Chapter 17—Maria

Luc was standing outside the apartment when we got there.

Not outside in the street, but actually inside the building waiting outside the apartment door.

“Don’t you dare tell me to leave. I’m not going anywhere,” were his first words.

I just looked at him and pressed my lips together to hold in the tears. I wasn’t going to tell him to leave.

While my mind was on Flynn, I felt very different to the way I’d felt the other day.

“Well, I guess that’s my job done,” Marcus stated, but then he eyed Luc with caution. “Lucian, I don’t have to tell you not to upset her any more than she already is.”

“I’m not here to upset her,” Luc replied.

“Okay, well call me if I’m needed,” Marcus said.

“Thanks for coming with me.” I told him.

“Try not to worry, I’m sure you’ll have your boy back before nightfall.”

I really hoped so.

I prayed so. I was so worried I could barely breathe. It was the first time I’d been without Flynn and not have any control over where he was.

I nodded. “Thank you.”

With one glance at Luc then me, he left. Marcus had always been nice to me. Treated me like I was actually … well, like I was Luc’s girl.

He showed that fatherly respect. He did it again on the way over. If I’d had a father, I’d want him to be just like him.

When I turned back to face Luc, he was already looking at me.

“The door was open, so I checked the place out,” he said.

“I left it open by accident.” I guess I did run out and leave it open.

He pushed the door and it swung through. He waved his hand signaling for me to go inside.

I did and he followed.

As we stepped inside I was instantly embarrassed by the place.

I’d spent hours cleaning earlier and there were the mice again running around with fresh shit in the corner.

The sofa bed looked like it came from the dumps and the curtain that had been up at the window had fallen down.

At least the place smelled of the disinfectant. Maybe a little too strongly.

I sat on the sofa bed and he sat on the little wooden chair opposite me.

“Claudius called me and told me what happened. I thought I’d come see you.” he began.

“How did you find out where I lived?” I knew these guys could do anything. It was just strange, because I hadn’t even been here properly yet.

He raised his brows and smiled. “Really? You know we have our ways.”

“Thanks for coming. It’s nice you came for me, and not because you thought Flynn was yours.”

He chuckled. “I changed a lot Maria. I changed a lot from the person you knew me to be.”

“So, I’ve heard. It’s strange to imagine you any other way than who you were. But I guess when you meet the right person, you’ll do what it takes to make them happy.”

I’d heard all about Amelia from years back when everything changed. I didn’t know much at the time because it was all under wraps with Raphael secrets in having a daughter. I had just heard Luc had a new toy, one he was completely into and that was how I found out we’d broken up.

“I’m sorry. I know it means nothing now, because a lot of years have passed by and everything is different, but it doesn’t stop me from telling you I’m sorry for being the asshole I was to you. You didn’t deserve that, I was just a guy who didn’t take anything serious and I didn’t treat you right.”

I lifted my shoulders into a shrug. “Apology accepted.”

“Thank you. So … with that done, you think you could tell me what’s going on with you? I know you and you wouldn’t just pop up anywhere without some kind of plan. This place Maria, the only good thing about it is that Vira’s not here, but you can’t stay here either.”

It was time to talk, but not to him. “I have to talk to Dante. I have to tell him first before anyone else.”

He held my gaze and nodded understanding. “You in trouble Maria?”

I looked at him and thought I could at least answer that question. That question that had been asked so many times. Today was one full week since I’d been here. One full week and so much had happened.

One full week since Franco was actually released from prison.

“Yes,” I whispered.

He sat forward and rested his elbows on his knees.

“We’ll protect you.”

I shook my head. “No, you mustn’t. You have a family. You have a family now.”

“I do. I know I do. There was a time when I told you I’d always be there for you. I meant it.” He nodded with conviction. “That’s why I’m here now and I’m going to stay with you until Dante gets back.”

A tear ran down my cheek and I wiped it away.

“Thank you, it means a lot.” It did. It told me I wasn’t as alone as I’d thought.

He was true to his words.

An hour later, the door pushed open and tears of joy rolled down my cheek when Dante came in carrying Flynn who was fast asleep in his arms. Claudius was with him.

I ran over to them.

“Thank you so much.” I was so choked up I could barely get the words out.

“Maria for the love of Christ, have as little as possible to do with that family of yours.” Claudius cautioned.

“I will.” I didn’t need to be told twice. I wasn’t going back to Vira’s ever again and as for Sophia that was it for me and her. I didn’t care what she had to say. There was no excuse. I could have lost Flynn.

I came here talking big like I could take care of myself. If I’d maintained that stubborn shit my boy wouldn’t be here now.

Luc came over and looked from Dante to me. “You good?”

“I’m cool,” Dante replied.

Luc glanced at me and offered a kind smile then left with Claudius, leaving us.

I instantly broke down and Dante pulled me into his arms.

“Jesus woman. I really wish I’d kidnapped the two of you last night.” He kissed the top of my forehead.

“I’m so sorry, I can’t believe what happened and I can’t believe you got him back.”

“Baby, this I don’t need anybody attitude has to stop. If we’d been anybody else, we wouldn’t have gotten him back. Sophia and her boyfriend were picked up in the park doing class A drugs. They weren’t even watching Flynn.”

I covered my mouth to keep from crying harder. It terrified me to think of what might have gone on when I wasn’t around.

Dante walked over to the sofa bed and set Flynn down. Curled up he looked so much younger reminding me of when he was born. He still had that baby look and sometimes I couldn’t believe how big he’d gotten, four years old. I was a mother to a four year old.

Dante shrugged out of his jacket and sat down on the wooden chair and pulled me to sit in his lap.

“I have to tell you a few things.” I thought I should just jump into it.

“I think there’s more than a few things we have to talk about.”

“There is, but this is the biggest thing.”

He slipped his arm around me and I rested my hands on his chest.

“I’m all ears Maria.”

“I got married to a monster. Flynn’s father was a monster.” That seemed like the best way to start.

I planned to just give him the rundown of what was going on. As in the recent stuff that sent us here, but I ended up telling him everything in details—all of it. Everything that happened to me with Franco, even stuff I suspected from his ties with the drug cartel.

All of it. Including that I thought I was being followed the other night and if that was true it would mean I’d have to leave Chicago again.

I talked until my eyes felt heavy and he set me down to sleep next to Flynn.

Being so drained wiped me right out. When I woke up it was morning and Dante and Flynn were talking about Ninja Warriors. He was eating cornflakes.

I straightened up to see all my bags packed. Everything I had unpacked from Vira’s yesterday were now back in the cases I’d travelled with.

Dante smiled when he saw I was awake and Flynn rushed over to me.

“Mama, Uncle Dante said he has the Cartoon Network. I can watch anything I want at his house.” Flynn was so excited he jumped up and down as he talked.

I hugged him. This was the first I’d seen him awake since he got back.

I looked over at Dante and smiled. “Uncle Dante?”

“Has a nice ring to it.” He stood up, shirtless showing off that masterpiece body of his. “Makes me sound important or something.”

“You are,” I said, holding his gaze.

“Well, that’s good you think so. As my first official act as uncle I’m taking my kid with me. I’ve decided on the kidnapping route with you, if you don’t come willingly.”

“I’ll be coming.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.” It felt like the first right decision I’d made.

Other than being with him of course.

I may have fled for my life and to protect Flynn, but coming back here I’d found him. Everything had been so awful, but he’d always been here. He was my something good.