Chapter Four #2
The grandeur of the basilica dimmed in comparison to the sheer intensity of his gaze. He wasn’t looking at the gilded arches or the sea of society’s finest but at her. The echoes of the kiss they had shared glimmered in his eyes.
Her chest tightened and she forced herself to focus on each step she was taking toward him. The marble beneath her feet gleamed under the soft light, the polished surface cool through her thin shoes.
Soon, she was there and suddenly, she felt trapped. Her breath felt equally so in her chest, making her dizzy.
Renzo’s expression softened immediately, his hand reaching out to clasp hers with a tenderness that made her breath come easy. It was maddening how quickly that look calmed her.
John pressed a soft kiss to her temple and, with one glance at Renzo that made him nod, released her into his care.
“You’re almost there, cara,” Renzo whispered as she moved to his side. Immediately, the already familiar scent and heat of his body enfolded her as if in a gentle embrace.
And for a fleeting moment, the grand trappings of her surroundings fell away. There was no high society, no fairy-tale wedding. Maybe not even her large bump.
There was only Renzo, and the remembered heat of their kiss, and the terrifyingly audacious hope that maybe there could be more than just the baby to bind them.
The water taxi pulled to a stop in front of the Grand Rialto DiCarlo, the pride of Renzo’s empire. Renzo stepped out first, nodding at the concierge who scrambled to open the door for Mimi.
His gaze swept the crowd that had gathered along the cordoned-off street, their cameras flashing like strobe lights.
The spectacle grated on his nerves. More on Mimi’s behalf than his own. He’d grown up surrounded by luxury and paparazzi. Every inch of his life had been under their greedy scrutiny.
He knew personally what it was to be judged as a DiCarlo first, and barely as himself. Whereas his new wife…hated that kind of spectacle and had been protected from her mother’s fame at the boarding school.
His wife… Renzo frowned at the stirring of excitement at the phrase.
Dio mio, it was one thing to accept fate and adapt accordingly, and a whole other to pant after his wife, who showed no such inclination toward him.
He extended a hand to Mimi, helping her out of the boat. Her face was pale, her posture stiff. The exhaustion of the day and the strain of carrying their child were etched into every line of her body.
Guilt pressed down on him like a heavy anvil hanging around his chest. He could have made this day easier for her, but his vanity about people’s perception of him had gotten the better of him. Was he any better than his father then, if his self-worth needed validating?
“I can show my face at the reception for a half hour. Is that good enough?” she said, his little trooper.
“No. To hell with the reception and the guests. I’ll take you straight up to our suite. You should rest,” he said, leaning closer to her so his voice wouldn’t carry.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to say I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain later.”
“Cristo, cara. I’m not the devil. I can see your exhaustion clear in your face.”
She glanced at him, her lips pressed tightly together as if she wanted to argue but couldn’t muster the energy. “Okay. Can I ask you for a favor, though?”
“What?”
“In an hour, could you send someone to check on me?” When he frowned, she colored. “Just as a precaution.”
“Half an hour and I’ll come up myself. Let me get rid of everyone.”
He thought she would refuse his offer, but she gave a meek nod.
Every inch of him went on high alert. For Mimi to agree to any proposal of his without a protest was not normal in any way.
Without another word, he placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her through the lobby, ignoring the curious stares of the staff and the opulence he usually took pride in.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and Renzo stepped in, pulling Mimi gently along. She winced as she stepped inside, her hand brushing the curve of her belly.
Renzo’s brows knitted. “What’s wrong, bella?”
Before he could finish, she stumbled, clutching his arm. Her weight nearly toppled him, and his hands shot out to steady her. “Are you alright?” he demanded, his voice sharp with worry.
She didn’t answer immediately, her face contorted in pain. And then, a sound he didn’t expect—a faint splash against the polished floor.
Renzo looked down, his mind blanking for a fraction of a second as he registered the darkened leather of his shoes and the small puddle spreading outward.
Mimi’s breath hitched, her wide eyes lifting to meet his. “Oh God,” she whispered, panic lacing her voice. “My water…broke.”
The words hit him like a punch. His heart thundered in his chest as he took in her stricken expression.
“What does that mean?” he demanded, even as his insides shook at the implication.
He’d demanded and received a crash course in pregnancy and baby delivery from his mother mere hours ago.
Water breaking meant…the baby was coming.
“It’s too early, Renzo,” she said, her voice trembling. Pale and small, she looked incredibly fragile. “The baby—it’s not due for two more months. If it comes now…” Horror painted itself across her features in greedy strokes.
His insides swooped with fear, but he beat it back. “Shh…bella,” he interrupted, his hands framing her face. “Look at me.”
Her eyes were glossy with unshed tears, but she obeyed, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
“We’ll handle this,” he said firmly, his voice steady even as fear clawed at him. “Everything’s going to be fine, Mimi. I’ll be there every step of the way with you, and I won’t let anything happen to you. Okay? Just breathe, cara.”
She nodded, her fingers gripping his lapel as if it were the only thing keeping her upright. “You’re here with me, and you’ll make it right,” she chanted, her eyes already far away.
Renzo’s heart steadied at the naked conviction in her words. He reached for the emergency button in the elevator, his other arm wrapping around her protectively.
The grandeur of the hotel, the cameras outside, even the weight of the day—it all faded into insignificance. All that mattered was getting her to safety and ensuring their child came into the world as it should.
And keeping his wife’s faith in him intact…because suddenly, it had become the most important thing in the world.