Chapter 54
It had been seven months to the day since Tyler’s funeral, and not a day went by that I didn’t think about that kid.
I had never met anyone like Tyler. The boy had been one of a kind—a true fucking geezer— and he was missed by us all.
Supporting Bella that day was hard as I had to watch her heart break all over again.
The speech she’d given made everyone laugh.
I’d heard her practising it a thousand times but when she got up on that podium she delivered it like it was written in the moment.
My woman was stronger than anyone gave her credit for.
“I need to head to the flat,” I said as we lay together in bed. “There’s somethin’ I forgot.”
“Okay. Do you want me to come with you?” she asked sleepily.
“No. You rest, I won’t be long.” I placed my hand on her stomach.
“You too little one.” I hadn’t been all that bothered about children or marriage before, but when I met Bella everything changed.
Now, all I could think about was making her my wife and watching our many children grow.
That’s right, I wasn’t stopping at one… Fuck no!
We’d have a whole football team in matching Arsenal shirts.
“Call me if you need me, I’ll be back in a bit. ”
“It’s okay,” she yawned as she stretched. “I need to get up anyway, my mother wants to go shopping for baby things.” She threw back the covers, showing her growing stomach. “What are you looking at?” she blushed as she caught me staring.
“Just at how beautiful you are.” I swallowed as she wandered over to the walk-in.
“Yeah, right. I’m the size of a frigging beach ball,” she scoffed.
“Hey, insult my woman again and I’ll bend you over this bed and spank you,” I smirked, watching her as she shimmied into a pair of maternity jeans, her face glowing red.
“Don’t you have to be somewhere?” she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“I’m goin’, I’m goin’. I’ll be back well before you I’m sure.”
“I’m sure you will be,” she kissed my cheek.
”Uh, uh, princesa ” I backed her against the closet wall. “You can do better than that.”
With a grunt, I claimed her lips, making a soft moan escape her. The feel of her round belly against my abs made my chest swell.
“I love you, Bella.” I whispered against her mouth, my hands roaming over her bare skin.
“I love you too, il mio re.”
“I’ll be home soon,” I pulled out my card from my back pocket. “Knock yourself out. Get our little one whatever your heart desires.” I pecked her lips once more before heading toward the door.
“I don’t need your money, Arturo.” She called after me.
“Bye, princess.”
Smiling, I closed the safe in my old apartment and rubbed my thumb across the old velvet box.
Letting go of the breath I held, I lifted the lid.
My heart tripped as I stared down at the oval diamond ring with a white gold band.
It still shone as bright as it always had done, even after all these years.
Mum…
Aside from the photos and my memories, her engagement ring was the only thing I had left of her. It had never occurred to me to give it to anyone, but knowing how much my mum would have loved Bella made everything feel right. This ring belonged on her finger.
The moment I decided it was time, I had found myself knocking on Lorenzo’s office door.
“Lorenzo, can I have a word?”
“What’s up?” he flicked his hand toward the seat opposite him.
“I know I said months ago I’d do it without, but it would mean the world to Bella if I asked, so here I am.”
He sighed. “You want to marry my daughter, don’t you?” he said, leaning forward.
“Yeah, I do.” I patted my thighs. “I want to take her away to Artem’s cabin for a weekend.”
“You know, when I first found out about you two I truly hated the thought of you together.” I rolled my eyes and toyed with my lip ring.
“When she lost Peyton we lost a piece of her. And then when Tyler died I was so scared we’d never get her back.
But she’s here, stronger and happier than ever.
You did that, Arturo. You brought my daughter back to life. ”
“No, it’s her that’s brought me back to life. She’s everythin’ I’ve ever needed, ever wanted. And I’m sorry I betrayed your trust, but I love her and I won’t apologise for that.” My eyes hardened as I waited for his answer.
“You don’t need to,” he sighed. “Bella told me everything that happened. The texts and how you kept your distance when the threats first started. The wedding. The bike… and what really happened. But despite it all you were there for her. And I’m not happy you kept all that shit a secret.
Honestly, I should beat you senseless for it…
again. But I know how much you love my daughter.
So, yes, you have my full blessing to ask her to marry you.
” He smiled. “I’ll arrange the cabin with Artem. Whatever you need.”
“Thank you.”
“I noticed you finally stopped that awful habit while in my office.” He jibbed, the question hidden in his tone.
“Yeah, it’s been a crutch for so long… Now that there’s Bella and a baby on the way… figured it was time, you know?”
“You’re a good man Arturo.” He held out his hand to me and I shook it tightly.
Lorenzo was good on his word. He and Bella’s grandfather agreed not to tell anyone to keep it a surprise, on the provision that I’d allow them to plan a party for the day after we got back.
It was an easy thing to agree to. Knowing my love, she’d want to celebrate as a family as soon as we returned.
I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when I presented her my mum’s ring.
Other than my dad’s bike, this had been the one thing he had dared to spend a shit load of money on.
He had never understood why she wouldn’t wear it, but I had.
It had been the nicest thing my mum had ever owned and the way she worked it would have been trashed in a mere few months.
Seemed pointless to her to keep taking it on and off and risking it being stolen.
Smiling to myself, I threw a couple of things in a bag as my phone vibrated on the bed.
I opened the message to see that Ana had sent me a picture of Bella enjoying a smoothie of some sort and a giant cupcake.
The smile on her face was priceless. And in just over a week I would be asking her to marry me.
Thanks Ana. My girl looks happy.
And I have a certain man to thank for that.
My finger hovered above my phone when there was a knock at the door. Weird, no one but Bella knows I was here . Zipping up my bag, I pocketed my phone and clutched the box in my hand. But whoever was at the door was incredibly fucking impatient, as they knocked again… this time harder.
“Alright, I’m fuckin’ comin’.” I snapped, reaching for the door.
The moment I yanked the door open, the ring box slipped from my fingers and bounced off the ground.
“Arturo?”
My body went numb as the frail woman before me gave me a wobbly smile.
I stiffened as a lump grew in my throat.
She was older, and her eyes were sunken and washed out, making it look like she hadn’t slept properly in weeks—years even—but other than that she was the same.
When she reached out to me I froze, clutching the door frame as I tried to steady myself.
“This some sort of sick fuckin’ joke?” I hissed, stepping back.
“It’s no joke, mi hijo … I’m here.” Her mahogany eyes watered as they traced my face.
“Mama?” I managed.
“ Sí , Arturo,” she whispered. “ Te he extranado. ”
“I don’t understand, I?—”
“I don’t understand either.” She closed the distance between us, holding her arms open to me. “Please…”
Confused and dazed, I wrapped my arms around her, breathing in her familiar scent. This felt different from before. Gone was her warmth and words of comfort, and in their place a hollow shadow of her former self.
“How’d you know where to find me?” I asked.
“I called Ben, he told me you were here.” My shoulders relaxed. Ben was the son of my mum’s best friend. Growing up we’d been like cousins. He’d been the only one who knew where I was going after she died. The only person from my past I had trusted.
“Come in, I, uh… need to make a call.” She nodded then followed me inside.
I cracked my knuckles. What was I supposed to do?
Pump her for answers? Embrace her? Tell her how much I had missed her?
No, mother or not, she had some explaining to do so as usual I kept my guard up.
“Sorry, I ain’t got much in, I don’t live here any more. ”
“It’s okay. You go make your call. I’ll wait here.” I turned my back and stalked over to the balcony, pulling out my phone and dialling Lorenzo’s number. He answered after one ring.
“Arturo, everything okay?” The shock was clear in his voice.
“Sorry, I didn't want to ruin Bella’s day with her mum,” I sighed.
“What is it?” He asked, going straight into business mode. “You sound off.”
“I hate to ask, but, is there a spare room at the house?” I asked. What else was I supposed to do? I couldn’t leave her here alone, could I? Besides, I needed someone to keep an eye on her while I did a little digging.
“We have a few. Why, who’s it f?—?”
“My mum.” A sharp intake of breath told me I’d surprised him again. Fuck, it sounded insane to my own ears.
“Arturo, son… your mom is dead?—”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought an’ all but she’s here with me right now.” I gazed from the balcony to the lounge, watching her wander around, taking in the sparseness of my flat.
“Bring her here, and then we’ll talk.” He sounded so calm, it was what I needed right now. My first instinct had been to call Bella, but she needed some time with her mum, and I needed to get my head straight before I told her what was going on.
“Thank you.” I hung up the phone and headed back inside. When I reached the lounge, my mum was sitting on the sofa, twiddling the abandoned ring box in her hands.
“So, you are engaged. What is she like?” she asked, her voice flat.
“She’s everythin’,” I smiled. “You’ll meet her soon as we’re goin’ there now.” She handed the box to me, her eyes vacant. “Shit, I guess I should ask,” I murmured, feeling awkward and uncomfortable. “You okay if I give her the ring dad gave you?”
“It’s okay. My memory is a little… hazy.
I don’t remember your papa giving me anything other than a wedding band.
So, please, I’d be honoured if you gave it to her.
” I frowned at the apathetic tone to her voice.
I needed to get to the bottom of all of this, but I trusted the guys to help me figure it out.
“Okay, uhm, where are your bags?” I peered around.
“I don’t have anything but this.” She held up her handbag, which was the size of a fucking lunch box. It couldn’t hold much more than a passport and a phone.
“Let’s go then.”
Her eyes widened as we stood outside the Ricci home. It wasn’t too dissimilar to the reaction I’d had when I first saw it.
“You live here?” I helped her up the steps to the door, where Lorenzo stood waiting.
“Yeah.” I glanced up at Lorenzo whose eyes were strained with concern and suspicion. The bloke never worried about me, and now he was full on panicking. It was downright laughable.
“Mrs Ramos, it’s a pleasure to meet you. You are welcome in our home.” Lorenzo politely nodded his head, flashing my mum a smile that didn’t touch his eyes.
“Thank you. You are too kind.”
I led her into the meeting room. It was quiet in there, private too. She lowered herself down in the chair opposite me as Lorenzo sat beside me. Her eyes darted around at the surroundings, looking completely out of place.
“How are you not dead?” I blurted, not being able to hold it back any longer.
“Arturo,” Lorenzo warned, pulling me back, “maybe we should start slow, yes?” I blew out a breath and shuffled in my seat.
“Where have you been, Mum?” I asked, gentler this time.
“With Frank.” The words hit me like a fucking sledgehammer.
Frank? Frank fuckin’ Hamilton.
“That ain’t possible. I watched you die. Fuck, I held you in my arms as you took your last breath—” Lorenzo placed his hand on my shoulder to settle me.
“I don’t know, mi hijo . It was Frank, he planned everything. He wanted to… hurt you. I think that’s why he faked my death. And every day since, he’s kept me trapped in his house,” she sobbed, tears splashing on the glass tabletop.
I jumped to my feet, hurrying to her side. I wrapped my arms around her, letting her tears soak my t-shirt.
“ Shh, Mama. Está bien. Estás aquí conmigo ahora. ” I soothed.
“I am s-sorry. I should have escaped him s-sooner.”
“How did you get out?” I asked, rubbing her back.
“The housekeeper. I think she hated him more than I did. She helped me escape one day, distracted him so I could slip out the back door. I was meant to be asleep in my room so he didn’t think to search for me for quite some time.”
Bile slithered up my throat. I knew what would happen to that woman now. Frank’s brutality was unmatched, and when someone went behind his back they would suffer for it, regardless as to their reasons. No forgiveness, no second chances .
“How about I show you to your room and you can get some rest, then once you’re up to it we can talk about this more, hmm?” Lorenzo asked, not moving from his seat.
“Thank you. I would like that,” she nodded, rising from her chair.
“ Mi hijo , I’ll see you and your fiancée later.
” She patted my cheek like she used to when I was a boy and the memory hit me hard.
Lorenzo ignored the fiancée comment and held the door open for my mum.
The moment the door shut, I let out the breath I’d been holding since we left the flat.
My mum was alive… She was here.
I knew I should feel overjoyed… So why didn’t I?