Chapter 29

Jennie

"Jennie, honey. . ." A familiar gentle touch pulls me out of my restless slumber. Forcing my heavy eyelids open, I stare uncomprehendingly at my mom, who's sitting on the edge of the bed and stroking my hair. My head aches so much that it takes me a few moments to process her presence in our bedroom—and notice her red-rimmed, swollen eyes.

"Mom?" Holding the blanket, I sit up, suppressing a groan at the pain caused by the movement. My back feels stiff and sore, and my lower abdomen is cramping dully. "What are you doing here?"

"Lisa called us this morning," she says, her voice shaking. "She said you and Rosé were attacked at a club last night."

"Oh." A flash of anger wakes me fully. How dare Lisa worry my parents like this? I would've come up with something less frightening to tell them, some gentler way to explain the loss of the baby.

The loss of the baby.

The agony is so sharp and sudden that I can't hold it in. A raw, jagged sob bursts out of my throat, bringing with it a flood of burning tears. Shaking, I clamp my hand over my mouth, but it's too late. The pain wells up and spills out, the tears like acid on my skin. I can feel my mom's arms around me, hear her crying, and I know I have to stop, but I can't. It's too much, the grief, the knowledge that I did this.

Suddenly, it's no longer my mom who holds me. Instead, I'm bundled in the blanket on Lisa's lap, her arms wrapped around me as she cradles me against her, rocking me like a child. I can hear my dad's voice, the timbre low and soothing, and I know Dad is consoling Mom, trying to calm her in her pain. At some point, he and Lisa must've come into the room, but I don't know how or when it happened.

Eventually, Lisa carries me to the shower. It's there, away from my parents' eyes, that I'm finally able to regain control. "I'm sorry," I whisper as Lisa towels me off and dresses me in a thick, terrycloth robe. "I'm so sorry. Where's Rosé? How is she?"

"She's all right," she says quietly. Her eyes are bloodshot, making me suspect she didn't sleep much last night. "Well, as all right as can be expected. She's still in her room, but Bambam spoke to her and said she's doing better. And you have nothing to be sorry for, baby. Nothing."

I shake my head, the awful guilt seizing me again. "I need to go see her—"

"Wait, Jennie." She grabs my arm just as I'm about to rush back into the bedroom. "Before you do, there's something you and I need to discuss with your parents."

"My parents?"

She nods, looking down at me. "Yes. That's why I called them here. We all need to talk."

"The Sullivan crime family?" My dad's voice rises incredulously. "You're telling me that the men who attacked my daughter are part of the mob?"

"Yes," Lisa says, her face hard and expressionless. She's sitting next to me on the couch, her left hand resting on my knee. "It's something I discovered last night, after we returned from the hospital."

"We need to go to the police right away." My mom leans forward, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. "Those monsters need to pay for this. If you know who they are—"

"They'll pay, Julia." Lisa's gaze turns to steel. "You don't have to worry about that."

"It's because of you, isn't it?" my dad says savagely, getting up in a sharp motion. "They came after you—"

"No," I interrupt, shaking my head. I'm still reeling from what I just learned, but if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that for once, Lisa's business is not at fault. "It was random, Dad. They had no idea who Rosé and I were. They were just"—I shudder, remembering—"just doing it for fun."

"Fun?" My dad stares at me, his features tense with anger as he sits down again. "Those assholes thought hurting two women would be fun?"

"Well, technically, they wanted only Rosé," I say dully. "I just happened to intervene."

Lisa's hand tightens on my knee as she glances in my direction. For the first time this morning, I see a flash of fury behind her emotionless facade. I have no doubt that she blames me for this—for using my birthday to manipulate her into going to that club, for trying to rescue Rosé on my own.

For losing our child . . . the one I didn't even know I wanted until it was too late.

I have no idea what my punishment will be, but whatever it is, it'll be more than deserved.

"We have to go to the police," my mom says again. "We need to report—"

"No." This time, it's Lisa who rises to her feet and begins to pace in front of the couch. "That wouldn't be wise."

"Why?" my dad asks sharply. "This is what civilized people do in this country. They go to the authorities—"

"The authorities are in Sullivan's pocket." Lisa stops to give my dad a harsh look. "And even if they weren't, we might as well send Sullivan an email saying who we are."

"Right." I jump to my feet, ignoring the pain in my sore muscles. Finally, my sluggish brain connects all the dots, and I realize why Lisa brought my parents here. If the man Lisa gutted last night is indeed the head mobster's son, then my wife isn't the only dangerous criminal out for vengeance. "Mom, Dad, we can't do that."

My mom looks startled. "But, Jennie—"

"It will be best if the two of you come visit us for a bit," Lisa says, walking over to stand next to me. "Just until we get this situation sorted out."

"What?" My mom gapes at us. "What do you mean? Why? Oh." She abruptly falls silent. "You did something to one of those men last night, didn't you?" she says slowly, looking at Lisa. "You don't want them to know who we are because . . . because—"

"Because one of Sullivan's sons is dead, yes." Lisa might as well be corroborating the weather report. "They'll be looking for us, and when they figure out who we are, they'll come after you and Alejandro."

My mom visibly blanches, and my dad rises to his feet. "You're saying the mob is after us?" His voice is filled with angry disbelief. "That they might attack us because . . . because you—"

"Killed one of Sullivan's sons for trying to hurt Jennie, yes." Lisa's voice is the coldest I've ever heard it. "We can worry about casting blame later. For now, since I don't want Jennie grieving for her parents, I suggest you notify your employers of your upcoming vacation and start packing."

"When are we leaving?" my mom asks, her face pale as she stands up as well. "And how long will this vacation be?"

"Julia, you're not seriously thinking—" my dad begins, but my mom places her hand on his arm.

"I am." My mom's voice is steady now, her gaze filled with resolve. "I don't want this any more than you do, but you've heard about the Sullivan's. They're bad news, and if Lisa says we're in danger—"

"You trust this murderer?" My dad turns to glare at her. "You think we'll be safer with her?"

"Than here with the mob seeking vengeance? Yes, I think we will be," my mom retorts. "We don't exactly have many options, do we?"

"We can go to the police or the FBI—"

"No, Alejandro, we can't, not if what Lisa says is true."

"Well, obviously she would be against going to the police—"

As they argue, I feel my headache intensifying. Finally, I can't take it anymore. "Mom, Dad, please." I step forward, ignoring the pounding in my temples. "Just come with us for a while. It doesn't have to be forever. Right, Lisa?" I glance at my wife for confirmation.

Lisa nods coolly. "Like I said, just until I get this situation straightened out. Hopefully no more than a month or two."

"A month or two? How exactly will you straighten this out in just a month or two?" my mom asks while my dad stands there, vibrating with tense anger.

"Do you really want to know, Julia?" Lisa asks softly, and my mom turns even paler.

"No, that's okay." She sounds slightly hoarse. Clearing her throat, she asks, "So what do we tell our work? How do we explain such a long vacation on short notice? I mean, it's really more of a leave of absence—"

"You can tell them the truth: that your daughter suffered a miscarriage and needs you for the next few weeks." Lisa's harsh words make me flinch. Noticing my reaction, she reaches for me, her fingers curving around my palm as she says to my mom in a softer tone, "Or you can come up with some other story. It's really up to you."

"Okay, we'll do that," my mom says quietly, looking at us, and when I glance at my dad, I see that the anger has left his face. Instead, he seems to be holding back tears. Catching my gaze, he steps toward me.

"I'm sorry, honey," he says quietly, his deep voice filled with sorrow. "I didn't have a chance to say it yet, but I'm so, so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, Dad," I whisper, and then I have to turn away so I don't start crying again.

Immediately, Lisa's arms close around me, bringing me into her embrace. "Alejandro, Julia," I hear het say softly. Her hand rubs soothing circles on my back as I stand there, fighting tears, my face pressed against her chest. "I think it's best if Jennie rests for now. Why don't the two of you discuss this, and we can talk some more later today? Ideally, I want you and Jennie to fly out tomorrow, before Sullivan figures out who we are."

"Of course," my mom says quietly. "Come, Alejandro, we have a lot to do." And before I can turn around, I hear their footsteps heading out of the room.

When they're gone, Lisa loosens her hold and pulls back to gaze at me. "Jennie, baby—"

"I'm okay," I interrupt, not wanting her pity. The guilt that I managed to push aside for the past hour is back, stronger than ever. "I'm going to go talk to Rosé now."

Lisa studies me for a moment and then steps back, letting me go. "All right, my pet," she says softly. "Go ahead."