When I merely blinked at her, having no clue why it sounded like she had the power to wave a magic wand and transform my current ill-fitting outfit into one that was more comfortable for my expanding body.
Easing Aurora from my arms, she set her on the ground before urging her girls to go play. Then she walked toward the staircasein the corner of the room, calling over her shoulder, “Come with me.”
Curiosity got the better of me, and I obeyed, trailing after Summer as she climbed the steps and pushed through double doors into what appeared to be the primary suite.
She disappeared into what I could only assume was the closet, then returned carrying a large plastic tote. “I’ve been meaning to donate these for a while, but maybe there was a reason I kept procrastinating. You’re welcome to any or all of it.”
Lifting the lid, I found it full of designer maternity clothing, ranging from workout gear to pajamas to jeans to fashionable tops.
I trailed my fingers over the high-quality fabrics. “Thank you. I’ll return them once I’m able to buy some of my own.”
“Oh, they’re yours to keep. We aredefinitelydone.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Matteo doesn’t want to try for a boy?”
From my experience, mafia men in the direct line of succession were so focused on male heirs that they’d force their wives to carry an infinite number of babies until they birthed a son. While Irish Catholic families were typically large, I’d watched my own mother suffer through high-risk pregnancy after high-risk pregnancy, giving my father six daughters before dying in childbirth while delivering my younger brother.
Summer shook her head. “Matteo had closed off the possibility of more children before we got together. Allegra’s death really messed him up. And that was just fine with me. Our family was complete with Bianca and Serafina. They weren’t mine, but I loved them like they were. Aurora was . . . a surprise. But we took steps to ensure she would be our last.”
I sat on the edge of the mattress. “You seem really nice. How did you get tangled up with the Bellinis?”
She huffed out a laugh. “Matteo and I found ourselves on a collision course after a chance encounter when I was a substitutelifeguard at Bianca’s 4thbirthday party. According to him, all it took was one look to decide he would do just about anything to make me his. Within a few weeks, I found myself living under his roof, nannying for his girls. And only a couple of months later, I was his wife.”
“Damn.” A whistle pushed past my pursed lips. “The man worked fast.”
With a dreamy sigh, Summer breathed out, “We fell so hard for each other.”
“And you’re not concerned about the danger that comes with his position inside the organization?”
Her gaze grew distant, and a shudder rolled through her body.
I gripped her hand. “You’ve experienced what it means to be a target, haven’t you?”
She gave a tiny nod, and her voice came out hoarse. “Yeah. There was a minute, early on, when I had to take a step back and really think about whether this life was what I wanted.”
Under my breath, I muttered, “At least you had a choice.”
“For what it’s worth, none of us agree with Gio’s methods to bring you back. Not me, not Matteo, not Enzo, not Allie.”
“Who’s Allie?”
Before she could reply, a woman with dark hair burst into the room. “Summer, Bianca said you were—” She sucked in a sharp gasp, her eyes growing large when they landed on me. “Oh my God, it’s you.”
The girl was vaguely familiar. “Do we know each other?”
She shifted on her feet. “Uh. Not officially, no.” Then she turned her attention to Summer. “Has Allie seen her?”
My sister-in-law shook her head. “No, she’s not here yet.”
I repeated my earlier question. “Who’s Allie?”
Ignoring me, the stranger circled a hand in the direction of my midsection. “Does she know aboutthat?”
Summer rolled her eyes at her friend. “Of course she does. She’s been hiding out over here every time Enzo is summoned to the Bellini Estate.”
“Hey!” I shouted, and both women’s heads whipped in my direction. “Who’s Allie?”
“Enzo’s wife,” Summer said softly.
