Page 30 of Conquer or Die

“Isabella?” Vincenzo softly calls out both of us still staring straight ahead lost in our heads.

“Hm?” I hummed in response.

“I know you were at the door” he replied in a smug voice. I winded my eyes and looked over at him smacking him in the chest.

“You knew!” I whisper yelled so I don’t wake up Dante, he chuckled “I could see your shadow under the door, and from what I know you are not one to sit still Isabella Knight” he joked smiling.

I smiled shaking my head “were you serious?” I asked softly. His soft exterior now replaced with his normal one. Tense and stiff, “yes” he replied short and sweet.

“He has taken too much not to pay for the consequence of it. He took your entire childhood from you. He stole Maria’s life from her and he did the same to Dante. My fucking twin brother” he chocked out pointing at his chest. It was the first time I saw any true emotions displayed on his face.

I sighed nodding my head “then its war.” I confirmed “but let me be a part of it” I added. He shook his head instantly “absolutely fucking not, what kind of parents would we be if we both go into this. I won’t leave Dante without his mother. Especially after what happened yesterday.” Vincenzo quickly rushes out.

“I won’t leave him without his dad” I sternly responded “I am not letting you go into it alone. I owe it to you, the mafia, my parents, Dante, Maria, and our son to fucking end him. Let me help, I know him better than anyone and more than what Hacker can find out. Let me help you, let’s finish him together … please” I pleaded, I wasn’t planning on letting this go without a fight so it would be easier for him to just agree with me now.

“Okay” he breathed out.

x

I opened my eyes slowly to the sunlight peeking through, I looked around and felt a pair of strong arms wrapped around me tightly. My head rested on his chest as my arm wrapped around his waist, I wiggled out of his embrace slowly to not wake him.

Grabbing Dante, we both made our way to the kitchen, “good morning” Lorenzo calls out walking in scratching the back of his head, “morning” I replied.

“You hungry?” He asked, I nodded my head “same. You know how to cook?” he asked sitting at the table.

I looked back at him rolling my eyes “for god’s sake” I laughed grabbing Dante some baby food to eat, “I can’t believe you’re on solids” I cried out. He just stared back at me, “okay talk about moody definitely your father’s son” I called out putting him in his highchair. Lorenzo chuckled settling down beside me, “so how are you?” He subtly tries opening up the topic of me and Vincenzo.

“Oh, look at your nephew, he wants you” I baby talked pointing at Dante. He turns looking at Dante who stared back at him with an annoyed expression, Jesus I birthed a mini version of Vincenzo.

“Uh huh” Lorenzo commented looking at me unimpressed.

“It’s just his way of showing love, a King’s trait” I shrugged my shoulders, he rolled his eyes “ouch” clenching his chest to mimic a broken heart.

I shooed him aside and started feeding Dante, “so how has it been with you and Vincenzo?” He tries once more, “ooo hot damn dana nana na na na” I start humming a song, “I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you!” He bursts.

I shrug my shoulders “and I’m trying to subtly avoid it”.

“Isabella” he calls out.

I sigh “Lorenzo its complicated enough without me trying to despair and explain to someone else, its only confusing me more” I whined, “Your brother is … complicated I don’t even know what he wants.” I gave in a little letting him in on my frustration.

“Did you know Vincenzo’s gone to the doctors to see if there’s anything he can do or take for his memory loss” Lorenzo speaks up after a long pause. I snapped my head in his direction shocked “What!” I whisper yelled.

“Good morning” Vincenzo speaks up walking down the stairs, Lorenzo looks at me and gives me a look to keep my mouth shut about it. Dante starts squealing putting his hands out, what the fuck. “He was just- now he hey man that’s cold” Lorenzo greases Dante at his sudden mood change after seeing his dad.

“You happy to see me bud?” Vincenzo picks him up and Dante places his head in the crook of Vincenzo’s neck. Lucky little shit.

I huffed shaking my head “I wish you were a girl” I hissed, Vincenzo laughed “girl or boy nothing would change” he condescendingly replied shrugging his shoulders.

Rolling my eyes, I stood up and grabbed Dante off him so he can finish eating. “It’s just a phase, your mummy’s boy, aren’t you?” I baby talked watching his eyes light up after he starts clapping, “that’s my boy” I cheered looking up at Vincenzo victorious, rolling his eyes he walked further into the kitchen to get something to eat.

Lorenzo sat back next to me and looked back making sure Vincenzo was far enough for him not to hear us.

“He is trying some new things they’re testing for short-term memory loss. He wants to remember you I know he loves you. I know it’s real for him because he managed to fall for you twice.” Lorenzo whispered.

My heart skipped a beat love? I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone. Fuck we haven’t even said it to each other. I couldn’t help but feel on a high hearing the news, he might be taking meds to remember me.

Before I could reply to Lorenzo, Vincenzo comes up towards us and places a plate in front of me. “Eat” he instructs me taking the baby food from my hand and moving Dante’s seat to face him as he takes over feeding him. “Hey what am I chopped liver? I’m fucking hungry too” Lorenzo yelled out, I punched him in the arm “don’t curse in front of the baby” I yelled out.

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