109. Leo the troublemaker
Dante sighed, rubbing his temples as he watched Isla pace back and forth, worry etched on her face. Leo had finally fallen asleep after much effort, but the anxiety in the room was still thick. Amara sat beside her mother, her tiny hands clutching Isla's arm. "Mommy, will Leo be okay?" she asked softly.
Isla knelt down, hugging her daughter. "Of course, sweetheart. He's just a little sick, but Daddy and I will take care of him."
Dante walked over, placing a reassuring hand on Isla's shoulder. "He's strong, just like his mom. He'll be fine."
Dante sat in his office, pretending to focus on the never-ending reports in front of him. But his mind wasn't on business deals or numbers-it was on Isla and the kids. He had barely gotten any sleep last night, thanks to Leo's stomach pain. Though the doctor had reassured them that it was just a mild digestive issue, Dante had stayed up, watching his son breathe, ensuring everything was okay.
His phone buzzed, and he immediately reached for it. Isla.
Isla: Leo's feeling better. He even demanded pancakes this morning.
Dante exhaled a breath of relief, his tense shoulders loosening.
Dante: Thank God. And Amara?
Isla: She was pouting because she wanted to help feed Leo, but your son refused. Apparently, he can eat on his own now.
Dante chuckled, shaking his head. His kids were growing too fast.
A knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts. Vincent strolled in, looking amused. "You look terrible."
Dante shot him a glare. "Thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear."
Vincent smirked. "Did the little prince keep you up all night?"
Dante sighed, rubbing his face. "Yeah. But he's better now."
"Good. Because you're needed at home."
Dante stiffened. "What do you mean?"
Vincent handed him his phone. A message from Isla.
Isla: I don't know what's gotten into Leo today, but he's suddenly too hyper. I can't handle him and Amara alone. Get back here before I lose my mind!
Dante grabbed his coat. "I'm going home."
Vincent laughed. "Smart decision."
---
At Home
When Dante stepped into the house, the first thing he heard was chaos.
"Leo, no!" Isla's panicked voice rang through the living room.
Dante rushed in to find Isla standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at Leo, who had somehow managed to get his chubby little hands on a bottle of chocolate syrup. The evidence was all over his face, his tiny fingers, and the white couch.
"Oh, for the love of-" Dante groaned, running a hand through his hair.
Leo blinked up at him, his big brown eyes sparkling with mischief. Then, as if realizing he was caught, he giggled and lifted his arms. "Dada!"
Dante sighed, scooping him up. "You're lucky you're cute, kid."
Leo responded by smacking Dante's cheek with his sticky hands.
"Dante," Isla whined, pointing at the couch. "Look at that! Do you know how hard it is to clean chocolate out of fabric?!"
Amara, standing beside Isla, whispered, "Mama said bad words in her head."
Dante snorted while Isla shot Amara a look. "Traitor."
Amara grinned. "But Mama, Leo's like a baby bear! He loves making messes!"
Dante turned to his son. "Is that true, buddy? Are you a little bear?"
Leo gave a proud, toothy grin. "Rawr!"
Dante burst out laughing, unable to stay mad. Isla, however, was not as amused.
"You're both terrible," she muttered, throwing her hands in the air. "I give up."
Dante, still holding Leo, walked over to her. "Okay, okay. I'll clean it up."
Isla narrowed her eyes. "Promise?"
Dante leaned in, brushing his lips against her ear. "I swear on your favorite chocolate cake."
Isla shivered at the sensation and shot him a glare. "You're playing dirty."
Dante smirked. "You love it."
"Ugh, you two are so gross," Amara whined, covering her eyes.
Dante chuckled, setting Leo down. "Come on, troublemaker. Time for a bath."
Leo squealed, running away on his tiny legs.
Amara gasped. "I'll get him!" She bolted after her baby brother.
Isla sighed, leaning against the counter. "How do you never get tired?"
Dante pulled her into his arms. "Because I have you."
She rolled her eyes but snuggled into his chest. "You're lucky I love you."
He kissed her forehead. "I know."
---
Later That Night
After an exhausting day of chasing kids, cleaning messes, and dealing with Amara's sudden obsession with teaching Leo how to "fly" (which resulted in him nearly launching off the couch), Dante and Isla finally had a moment alone.
Dante leaned against the headboard, pulling Isla onto his lap. "You did good today."
Isla sighed, tracing patterns on his chest. "I feel like I survived a war."
He chuckled. "Parenthood is a battlefield, sweetheart."
She looked up at him. "How do we have so much energy for them, but I feel like we have none left for us?"
Dante smirked, rolling them over so she was beneath him. "Oh, I always have energy for you."
Isla blushed. "Dante."
He kissed her, slow and deep, making her melt against him. "Say my name like that again."
She bit her lip. "You're impossible."
"And you love it."
"Unfortunately."
Dante chuckled, brushing his lips over her neck. "I wouldn't change a thing."
Isla sighed happily. "Me neither."
As their laughter and whispered words filled the room, they both knew-no matter how chaotic life got, they'd always find their way back to each other.