Chapter Fifty-Five Ella
Chapter Fifty-Five
Ella
Irub my forehead in frustration as Claudette hands me a cup of herbal tea. I’ve just told the girls how being with Tiero has once again made me a target for his enemies. Or his cousin’s enemies, in this case.
“He couldn’t have told you that last night?” Rhia mutters. “Before you accepted his proposal?”
“Would that really have changed anything?” Claudette asks, watching me closely.
I puff air into my cheeks and let it out slowly.
“It’s a moot point. I made my decision.”
“But you’re not married yet,” Rhia says. “You can still change your mind.”
She probably wishes I would. And I can’t blame her.
“Try telling Tiero that,” I say dryly. “If it were up to him, we’d already be married. He wants me to be Mrs. Gualtiero De Marco as soon as possible.”
“At least you set conditions,” Rhia says, though the worry hasn’t left her eyes.
“I had to.” I wrap my hands around the mug.
Claudette sighs dreamily. “You have to admit, there’s something hot about a man declaring you’re his, and that anyone who touches you will regret it.”
She’s read too many romance novels.
“Only if you want him,” I say with a smirk. “Otherwise, it’s creepy.”
Rhia doesn’t smile. “El, are you really okay with what he’s done? Back home. And in Chicago.”
I sink back against the pillows.
“No. Of course I’m not.”
The words come out immediately.
“I hate the thought of him killing anyone. Even if they’re monsters, and it saves a lot of innocent people. I don’t want that kind of violence anywhere near my life.”
I swallow.
“But I also can’t deny the world is safer because of it. And that’s the part that messes with my head.”
Claudette is quiet for a moment. Then she nods.
“You don’t have to like it to acknowledge it.”
“That’s exactly it.” I stare down at the ring on my finger. “I don’t have to approve of everything he’s done to still choose him.”
Rhia studies me. “So you’re sure.”
“Yes.”
My certainty surprises even me.
“When I agreed to give Tiero another chance, everything was happening too fast to think. Yesterday forced me to stop and really ask myself what I need to live with my choices.”
I twist the ring slowly.
“And what I know is this. Being with him feels right on a level I can’t explain. It always has.”
Claudette smiles knowingly.
“I tried your approach,” I tell her. “Quiet the noise. Ask for guidance. Trust what comes up.”
“And?”
“I didn’t get clarity about the future. Just clarity about him.”
I shrug. “My life is completely uncertain right now. I’m engaged to a mob boss, pregnant, and about to move to an island where I’ll be isolated. That’s terrifying.”
I look up at them.
“But when I’m with Tiero, the fear quiets. It’s just him and me. And that’s enough.”
Rhia exhales slowly.
“I’m choosing the light and the dark with him,” I say softly. “Because there will always be both. And I trust him to keep me and Peanut safe.”
I glance at Claudette. “That’s what you sensed on the ship, isn’t it? That it would all work out in the end.”
She meets my gaze and nods. “Yes. It will.”
“Then I’m trusting that.”
We clink our teacups together, and the mood lightens as they gush over the ring.
“It really suits you,” Claudette says. “Matches your eyes. That’s a sign.”
“I still can’t believe you’re engaged,” Rhia says. “I honestly didn’t see that coming.”
“I did,” Claudette counters smugly.
“You’re a psychic. You should.” Rhia grins. “What do you see for Lex and me?”
“Fun,” Claudette says immediately. “Lots of it.”
“That’s nothing new. I could have predicted that,” I say, elbowing her.
“There will be wedding bells,” Claudette adds. “That’s what you were asking, wasn’t it?”
Rhia nods eagerly. “Who proposes? Can you see that?”
“I have an inkling, but what would be the fun in sharing that? Wouldn’t you rather want to be surprised?”
We laugh, and for a moment everything feels normal.
Then my gaze drifts back to Rhia, and a quiet ache blooms behind my ribs.
She’s been part of my life forever.
How will that look now?
The thought of us drifting apart hits me out of nowhere, and tears sting my eyes.
“Damn hormones,” I mutter.
Rhia immediately rubs my stomach. “Don’t listen to your mommy, Peanut. She’s going to blame you for everything now.”
“I fully intend to,” I sniff. “I won’t have this excuse forever.”
“Milk it while you can,” she says. “I know I will.”
That only makes me cry harder.
All the plans we made. Being pregnant together. Raising our kids close by. Watching them grow up side by side. It’s not going to happen like that.
Rhia sits beside me and pulls me into a tight hug.
“We’ll work it out,” she says.
“I know we will.”
A knock interrupts us.
Santino steps inside. “Signorina O’Neil, the cars are being prepared. Signor De Marco will join you shortly.”
Tiero has been on the phone all morning, finalizing our return to Sicily. Chicago is no longer part of the plan.
Maximo assured him he would ‘take care’ of the man who switched the IV. I have no desire to find out what that entails.
“I don’t want to say goodbye,” I whisper, pulling Rhia back into my arms.
“As soon as it’s safe, I’ll visit,” I promise, holding onto her tighter. “Whether Tiero likes it or not.”
“And I’ll come to your island,” she says. “It has to be nicer there in winter than Dublin.”
“Much. And there are guest huts away from the main house. You and Lex can be as loud as you want.”
That earns me a real smile.
“Call me when you land,” Rhia demands.
“I will.”
I wave the new phone Tiero gave me this morning that has her number already programmed into it.
I hug Claudette next. She’s become so dear to me in such a short period.
“What will you do?” I ask her.
She’s made her plans around me, and now I’m leaving her behind.
“Winter with Miriam,” she says, smiling. “I’ll head back up the mountain. I’m looking forward to being snowed in. It will be a whole new experience.”
“You’ll visit, won’t you?” I ask. “After the snow has melted?”
“Try to stop me. I want to meet this little girl.” She taps my stomach gently.
“I want her to know you.”
“She will.” Claudette sounds certain, and I take comfort in that.
We end in a three-way hug, holding on longer than necessary, knowing things are about to change.