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“Not your fault,” he said fiercely. “How many times have I told you this?”

I raised my eyes to his and tears were streaming down his face. “It doesn’t matter how many times you tell me, I would never forgive myself if the unspeakable happened to you.”

If Renz died.

I would have made Liz a widow.

Sam wouldn’t have a father.

Oh, God.

The horror of it consumed me again, competing with the fullness in my heart. But crying was cathartic.

I didn’t know how long Renz hugged me while I drenched his chest with my tears. My brothers and Dad continued to protect me and they were putting all the blame on Sandro. This would have to change. But baby steps. I wasn’t their innocent sister who got into scrapes and came up smelling like roses. It was because it was always Sandro who found me in my less angelic moments.

“Just know we don’t blame you,” a feminine voice said beside me.

I turned my attention to Liz. My dear sister-in-law, who had more patience and kindness than anyone I knew. I let go of Renz and hugged her so I could whisper in her ear, “We’re sorry to put you and Sam through this.” And theweincluded Renz. I imagined Liz had been through hell when Renz and I went missing. When I pulled away, I swiped the tears from my eyes and said, “I hope Renz wasn’t a terrible patient.”

She gave a brief laugh. “He’s been stubborn about his pain meds, and he’s still on a round of antibiotics. But one of The Grindhouse gym members is a TCM practitioner. He took onelook at Renz and said his Qi was misaligned. Also, Ivy figured it was his guilt and anger that’s preventing him from healing. That was where we were earlier for a consultation.”

Nico was the TCM believer because he was the health nut, more so with Ivy’s influence. I was more a pop-a-pain-med kind of gal, but I could have an open mind.

“Bianca is back, so I’m sure I’ll get better,” Renz grumbled.

Liz and I glanced at each other and grinned. “Where’s Sam?”

“She’s in the apartment with the nanny,” Liz said. “Figured we’d get the grown-ups settled first.”

“Good idea.”

“I’m hungry,” Renz said. “Anyone want food?”

“See? He’s already better.” Liz grinned. “It’s the first time he wants to cook.”

“Or we could just order from Eamonn’s,” Mom said dryly.

“Good idea.” My brother was already heading into the kitchen. “But let me get some appetizers started.”

“I’ll help!” Liz called after him.

“Me too,” Sera and Ivy said in unison.

Mom got on the phone with Eamonn’s.

The guys had settled around the twenty-seat communal table. Divina and Sloane were still in the booth in front of it.

It was like a demarcation line, and I was in the middle. “When is Tommy getting here?”

“Maybe ten minutes with traffic,” Dom answered.

“We should call Sandro and tell him everything is fine.”

Dom looked at Dad and my brothers.

“No,” Dad said. “He let us suffer for over two weeks. He can last another few hours.”

“This is not a tit for tat!” I fumed.