She squeezes my hand and smiles before getting out of the car. At her front door, she reaches for her keys, realizes she hasn’t got them, and knocks. Mrs. De Luca opens the door and bursts into tears when she sees her daughter.
I get out of the back seat and open the front passenger door, giving Mrs. De Luca a wave as she hugs her daughter, but she doesn’t even notice I’m there.
As I get into the car, Lorenzo has both forearms resting on the steering wheel and he’s gazing at mother and daughter. Before she disappears inside, Nicole glances over her shoulder and gives Lorenzo an uncertain wave and a smile. As if without thinking, Lorenzo lifts his fingers in salute. Then he starts the engine and we peel away from the curb.
“I’m glad she’s home with her mom,” he mutters at the road ahead.
“I know you are. That’s why I love you.”
Lorenzo whips his head around and stares at me. “What?”
We sail through a stop sign and a car horn blares.
Lorenzo swears and swerves around the truck he’s about to T-bone. “Why did you say that? Has Vinicius been blabbing to you or some shit?”
“What do you mean?”
He keeps shooting glances at me as we drive. It’s not until we get on the freeway and merge into traffic that he asks, “You’re saying that why?”
I smile at him. “Lorenzo, did you tell Vinicius that you love me?”
He adjusts the rearview mirror and scowls at the road ahead. We drive in silence, and then I feel Lorenzo’s hand creep into my lap and take hold of mine.
“No one’s ever said that to me before. I didn’t grow up in a house where people just said that shit to each other.”
“Well, I mean it. I love you, Lorenzo.”
He squeezes my hand tighter but his throat seems locked up tight. I don’t need him to say anything back. I just need him to believe me.
“Do you think you might get a taste for hearing me say that?” I ask.
“Don’t know. I would chuck away another knife for you, but I haven’t got any more knives.”
I draw his hand up to my mouth and kiss his fingers. “I felt it when you did that. Love. You don’t need to say it.”
“Have any of the others said that they love you?”
“Why?”
“A man likes to know.”
I laugh and squeeze his fingers. “It doesn’t matter what I’ve said to the others or what they’ve said to me. What’s happening in this car is about you and me.”
A smile drifts over his lips. “Just you and me, huh? Thank you, princess.”
As we’re about to pull into the compound, my phone rings. It’s Salvatore and I put him on speakerphone. “Hey, I’m with Lorenzo and we’re nearly back at his place. What’s up?”
Salvatore doesn’t bother to say hello and he speaks quickly. “I’m on my way to East Coldlake hospital.”
Fear shoots through me. “Why? What’s happened?”
“Ginevra’s having the baby.”
Lorenzo and I exchange glances. I don’t know about him, but I’d completely forgotten that Ginevra was due soon. I haven’t seen her since she was helping me organize my wedding to her brother. Salvatore tried to make her leave Coldlake when Nicole went missing, but she refused to travel while she was pregnant.
Lorenzo frowns. “Now? Isn’t it too soon?”
“Nearly four weeks too soon.”
“Four weeks is nothing these days,” Lorenzo assures him. “Chiara and I are on our way. Meet you there.” He puts the car into reverse and turns around, his hand cupping my headrest as he checks over his shoulder.
“Thank you, Lorenzo. Baby, can you call Vinicius and Cassius for me?”
“Of course. I’ll do that right now. See you soon, Salvatore.”
I hang up, and then call both men at the same time and tell them where to meet us. A wave of anxiety passes over me as I finish the call, and I turn to Lorenzo. “Will the baby really be all right?”
Lorenzo frowns at the road ahead. “Babies aren’t really my area of expertise, but Ginevra’s healthy. Salvatore’s never mentioned any problems with her pregnancy. We’ll know more when the baby arrives.”
I tuck my hands between my knees and squeeze them tightly, whispering automatically under my breath.
Lorenzo glances at me. “You praying, princess?”
“Catholic school habit. Who knows? Maybe it will help.” Just saying the words are calming, and I know Ginevra would appreciate it. She goes to church even if her brother doesn’t.
He reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “There’s never a dull moment lately, is there?”
I can’t help but laugh. “And I thought having the Coldlake Syndicate as my boyfriends would be a life of peace and tranquility.”
“Oh, yeah. Like a fucking beach holiday.”
We park near the main entrance of the hospital just as Cassius is pulling in. Vinicius isn’t far away, and so we wait for his red Lamborghini to arrive before we all head inside together. We’re not allowed to see Ginevra, but we sit in the waiting room and I text Salvatore to say we’re here.
A few minutes later he pushes through the double doors from the maternity ward, his expression tense and his hair rumpled like he’s been pushing his fingers through it.
“Hey. She’s still in labor. No news yet.”
Cassius grips his shoulder. “I was born four weeks early and it didn’t do me any harm. I’m bigger than both my parents and as strong as an ox.”
“Ginevra’s strong and healthy,” Lorenzo tells him. “She and the baby will be fine.”
Cassius watches Salvatore, his brow wrinkled in concern. “You can go back to Ginevra if you like. We’ll wait here.”
Salvatore shakes his head. “I’ll stay with you. They won’t let me into the room, anyway. I’m just pacing up and down outside the door.”
I go over to him and take his hand, and he gives me a tight smile. “Baby, I’m so glad you’re here. Distract me?”
“Nicole has gone home,” I tell him. “Lorenzo gave her a tracking device. Her mom was so happy to see her.”
“I bet she was. How are you? Are you worried about her?”
“I am, but I think she’s better off where she is. She didn’t enjoy being at the compound and she and her mom will look out for each other. I’d feel better if her father were home, though.”
“Cowardly asshole,” Vinicius mutters on my other side.
We sit in restless conversation for nearly two hours. Salvatore turns expectantly toward the maternity ward doors every time they open, but it’s never news for us.
Finally, a tiny, gray-haired woman appears. It takes me a moment to recognize her. Guilia, Antonio’s mother and Ginevra’s mother-in-law, dressed in a rose-colored skirt suit with gold earrings. She scans the waiting room with intense eyes.
“Salvatore, ha avuto il bambino.”
I jump to my feet with a delighted gasp. “She’s had the baby? It’s a boy?”
Salvatore squeezes my hand even harder. “Is Ginevra all right?”
She beckons him over. “Sì, sì, the mother is fine. You have a beautiful nephew.” Then she adds, with pride in her voice, “My grandson is seven pounds, three ounces.”
I look between her and the doors, suddenly desperate to see Ginevra and the baby.
“Can I see my sister?” Salvatore asks, and Guilia holds the door open for him. Reluctantly, I let go of Salvatore’s hand.
“Do you want to come?” he asks.
“Well, yes, but I’m not family.”