Scandal and the Runaway Bride (Heirs to an Empire 1)

Will leaned over and whispered in Gabi’s ear. “Eat one, and maybe your mother will, too.”

She nodded, then looked up at Marco. “I’ll have one, thank you.”

Giulia rose and put her arms around Marco’s waist. “Thank you for being here with us.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else, cara.”

Gabi nibbled on her bun and Will sat back, sipping on strong coffee, wishing the doctors would hurry up.

Gabi had been a wreck. Not outwardly, of course, but he’d noticed how quiet she’d been. Last night, after Lucia and Massimo had left for the hospital, she’d barely eaten. Instead she’d gone into the library to work for a while, she’d said. Giulia had come home and they’d spoken for a bit, and Will had been the one to venture into the kitchen and throw something together for dinner and make sure she ate. It was the same this morning, before they’d left for Perugia. He’d made sure she’d eaten breakfast so she had something in her stomach to get her through the day.

He knew how he’d feel if this were his mother, or any of his siblings. He’d be sick with worry and waiting. So he sat beside her and when she tilted her neck to release tension, he put his hand on her back and gently rubbed, trying to help ease the muscles.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she murmured.

“Me, too. I could have flown back today but I would have worried the whole time.” He tried a smile. “Who would have thought that I’d stick around for moral support, huh?”

She smiled back. “When I opened that hotel room door in London and you were there, you looked ready to kill.”

“I was angry.”

“You had a right to be.”

“I wasn’t angry for long. I think I stopped about the time you fell asleep on the plane.”

“I wanted to be angry with you, too, but I knew you were trying to help. It was a lot of hating you for bossing me around and knowing I deserved it because it was my fault.”

He nodded, then started to chuckle a bit. “It was a pretty unorthodox way to get to know each other. But...” He looked up at her and the connection between them was strong and sure. “I don’t regret it. Not a moment.”

“Me, either. I appreciate you trying to help with Stephen, too. But don’t worry about Baresi. I’m going to figure everything out.”

“I know you will. Now eat. You need something since you refused lunch.”

The coffee was gone and the pastries half-eaten and discarded when finally, finally, the doctor came through the doors toward the family.

Everyone stood together.

“The surgery went well, though not without complication,” he said, not mincing any words. “The tumor was a bit bigger than we anticipated, and Signor Baresi had some bleeding that we needed to get under control, which extended the length of the surgery. We removed lymph nodes that we’ll send for testing to see if the cancer has spread.”

The family seemed to be collectively holding their breath.

“But overall it was a success. He’ll be in recovery for some time, and access is restricted.”

“The bleeding...was it serious?”

The surgeon looked at Giulia, who’d asked the question. “Serious enough, but he’s a strong man and healthy for his age. I don’t anticipate further postoperative problems, but we’ll wait and see.”

He looked at the rest of the group. “He’s going to be on some pretty strong pain medication. It’d be better for you to try to see him tomorrow. I understand you’ll want to wait to see him, though, Signora Baresi.”

He said his goodbyes and left. Will sensed the collective relief of the family as if they had all let out a giant breath. “Well, that’s good news,” he said, and he looked over at Gabi. She looked re

ady to drop, so he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side. “First hurdle over, yes?”

She nodded, and he saw she was blinking quickly. His heart melted a little and he turned her into his arms. “It’s okay now,” he said gently, rubbing her back. “He made it through the surgery. You can breathe again.”

He looked over and saw Marco holding Giulia’s hand and Lucia watching William and Gabi with tenderness lining her face. His feelings were so transparent, weren’t they? He really did need to get back to Paris, before he did something foolish.

But not tonight. Right now Gabi was crying softly into his chest and he would make sure she was all right and that Massimo got through the night okay. As long as everything went well, William would be on a flight from Rome to Paris tomorrow afternoon, back in his flat tomorrow night and in the office on Thursday.