.” I smiled softly and kissed the tip of her nose, then placed a kiss on Pippa’s head.
“You should have called me like you promised.”
“You’re right. I should have called you.”
“What? My ears must be deceiving me. I thought I heard you say I was right. Maybe I’m tripping on pain meds,” she teased.
My heart swelled larger with love for her and our daughter.
“Stop staring. It’s rude.” She buried her face in the pillow.
“I can’t help myself.”
“My face is bad. I gave myself a fright when I was in the bathroom. I’ll probably scare Pippa.”
“Never. She’s going to be attached to you probably for the next week.”
“I’m fine with that.” She stroked the baby’s back. “I don’t think I’ll be able to let her out of my sight ever again.”
I glanced at Alba reading a book in the corner. She hid it well, but I knew she was listening and watching everything like the devoted friend she was to Isla. I wished I had an update on Paolo for her, but the last I heard, there was no change.
“Ciro?”
“Yes.” I turned back to Isla.
“Elsie is dead, isn’t she?” She stared into my eyes. Her question blindsided me. “That’s what I thought. Nobody has mentioned her. The last thing I remember is that she didn’t have a pulse after Roy knocked her into the wall.” Her tears resumed.
“I’m so sorry, baby. You’d been through so much, none of us wanted to add to your grieving.”
“It’s okay.” She sniffled. “You can go now.”
Her words hit me like a punch in the gut.
“You want me to leave?”
“Mhm. I want to be alone with Pippa.”
“Isla, please. Please don’t push me away.”
She took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I need this, Ciro. If you care even an ounce for me, you’ll give me this time to recover and process the last couple of weeks.”
“But I don’t want to leave you.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not asking you to leave. I’m telling you to give me time.”
“Okay. Okay. Whatever you need.”
I reluctantly left Isla alone with Alba and the baby. She wanted time and I would give her all the time she needed after everything she’d been through.
In any case, I needed to see my father and connect with my brothers.
Cara Clemente hadn’t been found, and I wouldn’t have a moment’s piece with her and her fucking brother on the loose.
Going downstairs, I followed the sound of Roman’s voice and Padre’s in the study. I entered and went straight to the bar cart to pour myself a drink.
“How’s Isla?” Roman asked.
“She’s okay, I guess.” I filled my glass with my favorite bourbon and took a long, slow drink. On the plane, I’d refrained from drinking alcohol, wanting to be clearheaded while caring for Pippa.
“You guess?” Roman asked.
“The bruises will go away. She might have a scar where the stitches are, but she’ll make a full recovery.” I swallowed thickly.
“I haven’t gone to see her yet,” Padre said. “It will break my heart to see her battered face. She was such a beautiful woman.”
“She’s still a beautiful woman. Her injuries will heal,” I snapped, louder than I meant to. “I apologize for snapping at you. But I feel like shit. I should’ve been there to protect her and the baby. If that asshole wasn’t already dead, I’d kill him for hurting my woman.”
Roman snorted. “Possessive much?”
“It’s not funny!” I whirled on him. “It could have been so much worse. Isla could be dead like her sister.”
“I’m sorry. I was just trying to lighten the mood.” He stood from the leather sofa. “I have some calls to make. I’m sure you’d like to spend some time with Padre.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I took another large drink. Isla telling me to leave her and the baby really fucked me up and I didn’t want to mention it to anyone.
“Give Isla my love. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Roman left the study.
I leaned against the bookshelf, trying to slow my breathing. I wanted nothing more than to erase all the things I’d done wrong and do everything right with Isla. I would give up my billions for a do-over.
At least both of my girls were under my roof and protection. A small win and I should be able to relax. But I didn’t think I would ever fully relax.
Above me on the second floor, the person I loved most in this world was recovering from her injuries after our sweet baby girl was abducted. If anything happened to either of them again, I’d go ballistic.
I shook my head, rubbing my hands against my face. The asshole who’d killed my mother came to mind. Cara Clemente’s brother.
“Stop it.” Padre pointed at me. “Get out of your head and put all this behind you. They are here with you. Now, you do everything to keep them safe.”
“You’re right.” I took another drink and joined him on the sofa.
“What did you want to discuss?”
“Sergio Pisano is looking for a match for his youngest daughter. Fabio Ferrari suggested Roman.” I studied my father’s serious face. “Or Luca. Either would be fine. It could be lucrative.”
“We don’t need money.” He waved me off. “But the arrangement could get us a stronger foothold in Italy.”
I nodded. We’d been out of Italy for several decades and I’d wanted to have more of a presence in the homeland for some time.
“Which brother are you considering for the match?” he asked.
“Roman.” Earlier in the day, he’d pissed me off trying to save Wolf’s brother while putting Pippa at risk. That didn’t sit well with me. But having my daughter back, I wasn’t angry with him anymore. Just a little bitter… “It’s time he settled down.”
“Agreed. You handle it.”
“I have something else to discuss with you.” I finished off my drink and went to refill my glass.
“Continue.”
“Cara Clemente is alive but not for long.” I turned around to see his expression. Just as I expected, white as a ghost.
“How do you know she’s alive?”
“Do you remember the model I was dating before Isla, Courtney Collins?”
“Yes.”
“Courtney was Cara’s puppet. Her job was to get pregnant, which she failed at. Courtney confessed everything to me.”
Padre gulped. “Her brother killed your mother and the boys.”
“I know. That’s why I’m going to kill her.” I set glass on the coffee table. “Fabio is hunting her down and when he finds her, I’m going to end her.”
Padre nodded, a murderous glint in his eyes. “Good. You know, I wouldn’t trade the short time I had with your mother for all the money in the world. I might have only had her for five years, not nearly as long as I wanted, but I wouldn’t trade that time for anything.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Every day and every second you get with the ones you love is a gift, Ciro. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t waste another day being apart from Isla. You have a daughter now. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Thank you for saying that. I needed to hear it.”
“I want all of my children to be happy and to find love.”
“Isla is my person. She’s always been the one. I could’ve lost her yesterday, maybe Pippa too. I’ll be damned if I waste another second.”
We stared at the wall, both seeming deep in thought. Isla was on my mind, and I had a feeling my mother was on his mind.
I inhaled a calming breath and exhaled. Isla would eventually have to talk to me, and when she did, I would declare my love and devotion to her, something I should have done a long time ago.