Top Dog

I was trembling with my son in my arms as my eyes darted to his door. Was something standing out there listening to us? We had to get out of there.

“Listen. I want you to lay down and take a nap, okay? Enrico’s going to stand guard, and I’m going to work on some things. I have some calls to make, and then we’re going to go home,” I said.

“Enrico?”

“Yes.”

“Not Uncle?”

“No. Not Uncle again, okay? You have my word,” I said.

I laid down with my son, but I could tell he was frightened. I felt him wipe his tears on me, and it broke my heart. My son had been witness to something he neve should have heard in his young life. I was irate, and the more I laid there, the more fearful I became that Romeo was right.

My uncle was planning on killing someone.

My son had no reason to make something like that up. We had never talked about things like that before. Hell, he wasn’t even allowed to watch cartoons where people fought.

I felt his breathing even out against my shoulder, and I slipped from his arms. I locked his windows and drew the curtains, then began to pack his bag. I shoved all of his things in there, fitting as much of it as I could, then I hid it out of sight in the closet.

Then I locked his door and took the key with me.

I strode to my room and began throwing things into my bags. I wanted to be ready to go at a moment’s notice. I zipped everything up and tossed them into my closet, then I locked my own windows and drew the blinds.

We were getting the fuck out of there.

I rushed downstairs and grabbed my purse, setting it beside the door. I stuck Matteo’s bedroom key in my pocket, then made my way into the kitchen. I needed some coffee. I needed to settle myself down. If I was going to get my son and I out of there without angering my uncle, then I needed to do it tactfully.

But I jumped the second I heard his voice.

“Matteo napping?”

I gripped my coffee mug and plastered on my best smile.

“Oh yeah. We played hard this morning,” I said.

“Good. A growing boy needs his rest. Mind if I join you?”

It made me sick to think about sitting next to him, but I had to play nice. So I nodded and pulled out the chair beside me.

“You always make the best cup of coffee,” he said.

“Got the recipe from my mother,” I said.

“So,” he said as he sat down next to me, “how are things with you and Romeo?”

My heart fluttered in my chest and my palms began to sweat.

“In a neutral place, I guess.”

“Do you think you’ll see him again?” he asked.

“I’m honestly not sure. My mind changes on a daily basis.”

“Ah, just like a smitten woman.”

I furrowed my brow at my uncle as he took a sip of his coffee.

“I think it would be a good idea if you saw him again,” Stefano said.