16.

LUCA

I watched the light leave Eric's eyes and looked over at my brother in time to see him flinch and then bow his head. His lips moved, and I knew he was sending up a silent prayer for his friend's soul. I wondered if there was a way to take away some of his pain. I reached out and gripped his shoulder, and Matteo took a deep breath before he lifted his chin to look me in the eye.

"There was no other way," Matteo said sadly. "I thought I could trust him."

"I know, brother. I'm sorry," I said honestly as I squeezed his shoulder again before I let it go. "What do you want to do now?"

"Dad and Bernadette are here somewhere, and they're dying to see you. I put them off as long as I could, and they know we have business to attend to but. . ."

"I have to take Tabby to Zach's to reconnect with Brett."

"True."

"I know you're upset that I didn't . . ."

"I would have tried to talk you out of it," Matteo said knowingly. "You followed your heart, and you know I'm not good at shit like that."

"You're going to love her, brother."

"As long as you do, that's what counts," Matteo said as he turned away from the body in front of us. He pointed at one of the soldiers we had waiting just outside the door and then motioned toward Eric's body. "Dump him next to the bridge so his family can bury him once he's found. Put Aldo in the river."

"I have to go see Sam, and then I'll meet you at Zach's apartment," I told my brother.

"I need to change," Matteo said with a sigh as he looked down at his shirt. "I'll either find you at your place or go over to Zach's to meet up with the woman . . . your wife."

"Tabby."

Matteo blew out a breath. "Yeah. Your wife."

I walked next to Matteo down the long hallway toward the elevator as I tried to explain my thought process through this ordeal. "I didn't tell you because I thought it would be better for you in the long run if things went south with Zach and the other families."

"What did you think they'd do? You're part of us."

"And if the woman I fell in love with had double crossed all of us, that would have put me at odds with everyone, including you. I wanted to have a ring on her finger before anyone knew about it to give her some measure of protection if we found out she was part of the Bovinos' crazy plot to take over."

"And you're sure she's not?"

"Positive. Once you spend some time with her, you'll understand why I'm sure of that."

"We'll see."

◆◆◆

TABBY

"Mama, why can't you make it work?" Ember asked petulantly from her seat across the room on the other end of the couch. "Just push the buttons!"

"I am pushing buttons! I think that's where I've gone wrong," I mumbled as I studied what I was almost positive had to be the television remote, although it was larger than the Kindle I used to read on and seemed to control everything from the ceiling fans to the oven.

Thathad shocked me. A remote control oven. Apparently, I'd lived a sheltered life since I had no idea such a luxury existed, or better yet, why.

"Looks like we've made it, look how far we've come, my Bumpkin . . ." I heard Simon singing from somewhere down the hall.

Ember let out a screech and hopped off the couch while I huffed and puffed until I was finally standing and then followed her in a much more sedate pace that could probably be considered a waddle. When I rounded the corner, I saw Ember throw herself into Simon's waiting arms and tears filled my eyes when he clutched her tightly against his chest in relief.

"I'm so glad you're okay, baby girl," I heard Simon mumble as I got closer to them. He put one arm out to pull me into his embrace and said, "I'm sorry I didn't protect her, Bumpkin."

"You couldn't have known that one of our own had turned, man. None of us did," Dino muttered before he nodded at me. "I'll be in the foyer."

"You can stay in here, can't you?"

"I need to make some phone calls, so I'll do that while you and your brother reconnect," Dino said with a sad smile before he walked through the door. His smile had disappeared by the time he turned to pull the door shut behind him, and I saw sadness on his face.

"The man that knocked me out had been friends with them since they were kids," Simon explained.

"Oh, no," I whispered.

"We got a new house, and it's huge," Ember said excitedly as she squirmed for Simon to put her down. "Mama said that the TV is smarter than her. Can you turn it on for me?"

Simon gave me a strange look before he said, "Go get settled, and I'll see what I can do."

"Oh, your face," I whispered as I reached up to cup his cheek. I saw the bandage at his hairline and gasped. "And you had to have stitches?"

"They were worth every second of pain and will hopefully be a fantastic scar that I can brag about for years to come," Simon said before he hugged me tightly. "You got a husband out of the deal, and I got a date."

"Oh, good Lord," I muttered as I choked back tears at the thought of all he'd been through today because of me. "I'm so sorry I dragged you into this, Simon."

"We're all okay now, Bumpkin. No tears, and no apologies."

"Have you talked to Darlene? Is she okay? I couldn't get her to pick up and . . ."

"She was on a flight to Vegas, remember?"

"Oh! I totally forgot!" I whispered as I pulled out of his arms to check on Ember. "I'm glad she's okay."

"I talked to her, and she offered to come back, but I told her there's no reason. Matteo said we should move out of the apartment ASAP, and I agree with him."

"Where will we . . . you . . . go?" I asked, remembering that this was my home now. "You can live here! I was upstairs a few minutes ago, and there are plenty of rooms. I'm sure . . ."

"Matteo said that he'd make arrangements for me to have a place of my own in the building, and he's going to talk to some guy named Sam about finding me a job here in the hotel."

"Oh my God," I gasped. "You lost your job and your home? I'm so sorr. . ."

"Shut it, Bumpkin," Simon interrupted with a frown. "I'm looking at this like it's a new adventure. A new start in life for all of us, you know?"

"But Darlene . . ."

"That cat always lands on her feet. You know that."

"True," I mumbled. "I'll feel better once I talk to her, though."

"I have a question for you, Bumpkin."

"What's that?"

"Why didn't you tell me that Luca has a clone who just happens to be single?"

"A clone?"

"He doesn't ping my gaydar, but I've been known to be surprised now and then, so there's hope."

"What are you . . ."

The door behind Simon opened and Luca walked in . . . but it wasn't Luca. I could tell in an instant that something was different and remembered Ember saying that Luca's brother looked like an angry version of him.

The man smiled, and it looked eerily similar to Luca's, but there was an edge to it that Luca's didn't have.

"Twins?" I gasped.

"He didn't even tell you we were twins?" the man asked angrily.

"He said you were his older brother, but he . . ."

The man burst out laughing and said, "I'll take that instead!"

"Boyfriend!" Ember squealed as she came flying around the corner. "You're here!"

"Ciao, nipote," Matteo said as he swept Ember up in his arms. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at the screen for a second before he said, "Luca's on his way into the building, so I'm going to take you to our friend"s apartment and give you a huge surprise."

"I like surprises! Is it a unicorn? Grandma told Simon that Mama got a unicorn, and I want one too!"

"A unicorn?" Matteo asked.

"Luca cooks," I explained with a shrug.

"If that's all it takes, then maybe someday a woman will realize I'm a unicorn too."

"My unicorn!" Ember said with a pout as she threw her arms around Matteo's neck.

"Sì, dolcezza. Sono il tuo unicorno." Matteo smiled at me and looked so much like Luca that it was almost disconcerting. There was something missing, though, and I realized that Ember was right. Matteo looked like an unhappy version of the man I'd fallen in love with so quickly. "Are you ready to see Brett?"

"Yes!" I said without thinking. Then, "No. Yes. Maybe?"

Matteo laughed again. "I'll help you make up your mind then."

He turned and walked out of the door with my daughter in his arms, and he was right - I didn't have any choice but to follow. I guessed that in that instance, he was just like his twin - very high-handed, but that was exactly what I needed to give me that push on occasion.

"I can definitely see the similarities between you and your brother now," I mumbled as I followed him into the hall. I could hear Simon chuckling behind me, so I put my hand behind my back and flipped him off which made him laugh outright.

"We're really only alike in the looks department, sorellina, but not many people realize that." Matteo smiled as he held the door for me to walk through. "Simon, if you'll go with Dino, he'll show you to your new apartment. It's in our tower, so it will just be a quick elevator ride to visit your favorite girls."

"Thank you," Simon said before he gave me a quick hug. He kissed me on the cheek and said, "Chin up, Bumpkin. Go reconnect with your friend while I check out my new digs and text the man who will hopefully become my own Italian boyfriend."

Matteo laughed as he shook his head. "Go easy on him, Simon."

"You know this man?"

"He's my uncle," Matteo admitted with a wry grin.

"And if I have my way, you'll all be calling me Uncle Si sooner rather than later," Simon said as the elevator doors opened. I walked inside next to Matteo and turned around in time to see Simon blow me a kiss right before they closed again.

"Is your uncle a good man?"

"He's the doctor that treated your friend, and yes, he's a very good man."

I pondered that for a second and then blurted out, "I wonder why Luca never mentioned that you were twins."

"I stayed away just in case we had to swap at some point, but apparently, that wouldn't work since you can tell us apart."

"You look the same but different."

"There are still occasions when our mother gets us confused. It rarely happens, but we give her grief about it every time."

"Does Brett know I'm here? What did she say? I'm so nervous."

"Why?"

"We didn't part on the best of terms and . . ."

"One thing that has become alarmingly clear to me today, cognata, is that you should make sure that you keep the ones you trust close to your heart because you could lose them in an instant."

"I'm sorry about your friend," I said sadly.

"No, you're not."

"I am. I met him and liked him. Of course, I'm upset about what happened, but that doesn't negate how you and Luca felt about him. I am honestly sorry for how things turned out."

Matteo tilted his head and stared at me assessingly before he said, "I can see it now."

"What?"

"Why he fell so hard for you. It's the innocence, I think."

"I'm not that innocent." I had to look away and fight back a shudder as I relived the sound of Rebecca's scream as she fell over the rail to her death. "Not at all."

I saw that Matteo was still studying me, but finally, he smiled and said, "I have a feeling that whatever you've done that gave you the sad eyes I see now was worth it because it was done to protect your daughter or someone else you love." Without thinking, I put my hand on my bump and rubbed where one of the babies had just kicked me, and Matteo's eyes grew wide. "You did something to protect the twins?" When I looked away again, he asked, "Is that what happened to Rebecca?"

"She was a bad lady and hurt my arm even worse than the man from the hallway," Ember said sadly as her eyes filled with tears at the memory. "She was yelling at Mama, and then she fell down-down-down, and we had to move in with Uncle Simon."

"She fell down?" Matteo asked.

"You should be careful on the stairs, or you could fall down too," Ember said.

"Let's not talk about that anymore, sweetie. Remember how we said that bad time was our little secret?"

"I forgot," Ember whispered. "Sorry, Mama."

"That's okay, baby, but be more careful in the future, okay?"

"I will. I don't want to fall over the rail."

"I mean . . ."

"You don't have to worry about that, dolcezza! We've got elevators in our building," Matteo said as the doors opened into a large area where people were mingling here and there. I was assaulted by the smell of food, and my stomach growled loudly as I put my hand on my belly and swallowed hard. "Are you hungry, cognata? Let's get you some food."

"No! There's no way I could eat right now anyway. I'm too nervous about seeing Brett."

"She is anxious to see you. She came to Zach to get his help in finding you, so I guess, in a way, she's the reason you got married to my brother."

"Because he came looking for me on her behalf?"

"Something like that."

"Where are we?" I asked as I looked around. "We didn't come in this way, or maybe we did and I was too upset to . . ."

"This is the hub in the center that connects the towers. The only people who can access the upper floors of the hotel own property here. We have to cross to get to the elevator that will take us up to Zach's apartment. "

"So, I'll just have a short walk and a few elevator rides to visit Brett? I don't even have to go downstairs?"

"Honestly, we've got everything you'd ever need in the hotel, so you don't ever have to leave if you don't want to. I'm sure Luca will show you around later when things are more settled."

"I hope so."

We took another elevator up, and when the doors opened, I saw guards standing in the hallway, but they were men I didn't recognize. They knew Matteo on sight and smiled as we walked past them. The door opened, and there was Luca standing on the other side. He smiled when Ember squealed in excitement.

I took a second to compare Luca to his twin and found the similarity in their features uncanny. However, it was easy to tell them apart when they were standing next to each other since Luca's smile lit up his face and Matteo's expressions were more reserved.

"Lou," Luca said as he pulled me into his arms. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine now that Ember is safe and you are too," I whispered as I held onto him. I quietly admitted, "I'm nervous."

"We'll entertain Ember and Coco while you talk with Brett," Luca promised. "Be honest with her, Lou, and she'll understand why you made the choices that you did. I think she's already forgiven you for whatever slight she felt at the time. I know that she's been very adamant about finding you."

"But Rebecca . . ."

"And she's also been very vocal about how happy she is about that situation. I think she might give you a reward," Luca said with a grin as he pulled back to look into my face. "While you talk to Brett, I'll get together with the others and tell them about our marriage."

"Should I go with you for that or . . ."

"No, sweetheart. This is something I have to do on my own."

"What am I? Invisible?" Matteo growled. "When have you ever done anything alone in your entire life?"

"See, Mama? He is grumpy Luca!" Ember reached up and rubbed her thumb on the furrow between Matteo's brows, and he narrowed his eyes at her. "You're so funny, boyfriend."

"Be nice, or I'll turn into the big bad wolf and eat you up!"

Ember rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Matteo made a snarling sound and "attacked" Ember's neck. She was still squealing when the door opened and a guy I didn't recognize appeared.

"Are you coming in or camping out in the hallway? Apparently, she forgot that I have a bullet wound and threatened to kick my ass if I didn't come to figure out why her friend's not here yet. Sometimes, it amazes me that I signed up for this . . . " The man's grumpy tirade tapered off as his eyes left the brothers and looked over to me. He took in my huge belly and the realization dawned on his face. "Oh! You must be Tabby."

"Tabby?" I heard Brett call from behind him.

Without even thinking, I pushed past the man who I now realized must be Zach Campana, the man who somehow didn't look nearly as imposing as I thought he would, and found Brett walking toward me. I stopped at the same time she did, but before I could say anything, Coco ran into the room and then shot past me when she heard Ember's voice. The two girls let out ear-splitting squeals of joy at the sight of each other.

"I wish it could be that easy for us," I said as I ran my hands over my bump.

I took a deep breath and tried to find something else to say when Brett quickly closed the distance between us and threw her arms around me. She sobbed loudly and then said, "I'm so sorry for how ugly I was to you, Tab. Please forgive me!"

"Forgive you? I'm sorry I didn't listen to you and let Rebecca talk me into . . ."

"I've missed you so much!" Brett interrupted.

Through my tears, I said, "I've missed you too!"

"Sasha said I should have called you."

"I should have called Sasha but . . ."

"I'm so sorry!"

"We've lost so much time," I mumbled as I held her close. "Please forgive me."

"Sasha will be so happy to see you."

"I've missed her so much! I've missed you too."

"I haven't had anyone to talk to like I can talk to you. I have so much to tell you."

"I married Luca today," I whispered in her ear.

She reared back and stared into my eyes with her mouth open in shock right before she let out a squeal that rivaled any of our daughters'.

And just like that, I had my best friend back, and now, almost everyone I loved was safe and happy.

What a great way to start this new chapter in my life.