Chapter 141

Aldo

Love and hate...

It slowly started to make sense. Much of the confusion I’d been trying to sort through for the last few days finally felt as though it was clearing up. Although, it didn’t necessarily leave a good feeling in the back of my mind.

“Layla’s problems aren’t entirely with you, but rather the Marcello name as its own entity,” Eva said.

“What has the Marcello name given her in return for her unyielding loyalty?” Stasia asked.

I opened my mouth to answer, but Carlo beat me to it. “Protection.”

“Protection?” Eva’s tone turned slightly cynical. She gently shook her head. “The only reason why Layla needs protection is because of the ongoing threats that come from being locked into this family.”

Shit. As much as her words stung like a mean slap to the face, she was right. I could easily recall the day when I bumped into her at the hospital. The moment I took her in my arms, I knew neither one of our lives would ever be the same again.

It didn’t make it fair, though.

Layla had built a life for her and Eli, regardless of my absence. She established herself as a professional surgeon with no help from anyone else but herself.

“What else?” Stasia pushed.

“Security?”

“Nope. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Layla didn’t need that either,” Eva said, pointedly.

That sinking feeling in my chest returned within seconds.

“Aldo, we know this is hard to hear,” Stasia said.

“Believe us, we’re not here to purposely tear up your relationship with Layla. Quite the opposite, we can assure you,” Eva added calmly.

“It certainly doesn't feel that way,” I muttered.

They each offered a supportive smile. “Relationships in our world are not to be taken lightly. Especially, when it comes to those that were never truly brought up to understand the stipulations and severity in the first place.”

“It’s why Layla had created this persona in the first place,” I said quietly. “She had to become stronger in order to deal with the pressure and expectations. But in return, Layla became caught up in the middle.”

From the darkest recess of my memory, I was able to remember similar words from a long-forgotten figure who once threatened to destroy what relationship Layla and I were trying to rebuild. Aurora. In her final days of trying to gain the upper hand, she’d told me some very vital information.

“...What happens when the world you’re trying to protect them from swallows you whole?” Aurora had posed the question as though the answer was obvious. “You can’t have it both ways, Aldo. Sooner or later, you’ll have to choose...”

I never thought to take her seriously because, at the time, Layla and I were strong together. The future that we wanted together was solid and we were determined to make it happen.

It wasn’t me who got swept up in the uncertainty and troubles of trying to exist in both worlds. It was Layla. For someone so confident and strong, she’d somehow fallen through the cracks and I hardly even noticed it.

Even when I tried speaking with her yesterday, I’d let myself become consumed with finding out what her conversation consisted of with Agent Carter.

What the fuck is wrong with me??

“Aldo.” Eva’s gentle tone hit me like a rush of warmth. My blood pressure had dropped beyond its normal levels, causing my entire body to run cold.

“I should have been able to see the signs sooner,” I said. “I shouldn’t have tried to stay in her life the way that I did. What good has it done for her and Eli?”

Eva and Stasia shook their heads. “Layla never needed protection or security, what she wanted most, above all else, was love and a family. I know you can look us in the eyes and say that you’ve provided that for her.”

“We know that you once tried to walk away from the Marcellos,” Stasia said. “It is commendable.”

I blew out a long, deflated breath. “Yes, well, such a decision would never be possible now.”

If there was a chance—some unanticipated miracle that would grant me the ability to walk away from the title, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I did it once before and I could easily do it again.

The thought of allowing Eli to grow up and have a safe, normal life with a promising bright future, was more tempting than any amount of money and power this family had.

Layla

I’d spent the remainder of the afternoon, trying to compile a literal list of things that are the most important in my life like Eva had said.

It was shockingly a lot harder than I would have thought. Naturally, Eli was placed at the top. His safety was what made that decision easy; however, when it came to his future, that was a whole other situation.

I always said that I didn’t want Eli to grow up without his father and I meant it. Aldo’s relationship with Eli was just as vital as his relationship with me. Having this in mind, was what sparked a series of troubling thoughts.

Eli would always come first but where exactly did that place Aldo?

He was the love of my life and it pained me to think that this was what it had come to. Our love was strong but there was only so much that it could fight off.

This past matter with Vanessa was proof enough of how far I was willing to protect my son. In those moments, nothing else mattered. Not the Rossettis. Not the Marcellos. Not even my relationship with Aldo.

Knock. Knock.

“Yes?”

I glanced up to find Eva and Stasia coming back into the room. My nerves grew tense, wondering how Aldo had taken the information they told him. Neither sister looked as though they came bearing any regrettable news, though.

“If you’re wondering how that went, we’ll just come out and tell you that Aldo is having a hard time grasping the situation as a whole,” Stasia said.

My heart sank. “Really?”

“We had to tell him about the true nature behind you losing your medical license,” Eva noted.

I immediately sat up straighter. “You what? Oh God,” I bristled.

“Come on, there’s no point in keeping that bit of information hidden. It’s important that everyone knows the full truth of the situation.”

She had a point. As annoyed as I was at Aldo, I didn’t want him to feel responsible for the loss of my career. It still wouldn't have changed the fact that I had, essentially, broken the law.

“Anyway, I’ve thought about what’s most important to me,” I told them.

“It was difficult, wasn’t it?”

I nodded. “I love Aldo but...Eli...I have to put him first.”

“We figured as much,” Eva said softly.

“What did you mean before you left here earlier?” I asked. “You said before that I had options.”

Stasia and Eva shared a look. “Layla, to ensure that this disorder doesn’t get any worse, Eva and I are highly recommending that you leave this house for a little while.”

My stomach flipped as I gaped at the two of them. “What? You want me to leave? How could I possibly do that?”

“Layla, you need to put your own health first. We know you don’t feel comfortable leaving Eli,” Eva said with a smile. “Which is why we have a plan for that.”