Chapter 168
ISABELLA’S POV.
I knew something was up when I got downstairs the next morning and saw everyone seated at the dining table. I hesitated before speaking wondering why I didn’t just stay in bed with Enzo like he wanted; he tried everything including kissing me and waking me up with his head between my thighs but my stubborn ass decided that I had to go down for a drink. I was about to turn and walk away when Mac spoke.
“Please sit, we have to talk,” he said and I muttered a small curse before obliging. I couldn’t very well refuse him, I owed him almost everything. “I want to wait for Lorenzo but I figured you deserve to hear this from me first. I spent all of yesterday with Carmen.”
I cocked a brow knowing where he was going with this but also not wanting to jump to conclusions. “What insight did you glean from your day with her?”
“I love her,” he deadpanned and I hummed. “I know you don’t approve, hell, I know you fucking hate her guts and I understand it, I do but I cannot forget about her. I need her.”
“You want her,” I corrected crossing my arms over my chest. “What do you want me to say? Do you want me to support your decision or give you my blessing? Because we both know that is never happening. She will never be welcome here, not as long as I am alive because she put my son in danger.”
“I would never bring her here. I have far too much respect for you and dare I say it- your husband- to do that to you. I want to go to her.”
I scoffed at first hoping he was laughing but the longer I stared at him, the more serious he looked. I sat up straighter and crossed my arms over my chest in defiance and confusion. “You are joking, right?”
“I wish I was.”
“If you leave, you can never come back here. She is not welcome in these circles and she never will be. Are you willing to give all of this up for her?”
“Would you give it up for Lorenzo?”
“That is different.”
“What is?” we all stilled at Enzo’s voice. He was in grey sweatpants that hung low on his hips and if I wasn’t so pissed, I would have spent my time admiring them. He made his way over to me and placed a soft kiss on my temple before turning to Mac. “What is going on?”
I crossed my arms over my chest not wanting to say a word. I couldn’t even verbalize what I had just heard. It sounded insane at best and absurd at worst. It was Matteo who whispered it to him in Italian. By the time they were done speaking, Enzo had gone quiet. He crossed his arms over his chest and took in the scene. I could only imagine how this looked to an onlooker. Mac wasn’t facing anyone but me, his entire body was turned towards me, not even Lorenzo.
“Madoc,” Enzo began slowly but Mac shook his head.
“I mean this in the most respectful way possible but I don’t give a shit what the rest of you have to say. The only person I owe any form of explanation to is Isabella. She risked her neck for me over again and she has earned the right to influence my decisions.”
It was a testament to how fond Enzo had grown of Mac because he said nothing. If it were anyone else, they would be bleeding out from their brain on the ground. Enzo just hummed and took the empty seat next to me. He wrapped one hand around my bare thigh and I realized I was in nothing but an oversized shirt.
I knew they were all waiting for my response but I didn’t know what to say. If I asked him to stay, he would and I would be selfish for it. He was an adult and I shouldn’t control him or tell him what to do- I knew that. Then again, I hated everything to do with Carmen and there was every possibility that if I saw her, I was going to kill her myself. I loved Mac, I truly did but I wasn’t going to stand or tolerate her.
“You’re an adult,” I said finally. “Do whatever you think is right. I have faith that you will do the right thing. Besides, I’m not the one you have to worry about. You swore an oath to this family, the only one who can let you out of it is Lorenzo.”
After saying that, I stood to my feet and walked off. I didn’t care what was to happen next, I didn’t care enough to stay in and listen. I walked out of the house and towards the pool. I sat by the edge and put my legs inside. Thankfully, they all knew better than to trail after me choosing instead to leave me in the comfort of my thoughts.
I sat there for what felt like half an hour before I felt a presence behind me. I knew it was Enzo, he was the only one crazy enough to come after me at a time like this. He sat next to me not saying a single word but staring out at the sky with me. I already knew what he chose, I knew from the very beginning what was going to happen. It didn’t mean I had to like it.
“When does he leave?” I asked and he sighed. “I don’t need an explanation, I just want to know when.”
“Tonight,” he answered finally. “I will play it off as sending him to do some work on the race tracks. He will be far enough that you don’t have to see him every day but close enough that you can always go to him if you want to.”
“Why her?” I asked slowly and Enzo turned to me. “Out of every person on this planet, he chose her. I will never be okay with it. I will never see him again.”
“You will,” he said and I frowned. “You love him, whether you want to admit it or not and you want him to be happy. You want the best for him and if he thinks that is Carmen then you will support him.”
"You’re wrong.”
“Am I?”
“Why did you let him go? You could have made him stay.”
“To what end, Isabella? He is an adult, allow him to live his life. For the first time in a long time, we have peace and I would like to keep it that way. We are at peace with the other families and my father is not being a pain in the ass.”
I laughed. “What are you going to do about Antonio?”
“I might send him to Sicily to get him away from us. We can think about that later. For now, focus on us, on our family and on your best friend who is leaving for a while.” He kissed the side of my head. “He will be in his room packing.”