I blink at him but do as he says without question. He lifts my heavy chair like it weighs nothing and carries it to the other side, placing it right next to his. I giggle under my breath, my steps light as I move to take my new seat next to my husband.
The waiters we hired for the dinner come in with trays of steaming food, and I rub my hands together in anticipation. The spread looks incredible—all our favorites plus some new dishes I’m eager to try.
“Hmm, these all look so good,” Gianna says next to me, licking her lips appreciatively.
I chuckle and glance at Elira across from me, ready to make some comment about the food, but the words die in my throat. She looks… strange. Like she might be holding her breath, her face slightly green around the edges.
“I think I need to use the restroom.” She gets to her feet in a sudden rush. Maximo starts to follow, but she waves herhusband back down and practically flees the room. I frown after her, worried.
What the hell was that about?
“We should try to catch up this week,” Gia says, pulling my attention back to the table. “You can tell Elira and me all about the honeymoon.”
“Allof it?” I tease, picking up my fork and trying to push away my worry about Elira.
“Maybe notallof it.” She shudders dramatically, making me chuckle despite my concern.
As Gia and I fall into easy conversation, some of the guys' discussion drifts over to my ears.
Romero’s voice, frustrated and tired: “She’s proving incredibly hard to find. I think she’s no longer in New York. I’ve spent considerable time and resources trying to track her down, but no luck. She might not even be in the country anymore.”
The smile I had while talking with Gia completely fades, because I know who he’s talking about.Katie. We still haven’t found her since the shooting incident weeks ago. The mystery of her disappearance has been a lingering cloud, casting shadows over my marital bliss. I keep thinking about her, hoping she’s safe, wherever she is.
Rafael notices me listening and smoothly changes the topic. “It seems you’re the only bachelor left in the group, Romero. Should I arrange a match for you?”
“Not in your lifetime. I’m not like you suckers. There’s enough of me to go around.” He winks playfully, but I don’t miss the longing that flashes in his green eyes. There for one moment and gone the next.
Elira walks back in then, and I frown at her. “I was just about to come looking for you. The first course is almost done.”
She lets out a shaky breath as she sinks into the chair Maximo pulls out for her. “Actually, the waiter can clear my plate. Seafood hasn’t agreed with us for a while.”
Us? My frown deepens. Then Elira’s hand slips to her belly, and she grins around the room. “This little pookie doesn’t seem to like seafood at all.”
My jaw drops as realization hits me. “Oh my God, Elira!” I jump up from my chair and jog around the table to her side. She gets to her feet, and we hug tightly while my toes bounce a little in excitement.Another baby.
“Congratulations!” I tell her as I step back, and Gianna moves in to hug the expectant mother as well. “How far along are you? Do you know the gender yet?” I glance at her belly, finally realizing why she chose that pretty, billowing dress tonight. There’s definitely a little bump there. How could I have missed it? I literally hugged her earlier and didn’t even feel it.
“Twenty-two weeks,” she says, practically vibrating with excitement. “We found out right after Thanksgiving, but there was never a right moment to announce it because so much was happening. The birth of the girls, your wedding, then the shooting incident…”
Her voice trails off at the mention of that night, but I push it away, focusing on this moment of pure joy. “I’m so incredibly happy for you.” I hug her again, then turn to Maximo, who’s watching his wife with such love and pride it makes my chest tight. “Congratulations!” I tell him, hugging him as well. The guys do their typical masculine head nods and back slaps.
The mood shifts after that, becoming lighter, more celebratory. My cheeks actually hurt from smiling so much. I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt this genuinely, completely happy.
If only I knew for sure Katie was alive and well somewhere, I’d be over the moon.
My smile fades at that thought, and my gaze automatically slips to Rafael, who grabs my hand underneath the dining table and gives it a reassuring squeeze.
After dinner, we migrate to the balcony with drinks—whiskey for the men, mocktails for the women. Gianna can’t drink alcohol because she’s nursing the twins, Elira is pregnant, and I’m, well, I’m drinking mocktails in solidarity with them.
The crisp February air blows my hair around my face as I lean back in the lounge chair, taking in the glittering tapestry of Manhattan spread below us. The noise of city drifts up thirty floors—traffic, sirens, the pulse of millions of lives being lived.
Home. This is home.
Not just the city, or the penthouse, but this. These people with me. My husband, my brothers, their wives, who’ve become dear friends.Family.
I sip my virgin piña colada with a contented sigh. Thank God I had the foresight to add the mocktails to our order, even if they were primarily for Gianna’s benefit. They’ve definitely come in handy tonight.
We talk well into the night until my eyelids start getting heavy and Romero begins getting restless. His phone has been blowing up since we moved out to the balcony. Finally, he gets up and answers the call, moving down the length of the large balcony, speaking in hushed tones so we can’t overhear.
