A Dark Sicilian Secret

“Five minutes ago. Maybe ten. He came into the nursery and told me to pack because the three of you were going away on holiday for a few days. Going to Capri, I think he said.”

Relief coursed through her veins. “Capri?” Jillian repeated.

Maria folded another one of Joe’s little T-shirts and added it to the stack in the suitcase. “He wants you to relax before the wedding. It’s a pre-honeymoon honeymoon.”

A pre-honeymoon honeymoon, to Capri no less. Vitt’s thoughtfulness staggered her, aware that he knew it was one of the places she’d always wanted to go but had not yet been.

Shaking her head, Jillian looked off, across the bright nursery with its cheerful colors and fanciful fish. She loved this nursery almost as much as Joe did. It was such a perfect room for a little boy to call his own. “Maria, can I leave Joe here with you while I go talk to Signor?”

Maria smiled. “Of course.”

Jillian left the nursery and headed down the hall for the bedroom she shared with Vitt.

The room was dimly lit as the curtains had been drawn against the morning sun. In the darkened room the large canopy bed looked massive and the antique wardrobe in the corner appeared to almost topple over. A suitcase lay open on the bed and Vitt’s clothes were stacked in a neat pile in half of it.

Inside the bedroom she heard the sound of running water coming from the ensuite bathroom. Vitt was showering. Humming.

He sounded so happy.

It was such a small thing, but somehow it stole her breath, and practically brought her to her knees.

She couldn’t hurt him. She couldn’t do it. But just being here with him put everyone at risk.

And then the sound of running water stopped. Vitt had finished his shower.

Jillian put a hand to her middle. For a moment she felt so physically sick she thought she’d lose her breakfast right there on the elegant green-and-cream rug. But she couldn’t afford to get sick. She had to keep herself together, had to talk to Vitt.

Gritting her teeth against the acid rising up in her throat, she opened the door and entered the bathroom.

Vitt was standing at the far end of the white marble room, naked, hard muscles glistening, with just a white towel wrapped neatly around his lean hips.

The long mirror over the double sinks was cloudy with steam and steam still wafted from the large white marble shower.

Vitt reached for another towel and began drying his thick hair. “How’s your friend?” he asked, rubbing the towel over his wet hair.

“Good.”

“Everything okay?”

She looked at him, knew she loved him, knew she’d do anything for him, just as she’d do anything for Joe. They were her family. They were hers to cherish. “Yes.”

Vitt grinned as he dragged the towel over the back of his head. “Mother was worrying he was an old boyfriend.”

Vitt’s boyi

sh grin nearly broke her heart. Jillian forced a smile. “She was wrong.”

“I told her that.”

Jillian exhaled hard. “It was an old friend of Katie’s actually. He’d heard about the wedding. Wanted to offer his congratulations.”

“Did you invite him?”

“No.”

“Why not? He’s welcome to attend.”

Jillian turned away, close to throwing up. She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t pretend everything was fine when her heart was breaking. “He’s not someone I’m close to.” She ran a shaky hand through her hair, pushing it back from her face. “Maria’s packing Joe’s things. She said you’re taking us to Capri for a few days.”