Chapter 200

Chapter 200
SIX MONTHS LATER

ANGELO

I walked Adore to her classroom and watched her skip inside before turning back down the hall. For six months I'd been living with Don Luca's family while my mother stayed in the hospital.

It has been a difficult moment for me but Adore made it easier somehow. We all attended the same school but I always make sure to see her to her class each time the driver drops us off before heading to my class.

"Angelo!" Her voice called out and I turned to see her running back down the hall. "You forgot this!"

She held out a folded piece of paper and I took it, my brow furrowed in confusion.

"What is it?"

"Open it later, it's a surprise" she said, blushing. "

Then she was gone again, disappearing into her classroom before I could ask more questions. I slipped the paper into my pocket and headed to my own class.

At lunch, I sat alone under the big tree in the courtyard and pulled out the paper. It was a drawing, done in crayon with careful strokes. Me and Adore, holding hands, both smiling. Above us she'd written in wobbly letters: 'My big bro, Angelo.'

My chest squeezed hard and my breath hitched, I stared at the picture for a long time, tracing the lines with my finger.

I folded the paper carefully and put it in my front pocket where it wouldn't get crushed.

"What you got there?" A voice asked and I looked up to see pascal one of the eighth graders who thought he owned the school.

"Nothing," I said quickly.

"Looked like a baby drawing, you've got a girlfriend in kindergarten? He smirked.

His friends laughed and I felt heat crawl up my neck.

"Leave it alone," I said.

"Make me." Pascal stepped closer.

I stood up slowly and looked him in the eye. He was bigger than me and older, but I knew I could take him on.

"Walk away before you regret this."

I glared at him and he hesitated, I could see the fear that had slowly crept into his eyes before he laughed it off.

"Whatever, freak," he muttered and walked away with his friends.

I sat back down and noticed that my hands were shaking. Not from fear, but from how badly I'd wanted to make him hurt.

That afternoon, Emilio picked me up from school in his truck.

"How was your day, kid?" he asked as I climbed in.

"Fine."

"Just fine?"

I shrugged and stared out the window. Emilio was quiet for a while and then said, "Want to stop by the lake? We could fish for a bit before heading back."

I glanced at him. "Don't you have work?"

"Work can wait. You can't." He replied and warmth spread through my chest and I nodded. We drove to the lake and Emilio pulled two fishing rods from the back of his truck. The water was calm and the sun felt good on my face and for a while we just stood there casting lines and not talking.

"Your mom called today," Emilio said eventually.

My whole body went tense. "What did she say?"

"She asked about you. Wanted to know if you were doing okay."

"And?"

"I told her you were doing great. Going to school, helping around the house, making friends and happy."

I reeled in my line and cast it again, harder this time.

"She remembers me today then."

Emilio's jaw tightened. "Angelo…”

"It's fine. I'm used to it, she's sick, it's not her fault" I said quietly.

My line jerked and I started reeling in fast, focusing on the pull of the fish instead of the ache in my chest.

"That's it! Keep tension on the line, don't let it go slack." Emilio said, moving beside me.

The fish broke the surface and Emilio helped me bring it in, a decent-sized bass that fought hard.

"Nice catch, kid." He clapped my shoulder and grinned.

I held the fish and felt proud for the first time in weeks.

"Can we keep it?"

"Sure. We'll take it back and cook it for dinner.

We fished until the sun started setting and then packed up. In the truck, Emilio looked over at me.

"You know I'm here, right? Whenever you need to talk or just get away for a bit."

"I know."

"I mean it, Angelo. You're not alone in this."

I looked at him and felt my throat get tight.

"Thanks, temporary dad," I said quietly.

Emilio blinked and swallowed with difficulty, he reached over to ruffle my hair.

When we got back to the estate, Don Luca was in the gym doing physical therapy. He was on the parallel bars, walking between them with crutches, his face tight with concentration. I stood in the doorway and watched him take slow, careful steps. Six months ago he couldn't feel his legs at all. Now he was walking.

"Angelo." He noticed me and stopped. "Come here."

I walked over and he gestured to the weight bench.

"Spot me while I do a few reps?"

"Yes, sir."

He lowered himself onto the bench and I stood behind him as he started lifting. His arms shook with effort but he kept going.

I looked at him and felt something complicated twist in my gut. Respect. He wasn't my father and never would be. But he treated me with kindness I didn't expect, taught me things I needed to know, and never made me feel less than his own kids.

"Thank you, sir," I said quietly.

He studied my face for a moment and then nodded.

"Go wash up for dinner. Kiera made your favorite tonight."

Later, at dinner, I sat between Adonis and Adore. Adore kept stealing glances at me and finally leaned over.

"Did you like my drawing?" she whispered.

I pulled the folded paper from my pocket and showed her I still had it.

"I'm keeping it," I whispered back.

Her whole face lit up and she turned back to her food, grinning so wide I couldn't help smiling too.

That night, I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. Six months in this house without my parents and I still felt torn. Part of me wanted my mother back, wanted our old life even though it was broken. But part of me felt safe here in a way I hadn't felt since my father died.

Emilio checked on me every day. Don Luca taught me things and treated me with respect. Kiera cooked my favorite meals and never made me feel unwelcome. And the twins, especially Adore, made me feel needed.

I pulled out the drawing and unfolded it carefully. In the dark, I could barely make out the shapes, but I didn't need to see it to know what it said. My Big Bro, Angelo.

I smoothed it flat and put it on my nightstand where I could see it first thing in the morning. Then I closed my eyes and for the first time in months, I slept through the night without nightmares.