Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
I ignored it, blinking away the water in my eyes as I pulled back. I waved to her until I reached the car, settling inside as the bodyguard silently shut the door behind me.
Anna stood at the entrance, watching until we disappeared, and my smile dropped. I sighed, hugging my backpack to my chest as I pulled out my phone. There were no new messages, and I wasn’t sure whether to be disappointed or happy about that.
I always heard that no news was good news, but I still wanted to know how my mom was doing. She was still in the hospital, recovering little by little.
It didn’t take long to head from the school to where we were going. It was a private little house, a new safe house that Alessandro had set up for us in a quieter part of town. We drove up, the building looking domineering from the outside.
It was a depressing sight, to be honest. The windows were only cosmetic, and the door was reinforced steel, only painted to look wooden. Most of the building was concrete and metal, nothing bright or aesthetic, just a pile of grays.
But this was home now, at least while Antonio and his asshole of a son were on the loose. It took a minute to get the courage to get out and approach the safe house, the bodyguard only following me to the door, standing guard as he always did, but I hesitated when it came to actually going in.
I didn’t want to spend another night coming home to nothing. With Mom in the hospital, all I had was Elio, but he spent his time split between his job at his company and his deals with Alessandro.
He called me every so often to tell me how they were making great strides in expanding the family into the US, but when it came to anything else, well, he was like a ghost these past few months.
Elio returned home after I fell asleep and was gone by the time I woke up most days. It had been weeks since we had a day to ourselves and I had to admit, it was lonely.
I was happy to know that Elio and I were on the same page now, with no more secrets and withholding things from one another, especially with a clear goal in our minds—find Junior and Antonio and make them pay, no matter the cost.
Yet, I couldn’t help but wish for just one day, just a few hours to relax. Things had changed so much in the past few months, and it felt like nothing would be the same as it was. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.
I unlocked the door and headed inside. A hot shower and a change of clothes sounded good before I had to make my way over to the hospital. Mom was probably going stir-crazy after so many months of being bedridden. Elio already told me he was going to be late tonight, so there was no point in waiting for him.
I slung my backpack onto the nearby couch, stretching my arms above my head as I suppressed a yawn when I heard a loud “Ow!” in response.
I flinched, immediately going on the defensive as I turned to the couch. I saw a pair of feet hanging off the couch and a head popped up, holding my backpack by the strap.
“Jeez, Cat. What did I do to you to deserve that?” Elio grinned, rubbing the top of his head like he had actually been injured.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were going to be late getting home tonight.” I laughed, running over to his side.
He climbed to his feet, folding me into a hug and I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling warm and safe for the first time in weeks. It had really been so long since I’d seen him last.
“That was a bluff. We wanted to surprise you,” Elio chuckled.
“We?” I frowned, looking up.
Elio just smirked, glancing at the kitchen. I followed his gaze and my heart leaped to my throat. There, sitting innocently in a bulky wheelchair, was my mother, smiling just as she always was with a store-bought cake on her lap.
“Mom!” I jumped out of Elio’s arms, rushing toward her. I kneeled right in front of her, checking her for any bandages or injuries. There was nothing. Her complexion looked even brighter than the last time I’d seen her.
“I was just coming to visit you. Did you get released? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Now, you’re sounding just like me, Cat.” Mom cupped my cheek. “I just got released today, so we wanted to surprise you. It was Elio’s idea and the hospital helped as well.”
“I’m just glad you’re out of there. This place is one level, so it should be easy to navigate with the wheelchair. I’m sure Elio already thought of that, though.” I sent him a sly glance and he just shrugged with a smirk on his face.
“I may not be able to walk yet, but I’ll be out of this chair soon enough. You’ll see,” Mom said warmly. “I’m getting better every day with my exercises, and the doctor said I’ll be back on my feet in just another month or two.”
“Of course you will. You’re the strongest woman I know.” I smiled, laying my hand over hers. She was as warm as always, just radiating like the sun.
“Oh.” She gave me a teary smile. “I raised such a beautiful, strong, and kind daughter. You are the greatest gift I’ve ever been given, Cat. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom,” I beamed, gently folding her into a hug.
“Now, it’s time for cake!” Elio clapped behind us, interrupting the sweet moment with a mischievous grin. “Specially picked up from my favorite cake store. It’s your favorite.”
I rolled my eyes as he energetically ran past us into the kitchen, taking the cake from Mom as he opened it up and began to slice out pieces. He was right. It was my favorite.
I took a bite of the delicious cake, fully content as I watched my boyfriend make my mom laugh. I couldn’t believe how happy I was just seeing their faces, and how lucky I was to be with such a great man like Elio.
Life was changing all the time, but as long as I had them, I would be fine.
“Let me get you a drink, Mom. Do you want milk or a coke?” I asked, setting down my plate as I made my way to the fridge.
“Milk, please!”
“Got it.”
I barely noticed Elio following me as I leaned over to inspect the fridge, quickly finding the gallon of milk. Right as I pulled it out, I nearly walked into the brick wall that was my boyfriend.
“Elio?” I questioned him, unnerved by the uncharacteristically serious look on his face.
“I need to talk to you,” he said firmly.
“Can it wait? Mom just got home,” I frowned.
He shook his head.
“It’s about Junior.”
*Caterina*
Antonio Junior—even the name left a bad taste in my mouth, like swallowing gasoline and just like lighting a match right after, my anger exploded inside of my chest, an uncontrollable fire that burned with injustice and hatred.
I stared blankly at the counter of the kitchen as the white milk splashed around into the glass cup before me. It was only filled halfway before the carton was empty, and I made a mental note to pick some up tomorrow.
Mom liked to drink milk. It was a habit she told me she formed when I was a kid. The only way to get me to drink milk was to have a glass herself. Once I saw her drink it, I would as well.
“Cat, we need to talk,” Elio reminded me, his whole presence behind me like a heater.
I was acutely aware of every movement of his, every shift of his body, even the way his hand naturally gravitated to hover above my waist, too hesitant to touch but a reminder that he was right there.
I nodded solemnly, glancing over at Mom, who was still enjoying her piece of cake as the TV played her favorite movie on the screen. I pivoted on my heel, facing Elio with a determined look.
“After Mom goes to bed—I don’t want her to worry about it,” I told him firmly with no negotiation in my voice.
She’d been through enough. I wasn’t going to get her involved anymore.
Elio stared at me for a moment, as if trying to see through my brain and read my thoughts, but eventually he sighed, nodding in agreement.
I took his hand in mine, giving him a small smile as thanks and then heading into the living room with a grin plastered on my face. I stayed up with Mom, watching the movie she’d picked that I barely understood.
Elio took my side by the couch, quiet all night until Mom grew too tired to keep her eyes open. I helped her get ready for bed and then stayed by her side until she fell asleep. It wasn’t long until I quietly snuck out of her room, and then I glanced at Elio, who had been patiently waiting all that time.