Chapter 21
Laurie
I can’t believe it.
As I read the message again, the heartache tearing through me is too much to bear.
“Laurie!” I hear Adriano call out.
Grabbing hold of the bed, I climb to my feet, my tears come faster while horrible sobs rip through me.
I try to wipe the tears from my cheeks, but they won’t stop falling, and before I can take a step forward, Adriano slams the door open.
He looks absolutely murderous as he rushes toward me.
Just as an awful fear mixes with the unbearable heartache, his body slams into mine and his arms lock around me to his solid chest.
The instant I realize the look on his face is worry and he came running when I told him I needed him, a broken sob rips from my throat and I begin to cry fitfully.
My fingers clutch at his jacket while I press my face into the warm space beneath his chin.
I can’t breathe right, the sobs choking me.
My whole body shakes, cry after cry tearing through me until it feels like my ribs are being crushed.
“Laurie,” Adriano growls. “Who am I killing?”
I cling tighter to him as another wave of unbearable pain hits, desperate to get as close as possible to him.
“Shh…” He murmurs lovingly, one hand gripping the back of my head while the other stays so tightly wrapped around my waist it almost hurts. “I’ve got you, amore mio.”
I’m barely aware of him sitting down on the bed and positioning me on his lap, before cradling me as if I’m the most precious thing he’s ever gotten to hold.
All I can focus on is the heartache and the way he keeps me together while I break.
“It’s okay, mia piccola farfalla. Let it all out.”
I try to talk, but another sob shudders through me, so I just cling to him while he comforts me through the worst pain I’ve ever felt.
Slowly, the sharp sting of shock and heartache morphs into a dull deep ache that makes my chest feel heavy and dark.
Adriano leans a little back, tilting his head so he can see my face while cupping my cheek. “Better?”
When I meet his eyes and see how worried he is, it sinks in that after I called him, he rushed home because I needed him.
He came.
He held me.
He’s worried about me.
Adriano really cares.
His thumb gently brushes the tears from my cheek. “What happened, mia piccola farfalla?”
The grief swells in my chest, choking my voice as I say, “Elise died.” My face crumbles again.
“She was my best friend. She was going to come visit in December.” The intense shock hits again, and unable to talk further, I notice my phone lying beside Adriano.
Picking it up, I unlock the screen and open the message Elise’s mother sent me on social media.
“An aneurysm,” Adriano reads. “I’m sorry, amore mio.” He takes my phone and sets it down again before pulling me back into a hug. “I can only imagine how much this must hurt, but at least it sounds like it happened quickly.”
It doesn’t offer me much comfort, if any. When I spoke to her on Tuesday night, there were no signs. She sounded fine.
If I had known that would be our last conversation, I would’ve told her how much I love her.
“Elise was the only person who really cared about me,” I sniffle while fighting not to break out in tears again.
“No, not the only person.” He tenderly cups my cheek and looks deep into my eyes. “I meant it when I said you’re my everything. I will move heaven and earth for you, so tell me what you need right now, so I can give it to you.”
“Just you,” I whisper hoarsely, my gaze darting over his face as I realize this man who made me a deal of a lifetime, forced me to marry him, and moved me into his house is all I have now.
He presses a kiss to my forehead and another to my mouth. “Would you like to attend Elise’s funeral?”
“I can’t. She lives in Belgium…lived.” A sob sputters from me as grief rolls through me.
“I know. That’s why I’m asking, so I can make arrangements for the flight.”
I shake my head, my chin quivering. “I don’t have a passport.”
“That’s not a problem.” His eyes remain locked with mine. “I smuggle things for a living. It will be easy getting you in and out of Belgium.”
A tiny seed of hope sprouts in my chest. “Please. At least then I can say goodbye to her.”
“Okay.” Adriano gives me another kiss on the forehead. “Leave it all to me.”
“Thank you.” As a tear trickles down my cheek, I try to tell myself to be careful and to hold on tight to my heart, but figuratively speaking, it’s already in Adriano’s palm.
Adriano
I’ve made tomato soup and grilled cheese for a late lunch, thinking Laurie can do with some comfort food.
After setting everything down on the island, I take a seat beside my wife and place my hand on her back. “Eat, mia piccola farfalla. It will help you feel a little better.”
Laurie looks at the food, then gives me a vulnerable smile. “Thank you.” I watch as she takes a bite. “It’s tasty.” She pauses for a moment, then adds, “I love how you’re able to make meals from scratch. I’d like to learn sometime.”
I nod, and when she eats more, I turn my attention to my soup and grilled cheese.
Between bites, I can’t tear my gaze away from Laurie. She looks fucking vulnerable, and it’s only made me feel insanely protective of her.
When I got home, and she cried like that in my arms, my heart all but stopped dead in my chest.
“I wish I could carry this grief for you so you don’t have to,” I say.
Laurie’s red-rimmed eyes drift over my face, and she gives me a look I can’t place. Reaching for me, her fingers fold around some of mine, and she grips me so tight her knuckles turn white.
The small gesture tells me a lot. She needs me to keep her standing right now.
I didn’t know much about Elise. Only that she was a graphic designer, twenty-six, unmarried, and Laurie’s been friends with her for four years.
It would kill me to lose any of my friends, so I can imagine the heartache Laurie must be feeling.
“I’m here, mia piccola farfalla,” I murmur. “You are not alone in this.”
She stares at me for a long moment, and when a tear escapes, I lean forward and catch it with my lips before pressing a kiss to her mouth.
Laurie’s arm shoots up, and she grips the back of my neck, her heavenly blue gaze staring deep into mine. “Thank you, Adriano.”
“It’s nothing.”
I tuck a few strands of her silky hair behind her ear, and feeling the powerful bond we share drawing us closer together, I cup the back of her head when she closes the distance between our faces.
Slowly, I nip at her lips, the kiss tender because I know it’s what my butterfly needs. Wanting her much closer, I grab her hips and lift her from the stool to place her on my lap again. When I engulf her with my body, my heart feels some peace.
I feel as she slips into the trance I weave around her and brush my hand over her hair. I knead her lips with mine, my tongue sweeping through her mouth with lazy strokes.
This is where I want to keep her until the worst of her grief has lessened.
I swear, time has lost all meaning since I laid eyes on Laurie. Days. Weeks. Months. Years. It feels like I’ve known her all my life. Like somehow she was there from the day I was born, and she’ll be at my side when I die.
When I finally pull an inch back, and our breaths mingle, I watch as her eyes drift open. For a moment, there’s only a dreamy look of awe, but then slowly, the grief trickles back.
I brush some hair away from her forehead and whisper, “Eat, mia piccola farfalla. You need your strength.”
She sits back down again, and while we finish our late lunch, my thoughts turn to the fuckers I put the fear of God into earlier today.
I was planning on telling Laurie about what I have planned for Heather, Amanda, and Austin, but that shit will have to wait until after the funeral.
Once we’re done with the meal, I clear the island and load the dirty bowls and plates into the dishwasher.
Shit, I need to let Mom know to move the barbecue to next weekend.
Pulling out my phone, I shoot her a quick text and also a short explanation that Laurie lost a friend and we’ll be going to Belgium.
I watch as Mom reads it, and when she doesn’t reply, I know she’s coming over.
Laurie gets up and walks to the doorway. She sees something that’s out of my line of sight and rushes out of the kitchen.
I hurry after her, and when I walk into the living room, she’s trying to pick up an armful of clothes.
“Leave it.” I walk closer and take the bundle from her.
Worry creeps into her gaze. “But… I can’t just leave everything lying around.”
“Yes, you can. We’ll deal with it later.” I drape the clothes over the backrest of the couch, and before I can say anything else, Mom comes rushing into the room with Tiny right behind her. He always follows Mom like a shadow.
I give him a chin lift, and he responds with an empathetic look.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Mom coos, going straight for my wife. “I’m so sorry for your loss!”
Laurie is hauled into a motherly hug, and a second later she grips Mom as if her life depends on it while fresh sobs burst from her.
“I know…I know, sweetheart,” Mom keeps cooing comforting words while rubbing her hand up and down Laurie’s back. “Cry as hard as you need. I’m here.”
I have never loved my mother more than I do right now. She’s known Laurie all but one day and is treating her like a daughter already.
When Mom’s eyes touch on mine, I mouth, “I love you.”
She smiles at me, then murmurs to Laurie, “I’ve got you, sweetheart. It’s going to be okay.”
I glance over the piles of clothes and feel a glimmer of satisfaction that Laurie at least got enough to last her a little while. I’ll have Pierre come back after we return from Belgium.
Looking back at the two most important women in my life, my eyes land on Laurie’s ring finger.
Diamonds look fucking good on her.
While Mom and Laurie talk in hushed tones, standing huddled together and constantly touching, I make a call to Rosie.
“Damage control speaking. How bad is it?”
“You know?” I ask.
“That all depends on what you’re referring to.
Austin is currently in the emergency room getting stitches and his jaw wired shut.
The women are hiding at Amanda’s place. None of them have realized their bank accounts are empty.
Oh, and no news on that uprising thing. None of the opposing families are saying anything in calls or via texts. ”
“Thanks for the update, but that’s not why I’m calling. Laurie’s friend passed away. I need the jet readied for a trip to Belgium and the usual contacts paid off to get Laurie in and out of the country without a passport.”
“Consider it done. Just let me know when the funeral will take place, and please give her my condolences.”
“I will. Thanks, Rosie.”
“Anything for my big brother.”
Rosie is an only child, but from the day she was born, I treated her like my baby sister.
After hanging up, I turn around, but there’s no sign of Laurie and Mom. Walking to the kitchen, I find them by the stove, seeing Mom brewing chamomile tea.
Resting the side of her head on Mom’s shoulder, they look like mother and daughter.
Tiny is sitting by the island, and just as I take a step toward him, someone pats my shoulder. Turning around and seeing Dad, I follow him to the living room.
His hazel eyes search mine before he asks, “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine.” I rub the back of my neck and let out a sigh.
Dad stares long and hard at me, and to put him at ease, I give his bicep a squeeze. “I’m really fine. Just worried about Laurie.”
He jerks his head toward the couches, and after we sit down beside each other, he says, “We haven’t had much time to talk.”
“Yeah.”
Like always when we’re about to have a deep conversation, Dad pats my knee. “So this is the woman for you?”
My tone is firm, zero doubt. “Yes.”
He lets out a soft chuckle. “I have to admit, I’m impressed with how fast you locked her down. Wish Remo would take a page out of your book.”
“Valentina needed time,” I stand up for my brother. “If it were up to Remo, they would’ve been married ages ago.”
“You’re right.” He’s quiet for a moment, then says, “Tell me about my daughter-in-law. What made you lose your mind over her?”
“Everything.” I lean back against the couch and look up at the oak tree, the leaves stirring in the wind.
“It feels like I’ve finally found the other half of my soul.
Like she’s always been there.” My tone grows softer.
“Her beauty, her eyes, her smile and tears…” I inhale deeply.
“She’s a work of art I just had to have, a craving so fucking deep it will never be sated. ”
Dad nods, understanding every word. “I get it. That instant obsession just takes over, and you lose all control to a wisp of a woman who forever owns your heart.”
“Yes.”
Mom and Laurie walk back into the living room, and when my wife spots Dad, her lips part in shock.
“Hi, Mr. Rizzo,” she greets, her tone filled with respect.
“Angelo.” He climbs to his feet, and when he walks to Laurie and gives her a sideways hug, I can see how much it means to her. “I’m sorry to hear about your friend. Life can be cruel at the best of times.”
“Thank you,” she whispers before letting out a shaky breath.
Dad leans his head to the side to catch her eyes, and with a serious expression, he says, “You’re a part of this family now, Laurie. We support each other through difficult times, and when shit gets tough, it’s movie night and popcorn.”
“I’ll get the snacks while you all fight about which movie to watch.” I stand up, and passing Laurie, I brush my fingers against hers before leaving her with my parents.
“Where’s Big Ricky?” Tiny asks. “The romantic bastard will want a say in which movie we pick.”
“I’m here,” I hear Big Ricky mutter.
“Pa said there’s food?” Little Ricky asks.
I chuckle as I open the pantry door, and as I start pulling out packets of chips, pretzels, and corn kernels, Little Ricky comes to help.
“I heard what happened,” he whispers. “How’s boss lady holding up?”
“She’s devastated.” We set everything down on the island, and while I pop the kernels, I inform Little Ricky about our travel plans so he can get a group of men ready to accompany us.