The Rocchetti Queen - Bree Porter Page 0,35

conversation into two and caused my husband to stand taller. “I love a good party.”

“I only hope you enjoy yourself.”

Her eyes gleamed. “I will.”

I didn’t like the sound of that.

The Sunny Days group spread out into the ball, their team of nurses taking good care of their patients.

From the corner of my eye, I checked on Nicoletta and Ophelia. Nicoletta was sitting down at the piano, playing a beautiful tune, with Ophelia hovering by her side, eyes alert for anything that could upset her.

A few feet away, half-cast in shadows, was Nero. He didn’t move, didn’t fidget. Just leaned against the wall and watched, almost indistinguishable from the potted plants beside him.

“I didn’t invite Eloise,” I told Alessandro as soon as we were alone. “She is a frail old woman. What threat could she actually pose?”

His posture did not relax. “We will see, won’t we?”

I thinned my lips but dropped the subject. “I’m going to call Dita and check on Dante. Your boys are over by the bar.”

On my way to the bathroom, I spotted Salisbury. He was sitting in the middle of a group of people, his hands moving widely as he told a story. From the charmed look in their eyes, it must have been a good one.

I had expected Salisbury to need some time before slipping back into his cheesy nature, but I underestimated the politician in him. Seconds after entering the ball, he had commanded nothing but positive attention and been his most charismatic self.

At least someone is having fun, I almost laughed.

It took me a few tries to get to the bathroom, since I kept being dragged into conversations. Everyone seemed to want to speak to me now my scary husband wasn’t by my side, and while I was happy to smooch up to Chicago’s elite, I really wanted to check on my son and waved most of them away.

Later, in a minute, I kept saying, almost wishing Alessandro was there to scare them off.

My husband had taken himself across the room to the bar and was now standing with Gabriel and Sergio. No one dared approach them.

To my surprise, I found Narcisa Ossani in the bathroom. She dried her hands, not really paying attention to her surroundings.

“Narcisa, darling, how are you?”

She looked up at me but didn’t look afraid, just surprised. When she noticed it was me, she smiled in greeting. No bleating, no fear. “Sophia, hi.”

“Are you having fun?” We kissed on both cheeks. “I see your husband has taken to the bar.”

Her cheeks pinked but she replied, “I’m having a lovely time. And yes, Serg has decided he cannot take anymore small talk.”

Serg? Not Sergio? I almost grabbed her hands and jumped for joy, excited that her and her husband seemed to be growing closer, but held my tongue.

“I can’t say I blame him.” I stepped away. “I have to check up on Dante, but I will see you back out there.”

We said our goodbyes and I finally managed to call home. Dita assured me that my son was alright, still sleeping exactly where I had left him. I had wanted to bring him tonight, but Alessandro advised against it, since my attention would already be divided between the guests, and adding my son to the mix might ruin the night.

Perhaps I would feel a little more relaxed if Dante hadn’t been fussy today. He had slept badly last night, since the poor thing was fighting off a cold. I’d spent the entire night counting his breaths and repeatedly cleaning his nose, until Alessandro had taken over and let me have a few hours of restless sleep.

“He is fine, Sophia,” Dita reminded me, her voice almost disapproving. “Go, enjoy yourself, have a night off.”

“Are you sure he is okay?” I asked. “He will need some more medicine in forty-four minutes.”

“I know. I have your list.”

I knew that. I knew everything was under control. And yet I couldn’t shake the guilt, the cramping of my stomach.

Dita was the one who hung up on me, and when I called her back, she didn’t answer. They’re fine, I told myself. Completely fine. Raul and Beppe are with them. Nothing is going to happen.

Chanting my reassurances, I left the bathroom, stepping back into the lion’s den.

As soon as I did, I was pulled into fifteen different directions. Time passed quickly as I chatted, laughed, and chatted some more. Everyone wanted to talk to me, and not just about the charity. People wanted to hear more about