Chapter 16: THE PRESENT

LORENZO’S P.O.V. The first thing I woke up to was a message from Doc saying that the DNA results were ready. I had dreaded the answers since the day we did the test. I didn’t want to admit it but the truth was that I didn’t know what I would do if it turned out that he was not mine. I had gotten used to his presence in my room at night and I found that I couldn’t fall asleep unless I knew he was safely in my bed. The young boy had crawled his way into my space and I found that I didn’t really mind it much. I planned to ignore the message and it seemed like fate was on my side because Leo got sick. I didn’t know about it until one of the maids rushed into my office and interrupted a discussion between Matteo and me to tell me that he was running a fever and asking for me. I was shocked that she was able to walk into my office, most of them tried to avoid me but for some reason, whenever it came to Leo, they were willing to throw everything out of the window and so was I because I left everything that I was doing to check on him. He was still in my bed bundled up under my sheets. He looked a little pale and there was a light sheen of sweat on his forehead. A maid sat beside him and dabbed his forehead with a cool washcloth. As soon as he saw me, his eyes widened and a small smile grew on his face. I slowly made my way over to the side of the bed and sat next to him. He reached out and grabbed my arm. My first instinct was to pull away because he had grabbed directly over the scars on my wrists but I forced myself to remain calm and breathe through my nose so as not to scare him. I saw some of the tension leave his shoulders as he held onto me tightly. “What’s wrong?” I asked and he shrugged. “Did you eat something? What happened to you?” “I just don’t feel so good,” he mumbled and I placed my hand on his forehead only to pull it back once I realized how hot it was. “Call Doc,” I told Matteo over my shoulder. “Doc isn’t a pediatrician. I doubt he would know what to do about a sick seven-year-old.” I whirled on him with hard eyes. “Did I stutter when I spoke? Go and fucking call Doc, now.” Matteo was taken aback for a second then he nodded and left the room. I turned back to Leo who was sporting a wobbly grin on his face. “What are you smiling about?” “You said a bad word,” he whispered before giggling as if he had let me in on a little secret. “Mummy says it too and she said you were the one who taught her.” “Did she now?” I raised a brow in amusement. “Your mother uses that word more than anyone I know.” He laughed loudly and I felt my insides churn in an unfamiliar way at that sound. Despite how tired he looked, he still looked up at me in awe and something else that I didn’t recognize but had me feeling like a boy again. “Do you need anything?” I asked and he shook his head. “Are you sure? You can tell me if there is, and I will get it for you.” “Can you tell me a story?” I didn’t know what I was expecting but that was not it. I blinked twice and opened my mouth to speak but no words would come out. In my entire life, I had never been asked that question. The last time something similar to that happened, it was me asking my mother and I was about five years old. “You don’t have to,” he whispered. “Mummy does it for me whenever I’m sick. I miss her.” “I do too,” the words slipped out of me effortlessly. His eyes widened and I knew he was going to ask about it so I quickly interrupted. “Let me tell you a story about how I got my first scar when I fell off a tree.” I told him about how Matteo and I got into trouble and his eyes followed me intently as I spoke. He laughed the entire time and I could see the maid next to him smiling softly as well. I didn’t care about her presence because I knew she wouldn’t say anything. No one would believe her if she did anyway. While I was talking, I heard the door open and Doc walked in. I instantly went quiet and ordered the maid out. Leo frowned slightly and I knew it was because I hadn’t been able to complete the story. “Matteo said you called for me,” Doc said as he made his way closer. “I don’t think there is anything I can do. I don’t specialize in children but I can check him over if you want me to.” “I would appreciate that.” I tried to step back but Leo wouldn’t release my hand. I sat there while Doc asked him a few questions. He answered to the best of his ability and I could tell that he was tired and wanted to go to sleep because his eyes drooped every second. It took five minutes for Doc to finish up with him and by the time he did, he gestured for me to step outside with him. “I will be right back,” I assured Leo. “Do you promise?” he asked and I nodded. “Pinky swear.” He held out his finger to me and I eyed it before stretching out my own. It was easily over four times the size of his and it completely dwarfed his own but I did the ridiculous gesture. The smile on his face was worth it though. I walked out of the room with Doc and we stopped right outside the door. “What’s wrong with him?” “Nothing as far as I can see. I think it is a twenty-four-hour virus. He should be fine before tomorrow,” Doc explained and I felt relief run through me. “Did you get my message this morning?” “I did,” I deliberately kept my voice devoid of all emotion. “If you don’t want to know what is on it then I can take it away and burn it right now,” he hesitated before taking an envelope out of his bag. “However, if you want it then, you can have it.”