Top Dog

“Anything.”

“I need you to drive Matteo and me to Romeo’s.”

I watched his face fall, but I didn’t have time to debate with him.

“With everything that’s happened, do you think that’s wise?” he asked.

“It’s not your place to question who I want to see,” I said as I whipped around.

Enrico clenched his jaw as I held my son’s hat in my hand.

“I need you to drive us over there, or I’ll call us a cab,” I said.

“I’ll take you,” Enrico said. “It’s about time you stopped seeing him alone anyway.”

I let the comment slide as he pushed by me and out the door. We rushed down the stairs. I put Matteo’s hat on him, then the three of us piled in the car. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve said Enrico was intentionally going slower than he needed to. I held my son close to me, cursing myself for leaving my phone behind.

I had no way to figure out how badly Romeo was hurt until we got to his place.

Cops were swarming when we arrived. Lights were flashing and there was an ambulance with opened doors. My heart stopped in my chest as I unbuckled Matteo, then I jumped out of the car. I ran us underneath the yellow tape and bolted for the house before anyone could stop us. Blood was pumping through my veins and tears were brewing at the corners of my eyes.

Was Romeo still alive?

I stormed into the house, clutching Matteo tightly to my side. I whipped my head around, trying to figure out what was happening. I saw the blood on the staircase. A tear escaped down my cheek.

Until I heard his voice.

“Julia?”

I turned around, catching sight of Romeo, sitting in a chair in the corner. He had a bandage around his head and ice pressed against his temple but he was alive.

Relief flooded my veins as I rushed over to him.

“What the hell happened?” I asked as my hand rose to the ice pack.

But Romeo’s eyes were trained behind me, and it dawned on me what I had done.

I slowly panned my gaze behind me and saw Matteo standing there. He was trying to situate his hat back onto his head after taking it off. My eyes whipped back around and landed on Romeo, and I could see the awe behind his stare.

“Matteo? You okay honey?” I asked.

“Who’s that, Mommy?”

I felt my son slip his hand into mine as Romeo’s eyes stayed trained on him.

“This is my friend, Romeo,” I said as I shot him a look.

He needed to keep his mouth shut and follow along.

“Hi. I’m Matteo. But my friends call me ‘Matt.’”

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Romeo said as his eyes gravitated to mine.

“Are you okay?” my son asked.

“I am. Just a little bump on the head. Nothing terrible.”

“There’s blood on the floor.”