Chapter 52
The following morning, I tapped on the office door, already knowing what was awaiting for me on the other side.
“Come in.” He called.
I pushed open the door, his face falling the second he saw me.
“Where’s Isabella?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.
“Asleep, I think everythin’ since yesterday has caught up with her.”
I settled into the chair opposite, his eyes narrowing as I did.
“Lorenzo, I?—”
“You’re what? Sorry?” I could see he was holding back, something he wasn’t used to.
“No.” I scoffed, pain radiating through me as I shifted in my seat. “Why would I apologise? Last time I checked fallin’ in love ain’t a crime.”
“When you took this job, I made it clear that you weren’t to touch my daughter.”
“Things change.” I replied, relaxing back in the chair, not giving a shit what Lorenzo said or did next.
“Why her? Why my daughter?”
“Cause she’s everythin’. Everythin’ I’m not and for the first time I can breathe. She makes me want to live.” Visions of Bella smiling at me made my chest warm and my face crack up with a smile of my own.
“You really fucked things up for me.” He leaned forward, his forearms resting on his desk. “How’s she supposed to focus on the business with a newborn to contend with?”
“With me bein’ a hands on father, exactly like mine was.
I won’t stand in Bella’s way, I’ll stand beside her and help her in any way she needs or wants.
” My eyes flickered to an old photo of Luca, Bella, and Andre as kids stood outside what looked like Disney World.
My lips quirked up as I spotted braces in her mouth.
“Just ‘cause Luca couldn’t manage to take over with a child, doesn't mean Bella can’t.”
“How can you be so sure?” he asked, his eyes narrowing.
“‘Cause it’s Bella.” He nodded at this. Quirking my eyebrows up, grateful this shitty conversation was over and lurched to my feet, heading for the door.
“Lorenzo, your daughter means the fuckin’ world to me.
I’d burn it down for her if I had to. You should know I plan on marryin’ that girl with or without your blessin’.
” His eyes hardened. “But… it’d be a hell of a lot easier with it. ”
“You’d marry her without my approval?”
“Yeah, I would.” I turned to face him, his face a picture of defeat. “Try and stop me if ya like, but I promise you, it won’t change a fuckin’ thing.” Done, I pulled the door open.
“Arturo, wait…” Licking my stiff and busted lip, I turned back and lifted an eyebrow in question. “One question… You could have gotten out of those cable ties at any time.”
“That ain’t a question.” I pointed out. He gave me a faint smirk.
“Why didn’t you?”
I blew out a breath and shrugged. “‘Cause you needed it. You were harbourin’ so much hate for me and I figured it’d be the easiest way to get it out of your system.”
“Okay, just… do me one favour?” I nodded. “Don’t hurt my daughter, Arturo.” he warned.
“You ain’t gotta worry. I’d die before I hurt her.” I heard him let out a deep breath before answering me.
“Then you have my blessing to be together. But mark my words, I ever find out that you’ve hurt her I’ll end your fucking life, got it?”
“I swear, if I ever hurt Bella, I give you my permission to kill me.” With a chuckle I turned and threw out one last jibe. “Just let me know when I can start callin’ you dad, yeah?” I chuckled through a wince.
“Don’t push your luck, boy.” he grunted.
Well, fuck me. Whatever Ana said obviously worked.
I relaxed beside Isabella, trailing my fingertips along her naked back, her body pressed against mine. This woman loved me. She actually fucking loved me, and now we were going to be a family.
Family…
My mind wandered to the day her belly would be round and full and I’d be able to feel the baby kicking.
The thought of her carrying my child was overwhelming, now she really was mine.
Sliding down a little, I winced. Everything ached but it had been a small price to pay.
The fact that Bella had been crying though made me want to beat my hands against my chest. She had tried to keep it from me but she couldn’t hide anything from me… Not anymore.
“H-Henry…” she panicked through sleep.
Henry?!
Her breathing quickened and her fingers fisted the sheets as she thrashed beside me.
“No!”
“ Princesa , wake up,” I said, shaking her out of her nightmare. Her eyes blinked open with a start.
“Arturo…” she whimpered. Her hair glued to her head.
“What is it, my love?”
“I remember who it was…” Something cold and dark slithered up my chest, filling my chest with quiet fury.
“You mean, the people who took you?” My eyebrows furrowed. She nodded and my pulse kicked into gear.
“It was Henry,” she whispered. My fists shook as I stared into her indigo eyes, filled with shame and regret. The fury in my chest grew, making me stand.
“How do you k?—?”
“Because he was there,” she released a short sob, covering her mouth with both hands. “And when I tried to escape, h-he… he started the fire.”
I paced over to the window and gripped the frame before releasing an animalistic roar.
“ Ese hijo de puta. Voy a matarlo. Se atrevió a tocar a mi chica. Nadie toca lo que es mío y vive para contarlo. ”
“Arturo,” she hauled herself out of bed and wrapped her arms around my waist. “I can’t understand a word you’re saying?—”
“Motherfuckin’ cunt.” I pulled away from the window. “I fuckin’ knew that twat was no good. By the time I’m finished with him, the bastard will be beggin’ me to fuckin’ kill him. Nobody touches my woman and gets to keep their spine.” I seethed then kissed Bella’s head.
“Where are you going?” she breathed, a determined look replacing her fear.
“Out, you are goin’ to stay here.” I gritted out, replacing my sweats with jeans.
“No. He killed my best friend, Arturo.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she stomped over to grip my t-shirt. “I need to see him bleed.”
“That ain’t happeni?—”
“No!” she hissed, pointing her finger at my face. “I need this, Arturo… Don’t take this away from me.” I squeezed my eyes shut before looking back at her, indecision rife in my chest. “ Promise me. ”
“Alright,” I sighed. “I promise.” Her body sagged in relief.
Gripping her shoulders, I pulled her toward me and kissed her forehead before resting my own against it.
“But I need to find the slippery fucker first. You’re exhausted, my love.
Stay here and get some sleep. Right now, I need to have a word with your father. ”
“ Volveré, hermosa. Te amo mucho. "Eres toda mi maldita vida. ” I whispered, kissing her lips softly. “ Ustedes dos son mi razón de vivir. ”
“Hurry back.” she smiled.
Much to my surprise, when I strode into the kitchen all the guys were standing round the island, including Red.
“Lorenzo, a word.” He stopped mid sentence, his eyebrows jumping in surprise.
“Woah! Wanna fill me in on what happened to your face, kid?” Red asked, his eyes flicking between me and Bella’s father.
“Ask happy fists over here,” I indicated with my chin before striding to Lorenzo’s office. A curse behind me told me he was following me.
“It’s late, Arturo, what do you w?—?”
“It was Henry,” I said as Lorenzo closed the door.
“What was?” he replied, striding over to the drinks cabinet and grabbing a bottle of Macallan single cask.
“He orchestrated the whole thing. Bella being taken from the woods, the fire… All of it.”
“How can you be so sure?” I turned to find Red sliding his way through the now open door, with Gino and Emmet at his back. I folded my arms as they all perched on various chairs.
“Bella,” I murmured. “Woke up shouting his name. Turns out, the little shit was there at the house.” I would always hate my woman saying another man’s name but this was a fortunate turn of events.
Now I could kill the person responsible for Red’s son’s death.
“Thinking of arranging a little surprise tonight, once I find him of course.” Done talking, I shrugged on my leather jacket and headed for the door.
“And then what?” Lorenzo asked.
“And then I kick his fuckin’ soul till he chokes on his own fuckin’ spleen.” The look of pride was back on Lorenzo’s face. “No one fucks with my woman or my friends and gets away with it.”
“And I know just the place for that snivelling little cunt.” Red perked up, his face darkening.
“Shit,” I grimaced, “you’d better bring Bella with you when I call.”
“Arturo—” Lorenzo started, his tone lethal.
“Don’t.” I replied. “She made me promise.”
“It’s not fucking happening!”
“Lorenzo,” I lifted my hand before dropping it back down and sighing. “She deserves to get some closure. So either bring her or I’ll come back and get her myself. Your choice.” I glanced at Red whose lips ticked up.
He may be Lorenzo Ricci, but I’m Arturo fuckin’ Ramos.
And if my woman needs something to heal, then that’s what she’ll get.
Finding the little ballbag took less time than I’d thought.
One quick call to Jay got me the name of a guy on his payroll.
After ten minutes of me and him going back and forth out the back of some restaurant in the Lower East Side, I was one address richer.
Turned out that Henry had been busy making himself some side hustle by choking local businesses that weren’t in his father’s territory.
The owner of the restaurant was only too happy to lend me his office for the night, with the arsehole gagged and strapped to a chair.
Couldn’t have him calling Henry and ruining the surprise, could I?
A little after 3am, I sat in the darkness of Henry’s bedroom.
It reeked of desperation. The sad tosser had fucking satin sheets—the slippery kind— a video camera set up in the corner, and a shit tonne of bondage tools hidden in a cupboard beside his bed.
Leaning my elbows on my knees, I trailed my knife back and forth along his sheets, bored out my skull.
Oh, look you’re ruinin’ his pretty bedding.
Ain’t like he’s going to need it where he’s goin’.
Nice to have you back, killer.