Page 52 of Hostile Love
“Sinéad…” I round the bed and sink to my haunches, taking her hands in mine. “I can’t wait to meet the twins. Congratulations. Mama must have sent me twenty photos of them already.”
Sinéad blinks wildly and I think she’s going to cry. She doesn’t, but she sucks in a tattered breath.
“Are you okay?” I ask. “Do you have enough pain meds? What about food? Have you eaten?”
Her eyes glisten and she offers me a small smile.
“I’d be lost without our family, Mat. Tommy ordered food and had it delivered earlier. Teresa is watching over the twins while I stay with Dré. And India and Carina take it in turns to sit with them too. The babies are so beautiful…we’ve cloned ourselves.” Her laughter is light. “It means a lot to me knowing they’re so loved.”
I watch her carefully. “And you? Did the whole birthing thing go okay? I’m sure it was brutal.”
“I’m fine…” She shrugs. “I’ll feel better when he’s awake, so I can talk to him about it. I’m not used to Dré being so damn quiet…” After a pause, she sits back and sighs. “Indy was with me through it all.”
“That girl was made for Gio.”
“She was,” Sinéad agrees. “But this…seeing Dré like this. It’s breaking her…us. And Gio…he has a constant glare of death about him. Dré has to get through this, Mat.” She swallows. “I’m not the only one who needs him. Our babies need…” Her voice trembles and she clears her throat.
“He will.” I assure her, full of confidence. “He has too much to live for, Sin. You know my brother is a fighter. That fucker has more energy and hunger for life than we all have in one hand. He’s finding his way back to you…all he needs is time. I promise.”
Sinéad squeezes my hand. “She’s a lucky woman, Mat.”
“Who…Dani? Nah, not really,” I mutter. “We were doomed from the start. She’s Blanco's daughter and even more shut off than Gio.”
Sinéad’s brows pop up. “His daughter. Wow, you sure like a challenge. Although, think about it this way. I’m technically a Sapori, right? But that doesn’t mean I’m anything like my father. We were nothing alike.”
I nod, thinking. I was nothing like Elias either. Why hadn’t I questioned things before now?
“Yeah. I guess so.”
“It all boils down to the people who helped raise us and the family we choose to be with now. That’s what's important.”
Rising, I lean into her and press a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“My family is all that matters to me. Everything else is just white noise. We should visit the twins now. They need to meet their Uncle Mat.”
Sinéad’s gaze cuts to André and she swallows loudly. Her forehead scrunches and she palms her much smaller belly under her dress, conflict causing obvious discomfort.
“Ummm…okay.” She grimaces. “I do miss them…even though I was there a little over an hour ago. But there’s something I need you to do for me. Something important.”
“Whatever you need, I’m here for you, Sin.”
“Good, because you’re the boss while I’m with Dré and the twins. I need time to focus on them and not the business.”
“Me?” I frown. “Why not Tommy?”
“Why not you? You’re more than capable. Dré would want this too. You’ve been in Sicily with us for a while now. My men know you and my associates have heard…” She laughs lightly. “They’ve heard how Matheus Souza deals with sensitive situations.”
“The Di Rossi incident…”
“Incident?” Her eyes sparkle. “It was genius. However, we need to rule out the Di Rossi family as suspects. Though it couldn't be them, not when you still have their daughter. Wait. You do, don’t you?”
“She’s in a safe place.” I rub my jaw, eyeing the tube attached to the inside of Dré’s arm. “If you think her father was responsible for this, I’ll say the word and have her executed.”
“Her father wouldn’t risk her life. I’m certain of that.”
Sinéad stands, her movements stiff.
“There’s a meeting scheduled for tomorrow at lunchtime. I need you to attend on my behalf.”
