Chapter 7: THE PRESENT

LORENZO’S P.O.V. I had the most uncomfortable night because of the seven-year-old who slept spread eagle on my bed. I took the couch but I could barely get myself to sleep. There was so much on my mind. I didn’t even realize it was morning until I heard him stir on the bed. He didn’t say anything about me being on the couch, just thanked me for allowing him to stay and left for his room. I liked the fact that he had a sense of independence. If Isabella had sent me a toddler, I would have lost my fucking mind and nothing would be able to stop me from finding her to punish her for that. I freshened up and met Matteo already waiting in my office. I waited for his daily briefing but this time, he said nothing. He was lost in thought and I had to clear my throat to get his attention. “Dante has handled the Russians as well as he can. Our shipment is still in the air but he swears he will get it back,” I barely listened to him drone on. I was waiting for the end. He spoke for five minutes before I decided I was too impatient and cut him off. “What did you find on the boy?” I asked and he sighed. “Nothing,” it looked like it pained him to admit it. “If Isabella is behind this, then she went through a whole lot to hide him. I found his birth certificate but nothing more. Your name isn’t even on it. It is hers while the space for father is blank.” “Why would she do that and then send the boy to me? What if I left him out on the side of the road?” “She planned for that too.” I turned to him suddenly intrigued and he walked over to my side of the table and pulled up the CCTV footage around the house. I didn’t know what he was showing me but I waited patiently. He took it back to yesterday and I watched myself speaking to Leonardo. I was so focused on him that I missed the movements in the bushes ahead. Watching from a bird’s eye view, I could see a man watching us intently. His eyes were fixated on Leo. “Can you get a clearer image?” I asked. From this position, we couldn’t see his face properly. “I can try but I make no promises.” He stood up straight but made no move to leave. I pretended not to notice that he had something to say hoping he would get the hint to leave. “Are you serious about taking this boy in?” he had switched to Spanish. I shrugged instead of responding. “Your father does not like this. I don’t like this, Lorenzo.” “It is a good thing that I am not asking for your opinion or his,” I shot back and he fell silent. “Find out whatever you can on that man. I need to know why this boy is on my doorstep and while you’re at it, tell Dante that he has the next forty-eight hours to provide our shipments or I will ensure that his head stands on one of the spikes of the house.” Matteo muttered something under his breath but rushed to do as I had asked. I was thankful for the silence although it didn’t last for as long as I hoped it would. I left my office to get a cup of coffee. I was so used to my house being empty that I didn’t count on Leonardo or my father being in my office. I muttered a curse under my breath because I didn’t spot them in time. The tension in the room was so thick that it could have been cut with a knife. Leo’s head was bent over a bowl of cereal. I didn’t even know there was cereal in my house. He was either oblivious or he didn’t care that my father was sending him death glares every second. When father saw me, he gestured to the boy as if to say something but I had no interest in reading his social cues. I turned to the maid. “Coffee.” She rushed to do as I asked and I sat by the counter while I waited. I glanced over at Leonardo and I noticed that he was wearing trousers that were a bit small for him and his feet were sticking out of the back of his slippers. He didn’t seem to mind though and I frowned. “Don’t you have other clothes that fit better?” I asked and he looked up long enough to shake his head. “These are my only jeans,” he said it so casually as if it were a normal thing. I texted Matteo immediately. Get clothes for the boy. I don’t care what you get but make sure it fucking fits. I didn’t wait to see if he responded or not. I knew he would see it sooner or later. As if he knew what I had done, father’s frown grew even deeper. “The bastard doesn’t need new clothes, his mother should get them for him,” he whispered harshly and I knew that Leo heard it because he froze. He went back to eating almost immediately but I saw him. I turned to my father just as the maid returned with the coffee. I took it from her and waved her off. “Go to your room, Leo,” I ordered and he didn’t waste any time before taking his food with him. I waited until I heard the door shut before I spoke. “If you have something against him, say it to me. Leave him out of it.” “You are making a mistake, Lorenzo.” “Then it is mine to make,” I rarely raised my voice at my father but when I did, he knew better than to argue with me. Focus on the Russians that you pissed off and leave this to me. I may be your son but I am still Capo. I do not take kindly to people who interfere in my business.” He bristled. “Is that a threat?” “No, it is a promise. Unless you have a valid reason why I should stay away from him then you will stay out of this.” “Of course, Capo,” he made a show of bowing before storming off. I watched him leave then let out a deep breath. The coffee lay on the table but there was no desire to take it. Whatever remnants of sleep were left had disappeared during that conversation. I knew that father wasn’t going to let things slide that easily. He would take time off and lick his wounds. “You better know what the fuck you threw me into, Isabella,” I muttered.