Page 128 of Between Us

“Oh,bambina, I’m so happy to see you.” Gabriella rushed across the white marble kitchen floor to pull her daughter into a tight hug. Alessandra's body tilted forward on the high stool, her face pressing into her mother's chest. She chuckled and pulled away after a moment, brushing hair from her face.

“Hey, Mamma.”

Gabriella turned to the other girl with a warm smile. “Hello, Tatyana.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Rossetti.”

“Do you want coffee, dears?” Her mother was already reaching for the pot, a frown pulling on her groomed eyebrows. “Where is Valentina and why is breakfast not ready?”

Alessandra tried not to roll her eyes at her mother's fretting. “We already ate, Mamma.”

“When did you get up?”

“Around six. We didn't sleep that well.”

At this, Gabriella's expression morphed to one of concern. “I'm sorry,bambina. Your father told me. I can’t believe he didn’t wake me up last night.”

Somehow, Alessandra already knew he hadn’t told her about the attack. It was better that way. “It’s fine. There was no reason to wake you. We just needed a place to stay for a night or two.”

“You know you are always welcome here,amore.” She poured coffee into a cup then paused. “I’m sorry about your father, Tatyana.”

“Thank you.”

Silence stretched for a long minute. Then Valentina entered the kitchen to prepare Gabriella's breakfast, and all tension flew out the window.

As the food cooked, the women settled on making small talk. Gabriella shared the news about one of Alessandra’s cousins getting married, and she pretended to take an interest, even as her mind was elsewhere. She checked her phone as discreetly as she could, and when there was still no sign of Roman reaching out, she couldn’t help the angst settling deep into her bones and driving her thoughts toward a dangerous slope. It had only been a few hours since she'd last seen him, but she was already on edge and desperate to hear from him.

It was nearing eight o'clock when the two men entering the kitchen through the back door put an end to the gossiping as well as Alessandra's anxiety.

She shot to her feet, not even hesitating to run to her husband and cling to his neck as she pressed herself against him. He caught her by the waist, and she buried her face in his chest, letting his familiar scent and warmth calm her frayed nerves.

All too soon, Roman let go of her. She pulled back and only then noticed that he was wearing the same clothes as the night before. Before she could ask how he was, helooked over her head, and the glint of irritation in his eyes made her turn around. Nero had materialized in the doorway, his face a blank canvas.

“My office,” her father said, his eyes dragging from Roman to Matteo. With that order still lingering in the air, he turned to walk away.

Matteo sighed, setting down the pot of coffee he'd just grabbed before exiting the kitchen.

A muscle in Roman's jaw ticked. He followed after Matteo quietly, his pupils so dilated from tiredness and God knew what, his blue eyes looked almost black.

Alessandra stared at his retreating back and pushed down the frustration threatening to overwhelm her. After a sleepless night of worrying and obsessively thinking about her husband, she didn't even get to say hello.

A gentle palm smoothed the hair spilling over her shoulders. “Sit down and finish your coffee,” Gabriella said softly.

A lone tear trickled down her cheek. Alessandra wiped it off with her thumb and cleared the bitterness clogging her throat before walking back to the island.

God, she was a mess.

???

Two hours later, the men’s impromptu meeting had yet to end.

“I heard you were here.”

Alessandra was startled by the voice coming from the doorway. She'd been immersed in her phone, trying to distract herself while she waited for Roman to come out of her father’s office.

Tatyana raised her eyes from her own phone, taking in the newcomer with open curiosity.

“What are you doing here, Luca?”

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