Lorenzo Beretta

by Abigail Davies

  Her little hands gripped on to the edge of the fountain as she looked down into it. “There’s money in here!” She stared up at me. “Is it a wish fountain?”

  “I…” I looked down, seeing the coins at the bottom of it. I’d never noticed it, not until she’d pointed it out. “I don’t know.” I frowned. “Maybe?”

  “I bet Uncle Lorenzo knows!” She grinned up at me. “Is he here? I can ask him, and maybe I can make a wish and it’ll come true.”

  My stomach rolled at the mention of Lorenzo’s name. I knew it was coming, especially with Vida staying here for the night, but I’d tried not to focus on it too much. Vida asking to sleep over had been a welcome distraction, the buffer I’d needed after a week of not knowing if I was coming or going. I didn’t realize how draining it was being mad at someone and how much effort it took to act blasé about things when it wasn’t in your nature. But it was what I had to do to survive this place. To survive him.

  I opened my mouth, about to give some kind of excuse as to why we couldn’t go and see if Lorenzo was here, but before I could say anything, Mrs. Larson opened the mansion doors, and Vida went running through them. “Is my uncle Lorenzo here?” she asked Mrs. Larson.

  “He is.” She crouched down in front of her, and the air left me in a whoosh. “You must be Miss Vida.” Mrs. Larson held her hand out for Vida. “I’m Mrs. Larson.”

  “Hi, Mrs. Larson.” Vida shook it, her manners outshining everyone else I knew. She was such an amazing little girl. I sometimes wondered where she got it from. “Can you take me to Uncle Lorenzo?”

  “I sure can.” Mrs. Larson stood, her gaze floating over to me momentarily. She offered me a small smile, one that told me she knew there had been tension in the house for the last couple of weeks. “This way, Miss Vida.” She led the way through the foyer, and Vida followed closely behind her, her head swiveling around, taking everything in.

  “Shall I put this in your room?” Mateo asked from next to me, holding Vida’s backpack in his hand.

  “Please.” I cleared my throat and pushed my shoulders back, preparing for Lorenzo’s reaction. He had no idea Vida was coming to stay. At least, I didn’t think he did. I rolled my eyes as I stepped into the foyer. Who was I kidding? Of course, he knew. He knew everything.

  I spotted Mrs. Larson standing outside Lorenzo’s office door with Vida beside her, my stomach flipping as she lifted her hand to knock. I couldn’t hear what was said from this far away, but when she turned the door handle, I sped up, unwilling to let Vida enter the room without me.

  “Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Beretta,” Mrs. Larson started, her tone tentative. “I have someone here to see you.”

  “Who is—”

  “Hi, Uncle Lorenzo!” Vida exclaimed, bounding into the room. I stood at the threshold, unwilling to enter the office, not after what I’d witnessed happening inside it.

  “Vida.” Lorenzo greeted from behind his desk, blinking at her as she came running toward him. His reflexes were lightning quick as she jumped at him. He caught her without a second thought and set her on his lap. “I love your dress.”

  “Thanks.” She flashed her toothy grin at him, and I couldn’t help but smile in response. “I wore it special for tonight.” She dipped her head to the side, her two braids moving with the motion. “Did you know I’m sleeping here?”

  Lorenzo smiled down at her, and I swore my heart skipped a beat at the action. I’d never seen him look at anyone like that before. I tried to block it from my brain, refusing to keep the memory, but it was near impossible. “I did know.” He glanced over at me, his dark eyes fixating on me. I wasn’t sure what was shining in them, but whatever it was had me backing away a step. “I have Mrs. Larson cooking pizza especially for you,” he told Vida, looking back down at her. “You like pizza, right?”

  “Yes! Pizza is my absolute favorite.” She rubbed her stomach and licked her lips. “And garlic bread. I looooove garlic bread.”

  “Me too,” Lorenzo said, leaning back on his seat. “Want to know what my favorite is?”

  Vida nodded her head so quickly that I winced. “Yeah!”

  “Auntie Aida’s pasta.” He rubbed his stomach in the same way Vida had. “It’s the most yummiest pasta ever.”

  “I don’t like pasta,” Vida said, screwing up her face. “Pizza is way better.”

  Lorenzo chuckled, the sound so carefree it took me by surprise. In fact, the entire conversation was taking me by surprise. Why was he being so nice to Vida? Was it an act? Or was it real? All I knew was that I needed to get as far away from him as possible because I could feel my anger waning.

  Anger I needed.

  Anger that fueled me.

  Anger that meant I made it through each day.

  “Come on, Vida,” I said, my voice small. It was only then that I realized there were other people in the office. Mrs. Larson had disappeared at some point and left me alone to face the room full of men. “Uncle Lorenzo is busy, and we have lots of plans.” I tried to make my voice sound excited, but it was hard when everyone’s attention was on me.

  “Awww.” Vida pushed out her bottom lip but perked up quickly. “Is the fountain a magic fountain like the gates?” she asked Lorenzo. “There’s money inside it.”

  Lorenzo’s gaze met mine, a question in his eyes. I nodded, trying to silently tell him to tell her that it was. He winked at me, and my stomach dipped like I was on a roller coaster. “It is.” He stood, placed Vida’s feet on the floor, then bent down so their faces were at the same level. “Take this.” He pulled a coin out of his pocket and held it out to her. “Make a wish.” She went to take it from him, but he pulled back at the last second. “You can’t tell anyone what you wished for, though.”

  “I promise.” She made a cross over her heart.

  “Okay.” He let her take it from his hold and leaned forward, whispering something to her, then pulled back. “Have fun.”

  She spun around and ran over to me, but I didn’t look at her. I was too preoccupied, staring at Lorenzo. He was showing a different side of himself. A side I hadn’t seen.

  “Come on, Auntie Aida.” Vida grabbed my hand, pulling me away. “Let’s go make our wishes.”

  “Our wishes?” I asked, letting her pull me back through the foyer and outside to the fountain.

  “Here.” She handed me a coin, grinning up at me. “Uncle Lorenzo gave me one for you too.”

  I turned back to face the mansion at her words, spotting Lorenzo standing in his office doorway, his dark eyes focused on us. He nodded, silently trying to tell me something, but I had no idea what it was. I could feel him breaking me down, and it didn’t matter how quickly I was replacing the bricks, building the walls around my heart, because he was tearing them down twice as fast.

  “Done!” Vida shouted, clapping her hands. “Now, you.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut, said my wish silently in my head, then dropped the coin into the fountain. The only time I’d made a wish was when I blew the candles out on my birthday cake, but there was something about this wish that had me hoping it would come true. Maybe it was magic, or maybe it was hope, but part of me believed in a higher purpose. Everything happened for a reason, right? I clung to that thought as I gripped Vida’s hand and led her back into the mansion.

  LORENZO

  “Confirm the meeting,” I told Christian as I stood. It had been hours since Vida had come into my office with her toothy grin flashed my way. I hadn’t known Vida was staying overnight, not until Mateo had called me from outside her family’s store. I’d told Mrs. Larson to come straight to my office when they arrived, but I hadn’t expected the whirlwind that was Vida to be with her.

  I was trying to take Sofia’s advice and show Aida who I really was. I didn’t want to admit that it was hard, but it was. How was I meant to show her a side of me that I wasn’t even sure was there anymore? How was I meant to do a one-eighty and get her to believe it was me?

  “For Thursday?” he asked, typing
away on his cell. I made a sound of agreement in the back of my throat as we walked to the door. The sound of laughter filled the air as soon as I opened it. Part of me wanted to stay hidden in my office. At least in here, I could be who I wanted to be. I could be the violent Mafia boss, the man who didn’t take any shit from anyone. But out there, I’d have to be the man Aida deserved. The man she should have been able to marry.

  I stood in my office doorway as Christian left, stopping to say bye to Aida and Vida as he went. But I couldn’t move. I was stuck to the spot, wondering if it would have been easier to let things be what they were. Part of me said to let her go. To set her up in her own apartment like I’d planned to do originally. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t. I couldn’t watch her live her life without me in it.

  Taking her to my room that day had changed everything. I hadn’t been prepared for it—hadn’t seen it coming—but now it was here, and I couldn’t back down.

  I needed her.

  In more ways than one.

  I pushed my shoulders back, giving myself a pep talk as I headed toward the living room—a room we never used. Vida ran around the sofa, her giggles taking over her entire body and slowing her down. But it was the way Aida chased after her, her hair whipping around her face and her lips spread into the biggest damn smile I’d ever seen, that had me wishing I was part of what they were doing.

  “Save me!” Vida shouted, her face turning toward me. She pointed toward me, and I didn’t think as I grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her in the air. Aida paused, hesitation flashing over her features. “You can’t catch me now!” Vida shouted, and at the sound of her voice, Aida sprung back into action, running toward us.

  I spun us around, boosting Vida onto my shoulders as I went, and made a dash for the stairs. “You can’t get away from me,” Aida cackled. I heard her footsteps behind us as I took the stairs two at a time, Vida’s little hands grasping on to my hair as her giggles rang in my ears.

  “Faster!” Vida shouted, and just as I got to the top of the stairs, I felt Aida’s body collide with the back of mine, her arms coming around me to grab Vida’s feet.

  “Gotcha.” Aida laughed, the sound so captivating, all I could do was stare at her.

  “No fair,” Vida whined. “You cheated.”

  “Did not.”

  “Did too,” Vida quipped back. Aida raised her brow at her, pursing her lips, and whatever that facial expression meant, it had Vida changing her tune. “I’m hungry.” Her stomach rumbled loudly in my ear, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Let’s see if Mrs. Larson has finished cooking dinner.” I didn’t acknowledge Aida as I spun us around and jogged down the stairs. As we got to the bottom, Mrs. Larson was walking down the hallway with several plates in her hands.

  “Did you want it in the living room?” Mrs. Larson asked, glancing at Aida, and then at me.

  “Yeah,” I answered, already making my way back in there. “We can watch TV as we eat.”

  “We?” Aida asked. “You’re eating with us?”

  “If that’s okay?” I asked, but it wasn’t really a question. I was going to spend the night with them both because I had a feeling I wouldn’t get the opportunity again. Maybe it was wrong that I was using Vida as a buffer, but at this stage, I was willing to do anything to get Aida to listen to me, even if it was only for a couple of minutes.

  So, I made myself comfortable on the sofa. Vida sat in the middle of us, and I bought a princess film for us all to watch. I made conversation with Vida and found myself fascinated with the way she thought. By the time she settled down after a belly full of pizza and garlic bread, I understood why Aida loved her so much.

  It wasn’t long until Vida’s soft snores filled the room. Her head was on Aida’s lap, and her feet were in mine. I wasn’t used to this type of thing, but the longer I sat there, my gaze focused on the movie playing, the more I knew I could get used to it. It was something that had never been in the cards for me—having kids—but now the possibility of it had me turning to look at Aida, wondering what kind of mother she would be.

  Her hand stroked Vida’s hair, her attention fully on her. I didn’t look away as her eyes started to close, her body tired from running around with Vida for most of the day.

  I slowly moved to the edge of the sofa, bringing Vida’s legs with me. Aida’s head snapped up, her gaze meeting mine. And for a brief second, all that stared back at me was a woman who wasn’t angry anymore. A woman who could have been everything I ever needed.

  “I’ll carry her up,” I whispered, trying not to wake Vida.

  “No.” Aida shook her head, blinking rapidly. “I’ll take her.” I didn’t listen to her as I hooked my arm under Vida’s back and behind her legs, bringing her with me as I stood. “Lorenzo,” she whisper-shouted.

  “What?” I walked out of the living room and up the stairs, hearing her footsteps padding behind me.

  “I said I’d take her.”

  I shrugged, not saying a word as I turned at the top of the stairs and walked toward Aida’s room. Vida stirred, her snores stopping for a second and then starting back up again. Aida growled, the sound causing a grin to spread across my lips. She was frustrated, but I had no doubt that wasn’t the only reason she’d growled. I’d caught her looking at me several times throughout the night, and although I hadn’t said anything, I knew I’d finally be able to talk to her without her walls erected between us.

  Turning at the last second, I met Aida’s gaze and pushed her door open with my back. She narrowed her eyes at me, her hands on her hips, and damn if she didn’t look cute. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t go down well.

  Aida rushed ahead of me, pulling her covers back just in time for me to place Vida down gently. She fussed over her, making sure she was settled, but I didn’t make a move to leave. I wasn’t done with her, not yet. I didn’t think I ever would be.

  “Aida,” I called, keeping my voice low so I wouldn’t wake Vida up. “Aida.” She didn’t answer me, acting like I hadn’t spoken. She’d done that time and time again over the last couple of weeks, but I was done taking her silent treatment. I was done with her ignoring me. “Aida,” I said a final time, stepping toward her.

  She let out a low breath. “What, Lorenzo?”

  “Look at me.” She shook her head, moving farther around the bed and away from me. But I wasn’t giving up this time. I’d let her have her space. I’d taken a step back so that she could have space, but I was done waiting.

  I grasped her arm, halting her as she tried to get to her bathroom. Her muscles tensed, her body frozen to the spot. “Don’t,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

  “Don’t what?” I asked, stepping closer to her, so close I could feel the heat coming off of her body.

  “I don’t have the energy.” Her eyes opened, and her body turned. “I’m too tired for this. Just let me go.”

  “No.” I pressed forward, our chests meeting, and her breaths stuttered, her body telling me that she wanted this—wanted me. And that was all I needed. She may have given up, but I had enough fight for the both of us. “I’m sorry,” I croaked out. I’d never apologized for anything, but for her, I’d say sorry a thousand times if it meant she’d look at me just one more time the way she had when she was spread out on my bed beneath me.

  She blinked, probably in disbelief. “You’re sorry?”

  “I’m sorry,” I repeated, this time firmly. “I’m sorry I put you here. I’m sorry for being an asshole.” I pulled in a deep breath, and placed my palm on the side of her neck, willing her to take what I was saying at face value. “I’m sorry for everything, baby.” I paused. “I’m sorry for everything but the day I had you in my arms. The day you let me kiss you. The day you looked at me like the world started and ended with me.”

  Her eyes welled up as she processed what I was saying. “I don’t know whether to believe you or not.” She shook her head, her body leaning toward m
e. She was at war in her own head, not sure which way to turn. I knew the feeling well because I’d battled with it too, but the thought of losing her altogether was too much to bear. I kept my gaze on her, trying to push my point home. “I think it’s too late,” she said softly, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye.

  “No,” I ground out, pressing my forehead to hers. “It’s never too late.” I heaved in a breath, my nerves on edge. I wasn’t sure what else to say to her, what else I could say. So, I blurted out, “One chance.” Her stare met mine. ”Give me one chance to make it all right. One chance at a real shot.”

  My breaths turned heavier as if I’d just run a marathon. “Take a leap of faith,” I begged her. “Take it with me.”

  Her silence was deafening, her face not giving anything away for such a long time that I was sure I’d lost her. I’d lost her before I even had the chance to find her.

  “Okay,” she said, the one word barely audible. “One shot.” She held her finger in the air. “That’s all you get.”

  I closed my eyes, a relief I’d never felt before washing over me. I wasn’t sure what was happening between us, but I needed to find out.

  “Stay with me tonight?” I asked, my stomach dipping with nerves. I’d never been nervous, but it was different with her.

  Aida glanced back over at Vida, who lay cocooned in the sheets. “I…” She bit down on her bottom lip, a move that had me nudging my face closer to hers. I pressed my thumb on her chin, pulling her lip from between her teeth. “Just sleeping,” I told her. “Nothing else.” I paused as she turned back to me. “Nothing else once I’ve done this.” I pressed my lips against hers, unable to hold back any longer. She tensed, her body unsure, but she soon softened, her hand reaching out to rest on my chest.

  It was soft, gentle, cautious, but I knew it was what she needed at that moment. She needed to know this wasn’t about sex. No. This was about me realizing she was becoming so much more than my wife in name alone. This was about me listening to my gut, just like I’d told her to do when I asked her to marry me.