“Okay . . .” I was still confused. “Does she have a problem with me or something?”
“Not with you, personally. But don’t be surprised if she keeps her distance. She couldn’t be anywhere near me when I was pregnant either. And she’s only just started coming around to spending time with the girls again.”
My heart twisted inside my chest, imagining why she might avoid pregnant women and small children. Instinctively, I pressed both palms to my belly, praying that whatever the cause, it wouldn’t happen to me.
“I’m Gabi, by the way.” The dark-haired woman introduced herself.
“Gabi,” I repeated, and suddenly something clicked in my memory. “Cecelia’s daughter, right?”
She blinked at me with wide eyes. “Uh, yeah. You know my mom?”
“Mm-hmm. I know all the capos’ wives.”
Gabi grimaced. “Former capo.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry for your loss.”
She shook her head. “He’s not dead. Just . . . retired.”
“Retired? I didn’t think anyone would want to step down from a position of power even if it was allowed.”
Summer explained, “Matteo cleaned house. Got tired of his father’s men questioning every decision he made.”
“Huh. Good for him.”
Gabi edged closer. “So, is Gio really as unhinged as people make him out to be?”
A scoff fell from my lips. “Unhinged is almost too nice a word. Psychotic is more fitting.” I tapped my bump. “This baby only exists because the man went to extreme measures to disguise himself so that I would believe he was a completely different person. He changed his face, his voice, bulked up and covered himself in tattoos.” I huffed out a wry laugh. “Even pierced his damn dick.”
Shifting her wide eyes to Gabi, Summer said, “And you were worried about me falling for Matteo. Could have been a lot worse.”
Gabi nodded her agreement. “You definitely got the sane brother.” She cringed. “Sorry, Rory.”
I ducked my head. “I always knew he would find me. I just never thought it would go down like this.”
“Mom! People are here!” Bianca’s voice called from somewhere in the distance.
“Gotta get back to my hosting duties.” With Gabi hot on her heels, Summer headed for the door, pausing on the threshold to speak to me. “Feel free to change and join us when you’re ready.”
After slipping into a sweater dress, I found my way downstairs to where the double birthday party was in full swing. There were children laughing as they ran around the giant mansion, playing hide and seek. Adults mingled, enjoying casual conversation and the food spread.
When it came time for the presents, I was transfixed by the happy family at the center of the action. Aurora was perched on Matteo’s shoulders while Serafina sat in his lap. Summer kneeled beside Bianca, taking note of which gift came from whom for thank-you notes.
Then there was Enzo and his wife, curled up on a couch in a corner of the room, sharing a whispered conversation, yet even from this distance I could see the love shining in their eyes.
Though foreign to everything I’d ever known of relationship dynamics, the scene was breathtakingly beautiful, and I longed to experience the type of warmth these Bellini couples exhibited. Especially when my own husband stood as far away from me as he could get, because outside of sex, he gave me the cold shoulder, intent on continuing to punish me for running away.
We were broken beyond repair.
Chapter 14
Rory
Asickeningsplashechoedthroughout the bathroom, my stomach clenching painfully as vomit spewed from my mouth.
“Oh God,” I groaned, chills racking my body so violently that my teeth chattered, even as sweat coated my skin.
Though misery stole my sense of time, it felt like I’d been at this for hours, possibly days.
