Chapter 2
I carried Leo inside myself.
No guard.
No nanny.
No one else touched him.
His body felt too light against my chest.
That frightened me more than blood ever had.
In the kitchen, my housekeeper, Rosa, gasped when she saw him.
“Signore…”
“Warm water. Food. Doctor.”
She moved instantly.
Helena followed us into the hallway.
“Carmine, this is ridiculous. He is being dramatic.”
Leo buried his face against me.
I turned.
“Say one more word and you leave this house with nothing but what you are wearing.”
Her mouth closed.
My sister Alessia arrived from the east wing five minutes later.
She was still in her robe, hair loose, eyes sharp.
“What happened?”
I did not answer.
I set Leo on the counter while Rosa brought a bowl of soup.
Leo looked at it, then at me.
“Can I eat?”
My throat tightened.
“Yes.”
He did not move.
“Helena said only if I finish.”
I closed my eyes.
Alessia whispered, “Finish what?”
Leo pointed toward the garage.
“The car.”
Rosa started crying.
I looked at her.
“You knew?”
She shook her head hard.
“No, signore. She sent us away when you traveled. She said the boy was with his tutor.”
Tutor.
Leo could barely hold a pencil.
Dr. Marino arrived within twenty minutes.
He examined Leo’s hands.
His knees.
The small bruise near his shoulder.
His face remained professional, but I saw rage in his jaw.
“How long has he been hungry?” I asked.
Marino looked at Helena.
She folded her arms.
“He refuses meals.”
Leo whispered, “No.”
Everyone heard it.
Helena snapped, “He lies.”
I stepped toward her.
She backed away.
The doctor knelt beside Leo.
“Little lion, can you tell me when you ate last?”
Leo held up two fingers.
“Two sleeps.”
Rosa sobbed.
Alessia covered her mouth.
I felt the old Carmine rising.
The man my enemies feared.
The man who solved betrayal with cement silence and disappearing cars.
Then Leo reached for my sleeve.
“Papa, don’t go loud.”
I looked down at my son.
His fear pulled me back from the edge.
Not because Helena deserved mercy.
Because Leo deserved a father, not a monster in a suit.
I turned to my lawyer, Luca, who had just entered.
“Call family court. Call the police liaison. Call child services.”
Helena’s head snapped up.
“Police?”
“Yes.”
“You are Carmine Bellucci.”
“I am his father first.”
May you like
Her face changed completely.
Because that was the one version of me she had never prepared for.
