CHAPTER 24 JARED #4
His usual relaxed tone eases some of the tension inside me.
My gaze shyly drifts toward Mauro, who immediately rises from his chair as I approach the table and pulls mine out for me like a perfect gentleman.
I appreciate little gestures like that. They feel like his subtle way of claiming me in front of them.
His eyes find me, so warm that I almost melt where I stand.
I sit down, flush spreading across my cheeks.
The second I settle into my chair, I realize the room has gone completely quiet. Everyone is watching me expectantly… well, everyone except Veyron, who's fully occupied with devouring his ravazzata.
And I know exactly what they're waiting for.
In truth, I think it's what they've wanted from me ever since I first stepped into this house. I can feel it in the atmosphere around them.
Renato is the one who finally says it.
"We've already painted a room for Tommy. We hope he'll be joining us soon."
I don't think it's physically possible to blush any harder than I do. I know exactly why he said that. Everyone already knows what happened last night. Somehow, that's just how things work in this house.
Well.
There's really no point trying to hide it. I haven't actually talked to Mauro about this yet, but I can feel that he wants the same thing I do. The way he's looking at me, with such intensity and anticipation, makes it seem as though everything depends on what I'm about to say.
"Thank you. I'll call Alex today and ask him to bring Tommy here."
Silvio actually claps his hands in delight, Emilio and Tony join him, even Gianni smiles. And Mauro grins wide.
Their reaction catches me pleasantly off guard, though at the same time it feels strangely surreal.
Seriously… ever since the very first day I crossed the threshold of this house, these people have behaved as though I was always meant to move in.
I just know they've been waiting for me, preparing themselves for the day I'd come here with my son, and the only question is… why?
Is it some kind of clairvoyance, or is something else behind it? My eyes drift toward Veyron, and I realize I have to talk to him.
His mission here is done, but I have a few additional questions I'd like to ask him in private.
As everyone eats, Silvio starts asking me about the things Tommy likes to do, while Tony wants to know what his favorite foods are. I answer every question with my cheeks still warm, feeling deeply grateful for their kindness.
Emilio promises he'll make sure the kiddie pool is cleaned and filled with warm water.
The way they're so eager to welcome my son touches me deeply.
After spending so many years without a family, being accepted into their circle together with my baby sends a pleasant surge of pink bubbles through my chest.
At one point, while one of my hands is resting on my thigh beneath the table, I feel Mauro’s gaze on me. Then his hand slips down, wraps around mine, and gives it a gentle squeeze.
My heart immediately speeds up. The gesture is somewhat shy, yet full of support. It means so much to me because it carries the excitement over how things are progressing.
Our eyes meet, and I reward him with a small smile.
As breakfast comes to an end, Veyron rises from his chair.
"Jared, could I have a word with you?" he asks as if he read my mind. "If Mauro doesn't mind, of course," he adds, his tone carrying a faint edge.
Mauro looks far more relaxed than he did before. I nod, get to my feet, and follow Veyron outside.
We step onto the patio.
Veyron turns to me. His eyes move carefully over my face, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
"So… I take it my stay here has come to an end. You've decided to stay with Mauro, haven't you?"
I nod. "Yes. I know it probably looks strange from the outside, but I just have this deep conviction that it's the right decision. I've never felt anything like this before. I definitely didn't feel it when I met Mark," I add bitterly.
"I'm very glad to hear that. Intuition is a powerful thing.
Still, during our last conversation you expressed quite a few…
" He hesitates for a moment before finishing, "…
concerns about these people and the way they behave.
Am I right in assuming those concerns have now been resolved?
Bringing your child here is a major life decision. "
"Yes. These people are definitely unusual, but I've learned a few things that shed some light on what's happening here, although, admittedly, not everything. I think at least some of the people living in this house are magical ABOs."
Veyron raises an eyebrow.
"Oh… so it is, after all," he says in a strangely knowing tone.
"Umm… what do you mean, 'so it is after all'?"
"From the very beginning, when you told me what happened in the forest, I knew it was Mauro."
"Well… in my defense, the fae seemed bigger, and the scent didn’t fit. It threw me off."
"One day, I asked Gianni about shower gel for alphas, and he said Mauro always kept several sets. He gave me a few to choose from, and I noticed they were different brands but had similar scents. I figured Mauro might use a different one in the cabin shower, which could explain your confusion."
I bite my lip.
"Well, good detective work."
"Also, the size. I saw Renato change once, and he seemed bigger, wider. So… magic."
"I saw it too! And it threw me off even more. I had this crazy, scary thought that I’d had sex with Renato." I chuckle awkwardly.
Veyron wears a peculiar expression, as if he's debating whether he should even bring it up, but then he lets out a quiet sigh.
"You know, during the last two days while you were in heat recovery, I did a little more digging around the area."
I practically jump.
"Why would you do that?"
"Occupational habit," he says casually. "I wanted to find out whether there was a cabin somewhere in the forest that had been officially registered with the local authorities.
There wasn't anything like that, no record of a house being built, but I spent a few days around here talking to different people.
I even chatted with some of Renato's employees, and little by little I found out that not too long ago, maybe three months back, they had worked on a project in the nearby woods, on land owned by Renato.
One of the workers mentioned a year-round forest cabin. "
"Renato's employees? You questioned them?"
Veyron rolls his eyes.
"'Questioned' is a bit dramatic. We were just making small talk. I was stuck here for a few days, so I had to keep myself busy. At one point, I casually asked whether a guy named Mauro had been supervising the project, and one of them confirmed it. 'Yeah, the mute guy.'"
I just stare at him, not sure what to say.
"I also," Veyron clears his throat, "allowed myself to be a bit…
proactive or… rather, creative and put a tiny tracking bug under his Jeep, and that confirmed everything.
Mauro has visited that cabin several times.
I've marked its location on a map, and I even sent one of my mini drones over there.
You can take a look at the aerial photos and tell me whether it's the same cabin. "
Still blinking in disbelief that Veyron had been running an investigation on his own, I look at the bird's-eye photo he's showing me.
By this point, I’ve already figured out that the cabin most likely belongs to Mauro, so I just glance at the photo and sigh. "Yeah… that's the same cabin."
Veyron grins, obviously pleased with his detective work.
"I’m just curious here. Mauro built himself a secret cabin not very far from his uncle’s house. I haven’t started the second part of my investigation yet, the part where I figure out exactly why he’d do that instead of simply living with Renato."
I swallow, feeling a wave of resistance.
"No… I don't want you digging into that.
Some people just value their independence, so it doesn't necessarily mean anything strange. Mauro and I are only just getting to know each other, and I trust he’ll tell me all of his secrets himself when he's ready.
Yes, he owes me honesty… but I'm willing to give him a bit more time. "
"There's one more thing I happened to learn."
I bite my lip nervously and shift my weight from one foot to the other.
I don't feel comfortable having this conversation because I've already decided to be with Mauro, and now it almost feels as though Veyron has been investigating his family behind their backs…
on my behalf. Yes, I want to learn all their secrets, but I'd much rather do it openly, with their knowledge.
"At one point, while I was talking to one of the workers, I mentioned the name Mauro Santoro.
The guy raised his eyebrows and said, 'Santoro?
I don't think that's his last name. There are very few Santoros left, and none of them have an heir carrying that name.
' I was just about to press him for more, but some other workers showed up, and I didn't want to push the subject.
Apparently, whoever Mauro really is… his last name isn't Santoro. "
I let out a quiet huff.
"Wait a second. But Mauro never introduced himself to me that way, and Renato never called him Santoro either.
So I don't know why you assumed that was his last name.
I got the impression he's the son of Renato's omega brother, who left this town years ago after getting married, so he could easily have a different last name. "
My voice comes out a little higher than usual because I feel obligated to defend Mauro. And since he indeed never introduced himself as Santoro, no one can accuse him of lying.
Veyron tilts his head slightly, hesitating before he speaks.
"You see, my former boss has very good connections in the police department, and he also has access to vehicle registration records. Mauro's Jeep is registered under the name Mauro Silvano Santoro. So… he actually uses this surname."
I blink, and for a moment neither of us says a word.