Page 80 of Bellini Born

I shuffled my way toward the primary suite when I heard him say from behind me, “Ditch the beard. You can’t pull it off.”

My hand lifted to run along the scruff lining my jaw. Holed up in my office, I hadn’t bothered to shave. And when I came face-to-face with my reflection in the mirror of the ensuite, I did a double take.

Enzo wasn’t kidding. I looked more like a lumberjack than a real estate mogul. If I walked into the hospital like this, Serafina probably wouldn’t even recognize me, so there was no question that it had to go.

The spray of cold water hitting my exposed skin was enough to sober me up enough that I was no longer stumbling when I returned to the kitchen—in clean clothes with a freshly-shaved face—though there was enough alcohol lingering in my veins that my stomach revolted at the smell of the coffee and bacon Enzo shoved in my direction.

“Get a move on,” he prompted. “She’s barely holding it together.”

That was all the motivation I needed to choke down the greasy strips of meat and swallow the bitter contents of the ceramic mug.

“Let’s go.” I grabbed my jacket from the hook near the door.

Hang tight, girls. I’m on my way.

With Enzo by my side, I strode through the pediatric unit of Windy City General, coming to a stop outside a private room. A nurse had written Serafina’s name on the whiteboard beside the door in a flowery script, dotting the “I” with a heart.

Placing my palm against the wall, I pulled in a deep breath before stepping inside. The lights were dimmed, and the calming cadence of ocean waves—the white-noise we played at home while Serafina slept—filled the room.

When I moved the privacy curtain aside, my heart seized. Summer sat in a recliner with Serafina wearing only a diaper,asleep on her chest. Even from this distance, I could hear the wheezing emanating from my baby girl’s tiny lungs.

Summer lifted her head at my arrival, and those blue eyes narrowed on me before shifting to Enzo. “Can you take her?”

My cousin moved past me, gently easing my daughter from Summer’s hold and taking the seat she’d vacated during the transfer.

“Hallway,” she gritted out, not waiting for me to follow before leaving the room.

Enzo shot me a look that said,You brought this on yourself.

Don’t I know it.

I made it exactly one step outside the door before two hands shoved at my chest, catching me off guard. My back hit the wall hard enough to knock the wind out of me.

My mouth opened and closed as I uselessly tried to draw in air.

Summer took advantage of my stunned state, getting right up in my face and whisper-shouting, “Where the fuck have you been?”

Sucking in a gasping breath, I managed to croak out, “I know I messed up.”

She turned her back on me to pace the hallway, scoffing. “While you were off doing your little disappearing act, I’ve been scared out of my freaking mind while taking care of your sick baby who couldn’t breathe.” Eyes lifting to the ceiling, she blinked furiously. Voice wavering, she repeated weakly, “She couldn’tbreathe, Matteo.”

That’s when she finally broke, chest heaving with body-rattling sobs. Summer’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.

She had a knack for bringing me to my knees, and that's exactly where I landed. Gathering her into my arms, I cradled her trembling form to my chest, where I held her tight, rocking us gently.

“I’m so sorry.” My apology came out muffled against the top of her head. “But I’m here now. You don’t have to do this alone anymore.”

“Sh-she’s so sick she didn’t cry when they put that needle in her arm. There wasn’t even a muscle twitch in response.” Summer hiccupped. “Th-then they said if her oxygen levels didn’t come up soon, they’d have to put her on a v-v-ventilator.”

With each word, Summer flayed me wide open. She was suffering right alongside my daughter, and I would have given anything to absorb both of their pain.

“I’ll handle everything from here on out.”

Her head lifted suddenly, and her lower lip wobbled. “Please don’t make me leave her.”

My heart swelled. Summer’s affection for Serafina was the closest thing that little girl had ever come to experiencing a mother’s love, and there’s no way in hell I would deny her that comfort.

I smoothed a hand over her hair. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”