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I wake this morning with Luca sitting on the edge of the bed like he has the last several mornings.
“Did you sleep well?” His hand caresses my thigh.
“Yes.”
“I have to go out today for work.”
“Is everything alright?”
He smiles. “Fine. Sometimes, a king needs to survey his kingdom.”
While I’m not aware of anything specific being wrong, I’m sure there are concerns with Sabini’s death that need to be addressed. But since my return, Luca always has a gentle, kind composure around me.
“This came.” He hands me an envelope.
"What is this?" I sit up in bed and open the back flap.
"There's a baby shower for Lucia that they want to invite you to in New York."
My gaze immediately jerks up to his. "You read my mail?"
For a brief moment, there's a pained expression in his eyes. He shakes his head. "She called me to let me know that it was coming. I believe she was concerned that I wouldn't give it to you."
There's a tension in his voice, but I’m not sure if it’s because of my knee-jerk accusation or his concern about whether I’ll want to go.
“I’m sorry I?—”
“I am late for my meeting, but we can talk about this when I get back."
My eyes narrow. I want to tell him that we don’t need a discussion. I can go with or without his permission. But he leans over and gives me a kiss and is out the door before I can express my opinion.
With a sigh, I look at the invitation. I miss my friends, and I really want to celebrate this moment with them. But if I go, will Niko make it difficult to come back? It doesn’t matter, I decide. I got to Italy once. I can do it again.
As I shower and dress, I run through my head all the things I want to say to Luca and reasons he should let me go to the baby shower. But then I realize I'm wasting a lot of energy without really knowing what Luca’s thoughts are on the situation. So, I push it away and go down for breakfast, where Lia is already waiting for me.
During the morning, I speak Italian, or at least I try with Lia's tutelage and support. Later in the day, we switch, and she speaks English with my support. At any time, if I need to talk to the staff, Lia translates anything I can’t get across or understand. This arrangement has been working, and I feel like my Italian is growing stronger.
That afternoon, I head upstairs planning to send a group text to Niko, Elena, Lucy, and Kate about the shower. Group texts are the best way for me to communicate with Niko since the other ladies, or more specifically, Lucy, will keep his attitude in check when he responds to me. Afterward, I plan to take a nap.
I enter Luca's bedroom, where I've moved back into since I decided to stay. I step in the room, and I stop short when I see my closet doors are open. It's not a laundry day, so why would someone be in my closet?
“Scusa?”
I hear a bit of a scuffle and then an unknown woman steps out. I don’t recall being told about new staff.
"Who are you?” I ask in Italian.
She lifts her chin, looking down her nose at me. Recognition slams into me. This is the woman in the photo Bianca showed me. Luca's former mistress, Electra.
She presses her hand over her stomach, and I see a small swell. My gaze returns to her face. "What are you doing here?" I ask in English as my Italian seems to have vanished.
"You must be Luca's new woman. Has he finally tossed you aside? I see you're not married. But of course, he wouldn't marry you. After all, he's going to be a father."
All the blood drains from my brain, making me lightheaded. I scan the recesses of my mind thinking of anything Luca has said or done to make sense of this woman standing in his bedroom.
"Roberta. Lia. Come here quickly," I yell out the door, hoping they’re close enough to hear me.
A moment later, Roberta hurries into the room, stopping short when she sees Electra. "Oh, mio Dio.”
