I didn’t think this day would come, but here I was, seeing it with my own eyes. Experiencing it.
I should have been shattered that my family, the Abandonatos, had lost.
But I wasn’t. Simply because the Abandonatos weren’t my family. They never were.
My real family had won, and I was going to celebrate with them.
The guys came and clapped Alessio on the back. Then they hugged me. There were many hugs and kisses. Laughter and huge smiles.
They treated me and pulled me in as their own.
When the roars of victory finally settled down, Alessio bent his head to my ear. “I have to take care of some things. I’ll see you tonight.”
My eyes found his, and I pouted. “Do you have to go? You only just came back.”
Alessio’s intense blue eyes glowed fiercely at my words. Almost possessively. “I have to, Angel. It’s important. Now that he is gone, I have to clean up his fucking mess. Get everything straightened out under new rules.”
The way he sneered the words out, I almost shuddered.
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask Alessio how he killed Alberto. How he ended it. But I refrained myself in the last second.
Maybe it was better I didn’t have the details.
Alessio placed another quick kiss on my lips before pulling away. I couldn’t help myself. My lips pursed in another pout.
He sighed before kissing my pout. Hard. A bruising kiss that had his dominance all over it.
“No pouting. You’re making it harder to leave,” he growled low.
That was the plan. Not that I was going to say it out loud.
Alessio sent me a wink before walking upstairs, the guys following behind him.
A sigh escaped past my lips when Maddie came to stand beside me.
“A little less PDA next time, babe. It would be highly appreciated. Thank you very much,” she teased with a raised eyebrow.
I closed my eyes tightly, feeling my cheeks burn under her gaze. “Oh. Now you’re blushing! Look at you all red. What about when Alessio was practically mauling you in front of twenty other people?”
I heard a smack, and my eyes opened to see Lena glaring at Maddie. “Behave.”
Maddie laughed and winked at me. She grabbed my arm and pulled me to the kitchen. “Let’s go, babe.”
I took my seat at the stool, watching Maddie get us some lunch. “Do you need any help?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Just sit down. You shouldn’t even be out of bed. Remember what Ivy said? She wants you on bed rest most of the time. I’m surprised Alessio didn’t haul your ass back to bed.”
Maddie paused, shaking her head. “Never mind. He was busy doing something else.”
Her teasing tone just made her words funnier. My shoulders shook with silent laughter.
Maddie brought two plates to the counter. Before she could take a seat, my hands lashed out, my fingers gripping her wrist.
“We’re not eating until you talk to me, Maddie.”
My voice was firm yet gentle. She needed to talk to me. Maddie was holding everything inside. I knew it was slowly eating her alive.
Her haunted eyes found mine, and she shook her head. “Ayla.”
I ignored her warning tone and pressed on. “What are you hiding? Why don’t you want to tell me? I know that Artur hurt you, and I know that it’s hard to imagine. I couldn’t believe it at first either. He betrayed Alessio. But he betrayed you too. I know it hurts, but you’re hiding something else.”
Maddie snatched her wrist from my hand. “Stop it, Ayla!”
I stood up so I could hug her. My arms wrapped around her shoulders. “You know you can tell me anything, Maddie. I’ll be there for you. I can’t see you like this. You remind me of myself. How I used to be before. It’s not easy to see you like this.”
She struggled out of my arms, her glare intense. I had seen her angry before but never angry at me. This time her glare was directed at me.
“You don’t know anything!” she screamed.
“Because you won’t tell me,” I replied softly.
Her chest was heaving with each breath she took. I saw tears filling her eyes, and she sniffled, taking another step away from me.
It broke my heart, seeing her like this.
“I lost him!” she hissed.
My shoulders sagged. “I know. I’m sorry, Maddie. I’m so sorry he turned out to be the traitor,” I replied, my voice broken too.
Maddie shook her head, her tears freely running down her cheeks. “No. I lost him. I lost…my baby.”
Her words were choked out, but they rung so clear. Her words seemed loud even though they were whispered.
Maddie’s knees gave out, and she sunk to the floor soundlessly. She hunched over as she held her stomach in a fetal position. Her sobs were loud and heart wrenching.
I lost…my baby.
I stared at Maddie, speechless. My heart stuttered, and I felt suddenly weak in my knees. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, holding my baby bump.