Chapter 62
The morning air was rough against my skin as I exited the car, sighing as I stared out across the docks.
I didn’t want to be here, I wanted to be with Bella and Valencia, but the reality was I had to face my mother.
I had to find out why she did what she did.
Knowing the Riccis had been keeping her at the docks didn’t cause me to feel a thing.
The shell that had once housed my mum now contained the fucking devil. The person she had been was gone.
“You good, son?” Lorenzo asked, as I leaned against the Jeep.
Son… been a while since anyone’s called me that and meant it.
“Yeah,” I smiled, shoving my arms into my leather jacket. “Bella and Valencia are thrivin’. Doctors are pleased with ‘em both.”
“I know Valencia will be closer to your bed for a while, but her part of the room is all fixed and ready for her.”
“You didn’t need to do that, I would have sorted it.” I sighed, more thankful for this family than I’d ever let on.
“Dude, you’re exhausted and at the hospital twenty-four-seven. When would you have found the time?” Luca questioned, appearing beside me.
“We didn’t want you and Bella coming home and having to see any trace of what happened. It is as good as new.” Artem nodded.
I hadn’t noticed until now but every fucker was here, Lorenzo, Luca, Andre, Artem, Red, Gino, Emmet, Nicolo, Danil, Jace and even Josh and Jay.
“What you all doin’ ere?” I asked, watching their faces turn to me.
“We’re here for you, kid. This shit is hard for anyone to go through and nobody should have to go through it alone.” Red slapped his palm on my back. “You’re family.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” I turned to Lorenzo and Luca, “will you two come in with me?”
“Whatever you need.” Lorenzo nodded, making his way toward the door.
I stepped inside the outhouse, seeing my mother before me chained to a beam, her toes just about reaching the splintered wooden floor.
“Oh look, he returns,” she hissed the second her head rose. “How’s that bastard baby of yours, hmm? Dead?” she laughed menacingly.
“Fuck you.” I strode over to her, gripping her face between my hands. “You have no right to ask how my baby is.”
“What happens now, huh, son? You going to kill your own mother… again?” I loosened my grip, stumbling back.
“What?” My eyes widened.
“Oh don’t pull that with me. You were never any good at lying to me, Arturo Ramos. Don’t start now. You wanted me dead that day… Admit it!” she spat.
“What the fuck are you sayin’? I never wanted you dead.” Where was this coming from?! What the fuck had that tosser told her?
“And the lies continue. You were the one who ordered the hit,” she panted, thrashing her arms against the chains. “I told you to leave the Hamiltons but you didn’t want that, did you? You wanted me out of the way!”
“Can you fuckin’ hear yourself? Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds?” I stared at her, shaking my head.
“You paid someone to kill me, but you failed. They took me in, told me the truth and showed me what you truly are. A murderer, a cold blooded killer. You’re nothing but a monster.
” I felt Lorenzo shift behind me, but a swift wave of my hand caused him to pause.
“They couldn’t go through with what you paid them to do so they did everything to make it look as though I was dead.
Thank god I don’t remember much of my life before them. ”
“Whatever he or they told you is a lie, and the fact you believe the fuckin’ Hamiltons over your own son is vile.” Feelings of anger and betrayal made my arms shake. “They’ve brainwashed you, turned you against me for their own gain.”
“Don’t you dare disrespect them like that! They are my family , and you…? You are nothing.” Her words cut deeper than I cared to admit. “You make me sick.”
There was no point pushing her for more. She wasn’t my mum. My mum was gone, and it was time I closed the door on it all.
“Arturo, what do you want us to do with her?” Lorenzo asked. I squeezed my eyes shut and gripped the back of my neck.
“Find somewhere for her. I can’t risk Isabella and Valencia’s safety again.”
“I know of a place. They’ll do what they can for her.” Lorenzo replied, sorrow filling his voice.
“Thanks, can you two handle that? I need to get back to Bella and my daughter.”
“You get back to my sister. We’ll deal with your mom. I’ll call you when there’s something to know.” Luca nodded, holding the door open for me, the sea air hitting my nostrils.
“No need, I don’t need to know anything from here on out.” I sighed, shutting myself off to any emotion I felt. I loved the woman she was once, but the woman I adored was long gone and there was nothing I could do to bring her back to me.
“I hate you, Arturo! You were the biggest regret of my life, a fucking mistake.” My mother spat and screamed from behind, thrashing against the chains.
I closed my eyes and let the words roll off me.
I had to remind myself she was loyal to the Hamilton’s now and cutting her out of my life was what I had to do.
“Goodbye, Maria,” I whispered and stalked out into the sun.
When I entered Bella’s private room, I found her sitting up in bed with a green tea, Ana perched beside her making her laugh.
“You’re back!” she beamed the moment she saw me. “You good?”
“I’ll head out and give you two some privacy. Do you mind if I go and sit with Valencia?” Ana asked with a hopeful look on her face.
“You never need to ask, Ana.” I answered as she clapped her hands together with excitement before hurrying out of the door I held open for her.
“Y’know, when it comes to her grandchildren I’ve never seen her move so fast.” I laughed as Bella winced while trying to join in.
“Don’t be rippin’ them stitches, you hear?
I want you home soon.” I kissed her forehead as I sat down.
“What happened?” she asked, taking her hand in mine.
“She’s gone,” I sighed. “They brainwashed her, hermosa . They did everything possible to turn her against me, and they succeeded. They planned it out so fuckin’ perfectly. Made it look as though she was dyin’ in my arms, made everythin’ so fuckin’ real.” I muttered, closing my eyes.
“What do we do now?” she questioned.
“I asked your dad if he could put her somewhere she might find some psychological help. He and Luca are takin’ her to a rehabilitation centre as we speak.
Who knows if they can even reverse the shit they told her.
Fuck, she’s lost her whole life. Everythin’ before them, it’s all gone, Bella. ” I breathed.
“Whatever happens, I am here and I support you one hundred percent.” I truly didn’t deserve Bella, her strength shocked me.
“Even if that means you want her in your life. I can’t say it won’t be hard to look at her or be around her after what she did, but if it’s what you want I’ll try…
for you.” She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“She can remain in whatever rehabilitation centre they find for her, she’ll remain there until she takes her last breath, your pa will make sure of that. I don’t need a relationship with her, Bella, I just couldn’t bring myself to kill her.” I sighed, unable to meet Bella’s gaze.
“I completely understand that, but what I don’t understand is why the Hamiltons are hell bent on destroying you.”
“Because I killed Arthur Hamilton.” I breathed, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“Who?”
“Frank’s father… I killed him. I killed the only man other than my dad that showed me any kind of love or kindness.”
“Why would you do that?” she asked, scooting nearer to me as confusion filled her eyes.
“I, uhm.” I coughed as the words got stuck in my throat.
“I wanted out… Frank knew that and told me that the only way he would allow it was for me to do him a favour.” I met her gaze, concern shone through her deep blue eyes.
“Frank was a mate of mine at school. He was a rich kid. I got in on a scholarship, I was smart and all that. My mum and dad were so proud.” I scoffed.
“I think the only reason Frank got close to me was because his dad took a shine to me. Anyway, Frank was always… impatient , hungry for power. He wanted to take over so fuckin’ badly and he didn’t care how he got it.
I’d been workin’ for them for a couple of years before my mum found out.
And when she did she went mental. I’d only done it to help my dad.
Needed the money to keep our house while he lay in hospital, dying.
But my mum didn’t care about the house, just me.
Scared about what would happen to me, what I was becoming.
She begged me to get out and… truth is, all I ever wanted was to make her happy.
So, uh… Frank agreed to let me leave if I carried out one last kill. ”
“Arthur…” she whispered.
“Yeah. I took the life of a man who was pretty much a second father to me,” I breathed, my tongue pushing to the back of my teeth.
“Turned out, Frank was a lying little shit. Shoulda seen it comin’.
The second he took over, he knew he wouldn’t find another like me.
Hounded me endlessly to come back. First it was money, then threats.
And when I continued to refuse, he killed my mum… Well, made it look as though he did.”
“Arturo—”
“I’m a bad fuckin’ man, Bella. I lived with that decision every day, thinkin’ I was the reason my mum died. Feel like a prize fuckin’ dick now, don’t I? She wasn’t even dead.”
Isabella cradled my head against her chest and ran her fingers through my hair. My eyes fell closed at the soothing sensation. “You weren’t to know what was going to happen. Don’t let the guilt eat you alive anymore. It’s not worth it. He’s not worth it.”
“He used my own mother against me. Used her to get close to you and our baby, and I nearly lost you both. What if he tries again?”
“Then we end that fucker’s life like we’ve done the others.
” This woman never failed to surprise me.
How was she so strong? “Frank is the fucked up one, not you. You were just a kid, Arturo. You did what was asked of you to leave that life behind. It was him that couldn’t let go.
” She moved over in the bed. “Come here. Lay down next to me.”
“I don’t fuckin’ think so. You need the bed more than me, and I don’t want to hurt?—.”
“Just lay down, Ramos,” she demanded, her sweet, innocent smile fading.
“Alright, Ramos.” I teased, laying down beside her.
“Not yet I’m not.”
“Soon enough though.” I beamed, kissing her temple.
“Mhm,” she replied, trailing her fingertips soothingly down my face. After a stressful week I finally allowed my eyes to drift closed and fall into a deep sleep beside the woman I loved.