Page 50 of Single Mom's Mafia Daddies
He patted Leo’s back and lowered him to the ground. “I’ll take care of it. Anything you need Leo?” He dropped to a knee so they were eye to eye.
Leo’s face scrunched and tapped his finger against his chin. “Let me think.”
Alessio rounded the far side of the pool and lowered himself into a lounge chair. Exhaustion stamped its mark on his face with dark circles beneath his eyes and the crimped lines fanning out around his mouth. He spoke quickly to Matteo.
Renzo stayed by my side, his attention shifting from Leo to me.
A steady heat built between us, and I remembered another time he’d been on one knee in front of me. I cursed my body’s instant reaction to his proximity. I’d had more sex in the last month than in seven years, and instead of feeling satisfied, I wanted more.
“I want to go back to school,” Leo finally admitted.
“Really?” Renzo asked quietly. He didn’t tell Leo no, but the way he questioned him brought a curious sensation crawling across my skin.
“Can you give us a few minutes?” It wasn’t a request, but I framed it as one despite the hardness in my tone and the way my hands curled into fists.
Renzo stood and nodded. “Sure. I need to sweep the grounds.” He marched away without a backward glance.
Regret tempered the anger, but I used it to my advantage instead of giving in to my need and running after him to apologize. I took Leo’s hand and guided him over to the pergola. A circle of bench seats covered in padded white pillows gave us shade and comfort for the conversation.
I had no idea how to tell Leo school might be out of the question. His safety remained my top priority.
“I miss my friends. And I miss my teacher. She says we have to come to school every day or we won’t learn. And if I don’t learn I won’t get to go to the next grade.” All his thoughts poured out in one long breath.
When he stopped and peered up at me through dark lashes, my heart plummeted. How did I tell him no without revealing his life was in danger? How much did he already know? Playing soldier couldn’t hide the secret forever.
“I’m sorry you’re missing school. And you’re right to worry.” There had to be a solution that didn’t put his life at risk. “I can talk to your teacher. Maybe we can hire a tutor to come here and make sure you don’t fall behind.”
“But I want to go toschool.” He kicked his heels on the wooden bench seat beneath him. “It’s not fair. I want to see my friends. They’re going to forget about me.”
I trapped the sigh in my throat before it emerged. Poor Leo. The adorable pout pooched out his lower lip, reminding me of Alessio. My son crossed his arms and slammed his spine into the back of the seat.
“I can’t promise you’ll get to go back to school soon.” I smoothed the hair back from his face. “But I promise your friends will not forget you. You’re too cool to ever be forgotten.”
The platitude helped enough to remove the frown. He sat up straighter and dropped his hands to his lap. “You promise I’ll go back to school?”
“Yes. I don’t know when, but you will go back.” I stood and held out my hand. “Why don’t you show Matteo how to swim underwater while I talk to Alessio? You can swim in those clothes.”
“Okay.” He bypassed my hand and took off running. “Matteo, Matteo, come swim with me.” He cannonballed into the pool without a moment of hesitation.
Matteo’s boisterous laugh rolled out. He ran and jumped into the water, fully clothed as well, and came up with Leo in his arms.
I longed to join them, to finally have a moment of peace and joy, but life as a mother came with too much responsibility for me to chuck aside my concerns. Alessio watched my approach, caution in his eyes.
“Leo wants to go back to school.”
He shook his head. “That’s not a good idea. Any place outside these walls is a risk.”
“He needs the enrichment of school.” I pushed because it was my job. Leo’s needs trumped everything else. “Make it happen, Alessio.”
A steady tick in his jaw showed his anger at my demand, but he nodded once in a crisp motion that barely stirred his body. “I’ll find a way. Give me some time.”
Cryptic as ever, but it would have to do. The sound of Leo’s and Matteo’s laughter joined together in a sweet symphony. My emotions were ragged to the point I had no idea if I’d cry or fly off the handle if I had to process one more terrifying thought.
“I’m going for a walk.” I pointed toward the flowers stretching over the half wall behind Alessio. “Is that a garden?”
“Yes.” He started to rise. “I’ll come with you.”
“No. I need to be alone.” I palmed my throat to ease the ache. “Can you and Matteo watch Leo?”