Chapter 6

My driver finally forced his way through and got me into the car.

The Rossis’ men stood in front of the hood, shouting that I had to take responsibility.

To get out of there, I agreed to have them taken to the hospital with us.

The emergency doors had barely closed behind them when Sofia arrived.

She crossed the corridor and slapped me.

My ears rang.

“You hate me? Then hurt me!” she cried. “Why go after my parents?”

I touched my mouth.

Blood stained my fingers.

“They fell on their—”

“Sofia.”

Luca hurried toward us.

The first thing he did was steady her shoulders.

“Don’t upset yourself.”

Then he looked at me.

Coffee stained my clothes. My sleeve was torn. My lip was bleeding.

He saw all of it.

And frowned.

“You went too far this time, Elena.”

For a moment, I couldn’t speak.

“Her father’s an old man. If you were angry, why didn’t you come to me?”

I laughed.

Quietly at first.

Then I couldn’t stop.

“What’s funny?”

“What do you want me to say?”

My voice sounded unfamiliar.

“That I’m cruel? Jealous? That I deserved to be cornered in the street?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“Then what are you saying?”

I raised my voice for the first time in that corridor.

“You didn’t even ask what happened before you decided I was guilty!”

He froze.

“Elena—”

“Luca, I’m dizzy.”

Sofia sagged against him.

He caught her instinctively.

I looked at his hands around her.

Then I stepped back.

This time, I didn’t wait.

He may have called my name before the elevator doors closed.

I didn’t lift my head.

At home, I crawled into bed and slept.

I dreamed about the way he used to love me.

The cake cooling in his hands outside my apartment.

His trembling fingers struggling with my wedding ring.

His face against my neck when he whispered, “Thank you,” after learning I was pregnant.

Then the dream changed.

He was standing before the family, claiming Sofia’s baby.

A crash downstairs woke me.

Furniture scraped against the floor.

“Not there. I want the sofa by the window.”

“Take those flowers away. The smell is too strong.”

“Blue curtains for the guest room. Luca said I could choose.”

I put on a robe and went out.

Luca was coming upstairs with a pillow in his arms.

Sofia’s pillow.

He stopped when he saw me.

“Her parents are still in the hospital.”

I said nothing.

“They don’t want her living alone. Security is better here.”

His voice grew defensive.

“This happened because of you, Elena.”

I looked at the pillow.

When we married, he had told me this house would be our home.

Now he was carrying someone else’s comfort upstairs.

“How long?”

“Until the baby comes, at least.”

“All right.”

I turned away.

“Elena.”

There was hesitation in his voice.

I stopped.

From downstairs, Sofia called, “Luca, can the nursery be beside our bedroom?”

Our bedroom.

My hand tightened on the door.

He didn’t correct her.

“I’m coming to look.”

His footsteps receded.

I closed the door.

I didn’t want another explanation.