“You should go home,” I tell Caleb. “Your wife needs you.”
Zumo nods. “Fiero and I can take it from here.”
“I’ll be needing that cake box.” Caleb waggles his brows.
“Come on.” I lift one shoulder. “Let’s get Valentina.”
29
VALENTINA
“You’re all good,” Natalia Messina says, gently pressing down on the small gauze at the back of my neck covering my new tracker. Fiero told me earlier in the week he’d arranged for Caleb and Joshua’s mom to come to the house today to remove the old tracker from my arm and install a different one in my neck. It’s a new prototype and only a select fewmafiosohave them. It’s not common knowledge, and news of the new chips hasn’t reached Florida yet, so if Cesco, or any of Dom’s men, are trying to track me, they won’t be able to, but Fiero can if there’s a need.
It gives me an extra layer of protection, and I’m grateful. I spoke to a few of my sisters this morning and my cousin Nina, needing to hear their voices even though Fiero has told me they’re safe. He reactivated my phone and hooked me up to the Wi-Fi, and it’s a measure of trust I’m grateful for.
My hair falls down my back, covering my neck. “Thank you. Are you in a hurry to leave, or would you like to stay for some cake and iced tea?”
“I have a little bit of time. I’d love that.”
Natalia goes outside to the table to make a call while I fix a tray with cupcakes and small slices of key lime pie and meringue with strawberries and peaches and fresh cream. Lastly, I add the jug of iced tea I made earlier and two glasses and carry it outside, arriving just as Natalia ends her call.
“Oh my. This looks delicious.”
I set it down. “Thanks. Fiero has been working a lot these past couple days, and I’ve been bored, so I baked.” I shrug.
“Oh, I heard all about it last night on the phone,” she says, helping herself to a cupcake. I pour iced tea into two glasses. “My daughter-in-law Elisa told me you sent some cakes home with Caleb. She was raving about how yummy they were.”
“I’m glad she liked them.” I hand her a glass and claim the seat beside her. “Fiero told me your twin sons are expecting with their wives. Are these your first grandchildren?”
“Yes. I’m so excited.”
“You look way too young to be a grandmother.” She’s stunning with thick dark hair, curves forever, and flawless olive skin. She reminds me of Sofia Vergara.
“You’re too kind, but trust me, I’m old enough. My youngest two are ten and eleven now, and I miss having babies around. There’s just something about their soft skin and that delightful baby smell I’m addicted to. I always say they’re easier when they’re babies.”
“Yeah, babies are adorable.” The words sound devoid of emotion to my own ears.
She arches a brow in silent question as she bites into her cupcake.
“I’m the eldest of ten in my family. I raised my younger siblings with my mom. They were like my babies.”
“Well, hopefully someday, you’ll have babies of your own too.”
Pain cuts a line across my chest, but I disguise it behind a practiced mask before sinking my teeth into the key lime pie. It tastes like sawdust in my mouth.
Concern splays across her face as she watches me. “I gave Fiero my word that my visit here would be confidential, and I will not breathe a word to anyone. He didn’t give me any details, but am I to assume you and he are together?”
“Yes, but it’s new and more than a little complicated.”
“Relationships usually are.” She pats my hand and smiles. Glancing at the large colorful bouquet in the glass vase on the table, she asks, “Are these from him?”
I bob my head. “Every morning, a new bouquet arrives. If he keeps this up, I’ll be able to open my own florist shop.”
“How romantic.”
A genuine smile trips over my lips. “It is. He’s blowing me away with so many thoughtful gestures. He even paid someone to drive his chocolate delivery from White Plains in Connecticut to here. He said their chocolate is your favorite and Joshua put him in touch with the owner.”
“I’m addicted to their chocolate though my hips don’t thank me for it.” She laughs lightly. “Fiero is a wonderful man. I’m delighted he’s met someone. Someone he clearly cares about.”
