169: Epilogue Part 1

ISABELLA’S POV.

It had been almost eight months since I last saw Mac. It was hard at first, I was pissed at everyone and everything mainly because I didn’t actually expect him to go along with it. Some messed up part of me thought it was a joke and he was going to jump out and say ‘surprise’. I went to bed without even acknowledging it and when I woke up the next morning, he was gone.

I tried to pretend like it didn’t hurt or like I didn’t care but everyone knew better. I could almost feel his presence in the house and that hurt more than anything. With each passing day, my pain grew into anger and finally nonchalance. He couldn’t risk reaching out to us but from the updates he sent through the racers, I knew he was fine. He was happy with Carmen and I was supposed to be good with it.

I focused all my energy and time on my family. Leo started school with Roman and it had been good so far. He was the capo’s son, his biggest problem was trying to get people to stop flocking towards him. He could handle his own in a fight and I personally taught him to throw a knife- he was good. Hell, he was better than good and we all knew it but he still had a lot of learning to do especially on how to be fucking quiet.

“Leo!” I hissed under my breath but it was no use. A piercing scream rang through the air and I nearly pulled my hair out of my scalp. It had taken me an hour to get some peace and quiet and now it was ruined.

My now eight year old gave me a sheepish smile as he turned off his tablet. “Sorry, mum.”

I watched him carefully as he put his tablet on the bed and focused on his sister. No one loved our daughter quite like Leo did. When she was born, he hated for anyone but us to touch her. He would get furious if people got too close and he demanded to read her a story to sleep every night. It was only fair that she loved him more than the rest of us. Sometimes I was worried that he was doing too much and not being a kid but he hated being away from her.

He spoke to her softly as he rocked her in his arms and I listened to her cries slowly fade into sniffles. I heard footsteps behind me but I didn’t need to turn to know that they belonged to Lorenzo. There was no mistaking his presence especially not when he was standing directly behind me.

“I thought she was asleep.” He sounded confused.

“I was loud and I woke her,” Leo explained. “I’ll try and get her back to sleep, I promise.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” I watched Enzo reach out and take our daughter. He whispered something in Leo’s ears that had his eyes widening to the point of saucers. He rushed out without another word and I turned to Enzo with a raised brow.

“What did you tell him? She looks way too excited.”

“Walk with me,” he said suddenly. I noted the abrupt change in subject but I decided to let him drop.

I didn’t know why Enzo suggested we walk in the woods behind the house but I obliged. I couldn’t help but watch him with our daughter strapped to his chest. I always knew he was a good father but watching him with her had been something else entirely. I couldn’t help but feel for all the years when he wasn’t there with Leo and me. He was so hands-on with her. He worshipped the air she breathed and it was clear he would willingly die for her.

“Stop!” he announced and I froze. He turned to me with a small smile. “You will thank me for this later.”

Before I could ask what he meant, he handed our daughter over to me and walked away. I opened and closed my mouth shocked by what had just happened when I heard a twig snap behind my back. I inhaled sharply recognizing that cologne anywhere.

“You better not be there when I turn around or I will fucking kill you,” I warned trying to ignore the way my voice cracked.

Mac laughed. “Turn around, Isabella, if it makes you feel better, you can keep your eyes closed and let me see my goddaughter.

I slowly turned around and took Mac in. He looked good, happy even, he had grown out his hair and beard and he was more tan than usual. I fought to keep the tears at bay and a stray droplet leaked from my eyes.

“It is the post partum hormones,” I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince him or myself. “I would kill you but my daughter is too young to witness violence.”

He laughed. “I missed you. It killed me not to be there when you had the baby. I came to the hospital, I was ready to damn it all to hell and be there for you but Lorenzo said it wasn’t the best time. I sent you something.”

That something being a thousand dollar crib that she currently used. “I got it.”

“What’s her name, Isabella? Just give me something.”

I sniffled. “Liliana Marie- after Enzo’s mother, I wanted to name her after mine but...”

“You’ll find her.”

I shook my head. “I have put that to rest. It doesn’t matter where I came from, all that matters is who I am now. Now, do you want to sit and hold her or are you going to be a little bitch and run away with your tail between your legs?”

“Being a bitch sounds so much fun,” he drawled and I barely managed to hide my smile. “But unfortunately, I have to be a good godfather to her.”