Page 56 of Overruled

Thirty-One

Ezra

“Mom, I can take you,” I try for the third time.

She waves me off. “I miss Rita. She’s fine to take me to the doctor, Ezra. Don’t hover.”

“Of course I’m going to hover,” I grumble.

“Don’t I know it,” she laughs. “You’ve been doing it for days.”

I narrow my eyes, but she just laughs again, closing the distance between us and patting my cheek. “I love you, darling, but you need to get out of this apartment. I’ll be fine.”

I believe it, to a degree. It’s only been a few days that my mother has been staying with me, but in just that short time she’s been…lighter. Lighter than I’ve ever seen her. Like she’s finally free, and maybe even feels like she deserves to be. It makes me feel lighter too.

Mostly.

I’m still trying not to think about the Dani-shaped hole in my life.

“I just worry about you.”

My mother smiles softly. “I know, darling. You’ve been playing the role of a parent for so many years now…and I’m so grateful. But I have to figure out how to be that for you now, okay? Let me try to do things on my own. Even if just a little. Have to start somewhere, right?”

“Fine,” I concede. “But call me when you’re done. Let me know if you go anywhere else.”

“Yes, yes,” she huffs. “I will. Try to do something fun, okay? You’re starting to stress me out with all your moping, and I’m supposed to be the basket case.”

“Don’t joke like that,” I chide. “You are not.”

Still, I have to admit that hearing her make a joke is exhilarating, even if I hate that it’s at her expense.

“I’ll see you in a few hours, okay?”

I nod, biting my tongue at the urge to ask to take her again. “All right.”

I try not to let worry overcome me as I watch her sling her purse over her shoulder, telling me that Rita is waiting on her in the lobby and, once again, that she doesn’t need me to see her down.

I know she wants to feel this independence; it’s not something she’s been able to have in years, and I want to give that to her, even if just a little.

I have no idea what I’m supposed to do when she’s gone since the last few days have revolved around her completely, trying to get her settled into my guest room.

I’ve been plagued with worry that any moment could be the one that Alexander came after us, and each one that he doesn’t only worsens my anxiety.

Like waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I try to do what my mother asks, doing my best to make myself busy in her absence.

She’s been such a staple feature in my apartment the last few days, and I’ve loved having her here.

It feels more like the us we were when I was a kid.

I can only hope that with each day away from Alexander’s hold, it will get even better.

I’m sick of TV after the first hour, and by the second, I’m going a little stir crazy.

I feed Purrgood; he’s been angry at me for days, I suspect because he misses Dani, which, join the club, my guy.

I’ve been doing my best not to think about her, because I’m afraid if I do, I might just break down completely.

I told her more or less that I would wait for her, hoping beyond hope that she would eventually decide to give us a real shot, but deep down… I’m afraid she might never be there.

Purrgood yowls at me, and I glance down to find him giving me a reproachful look, if that’s even possible for a cat. “Don’t look at me like that,” I tut. “Traitor.”

I leave him to his judging, padding into the kitchen to try to find something bad for me to distract from the stress that is my life right now.

Something covered with cheese, I think. I’m still digging through a cabinet when I hear a knock at my door.

I peer over my shoulder and frown, wondering if Mom forgot her key.

I jog through the living room to grab the handle, turning it. “Hey, did you forget your—?”

It’s not my mother.

My mouth hangs open, my question lost to the air as I stare at the woman in front of me, wondering if she’s a figment of my imagination. God knows I’ve thought about her enough this week to physically manifest her.

“Dani?”

“Hi.” She shifts in her heels, still in court clothes. It hits me then what day it is. “Can I come in?”

“I…yeah,” I manage, remembering myself. “Come in.”

She steps past me, making a happy sound when she spots my traitor cat trotting up to greet her. She bends to scratch behind his ears, and the sight is so reminiscent of easier days between us that it makes my chest hurt.

“Hey, big guy,” she coos. “Miss me?”

“He’s not the only one,” I tell her truthfully, causing her to peek back at me from over her shoulder with wide eyes.

She straightens, smoothing the fabric of her slacks and looking up at me through her lashes, and I notice for the first time the manila envelope in her hand. “I…missed you too.”

“Did you?”

It’s not a facetious question, I’m actually desperate to confirm it.

She chews on the inside of her lip, watching me.

I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a high ledge as I wait for her to keep speaking.

My heart thumps against my ribs; I still can’t be sure what it is she’s come to tell me.

Whether or not she’s putting me out of my misery or ensuring it’s going to continue for a very long time.

But surprisingly, she doesn’t do either of those things.

“I won today,” she tells me.

“I…congratulations.”

“Did you know Anton was Lorenzo’s son?”

“I had suspicions,” I tell her with a shrug. “I didn’t have any proof.”

“So how did you know that telling me to look into him would work out?”

“I didn’t know for sure,” I say honestly. My mouth quirks. “But I knew if anyone could find the dirt to take that sleazeball down, it would be you.”

Still, her expression gives me nothing, her jaw working in thought. “Why didn’t you tell me that you quit?”

I breathe out a sigh. “Because…I didn’t want to put any more pressure on you.”

“Pressure.”

“Yes, pressure. I know that everything that happened between us was a lot for you to process, and with that and the trial…I figured you had enough on your plate without adding any more confusing elements.”

“How is you quitting and taking your mother out of that house confusing?”

“I just— Wait. How did you know about my mother?”

“Eli told me.”

My face scrunches up. “Eli? You talked to Eli?”

“He caught me after court today,” she says. “We talked.”

“You…talked.”

“Trust me,” she snorts. “I found it just as bizarre of an experience.”

“I don’t understand.” I shake my head. “Did he…he didn’t threaten her, did he? Because I swear to God, I will—”

“No, no, no!” She waves her hands back and forth. “He didn’t. I promise. He just— Well, you see—” She exhales sharply, thrusting the folder out to give to me. “Here. This is for you.”

“What?” I take it from her, frowning down at it. “What is it?”

“Documents detailing the transfer of Bianca’s trust from Italy to America the year she came of age.”

I look at her and then back at the envelope, furrowing my brow. “I don’t understand.”

“Look at the signature of the lawyer who handled the transfer,” she says.

I’m still frowning as I pull documents from the folder, shuffling through them until I see the signature she’s referencing. A cold sort of shock passes over me, and I gape up at her. “Is this really…?”

“Alexander’s signature? Yes. And if you go through the rest of the documents, and hell, the financial records for the next several years, you can trace a clear pattern of withdrawals made by Lorenzo that were possible because Alexander falsified documents naming him as a co-beneficiary.

I compared the signature on those documents to Bianca’s. They don’t match.”

“You mean…?”

She nods. “Alexander must have forged it. Or Lorenzo. Regardless, they’re both complicit in stealing from her for years while Lorenzo built his business.”

“But what did Alexander gain from this?”

“As far as I can tell, a giant payout. I checked bank records we had copies of for the trial. Lorenzo deposited a huge sum of money into Alexander’s account a month after all this went down.”

“Jesus.”

I stare down at the documents in my hands, still in slight disbelief that I’m really holding evidence that can prove Alexander is as much a snake as I’ve always believed him to be.

That I might be holding what I need to make sure that my mother never suffers at the hands of Alexander Hart ever again.

“Wow, I…wow.”

She reaches into her pocket, pulling out a flash drive and handing that over too. “Oh, and this is from Eli. Apparently, he broke into Alexander’s office and copied whatever he could get his hands on off his laptop. I guess it’s his way of extending an olive branch.”

“I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.”

“Yeah, I know it’s a lot. He actually told me to tell your mother he was sorry.”

“I think he should tell her that himself,” I scoff.

She gives me a small smile. “I agree.”

“Dani, I…thank you.” My voice sounds too thick, and I have to breathe deep through my nostrils. “Seriously. I can’t believe you did this.”

“You can’t?”

Her eyes are softer now, her smile just a little more sad. “No, I can. I really can.”

There’s so much more I want to say to her; fuck, the way I want to touch her. My body is practically vibrating with the need to. But I told her I would wait until she was ready, and I meant that. Even if it kills me.

“Is that…” My throat bobs with a swallow. “Is that all you came to say?”

“I…well. I guess it is.”

“Oh.” I nod, looking at my feet to try to hide my disappointment. “Right. Well. I really appreciate this.”

“Ezra, it was nothing. Really.”

All I can do is nod again. “Right.”

“Fuck.” I look up as she runs her fingers through her hair, blowing out a breath. “That’s a lie.”

“What?”

“That’s not all I came to say.”

“I’m confused.”

“I know.” She nods, looking miserable. “And that’s my fault.”

“No, Dani, that’s not what I—”

She holds up a hand. “No, I need to get this out.”