Finally, though, just as the lime green edge of dawn crested at the horizon, he settled into a deeper sleep. When Philippa entered with breakfast, I hurried over to her to keep her quiet.
“Don’t make any loud noises,” I whispered to her, my gaze on my husband. “I’m trying to let him sleep.”
“Is something the matter withSignoreRomeo?”
“He’s a little under the weather,” I lied, knowing I couldn’t divulge the truth.
The maid glanced down at the covered silver platters she’d brought. “Would soup be better?”
“It’s not that kind of illness but thank you.” I took the food from her, hoping to hurry her back out.
“You will let me know what he needs?”
I wished I could. “I will. Right now, I think he just needs to rest.”
“Yes,signorina.”
Romeo slept straight through till noon. But then, there was a crash and a horrible raspy bellow.
“Where the hell have you been?” Angelo Cavetti burst into our quarters like a bull in a china shop.
Romeo jolted upwards so fast that I winced on his behalf. Still, I did my best to intercede. “Mr. Cavetti, what a nice surprise…”
“Don’t speak to me, girl. This doesn’t involve you.”
“Watch your tone with her.” Romeo’s outrage manifested itself on his face almost demonically as he chastised his father, which scared me half to death. “She’s my wife and the mother of your first grandchild.”
“You’re in here fucking her on my time, and you dare to correctme?” Angelo’s voice was so cold I felt the temperature of our quarters cool by twenty degrees. And we hadn’t been doing any such thing, which was more than apparent since we were both fully dressed.
“I worked all day and half the night yesterday on the problem, and I needed some sleep. And what I do or don’t do with Lucia is none of your damn business,” Romeo yelled, sounding as potent and powerful as normal. But I couldn’t help but notice that he hadn’t risen from the mattress yet, even though it left him at a disadvantage.
Angelo went still, the fury radiating off of him palpable. When he spoke, it was much more softly, yet somehow, I felt even more afraid of what he might do than before. “Schedule a flight to California. You’re going to track down the source of our leak come hell or high water.”
“How will going to California help? Those Feds could’ve been tipped off from anywhere in the world. Besides, Lucia needs to see her midwife tomorrow.”
“You’re going,” Angelo informed him. “So I suggest you make other arrangements for her.”
With that, the patriarch stormed out.
Romeo clawed his hands through his hair. “That fucker… I fuckinghatehim.”
Then, before I could do anything to console him or even see if he was physically okay, Philippa had the exceptionally bad timing of choosing then to come in with lunch.
“Oh, good to see you are up,signore. I brought you some minestrone with crackers and—” Romeo cut her off.
“Philippa.”
“Yes?”
“Put down the food and get the fuck out.”
Her eyes went big as saucers, but instantly, she set down the platters and scurried away timidly. I might’ve felt sorry for her had I not been so anxious about my husband. I raced over to his side of the bed, clasping my hands together on the mattress as I looked up at him.
He’d closed his eyes and was inhaling and exhaling in slow deliberate breaths. Then, he placed his hand over mine and opened his eyes.
“Can you stand?” I asked him, but he ignored my question.
“I don’t want to leave you here all alone.”
