“Yes. In my side and my heart is shattered. Where is my baby?”
“Pippa is with Ciro.” Luca nudged Jon to move out of his way. He sat on the bed, facing me. “She’s in perfect condition, sweetheart.” He took my other hand.
All I could do was cry as I recalled the events leading up to when I blacked out.
“Should we sedate her again?” Luca asked sounding panicked.
“No.” I shook my head. “Don’t. Please,” I sobbed.
“Let her feel her emotions,” Alba said, defending me. “She’s been through a lot, and she needs to deal with them in a healthy natural way. Isla is strong. No Band-Aid fixes, right?”
“Yes.” I continued to cry as flashes of images played in my head. But my most vivid memory was of Ciro in my hospital room and soothing me with a shellshocked expression.
It was strange crying in front of an audience. But I was too devastated to care who was in the room. All I wanted was my baby girl. I’d never ask for another thing as long as I lived. I only wanted my lovebug.
As my sobs subsided and I regained control, I said, “It’s my fault she was taken.” The realization that I could have prevented my baby being stolen hit me hard.
“No. It’s not your fault,” Luca said in a firm voice. “You are not to blame, sweetheart.”
“He’s right,” Alba said. “It was bad men. Blame them. Be angry with them.”
I lowered my gaze in shame. “Ciro was angry I left the hotel.”
“They would have found you both there,” Luca said. “You’ve heard a lot of stuff in this place, I’m sure. You know powerful men won’t stop until they get what they want. That’s why Ciro was afraid to openly love you and why he didn’t want children.”
“But why my Pippa?” I clutched my chest when my breasts ached. I was so engorged. “She needs me.”
Luca leaned his face toward me. “She’s safe and with Ciro. You believe me, right?”
I nodded.
“Good. The man who took her, took excellent care of her. He didn’t have a beef with Ciro, it was Wolf’s brother he was after.”
“Who’s Wolf?”
“My new husband.”
My gaze went to the bedroom door where a very pregnant Rosa stood with a tall, bearded man behind her. She waddled to the foot of the bed, holding his hand. Her eyes were filled with tears.
“We are so sorry this happened. I can only imagine how scared you are.” She placed her hand on her round belly. “I would be terrified if someone took our son, Ivan.”
Wolf growled in his throat like he would burn the world down if anything happened to his child. Seeing him tuck Rosa into his side made me think of Ciro.
“Why didn’t Ciro return to Canada with us?” My question wasn’t directed at any one in particular.
“Are you joking?” Luca snorted. “He isn’t stupid enough to come home empty handed.”
“Luca,” Rosa said in a stern voice.
“I mean, he loves Pippa. Adores her. He would turn the world on its axis to find her and return her to you in one piece.” He smiled at me. “He loves you very much, too.”
“I doubt that.” My bottom lip trembled. “But I’m relieved to hear he loves Pippa. That’s all that matters to me.”
“Well, I think Isla needs to rest some more,” Jon said.
“Yes. They’ll be here by dinnertime,” Luca replied, getting off the bed.
“Whatever you need, we’ll get for you.” Rosa came around to my side and kissed the top of my head. “I’ve so missed you, my old friend.”
