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CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
ALESSANDRO
As we step off the jet, the humid air of Southern California surrounds me. I wipe the back of my hand over my brow as I wait for Leo to disembark the jet.
Leo has organized the black SUV rental that’s currently waiting idle on the tarmac.
“The house isn’t too far from the coast. Of course, Katie would have a safe house in fucking Santa Monica,” Leo grunts as I round the SUV and open the passenger door.
“Have you let her know we’re coming?” I look at my phone for the hundredth time.
Not that I expect Cam to text, I know she’ll be busy with Andrea and our parents.
Fuck, our parents.
I have no doubt Dante and my father will know something is wrong. Only something big would pull Leo and I away from attending Elena’s function. They’d also expect to be informed if anything big was going down. For this reason alone, I know I’ve left Carmella to the wolves.
“We’re here,” Leo drawls twenty minutes later as he pulls up to the gate of the beach house.
It’s a large two-story modern architecture with floor-to-ceiling windows adorning most of the front. The driveway is lined with palms all the way to the door.
The gate opens after Leo confirms our arrival on the intercom.
My gut feels heavy as we make our way up to the front door. I never get nervous, but I can only imagine that is what this feeling is.
Katie is waiting in the open doorway as we approach. She looks well. She’s done up as always, but her light blue jeans with her band tee make her look more natural.
“Boys,” she greets in her sultry tone.
She turns, and we both follow her into the light and airy open-plan living area.
I clock the crib that sits under the window on the far right of the room.
As Katie walks over to the crib, my breath hitches. She leans down and lifts out a small bundle of cream blankets. She walks over to me and hands me the tiny baby.
As I stare down at the beautiful baby, I know I have a daughter.
I get lost in her bright blue eyes, her mother’s eyes.
I bring her tiny little form up to place a kiss on her tiny upturned nose.
“Aurora,” Katie confirms quietly as she takes a seat on her couch. “I don’t know how much Jade told you, she came to me for a weekend four weeks ago. She had booked into a private clinic and had Rora the day she arrived. She spent two days with me before she said she had to leave. She asked me to keep Rora until you came for her. She knew you would come for her,” Katie states solemnly as she looks to the ground.
“She’s four weeks old?” I ask with a gravelly voice.
Katie nods. “Yes, she’s a little sweetie. She may be tiny, but she loves her milk, and she’s growing as she should. They’re always very pleased at her check-ups,” she says proudly.
I stare down into Aurora’s beautiful eyes, eyes that will forever hold sorrow and guilt for me over not being able to save her mom. As I look into her glistening blue eyes, I make a silent promise to protect her forever.
“Thank you,” I grunt. “Thank you for looking after her,” I say, my eyes not leaving Aurora’s.
Katie stands. “I’ve packed everything up for you, I’m not sure what you already have. I don’t know if you and Carmella have had your baby yet, but I’ve put all the bits into her case.” Katie picks up a muslin from the couch and folds it as she places it in the crib. “She likes to be rocked to sleep, it’s the only way I can settle her.” Katie looks over toward Aurora, and her eyes are full of warmth and tears.
She nods as she leaves the room. She is back moments later with a large suitcase.
A short and sweet visit, just how I want it. I’m desperate to get home. We’ll arrive back in the early hours of the morning, but I want to be home.
“I know I don’t have a right to ask, but if you could send the occasional picture of her, I would love to see her grow up,” Katie whispers as she wheels the case to the front door.
