Chapter 487
Vee let out a weak laugh. “There he is. My little man p>
Val gave a watery smile, then loosened the carrier on her chest with trembling fingers. She carefully freed Matteo from the carrier, and Vee reached for him, all the anger in her body vanishing.
“Oh, I missed you,” Vee cooed, her entire face softening as Matteo settled into her arms. “I missed you, baby. My Matteo. Aunt Vee is here p>
The baby made a tiny protesting sound, his little mouth opening and closing. Vee rocked him instinctively, her palm supporting his back, her cheek brushing lightly against the top of his head.
For the first time since she stepped back into the mansion, something inside her unclenched. Matteo smelled like milk and baby lotion. He was warm enough to break through every wall she had thrown up since Val walked in.
Vee looked at Matteo like he was sunlight. Like he was family. Val wondered if her sister could still look at her that way.
“I see you finally got married,” Val said, gesturing to the rings on Vee’s finger.
“Yeah,” Vee said quietly. “Two days ago in Vegas. Just us p>
Val nodded.
Vee adjusted Matteo against her chest. “Once everything settles down, we will have a dinner with family. Maybe in Italy, where Marco is p>
Marco’s name changed the air between them. Val’s fingers curled at her sides.
“Yes,” she said. “Carol called me. She says he is fine. I’m told Tony hurt him p>
Vee looked up from Matteo. “Yes…But everything will be alright. Don’t worry yourself. Marco will be back home as soon as he can p>
Val nodded again, but the movement was too small to be convincing. Her husband was alive, but not home. Her sister was in front of her, but not close.
“Thank you,” Val said. She watched her sister kiss Matteo’s forehead again and felt the invisible distance between them stretch thin and painful. Vee seemed more interested in Matteo than in her.
Maybe she deserved that. Maybe this was how forgiveness began.
Val swallowed. “Is Luca home p>
“No, not yet,” Vee answered. She shifted Matteo higher against her chest and forced herself not to look at her phone again. Looking would not make it ring faster. Looking would not drag Luca back through the front door.
“Can I stay for a bit?” Val asked.
“Of course,” Vee said. “I wouldn’t let you take my gorgeous away just yet.” She smiled down at the baby once more, brushing a finger gently over his tiny fist. “Isn’t that right, my handsome boy? Your aunt has missed you so much. You owe me cuddles p>
Val let out another small, watery laugh. Vee was just about to take a seat when a knock hit the door.
Before she could answer, one of the guards rushed in. He was young but trained, broad-shouldered, dressed in black, and trying very hard not to look as panicked as he clearly felt.
“Mrs Genovese p>
“Yes p>
“My apologies,” he said, already moving toward her. “I have to initiate the safety protocol in Luca’s absence p>
Val stiffened. “Safety protocol p>
Vee’s arms tightened around Matteo. “What prompted it?” Vee asked.
The guard glanced briefly at Val, then back at Vee. “There is a war going on and you will be the first target p>
Vee stared at him. “Thank you for the bedtime story. Now try again p>
“Ma’am p>
“Plain news,” she snapped, her voice cutting through the room. “Stop beating about the bush p>
Vee’s heart had started to pound. Not for herself. For Luca.
The guard straightened. “The Bastiones are under attack p>
Vee went still. If they were under attack, then Luca had moved fast.
“Luca has them surrounded right now but we do not want to take any chances p>
She knew right then that was her cue. Luca had created the distraction. Her husband would not send messages like normal people. He started a war and expected her to understand the assignment from another continent.
Vee turned and carefully handed Matteo back to Val, forcing her hands to stay steady. “I have to go, sis…I’ll be back soon p>
Val took Matteo, confusion folding into fear. “Go where p>
“Ma’am!” the guard called.
Vee did not respond. She hurried up the stairs. She entered the bedroom and went straight to the drawer. Inside sat a small box. She opened it and picked up the little tracking device nestled inside. She tucked the tracker into her palm, then crossed to another drawer and pulled out her gun. She checked it the way Luca had drilled into her until she had threatened to shoot him just to end the lesson.
Then she took the signal jammer. Her pulse was pounding now, but her mind felt frighteningly clear. She activated the signal jammer and slid it into her bag with the other items.
Hopefully, she wouldn’t need to call for help. If she needed help and the jammer blocked her own damn phone, Luca would come back just to chop off her head for bad planning.
She grabbed her bag and hurried back downstairs. The guard was still waiting, looking like every oath he had ever sworn to the famiglia was currently punching him in the throat.
“Stay with Val and Matteo,” Vee ordered.
His eyes widened. “Mrs Genovese p>
Val stepped forward, Matteo pressed protectively against her chest. “Vee! Didn’t you hear there is a war?” Val demanded, voice shaking. “Where are you going p>
The guard would like to know the same thing too.
“I don’t have time to explain,” Vee said.
Which was true.
The guard stepped in front of her. “Ma’am, I cannot let you go p>
Vee stopped. Slowly, she looked up at him. “I have orders to shoot you if you don’t get out of my way p>
Val gasped. “Vee p>
Vee did not look away from him. She held his gaze so he would understand she was not bluffing. Her hand was steady on the strap of her bag. Luca had trusted her with this. Not as a wife tucked away behind locked doors. As Donna.
(Brought to you by Janelle Fox 2/2)