Other than them, I had no true friends or family.I was no longer sure if that had been my choice or if Ryder had kept me isolated on purpose.I was sure Kane had as well, but I kind of blamed Ry more.My old life had revolved around both men, including work.Instead of accepting an offer to work at a birthing center when I’d first completed my licensing—something Ryder had known I was excited about but convinced me not to accept—I’d taken a job based on being able to set the same schedule every week to meet their needs, not my own.Every aspect of my world was with the goal of pleasing them.
Well, that wasn’t going to happen ever again.My new reality was my baby—nothing and no one else.I’d made a few mommy-to-be friends, I had a small two-bedroom house that I was renting-to-own, and I was smiling more than I had in a really, really long time.Even though I cried myself to sleep, I was happier than I’d been in years.
“Where is Dad today?”I asked, keeping my tone casual.
Some of the misery on her face softened, and she smiled.“It’s his date night with our daughter.They spend one Friday a month together.He takes her to a movie, dinner, then they stop for whatever dessert and bring me home a slice of cake.Our son…” She paused, rubbing her hand lovingly over her belly.“Well, soon, plural.Our sons.Boys bond easily.Sports.Occasionally hunting and playing video games.But our daughter is a very girlie girl.He didn’t know how to connect with her, and as she’s gotten older, they began drifting further and further apart.It was breaking his heart.I suggested the monthly father-daughter dates, and they’ve been closer ever since.”
Unexpectedly, a lump of emotion filled my throat.I couldn’t even remember my father’s face, but lately, I’d been wondering what had happened to him.When I was put into foster care at age five, no one would tell me where he was.As for my mother, I couldn’t remember a time I had ever had one of those.A few foster families had tried to make me call them Mom and Dad, but I always ran away before they could enforce that rule.
Swallowing hard to push down the emotions choking me, I gave her another smile.“Sit tight, mama.Doc will be in shortly.”
“Thanks, Vay.”
With a nod, I left her.Doc was just coming out of his office when I shut the door behind me.He was an amazing, dedicated doctor with a calming bedside demeanor and nonjudgmental tone of voice.We’d clicked well as a team from the beginning, without that awkward phase when strangers started working side by side.
Doc was a good guy—handsome, single, and most importantly, treated every woman who came into his office with dignity and respect.In another life, one where I wasn’t already jaded by life in general and I wasn’t pregnant with another man’s baby, there might have been chemistry between us.
Without a word, I handed him the tablet.He nodded as he read, adding notes as he went.“Call over and have her suite readied.I’m sending orders for induction now.”
“On it, Doc.”
“Don’t know if I’ve said it yet or not, Vay, but you’re an asset to us.”His eyes met mine, something flashing there that I was too numb to acknowledge.“And to me.”
Another wave of emotion hit me, and I dipped my chin at the praise.Back at my job in the ER, the only time anyone ever had something to say about my work was related to mistakes, and those were usually from new residents on their emergency medicine rotation.Those assholes and their egos were too big to work permanently in any emergency department.
Had Ryder and Kane ever said that to me?
No.
Because I hadn’t been an asset to either of them.It hurt to think about that, and I quickly pushed that realization down.
Doc tucked the tablet under his arm and knocked on the door before touching the handle.“Have a good weekend, Vay.Take care of yourself and that little one.”
Touching my tiny baby bump, I gave him a quick smile.“Thanks, Doc.See you Monday.”
Ryder
Sightlessly,I stared at the coffin as it was lowered into the ground, not feeling the icy chill of the wind that blew around me.Aurelio was being laid to rest between his mother and his late wife.Generations of the Bianchis, all in their own tombs, were lined up all the way back to the first of their patriarchs to make America their home.There was plenty of room for Amadea and her sister, plots reserved for them and what Aurelio thought would one day be Kane and me beside his daughters.Our supposed future children and grandchildren.
How hard would Aurelio roll over in his grave when he realized that his daughters would be the last of his line to fill the cemetery?
There would be no Bianchi heir coming from either Amadea or her older sister, at least none that Kane or I fathered.
Aurelio’s passing from a massive heart attack in his sleep—or so the coroner’s report proclaimed—didn’t come as a surprise to anyone, least of all his daughters.He’d been in bad health for years, something I was well aware of, because I was the one who had slowly poisoned him.With each family dinner I was forced to attend with Amadea and her parents, I slipped a little something into the old bastard’s whiskey glass.
Powerful men in tailored suits stood with their wives, all dressed in black, their jewelry understated but still broadcasting status, there to pay their last respects.More likely to confirm for themselves that the rat bastard was truly dead.Dark glasses hid their eyes as they bowed their heads while the priest gave the final rites.
Kane stood on my right, his shoulder grazing mine, grounding me.It took true willpower not to spit on the casket in front of everyone.On either side of us stood our wives, dressed in designer black dresses, each of them dabbing at their dry eyes, as if they even had hearts that could mourn.For dramatics, they released the occasional little hiccups that sounded like weak sobs thrown in for added effect.Christ, I wanted to puke every time I looked at either of them.
Behind Raffaella was Kane’s mother, who was dutifully consoling her daughter-in-law.His father kept a half foot of distance between himself and his wife, his coat, like that of every other man in attendance, doing a good job of concealing the gun beneath.Cullum stood behind me with Amadea, but not at my back.Even as out of it as I’d been the last few months, I wouldn’t ever let that motherfucker directly behind me.
With Bianchi’s death, we were one step closer to this years-long game finally being over.Kane and I had already been running his territory and business, but with his passing, not a single person could question our authority over his assets.His wealth, status, power were now ours.And soon, we would burn it all to the ground.
Not soon enough.
Even one day had been too long.I never should have married Amadea.It might not have been the quickest path, but back then, it had appeared to be the easiest.I should have remembered that easy didn’t mean better, and in this case, it had come with a steep penalty.
It had cost me Vega.
