I was already up, snatching a pair of sweatpants to slip on. “Go back to sleep, baby. I’ll be right back.”
She lifted a hand and waved. That was reassuring. If she wasn’t hopping out of the bed, maybe the situation wasn’t an emergency.
Guido was already up when I made it to the front room, Nino too, and each one had a brother, holding him back. Guido held Mitch, and Nino held Mick.
“What’s going on?” I said in Italian.
“It seems the brothers have an issue with each other.”
Tell me something new, I almost said, but I held my tongue and sighed. “Release them,” I said, standing between the two.
Guido narrowed his eyes at me. I made an impatient move with my hand. He spoke in Mitch’s ear and then released him. Nino followed after. Neither brother moved with me standing as referee.
Lou staggered out, her hair a mess. “Mornin’,” she said, waving, not even noticing the tension or us. “Coffee. I need a coffee drip. Stat.”
I stood with my hands on my hips after she had gone into the kitchen. “Tell me what the fuck is going on now.”
Mick glanced at Guido and then at Nino.
“Yeah.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Outside then.” I motioned for Mick to go out first.
He gave a curt nod, but he went.
“I have it from here,” I said to Guido when it looked as though he and Nino were going to follow.
Guido nodded once, and then he and Nino disappeared into the kitchen, the first waves of coffee scenting the house, strong in the crisp air.
Mitch followed after me.
On the porch each brother took a position opposite me, setting me in the middle again.
“How’s Violet?” I said to Mick when neither brother spoke. They glared at each other. “The babies?”
“The babies are fine,” Mick said, but he stared at Mitch.
“Violet?”
“She’s had some complications.”
“And this—” Mitch waved his hand at his brother “—punkdidn’t even call anyone! Not even her parents!”
“She’s fine now,” Mick said, so levelheaded that it made me wary of him. “A tear in her uterus that refused to stop bleeding. They had to take her to surgery. She can’t have any more children.”
“Mick,” I said. “You didn’t call her parents?” Violet’s parents were good people. Not to mention that he hadn’t called us. Scarlett would’ve wanted to know, and Violet would’ve wanted her to know.
“It was no one’s concern but ours.” His voice was cool, almost arrogant.
“Ours?” Mitch narrowed his eyes.
“Mom stayed with me.”
“Figures,” Mitch said. “It was probably her idea to keep everyone who loves Violet in the dark.”
Mick went to go after Mitch, but I put up a hand to stop him. “Now’s not the time, man,” I said. “You’ve had a hard night.”
It was clear to see. His face was drawn. Shadows were already underneath his eyes, and his eyes were…lit, as hot as coals.
Something had changed, some irreversible damage to their relationship; I didn’t need Scarlett to confirm it.
