I was the fool. A hopelessly-in-love fool.
If Ciro stayed away, I’d be okay. If he didn’t, he’d weaken me.
Why did I love a man I couldn’t have? Why couldn’t I have fallen in love with someone who wanted the same things as me? Someone like Doctor Jon?
35
CIRO
“Letme call her before you. I’ll smooth things over and tell her what really happened.” Roman extended his hand so I would give him my phone.
I glared at him. Didn’t he hear anything I’d just said?
“I don’t need you to smooth things over. I just got through saying I was going there to apologize and ask for forgiveness. I’ll grovel if necessary.” Saying I’d grovel didn’t feel right. A man with my power and money never groveled but when it came to Isla and my daughter, I’d do just about anything, even grovel.
“Don’t you dare fucking grovel,” Luca hissed. “A Remotti doesn’t grovel.” He wasn’t wrong about that.
“Luca! I will not have you talking that way around me. Show some respect,” Rosa said in a motherly tone. The further along she got in her pregnancy the less agreeable she was. “Roman’s right on this, Ciro. Let him call Isla to smooth things over, then you can fly out to see her.”
This was what I got for asking my family for help? Nobody agreed with me.
“Fine,” I grumbled. “Call her.” It wasn’t so late, only a little after nine West Coast time. Isla would still be awake.
“Are you sure you want to make things right with her?” Roman asked in a low, steady voice.
“Yes, I’m sure.” Why else would I have called this meeting? “I know you all want what’s best for everyone involved. You’re trying to protect us. Let me assure you, I don’t want to hurt Isla or the baby. I want to be with them. I want us to be a real family.”
“What does that mean? Be a real family?” Rosa asked. “Does it include marriage?”
I groaned, scrubbing my hands against my face.
“Apparently not,” Luca said with disdain in his voice. This situation with Isla affected him on a deeper level than the others. I should be mad as hell that my brother pined after my woman, but I knew he’d never betray me. I knew he ultimately wanted Isla to be happy, and she’d be happy with me…
“Don’t presume to know what I want, baby brother.”
Luca threw up the bird. “I know you better than you think.”
“Enough,” Roman said on a sigh. “We’re just wasting time.”
I gave him my phone with her number already pulled up.
“Good. Now everyone be quiet.” He pushed the button, turned the speaker on and set my device on the coffee table in the middle of us.
I held my breath, anxious to hear Isla’s voice. My chest tightened as it rang four times. Would it go to voicemail?
Rosa and Luca leaned in. Wolf hung back with his arms crossed. I doubted he wanted to be here, but he never let Rosa go anywhere without him. I needed to be more like him.
Thankfully, Padre stayed home. It was a circus here with my brothers and sister, which would only stress him out.
It occurred to me then, having the call where everyone could hear might be a bad idea…
“I know this is you, Ciro. Stop calling me,” Isla answered without preamble.
“It’s Roman.”
Isla sighed in relief. “Oh… I. I’m sorry, Roman. But this is Ciro’s number.”
“Yes, I’m using his phone. How are you?”
