53. SCARLET
Two days later …
The last couple of days were horrific. Telling mothers, fathers, and wives that their son or husband died doesn't get easier the more times you do it.
The last time was just as terrible as the first. Antonio looks just as worn as I feel.
Despite my guilt rearing up now and then, I still think he has it worse because he knew the men who died.
Which makes me feel even guiltier. I decide to make a point of meeting all the guards, learning their names and histories as far as they're willing to share them. It's the least I can do.
Last night, Antonio and Vito interrogated Nestor. A scary part of me wanted to ask Antonio if I could come too, but I swallowed that request down as soon as it made its way into my brain. I'm not that kind of bad girl , yet. Maybe never.
I've talked to my dad every day, but he doesn't know that Antonio and I are married; that's something I want to tell him in person.
Antonio still wants us to have a big wedding once this is over, and Gigi and I have already spent countless hours online checking for venues, dresses, and all the other kinds of planning that go into a wedding.
Today, I'm going to see Doctor Vandercamp in New York City for my first pregnancy appointment.
Since Carlos knows now that I'm alive and Antonio's wife, there is no reason for me to hide anymore. I still can't see my dad because he's the sequestered one now, but we're going to St. Raphael's, where my friend Elli works.
It's also the hospital to which Antonio had our injured men flown and where Marcello is still fighting for his life.
It's my first official time outside in weeks where I can actually show my face in public, and I'm mostly excited, but I'm a little apprehensive after Gigi's and my ordeal a few days ago.
As usual, Antonio can read my emotions perfectly. "Nothing is going to happen to you on my watch, passerotta, I swear."
"I know, I'm just a little nervous," I confess.
Not just because of Carlos, but also because visiting the injured men and talking to their families will be as draining, even if not as heartbreaking, as our last visits were.
I'm also nervous about seeing Dr. Vandercamp.
And yes, I'm also nervous about seeing Elli.
"What am I going to tell her?" I fret in the helicopter.
"The truth." Antonio grins at me. "That you've fallen madly in love with me. You don't have to tell her we're married, yet, if you don’t want to. " He grabs my hands and moves my ring from the left to the right. "There, you're engaged, Mrs. DeLuna."
I smack his upper arm, and he laughs when I wave my hand. "Did you hurt yourself?"
"Those things should come with a warning signal," I pout, overexaggerating my stinging palm.
His laughter deepens, and I stare at him. He's by far the most handsome man I've ever laid eyes on. I realize I'm biased, but I don't think there is any woman on this Earth who would contradict me on this statement.
The chopper lands on the hospital roof, where, normally, emergency helicopters land.
"Is this allowed?" I ask, frowning.
"Do I look like I care?" Antonio smirks.
"I guess not, but what if an emergency helicopter has to land?"
"I love you, Mrs. DeLuna," he says, stopping and putting his knuckles under my chin, "but you fret too much."
I laugh. "Point taken. I'll try to do better." I set my face in a grim mask, imitating him when he looks intimidating. "Like this?"
He shakes his head. "No, I like you better smiling."
Four bodyguards exit the helicopter, and four more are positioned by the roof access door. I texted Elli ahead of time, but I'm a coward and didn't want to go into too much detail. She tried, but I successfully warded her off. So we'll be having lunch in a private room that happens to be empty.
She's already in the room, waiting for me, when Antonio goes to check on Marcello. There is, of course, a crew of men standing guard outside the door.
"Jesus, Scar, you better tell me what the hell is happening and who those hulking men are," Elli greets me, jumping up from the table and pulling me into a big hug.
"Also, I've been worried half to death about you.
I haven't heard from you in weeks! Do you have any idea what you did to me?
Here, look." She holds up a strand of perfectly brown hair.
"See these split ends? I wouldn't be surprised if they turned white. White!"
I laugh; I can't help it. Elli has always been the overdramatic one. "I should spank you, Scarlet Lambert," she nods to herself, then tilts her head, "or is that too kinky?" She thinks it over. "Yep, too kinky. Hey, and what is this?"
She grabs my hand and pulls me to the window to hold up my ring to the sunlight. "What the hell is this?"
"My engagement ring?" I pose it as a question, even though I'm sure that's what she's talking about and not my nails in dire need of a mani.
I have to ask Gigi if she knows anyone who'll make house visits. I’m already sure I don't want to go to any of the places I normally go, not with four bodyguards. Probably Antonio, too.
"Engagement? What?" Elli exclaims. "Holy shit girl, that's one huge sapphire."
"Blue diamond," I correct automatically, slightly blushing.
"Holy cow, do you have any idea how much those are worth?"
I swallow. "Eight point five million dollars."
"Fuck!" She sits down on the unoccupied bed. "Alright, tell me."
I raise an eyebrow at her. "Will you let me?"
She laughs. "Probably, I'm curious enough."
She pats the spot next to her, inviting me to sit down. "Spill."
And I do. I tell her everything. From the moment Carlos's men snatched me, to me being here to see a doctor for my first appointment, and, hopefully, a glimpse of jellybean.
Well, almost everything. I don't mention a few minor details, like the shootout, or the second kidnapping a couple of days ago.
But I make sure to fill her in on Antonio's and my shopping trip, knowing full well that she has a fetish when it comes to expensive designer things, which is actually the reason she wanted to become a doctor.
Most people go into the field to help people.
Not Elli. She did it to make enough money to support her expensive habits.
All the better if she could help people in the process, she said.
"Shut up! He didn't!" She cries, just as I expected. A wide grin spreads over my face.
"He did."
"Okay, please tell me he has a brother." Her eyes are wide and hopeful, and I hate to disappoint her.
"Sorry."
"Dang. But that's okay. Oh, Scar, I'm so happy for you." She pulls me in for another near-death hug. "You deserve it. You really do."
I wipe a tear away. "Damn, why do you always make me cry?"
She laughs, "What can I say, it's a gift. Come on, let's see what's for lunch. I'm starving."
She pulls me up to the table and lifts the first silver dome-shaped cover. "Oh my God, is that from Martin's?"
Martin is one of our favorite restaurants. We don't get to go there very often since it's also one of the most expensive restaurants in the city, which is probably why Antonio picked it—not because he's stalking me and my habits.
"You should know that the others and I planned your demise in case you came back unhurt," she says around a big bite of steak.
"I figured." I nibble on a fry. I don't know how Martin's does it, but they have the best French fries in the state. "Tell them that I have bodyguards now who will shoot first and won't ever ask questions."
Elli freezes before she chokes on a bite of her steak. I whack her back a few times. "Better?"
Her face is red, with tears streaming down it, but she's laughing. "Oh my God, that's a good one." She shakes her head, then stills. "You're serious?"
I nod. "The only reason Antonio let me come here."
3…2…1… I count down in my head, and I'm not disappointed. "Are they hot?"
"It's kind of hard to judge, since I'm spoiled from looking at Antonio all day…"
"Oh. My. God! You're such a bitch," she laughs. "I love you."
"I love you, too." I do. And it feels so good being with her again. It's not going to be easy, but I'm dead set on keeping girls' night going. Antonio will just have to figure something out.
"So, when and where is the wedding?" she wants to know, when we dig into our desserts.
"We're not sure yet. Probably in a few months, we're thinking of the Maldives or Bora Bora, although Fiji sounds good, too."
Her mouth drops open, "You know neither the girls nor I can afford that flight."
"Well, it's a good thing then that Antonio has a private jet," I tease.
"Alright, where do I find me a mafia don?"
I laugh at her, but I know she's dead serious.
I'm about to say some words of warning when the door opens and Antonio strides in, in all his glory.
Elli's sharp inhale is hard to miss. A new feeling of possessiveness overcomes me, and I rise to greet my husband.
He doesn't disappoint. His kiss is long and deep, taking me away for a few moments, until Elli clears her throat. "Get a room, you two."
"We do have a room," Antonio grins at her. That devastating grin of his makes my knees buckle, and I can only imagine how Elli feels right now. The expression on her face is priceless.
"Elli, this is Antonio, my hus—fiancée," I correct quickly, hoping Antonio's charms have dulled Elli's bullshit sensors.
Not so much luck. "Nice to meet you, Antonio the hus—fiancée." She holds out her hand.
Antonio shakes it, "I think I like your friend, passerotta."
"Oh dear, what does that mean?" Elli lets go of Antonio's hand to mock fan herself.
"It's a term of endearment. It means sparrow—long story," I wink at Elli.
"Are you ready?" Antonio pushes.
"Yes, I'll see you later?" I ask Elli, who hugs me tightly.
"You bet. Just don't disappear again."
"Not ever," I promise.