"I couldn’t." She wrings her fingers. "If I had, he’d have never allowed the pregnancy to proceed. He’d have told me that he didn’t want children."
"And rightly so," Summer declares.
Karma places her palms on her swollen belly. "You don’t understand. I want to give him children. I want children, a family of my own, Summer. Surely, you understand that?"
Summer’s face softens. "I know we didn’t have the best experience growing up, but we were lucky the foster family that took us in turned out to be all right.”
“Sure, they provided us with all the material requirements—"
"And we were comfortable. We had each other. We didn’t need anyone else," Summer says softly.
"We needed the love of a mother and a father." Karma’s eyes shine. "I still miss them so much."
"You were too young to remember the details. It’s why you think they were such ideal parents."
"Oh, but they were," Karma insists.
"That’s why our father preferred to dump us into the system instead of finding a way to take care of us?" Summer scoffs.
"He tried his best. It’s not his fault he got caught up in something bigger than him," Karma insists.
"What are you guys talking about?" I glance between them.
The sisters look at each other, then Summer blows out a breath. "You know how Michael’s father was responsible for the kidnapping of Sinclair and the rest of the Seven when they were boys?"
I nod.
"He had an accomplice, Freddie Nielsen, who was killed in an encounter with the Sovranos.” Summer locks her fingers together. “Our father was blackmailed by Michael’s father into helping them. Only, he lost his courage and reported them. Then, he faked his death and fled to the US—"
"—leaving the two of you in foster care," I murmur.
"It’s not as bad as it sounds." Summer leans forward on her feet. "Like I said, our foster parents were good to us. Not the warmest of people, but they were good to us. Compared to some of the other nightmarish stories one hears about, we were lucky."
"The two of you turned out well. And you have amazing husbands who love you, and you’re both pregnant. You’re going to have your own families, and you still have each other. That’s pretty amazing, huh?"
Summer seems taken aback, then laughs. "Itispretty amazing. It all turned out okay."
"It did." Karma shoves the hair back from her face. "Is it hot in here?" she murmurs.
"Only problem is, Karma’s heart condition means her pregnancy is high-risk, and she never told Michael so—"
Karma begins to slump forward.
"Karma!" I jump to my feet and rush toward them.
"Where is she?" Michael Sovrano bursts into the hospital waiting room. His hair is mussed. His tie is askew. The few times I’ve met him, he’s been so impeccably well-dressed. Now his eyes are wild and his color is pale.
On his heels, Sinclair Sterling enters the room, followed by JJ.
Summer jumps up and rushes into Sinclair’s arms. He wraps her close, tucks her head under his chin.
I rise to my feet. "She’s inside with the doctor. They’re examining her."
"Which doctor?" Michael turns to me. "Who’s looking after her?"
"Umm." I take a step back. The man’s sick with worry. I get it. But being the focus of those piercing black eyes of his is almost as nerve-racking as being the target of JJ’s attention. Only difference is, I can read JJ’s moods, including when he’s angry. With Michael? All that worry bouncing off of him only adds an edge to his already threatening presence. "I think it was someone Summer called." I swallow.
Michael moves forward. My guts churn. Then suddenly, JJ’s there. He plants his bulk between me and Michael, and shoves his hand into Michael’s chest. "Back off, Sovrano."