Gioia smiled, savoring every second of it.
"Drop the wounded act. Who's there to blame? Blame yourself for being useless. With a mother as worthless as you, your babies were only ever good enough to nourish mine."
Something in me snapped. My hand shot up and swung straight for her face.
Crack.
The slap never landed. Lorenzo yanked Gioia behind him and took the blow himself, the sound flat against the marble of the Falcone compound's east hall.
He shoved me to the floor, his voice a snarl.
"Adriana, what the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Gioia wept, one hand sliding low and protective over her belly, the picture of injured innocence.
"Lorenzo, all I wanted was to comfort her, to tell her not to break her heart over the baby."
"But she actually envied me for carrying. She said I stole her place as the Family's first lady, and she tried to dump the slop water all over me. I pushed her back on instinct. I didn't mean to. I already apologized, and she still came at me, screaming that she'd make me lose the child." Her hand pressed harder against her stomach as she said it.
Before I could get a word out, Lorenzo looked down at me, his face dark.
"Adriana, how did I never see this side of you? When did you become such a vain, grasping woman?"
"You couldn't keep your babies because you weren't capable of it. So why take it out on Gioia? Why throw her kindness back in her face? Stop coveting things that were never yours. Apologize to Gioia. Now."
I wasn't capable of it. Heh...
I stared at his face, and all at once it was like looking at a stranger.
"Lorenzo, tell me. My babies, the ones who died. Where did you really send their bodies?"
Lorenzo frowned. His thumb moved along the inside seam of his cuff, slow, the way a tailor checks a hidden stitch.
"I had them buried, of course. I already told you that, didn't I?"
His acting was flawless. Truly. A man who fronted a couture house and laundered the syndicate's blood through silk could lie without a single thread out of place.
"You're right, Lorenzo. I shouldn't covet things that aren't mine. Don't worry. I'll never cross Gioia again."
With that, I turned and walked away without a moment's hesitation.
Lorenzo watched me go, and a sudden unease tightened in his chest. He started to call me back, but Gioia caught his arm.
"Lorenzo, the slop water splashed all over me. I feel sick. Will you take me to the Family physician? Please?"
He hesitated for two seconds. In the end, he didn't come after me.
Back in our wing of the compound, I dug out everything Lorenzo had given me over the years and threw it all into the fire bowl.
I'd just pulled out the blood union papers when my phone chimed. I opened the message and glanced at it.
"Adriana, I only said I felt a little sick, and Lorenzo got so worried he flew in the best physicians from every territory for me."
"Even the ones across the country. He chartered a plane just to bring them in. Aren't you so jealous?"
I didn't bother answering her. I watched the flames swallow the marriage pact and reduce it to ash.
I wasn't the least bit worried Lorenzo would see.
Because I knew he wasn't coming home tonight.
Sure enough, his call came.
"Adriana, Gioia's having some trouble with the pregnancy, and Matteo's away handling Family business. As her husband's blood, I have to look after her for him. Don't be upset."
I thought of the photo Gioia had just sent, her cheeks flushed and rosy as she ate the fruit Lorenzo had sliced for her himself. Not a trace of distress anywhere.
"Mm. Got it. The pregnancy comes first. Take good care of her."
Lorenzo paused, then softened his voice.
"Adriana, I didn't mean to snap at you today. I know losing the baby has you in a bad place."
"But Gioia is carrying a child, and that child is Falcone blood. You and I can't carry on the bloodline anymore. If something happens to Gioia, I'm afraid the old Don and my mother won't survive it."
I found it almost funny. Why bother with all these excuses?
"Just stay home and be good. Tomorrow's your birthday. I booked the finest suite the Family owns and put together a surprise for you. I'll come get you first thing in the morning."
