“You have no idea what is going on.”
“I have an idea.”
He kept his raven hair slicked back into a ponytail. He ran his hand back, fixing a strand that had come undone when I had hit him with my purse. His dark eyes were assessing. He nodded once.
“Your husband has found out about your absence. He is not taking this well.”
“I didn’t think he would.” I sniffed. “Did he send you to look for me?”
“All of us. It will not be long before someone finds you. I have.”
“You—you can’t call him, Vincenzo! Not now. Please!”
“Mi diresti se eri in difficoltà?”His eyes grew even harder. “Do not lie to me. I will know.”
“No, I’m not in trouble.”Per se. “I need to…take a little time for myself.”
“You will call him.”
“I will. When I get where I’m going.”
His eyes stilled on mine. He was debating with himself.
I clasped his arm, hoping he felt the necessity of my need through touch. “Come with me,” I said. “That way they won’t blame you. You can call him as soon as we land. You can keep me safe.”
“Go.” He put a hand to each of our backs, pushing us forward. “I have no doubtthatsheriff will be making a phone call soon. If he has not done so already.”
* * *
I must’ve slept the entire flight to Italy, only waking up in short intervals. The pressure of the stretching space between my husband and me felt like it was tearing me in two, but the beautiful exhaustion that comes with pregnancy lulled me.
Maggie Beautiful was waiting for me at the private airport. I hadn’t told her much on the phone, only that I needed her to keep a secret and that I had to leave. I had to promise her that I’d tell her everything as soon as the plane landed in Italy.
One look at me and she brought her hands together before covering her mouth. “Scarlett Gorgeous,” she whispered, putting her hands on my stomach. “Avrai un bambino.”
I flung myself at her, clinging to her as tightly as possible. “Yes,” I whispered. “I’m having a baby.”
“Can we call her Bella Beautiful?”
A mixture between a sob and manic laughter erupted from my mouth. “Oh God, Maggie Beautiful, he’s going to hate me.” And then I broke down.
“No, it’ll be fine, doll. Shh. You’re not alone. You’re not. You have everyone. Most importantly.” She held me at arm’s length. “You have our baby in your belly. You’ll never be alone again. I know. I remember. But hear this. That man could never hate you. He loves you too much.”
There’s a thin line between love and hate… Both require passion. Indifference is the lethal silver bullet to the heart.
I nodded, hoping her words were true. Maggie Beautiful wiped the sweat and tears from my face.
“Has he called?” I asked.
“I can’t keep up with the calls. He’s been calling Violet, too. He’s not taking this well, Scarlett Gorgeous. I’m afraid for him. He, ah, found out about you going to see Luca.”
Violet had decided to leave with her kids, escaping our town to stay in our villa in Tuscany. After Claudia came to claim her share of Mick’s estate, she needed a different place to be.
I glanced at Vincenzo, who was on the phone talking to someone. I had a feeling who.
Maggie Beautiful took me by the shoulders and shook me. “What were you thinking?”
“I had to stop Brando from seeing him again. Or else…I don’t think we have much of a chance.” I ran a soft hand across my stomach.
