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Oleg lets out a sigh. My father steps out of the car. Oleg’s family might try to retaliate by doing to our Don what we did to their boss. His coming along was a risk, which is why he was supposed to stay in the car. Still, it’s not like I can order him to get back inside.
“Desperation and a father’s love, isn’t that right, Oleg? You love Nina, and you don’t want to marry her off to just anyone. You’ve seen how poorly women get treated, how poorly you treated your wife. Our family is the exception, and you thought that by marrying into it, your daughter would evade the fate most women meet. Your pride got in the way because I offered you compromise. A way for you to give your daughter a spouse who would treat her well. Instead, you wanted it all,” my father says, his lips pulled into a tight sneer.
All eyes turn to Oleg, who sighs and nods. As much fun as this confession session is, my son is still being held too far away from me, so I close the trunk of the car again. Nina nods in understanding, and her guard’s hand comes off Matteo’s shoulder. As soon as those fingers unfurl from his skin, Matteo breaks out into a run to get to Emma. She crouches down and waits with open arms for him.
“Mommy!”
He cries into her neck and she cries back into his. Not wasting time, I direct them over to the other car that is waiting for the two of them. Once she’s inside, safe from any potential gunfire, I toss the car keys to the waiting guard.
“Leave the car, take the car, I don’t care.”
Andy and I join the others in the getaway car. We didn’t bother putting a car seat in the car, knowing that Matteo would not leave his mother’s arms. Another risk, but Andy is armed and ready to take out any car that gets too close to us. Luckily, the streets are mostly empty as we make our way home.
“Mommy, daddy, can I sleep in your bed tonight?” Matteo hiccups out. I’m not sure I’m going to be sleeping much, and I doubt Emma will either. But maybe with the both of us awake and by his side, we’ll be able to keep his nightmares away.
Chapter Forty-Six- Emma
Matteo hasn’t left my side in a week. He follows me around, keeping a hand on me at all times whether I’m eating, trying to get work done, or going to the bathroom. Even when he sleeps, I have thirty minutes to shower and get myself ready before bed before he stumbles out and starts looking for me. His guards know to bring him straight to me. After being kidnapped, the last thing he needs is to feel like he’s being kept away from me.
Truthfully, I haven’t wanted to let him out of my sight either. He may have only been away from me for a few hours, but not knowing what was happening to him has shaved a few hours off my life. Physically, he’s fine. After my initial perusal of him revealed no obvious injuries, we had a doctor look him over in the morning. Mentally, he’s been more than a little shaken. He has nightmares at night, even when he’s sandwiched between Enzo and me. During the day, he jumps at any sudden movement. We have new guards watching over us, ones Enzo introduced us to personally. He told me these men were the only men who would watch over us. If anyone else were to relieve them, or if anyone else was to tell us they have been assigned to us, I’m to contact him immediately.
Enzo also hasn’t gotten far in the past couple of days. No matter what room I’m in, or what I’m doing, he’s right there with us. I think it makes Matteo more comfortable to have him around as well. A few times, Enzo has had to leave to conduct business with his father. I don’t ask him what he’s doing, and I’ve noticed the room my father was being kept in is now vacant because I would rather not know. If my father had anything to do with the kidnapping attempt, had anything to do with the fact that Matteo had been put into danger like that, it would be the first unforgivable offense. I have given him chances and believe everything he has done has been in good nature, but this was too far. Enzo has given him more chances than I think he’s ever given anyone. My father’s fate is of his own making.
“Mommy?” Matteo says as he shovels his cereal into his mouth.
“Swallow before you speak, please.”
He diligently chews the food, swallowing it down, taking another bit, and doing the same before returning to me. “Nonna said that she wants to take me to the park today. Do you think that would be okay?”
I freeze. Eventually, I know I’m going to have to let him out of my sight. The security will return and he won’t want to spend all of his time following his mom around. Part of me wants to say no, say that it’s too soon. I also know that if Matteo feels ready to be away from me for a bit, I can’t inflict him with my anxiety.
“That should be okay. Just let me ask your dad.”
Enzo is going to want to send an entire army of men to watch over them. If Alice has already brought it up with Sal or Enzo, they are probably already out scoping the park and setting up a security detail.
“Don’t worry,” Enzo says. He comes up behind me and wraps an arm around my waist. When I bring a spoonful of my cereal up, he steals it before it gets to my mouth. “I’ve already taken care of everything.”
“Daddy! Swallow your food before you speak!”
I chuckle and lean back into his warmth, soaking up the feeling of comfort that spreads through me, knowing that he’s around. I nod my head. “Thank you.”
Matteo is practically vibrating in his seat. A consequence of not wanting to get far from me is that he hasn’t been able to burn off the endless amount of energy that kids seem to possess. He’ll quietly play with his toys, or he’ll chase around with me, but it’s different from when he had been in preschool or even when he allowed his seemingly endless crew of aunts and uncles to entertain him.
It’ll be good for him. I’ll just have to distract myself from the endless worries plaguing my mind when he isn’t around.
“How are you feeling? About my mom taking him?”
“Nervous. I trust your mom, it’s just hard to be away from him right now. He needs this, he needs to trust himself and know that I trust him.”
I look at Enzo and lean in to kiss him. He smiles into the kiss. Over the past couple of days, I’ve been growing more used to the easy affection that Enzo offers and been working on offering it back to him.
When his tongue enters my mouth, I know what I plan on doing while Alice takes Matteo to the park.
Alice comes into the room, already bundled for the late winter chill of March. She’s carrying layers of sweatshirts and jackets for Matteo, and a pair of snow boots that she must have bought for him because they don’t look familiar at all. Now that I think about it, neither does that winter coat.
“Did you or your father pay for the new wardrobe your mom is building for Matteo?” I whisper to him. Alice heard me anyway, if the glimmer in her eyes is anything to go by.
Enzo groans. “Do you know how doomed my bank account is if we ever have a daughter?”
