Chapter 132
Dominic’s POV
Mateo came running out of the school gates like a burst of sunlight when I went to pick him up.
“Dominic!”
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I barely had time to brace myself before the boy crashed into me, backpack bouncing, shoelaces half untied, face flushed with excitement.
“You’re early,” Mateo said accusingly, but grinning.
“I always try to be when I come to pick you up,” I replied, ruffling his hair.
We walked towards the car together, Mateo talking before I had even opened the door.
“My birthday is soon,” Mateo announced, as if I could possibly have forgotten. I knew his birthday was coming up soon and was already planning a huge party for him.
“I know,” I said solemnly. “I’ve been counting the days.”
Mateo beamed. “I want to invite my friends from school. And I want to bake a cake with Mama. Not buy one. Bake one last we did last year. Mama said it was a birthday tradition. We make one for her birthday too!”
I opened the passenger door for him. “We can do better than that.”
Mateo paused halfway into the seat. “Better?”
“We’ll have a huge party,” I said. “Like the one we had for Nonna back in Sicily.”
Mateo blinked. “How will my friends come to Sicily?”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed. “No, no. Not in Sicily. Here. Just similar to what we had done for her birthday.”
Mateo frowned thoughtfully as he buckled himself in. “But I don’t have enough friends like Nonna to fill a big hall.”
I started the engine, glancing over at him. “You’d be surprised.”
Mateo shook his head firmly. “I just want my friends from school and my teacher. And Luca. And Chiara, And Lucia.” His face softened at the last name. “I miss Lucia.”
My chest tightened slightly at the simplicity of the things he enjoyed. “We can invite them all.”
“And Nonna,” Mateo continued. “And Mama, obviously.”
“Obviously,” I echoed. I noticed how he didn’t take Vittoria or Salvatore’s name. Even Alessia’s, for that matter. But I didn’t say anything.
19:42 Tue, Jun 9
Chapter 132
“And you.” Mateo added casually
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I raised an eyebrow. I have to be wowed?
the
Mateo giggled. “No. You and Mama dit swad x**** Yushwa wyway!
The innocence of it hit me harder than I expeng
I glanced at my son, at the easy certainty in his vow the gym boyton that me and his mamme would show up for him no matter whet
“I will.” I said quietly. “We both will
Mateo nodded, satisfied
“And I’ll talk to Mama” I added. “He’ll make sure it’s exactly how you want it?
“What about presents?” I asked lightly. “Have you thought out what you want?
Mateo scrunched up his nose. “Not yet I’ll Gook and well you lavor
I smiled. “Fair enough”
s wrong the first
For the rest of the drive, Mateo chattered about hus last tartday, bow Isabella had decorated the apartment with handmade paper
stan, how they’d baked the cake together and he’d cracked the g time, how she’d let him stay up a carbour because it was the special day.
I listened with rapt attention.
Every detail felt like something precious I had missed.
Isa had done all of that alone
No complaints. No resentment. No reaching out to me for help.
She had given our son joy, stability, and warmth in the middle of chaos
Pride swelled in my chest heary and achung
She was an extraorary mother.
And I had neatly
dhe night before, to the look on her face
she said she thought I tried to kill
19:42 Tue, Jun 9
Chapter 132
But something about it wouldn’t sit right now.
The explosion. The gang. The chain of events.
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At the time, I’d destroyed them without hesitation. Alessia had brought me the information. She’d said they were the ones responsible. She’d laid out the evidence in cold, convincing detail.
I had been too broken to question it, too enraged.
I remembered the meeting vividly. I had been on the verge of signing a peace agreement with that very gang A fragile truce. They’d had no reason to attack me.
And yet, when Alessia told me they were behind the explosion, that they’d targeted Isabella deliberately, all bets had been off.
I’d slaughtered them.
Without asking further questions.
Even then, something had felt off.
But grief had drowned it out.
Now, with clarity creeping back in, unease coiled in my gut.
What if they hadn’t done it?
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