His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 208

Chapter 208

Chapter 208

Dominic’s POV

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I’d left Isabella’s office soon after to let her work. But I’d missed Mateo just as much as I’d missed her, if not more. So the next stop was their apartment after a quick enquiry from Marco as to where he was.

Mateo looked personally offended when he saw me standing outside the indoor play center of their apartment. Actually offended. Like I had committed some serious crime by appearing there unannounced in the middle of his vacation.

He stood near the little football area with a tiny plastic trophy in one hand, narrowed his eyes at me, and crossed his arms like a very dramatic miniature adult. I folded mine too.

“That’s a warm welcome.”

He blinked once. Then, “Dominic!”

And launched himself at me like the last three seconds had never happened. Much better. I caught him easily, lifting him off the ground as he wrapped himself around me like a very enthusiastic koala.

“What are you doing here?” he asked immediately.

“Terrible things,” I said. “Mostly paperwork. Today, I decided kidnapping you from your very important football tournament sounded more fun.”

He gasped. “We won!”

“I can see that. Very impressive. I assume you carried the entire team.”

“Obviously.”

“Of course.”

He pulled back just enough to look at me suspiciously. “Did Mama know you were coming?”

“No.”

His grin widened instantly. “Oh, she’s going to be mad.”

“Probably.”

“Can we get gelato first?”

“See? This is why you’re my favorite.”

“I know! You’re my favourite, too.” He grinned again.

That familiar sweet ache hit me right in the chest.

God. I loved this little boy so fiercely that I would do anything for him.

“Did Nonna tell you where I was?” he asked.

“Yes. She also told me to make sure you didn’t eat too much sugar.”

He looked horrified. “And you listened?”

“Absolutely not.”

12:45 Tue, Apr 21 J.

Chapter 208

“Good.” Prioritics. I respected that.

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By the time we got home after a gelato break, Mateo had chocolate on his shirt, on one sleeve, and somehow on the side of his face.

A true work of art.

Caterina opened the door, took one look at him, and sighed like a woman personally betrayed by dairy products. “You look feral.”

“I had a good day,” he informed her proudly.

“That is not an explanation.”

“It is for him,” I said, walking in behind him.

Her eyes shifted to me. And immediately softened, but not by much. She still believed in discipline, guilt, and olive oil as the foundation of life.

“You came back from Florence already?”

“I did.”

She nodded once, like she approved of a decision I should have made much sooner. Good. Because I approved too.

“Where’s Isa?” she asked.

“Still at work. She said she would be home soon.”

Mateo had already disappeared, probably to keep his football trophy.

Caterina crossed her arms. “You’re staying for dinner.” It wasn’t a question.

I almost smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. You will help.”

I smiled less.

Apparently, helping meant being bullied in an Italian kitchen for nearly an hour. I chopped vegetables wrong. I stirred sauce wrong. At one point, I apparently stood wrong, too.

I accepted all of it in silence.

Mostly because arguing with my mother was like fistfighting God.

And also because, honestly, I liked it. The normalcy. The domesticity. The ridiculous peace of being yelled at over basil.

I hadn’t realized how much I missed this kind of chaos. Maybe because I had never really had it. Not properly. Not without politics. Not without blood in the background. Just family. Simple. Warm. Messy.

I wanted it.

I wanted it so badly it made my chest hurt.

The front door opened.

And then, came her voice, “I swear if Luca makes me sit tlirough one more meeting about museum budgets, I’m going to personally-”

12:46 Tue, Apr 21

Chapter 208

Isa walked into the kitchen and stopped.

Her eyes landed on me, then on the cutting board, then the apron. I had forgotten about the apron. Tragic.

She blinked slowly. “Are you wearing my apron?”

I looked down. Small lemons. Humiliating. “It was forced upon me.”

From behind me, Caterina called out, “He was dramatic about it.”

“I was dignified.”

“You pouted.”

Isa laughed, actually laughed. And for one second, I forgot how to breathe.

Because that sound had ruined me years ago. It still did.

Mateo came running in. “Mama! Dominic kidnapped me from football and bribed me with gelato!”

She looked at me.

I lifted one shoulder. “In my defense, he accepted the deal very quickly.”

“Reasonable,” she said.

She set her bag down and walked further in, looking less tired now. Softer. Warmer. Home suited her.

Or maybe I just liked seeing her where I wished she belonged. With me. Always.

Later, dinner was loud.

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Mateo talked enough for five people. Caterina corrected everyone’s life choices. Maria pretended she wasn’t listening while absolutely listening.

And Isa, she smiled more. Not the careful, tired smile she had been wearing lately, but a real one. And every time I caught it, I had the same stupid thought.

This. I want this.

“Can the baby sleep in my room?” Mateo asked suddenly around a mouthful of pasta.

Isa nearly choked.

I hid my smile badly.

“Absolutely not,” she said.

“Why?”

“Because babies cry.”

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