“And drop the sir act. You’re my best man for the next 48 hours, not my assistant.”
“Yes, si—Gianni.”
“Next week, make sure people are focusing on closing the Santo deal and see if you can’t rope in Mitsuki as well. If we can get him in our pocket, that’s going to double our second quarter.”
Boone nodded. “I’m already on it.”
I took a deep breath. “Okay.”
Boone shook his head and chuckled a little. “Gianni, you’ll be fine. You’ve been waiting to marry this woman for as long as I’ve known you. It’s finally here.”
I looked out at the weather. “I just hope this rain clears up.”
“Regardless of what happens, you’re finally making things official tomorrow. Just relax,”
“Thanks,” I replied. “See you tomorrow.”
“See ya.” Boone slapped my shoulder and then ran off and hopped into the town car and it pulled back into the lines of cars and eventually drove out of sight.
“Mr. Varberio,” the doorman said when I was close enough. “Philippa has called down here twice. You’re in trouble I’m afraid.”
I winced. “Yeah. I’ve got flowers. I’m already ready to go.”
He unlocked the door and let me in, and I rushed inside. I pressed the button on the elevator and took it all the way to the top floor. I shoved my hip towards the fob reader, thankful that it was strong enough to read the fob through my pocket, and the elevator doors opened out into the entryway of my condo.
“Bellissima?” I called out.
“Da!” a voice screeched back.
I laughed and hung my suit on a hook hanging on the wall and set my shoes on the floor, before kicking off the shoes I was wearing and lifted the box off the top of the flowers. I started to walk further into the condo when all of a sudden, I heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet. They got louder until, finally, my sweet baby girl, Irene, rounded the corner.
“Hey!” I said. “Look who’s walking!”
I crouched down and Dahlia walked into my arms. “Da!”
I kissed her cheek as I lifted her up. “Hi, sweet girl.”
She smiled at me, looking like the spitting image of her mother but with my mother’s eyes. She’d be celebrating her first birthday in just a few months, but was already walking, and saying my name, which I was most proud of.
I carried Irene into the dining room when I heard a voice that sent a chill down my spine. “Quite brave of you to call here. I’ve wanted your head on a platter since you went missing.”
Romeo?It sounded like his voice was coming through a speakerphone.
“I know,” Philippa replied. “I just… I know that Gianni wishes he had a relationship with all of you. He hates knowing things ended the way they did, and it’s not his fault. Your father manipulated everything he did.”
“I’m fully aware of what my father has done,” Romeo replied.
“I was just wondering. We’re getting married tomorrow, Gianni and I, and I was wondering, as a wedding present to him if I turn myself in, will you all accept him and our daughter back into your life.”
I rushed into the room where Philippa was sitting on the phone and her eyes widened at me. I shook my head, terrified at the words that I was hearing come out of her mouth. I loved my life so much, why would she think I’d want anything but this?
“You have a daughter?” Romeo said.
Philippa nodded, her eyes landing on Irene. “Yeah. We named her after my mother, Irene.”
Romeo was silent for a long time. Philippa and I stared at each other, and while I didn’t understand why she would assume I’d rather have a life back in Chicago than the one I had here, I didn’t know, but it warmed my heart to know that she’d do something so self-sacrificial for me.
“You nearly killed my wife,” Romeo said finally, “Gianni kidnapped her and shot me. The two of you willalwaysbe wanted here. You can never show your face around here again.”
