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“I had something earlier. But water would be nice.”
“Right away,” Rosa says, and then she exits.
I look down on the babies. “They’re growing.”
“Yes, they are.” Elena takes my hand and pulls me to the couch. “You didn’t say anything about being pregnant. Are you okay?”
I rub my hand over my belly. “Yes.” I feel I should apologize to her for not sharing such important news, but my resentment flares up and I don’t say more.
She studies me and her eyes turn sad, regretful. “This is all my fault.”
“We’ve talked about this before.” And we have. She’s apologized profusely nearly every time I see her.
“I wish I could know that you forgive me.”
I rise from the couch, needing space. “I have. It’s not your fault.”
“Is there something else upsetting you?”
“There’s a part of me that envies you, Elena. The man you love loves you back?—”
“Liam loves you. I know he does.”
Irritation snakes through me. “Even if he does, it doesn’t matter.” I give her a pointed stare. “How can you live like this?”
Her brow furrows. “Like what?”
“Your husband is a criminal. Your life, your babies’ lives, are always in danger. Why would you choose this, especially after you so desperately wanted away from it?”
She straightens, and her chin lifts as if she’s defending against an attack. “I wanted away from my father and anyone who didn’t love or respect me. I’m not an object, a pawn for Niko. I love him and he loves me.”
“He’s still a criminal. He kills people.”
“I killed someone.”
I let out an exasperated breath. “That was self-defense.”
“Liam is going to hunt down and kill someone?—”
“That’s to protect me.”
Elena cocks her head to the side. “You think they kill just for fun?”
“There are tons of businesses out there that don’t require murder to function.”
“Your father carries a gun. I bet he’s killed people. Are you against him too?”
“That’s different.” Except if he used it in service to the Mob, I suppose it’s not different.
“The government kills people.”
I can’t understand her. “That’s how you justify all this? Equating organized crime to the law enforcement or the military?”
“I don’t have to justify anything. What Niko and Donovan and Liam do isn’t anything new. They’re businessmen like any other businessmen.”
“Oh, come on.”
“It’s society who says what they do is a crime.”
