Chapter 154
ISABELLA’S P.O.V.
I waited anxiously for the next forty eight hours. I could barely sleep, I could barely eat, Samson had promised that he would be out but I didn’t quite believe him. They were convinced that Enzo had done it and I wouldn’t have put it past them to charge him despite only having circumstantial evidence.
Natalia had taken up schooling with Leo because I couldn’t handle the repeated questions about when his father was coming home. I couldn’t handle the fear in my heart that he would have to spend the rest of his life with his father in jail. I was losing my damned mind and there was nothing I could do about it. It was exhausting having to live my life with one worry or the other.
Something dropped hard in front of me snapping me out of my thoughts and I realized it was a tray. Mac stood in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest. “Eat, Isabella, and no, I am not asking you to, I am telling you to.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not hungry, it hasn’t changed in the past five minutes since Natalia told me.”
I risked a glance at the door almost willing Enzo to walk through it when Mac walked into my line of vision. I was torn between wanting to punch him in the face or wanting to walk away. Instead, I looked up at him with the blandest expression I could muster.
“I did this shit with you when you were pregnant with Leo, I didn’t realize I would have to do it again. You know better than anyone that I would force feed you if I have to so save us both the trouble and eat.”
The funny thing was, he wasn’t bluffing. When I was with him, I was so wound up and worried about leaving Lorenzo that I didn’t eat for a few days. Mac bound me with ropes and forced food into my mouth for a full day. After that, I never fought him on eating again. I narrowed my eyes at him and all he did was smirk in response.
I let out an exasperated breath before picking up a piece of bacon and shoving it into my mouth. That seemed to be enough for him because his defensive stance fell and he took the seat next to me. There was warmth in his eyes, warmth I hadn’t seen in two weeks since Carmen betrayed us.
“Don’t,” he warned. “I don’t want to talk about her. I spent my time mourning her, I don’t want to think about it anymore. What has happened is in the past. What matters right now is Lorenzo and this cluster fuck. Did you hear anything back about the gun?”
“The commissioner forged a police statement saying that Enzo’s gun was missing so we covered that. They cannot hold him on that because Benito wasn’t killed with a gun. He was beaten to death and then burned but you already know that, don’t you?”
He simply shrugged. “There is no evidence to tie Enzo to it unless they find where he actually died which they will not. Your husband will be back soon and annoying the fuck out of all of us.”
I wanted to believe him but I knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. “Peter is determined to nail this on him. He will try his best to get Lorenzo behind bars.”
“He will not succeed, now, you need to get off your self depreciating horse and go to your son. He needs you now more than ever. You are hurting but so is he,” I realized he was right and cursed. I started to stand but he stopped me. “You can go after you are done eating.”
To my credit, I cleared the entire plate before making my way up to Leo’s room. I hesitated by the door because I wasn’t sure how he would respond to it. He was my son and he wouldn’t hate me but I had failed him. I lifted my hand to knock when the door opened revealing Natalia. She was on her way out and to say she was shocked to see me would have been an understatement.
“Have I been that absent?” I joked and she gave me a sad smile. I peered over her shoulder but didn’t see him. “Where is he?”
“Bathroom, he will be out in a second. We finished school for the day, he wanted to play some video games, I think he would love it if you played with him.”
“Thank you,” I whispered to her but she waved me off.
I set up his favorite fighting game and sat cross legged on the bed with a controller in hand. I waited exactly two minutes but it felt like two hours before the bathroom door opened. Leo didn’t notice me at first but when he did, his mouth fell open and he stood there staring at me in complete shock.
“I hope you don’t mind, I haven’t played in a while,” the words were barely out of my mouth when he rushed up to me and wrapped his arms around me. “I am so sorry I haven’t been here for you, sweetheart. I should have done better by you.”
“I love you,” he mumbled, ignoring my apology.
He stayed in my embrace for a full minute before finally pulling away and taking the spot next to me. It was a huge relief to be able to sit with him and exchange no words. The possible conviction still hung in the air but we didn’t address it, it was just mother and son having some fun and playing games. I was losing badly but I didn’t care, hearing him laugh each time he won was worth every horrible second I spent being beaten by a seven year old.
He was trying to change the game when I heard the door open. I ignored it thinking it was Natalia. “Do you want to sub with me? Leo is kicking my fucking ass in this. I think someone should humble him.”
“It could just be that you’re terrible at the game.”
I stilled when I heard that voice. Leo turned immediately and ran across the room but I couldn’t. I sat there refusing to look back in case it was a dream. I heard hushed whispers before a warm hand settled on my shoulders. I sucked in a sharp breath. It felt so real but I couldn’t believe it was real.
“Turn around, cara mia. I’m not going anywhere.”