“I’m not sure how to tell you this—”
“Then just say it.”
“Fine,” he grunted. “Apparently, there was a hit put out on your brother.”
“What?” I immediately grew cold.
“Someone put a hit on your brother, Elenora, and the Capris followed through with it tonight.”
“Wait.” I shook my head, trying to follow his words. “Someone wanted my brother dead?”
“Yes, and one of my soldiers who I had following Piero reported that he and some of his men were just outside of Rome. They were seen there, Elenora, and so was the body of Angelo. Your brother is dead.”
“No!” I tried to stand, but all went dark as the sound was sucked from the room.
“Whoa!” Theo shot forward and grabbed me before I hit the floor.
The next thing I remembered was Theo’s voice telling me to breathe. I was on the floor with my head on his thigh. I curled into a ball in shock. My childhood with Angelo flashed in front of me, his grin as he splashed in puddles in his gray rain boots, his dark blue eyes, his crooked smile, his shaggy hair, his laugh. It was all too much, and a horrible sob ripped through my soul, and I broke. I broke like I never had before. The one person who was a part of me, who really loved me, was gone, and I was alone... All I could picture was how he must have felt right before he was killed.
Oh, my God, I can’t do this without him. I closed my eyes to shut out the pain.
I wasn’t sure what time it was, but it was dark, and my hips were sore from the hard floor. My eyes hurt to open, and it took me a moment to realize Theo was still with me.
“Hey,” he said softly, and I tried to speak, but my heart wouldn’t allow it. “I’m not going to pretend to understand what you’re feeling right now, but I got a call from one of my men, and there was an eyewitness who said it was one of Piero’s soldiers who did the hit. I guess if anything, it’s good to know who did it.”
“Right.” I felt my body turn to stone as his words burned my insides. “Good.”
“Look, I need to go, but are you okay? I mean, this type of shock could affect the baby. Do you think you need to see a doctor?”
“I’m fine,” I said, but I really had no control over anything that I was thinking.
He shimmied out from under my head, flipped on the light in the closet, and changed into a business suit. I knew where he was going—to see Noemi.
Once he left, I rolled onto my side and gave in to the sorrow that sucked me down into a terrifying darkness.
* * *
A few days later, I still hadn’t left my room. I managed to move to the patio chair from my bed, and, though the baby was active, I paid it no attention. I was numb. No one bothered me, which was nice, but I’d become a wallflower. I felt nothing, cared about nothing. I was merely a vessel.
“You can’t stay out here again today.” Nonna Rosa was suddenly next to me. She sat easily without the use of her cane like the fit old lady she was. She hung the cane on the edge of the table, and I stared at it.
She placed a little white box next to me. When I didn’t bite, she nudged it closer. “Please open it. It’s a tradition to give the baby’s mama something for the little one. It’s meant to represent our family. If it’s a girl, they wear the teddy pendant, and if it’s a boy, they wear the lapel pin. I know you’re going through a lot right now, so I thought I’d give them both to you early. To show that no matter what, we’ll love this baby.”
With a great effort, I snatched the box off the table and flicked the lid open. There, nestled in white cotton, was a little silver teddy bear pendant on a thin chain, and a lapel teddy pin.
“The child gets one or the other depending on which sex they are. They’re usually given to the mother just before the birth and then to the child when they’re old enough to wear it. Their family ring is engraved when they’re born, and the father holds on to that. But, as with all the men in this household, they must earn their ring as well as their seat when they’re old enough to understand what it really means. It all might seem odd to you, but it’s a tradition I hope will continue for years to come.”
“So,” I licked my dry mouth, not buying her kindness for a minute, “you’re telling me if this baby is a girl, you’re all going to love her unconditionally?” I challenged.
“All things considered, we’ll cross that bridge if we have to.” She dismissed me, and I shot her a nasty look to let her know I saw right through her lies.
“No, I want to know. What if it’s a girl? What happens then?”
“You will try again.”
“And the baby girl?”
“We will deal.” She was curt in her answer.