Chapter 38
“You’re not leaving here until you tell me everything, Emma.”
“Telling you won’t change the fact that you abandoned me while I was pregnant, Mattia.”
“It doesn’t matter. I just want to know the truth.”
And then she starts talking, telling me everything—from the beginning of the relationship to when it all began: the physical and psychological abuse, the constant fights, the times he’d drink and force himself on her even when she said no, the day he physically assaulted her.
I listen in silence, rage building inside me.
I want to get out of here and kill that bastard for everything he did to her, and even more for separating her from me while she was pregnant.
“And why didn’t you think to tell me all this before?”
“I didn’t want to drag you into my problems.”
“From the moment you became part of my life, you should have talked to me about this, don’t you think?”
“No, Mattia. There are already too many people involved. I don’t need one more.”
“And where is this bastard? Does he know about our son?”
“Yes, he knows. He disappeared during my entire pregnancy, but he saw me once leaving the house with Matteo. Since then, Carter picks me up and takes me home from work every day.”
“What about the police? Why didn’t you go to them? Didn’t you file a report?”
“I had a reputation to protect. I was just starting out in my profession. I couldn’t get involved in a scandal.”
“But now you have a son, Emma. What do you plan to do?”
“I know. You don’t need to pressure me, okay? So far he hasn’t done anything—that’s why I haven’t gone to the police.”
“Let me handle this. I won’t let my son be exposed to this unnecessary risk.”
“I don’t want you to get involved. I already told you.”
“Matteo is my son too, Emma, and I won’t let him be at risk with a lunatic on the loose.”
Matteo has finished nursing and is playing with the diaper in his hand.
I ask her to let me hold him. She just nods, giving me permission.
I walk over to her and reach out for him.
He immediately raises his little arms and smiles at me.
I’m enchanted, and my eyes well up, but I hold back the tears, blinking several times.
“Hi, my son. You look so much like Daddy when he was a baby.”
“He really does look a lot like you.”
“Emma, forgive me for leaving without hearing your explanation.”
“I told you nothing would change, Mattia. You’re my baby’s father, and that’s it.”
Those words hurt. I made a mistake with her, and I’ll have to fight hard for her forgiveness, but that would have to wait. First, I needed to deal with the bastard who was after her, and prison would be too good for him.
“Can you please take us home?”
“Stay a little longer. I’d like to spend time with Matteo.”
“We need to go. If you can’t take me, I’ll call a taxi—it’s not a problem,” she says, already getting up and taking my son from my arms.
“Wait, I’ll take you.” As soon as I stop in front of the address she gives me, I ask, “When can I see him again?”
“I’ll let you know. I’m working a lot these days, and I want to finish as quickly as possible.”
“I’ll wait for your call.”
I start the car and drive away, and finally, I realize the biggest mistake I’ve made in my entire life. Emma won’t forgive me easily. I’ll need to fight hard for her forgiveness, for my son. And for the first time, I stop being an arrogant idiot and admit that I was wrong.
On the way back home, I call Owen. I need his services. I won’t let Emma and my son face any more risks. I’ll protect them, even if it costs me my life. I promise I’ll take care of them, even if it’s from a distance.
“Oh, so after all these days, you finally remembered your friend here. Tell me what you want.” He answers with that attitude I hate.
“I need a favor from you, as a professional.”
“I can’t kill anyone, but I can put them behind bars. Want to come here, or should I come to you?”
“I’m already out. I’ll come to you.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I arrive at his house minutes later, pass by all the security guards, and reach his front door, which opens as soon as I stop my car. He comes out to greet me.
“Let’s go to my office. Want something to drink?”
“I’d like a whiskey, but I’m driving, so better not.”
“Tell me why you came. How can I help you—not as a friend, but as a judge.”
I tell him everything, absolutely everything Emma told me, down to the last detail. He jots down notes as I talk, and when I finish, he asks:
“Do you know him? Have you ever seen him?”
“Once, when I went to New York to open my restaurant—back when Emma and I first got together.”
“Carter knows him. I need to get information from him. With a history like this, the guy’s got to have a record, right?”
“Emma only told me what happened to her. She was really shaken up, and I didn’t want to push for more.”
“Then we’ll have to go after this bastard. I’d be more than happy to help you. We need to figure out how to catch him.”
“I just don’t want the two of them in any more danger.”
“I won’t let that happen—at least not while they’re here.”
“I’ve already assigned two plainclothes security guards to follow her wherever she goes.”
“Good, but do you think he’d actually come all the way here?”
“He came before, so he might come again. I’d rather be safe than sorry. And now it’s not just Emma—there’s my son to think about too.”
“So you really are a father now. I told you back then—you were wrong not to let her explain.”
“I was wrong. I already know that. Stop throwing it in my face.”
“And you know you’re going to have to lose that foul temper if you want her to forgive you, right?”
“Look who’s talking. But I’ll do whatever it takes to get her to forgive me.”
“You’re going to have to work hard—she’s not going to make it easy.”
“I know, and that’s what bothers me. I’ve never had to chase after a woman before.”
“But you love her, and there’s no point denying it. You went to Brazil thinking you’d forget her, and it didn’t work. So do everything right from now on.”
My friend’s words stay with me. I really did go to Brazil to get away and forget her, but did I?
I say goodbye to my friend, who promised to help me—because if I acted on my own, I’d kill that dannazione.
When I get home, my thoughts turn to my son.
Holding him in my arms was the best feeling I’ve ever had.
I never want to let him go, but for that, I need Emma’s forgiveness.
And I’m going to get it. I’ll fight for it, and I will succeed.