𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝

12

Mila

"Why didn't you tell me people were messing with you, Cade," I say as I look back at him, waiting for Gio as he's still inside the school.

He stays quiet and my heart breaks as tears threaten my eyes. "I didn't want you to get sad mommy." He says.

I sigh. "You don't need to worry about me baby, as long as you two are safe that's all that matters to me okay?" I say and they both nod. "Next time someone messes with you, you come to me."

"Sorry Mommy." They both say in unison.

"But first I'm pulling you out of this school, and putting you in a new one."

"Yes!" I hear a whisper.

I watch as Giovanni finally leaves the school and gets on the driver's side. "Everything okay?" I ask with a brow raised.

He nods. "He lifted Isabella's suspension." He says and my eyebrows furrowed.

"What! How?" I ask.

"He had a change of heart," Gio says and I roll my eyes.

"I'm pulling them out of this school," I say and Gio looks at me and nods.

He begins driving and I notice new bruises on his knuckles, he notices me watching before putting his hand down.

I look away.

The asshole deserved it.

"Mr Gio, can we stop for ice cream?" Isabella begs.

"Ask your mom."

"You don't need to be eating sweets right now Isa."

"But mommy..." she whines.

"Please, Mommy?" Cade joins in.

Gio looks over at me. "Seriously?" I ask and he shrugs.

It was like I had three kids instead of one, and I had a problem with saying no. "Fine," I say and the kids celebrate in the back.

Gio drives to the nearest ice cream bar and we all make our way inside.

I grab cups for Cade, Isa, and myself, isa walks over and grabs another cup. "One for Mr. Gio!"

"Oh, it's okay I don't eat-" I give him a look telling him not to argue with the girl because she will get upset. "Thanks, Isabella." He says as he grabs the cup.

I grab my usual mint chocolate chip as the kid's order, Gio orders a plain vanilla before Isa screams at the lady to add sprinkles and gummy bears to his bowl.

We sit down, Cade sits next to me with Isa sitting across from him and me across from Giovanni.

It was hilarious seeing Giovanni, a huge man with tattoos and a mean glare with a bowl of sprinkles and gummy bears.

He glares at me for laughing at him and I sober up. "Mommy, can I please add another topping?" Cade begs for the thousandth time.

"No baby, you can't have too much sugar." He gets very hyper and I can't deal with that right now.

He frowns. "Okay.." he says as he eats his ice cream.

"You're not even eating your ice cream, Mr Gio?" Isa frowns.

"There's so much shi-" he catches my glare. "Stuff on it. I don't think this is even edible." He says as he picks up his spoon.

"Trust me you'll love it!"

He takes a spoon full in his mouth and I could tell he didn't like it, but he could tolerate it. "See?" Isa asks and he nods.

"Back to you Cade, I can't believe you didn't tell me what was happening at school," I say as he leans his head on me.

"I'm sorry Mommy."

"And you knew about it, Isa! Why didn't you tell me?" She frowns.

"He told me not to tell, he just didn't want you to be sad mama, even Mr Gio knew!" Giovanni gives Isa a 'What the fuck?' Look as my eyes widen at him.

"You knew?" I look at him.

"I was going to tell you." He says and my eyes squint at him.

"You should've already told me! He's my kid I deserve to know when he's being tortured at school!"

"Don't be mad at him mommy, Mr Gio was helping me!" Cade says as he takes a bite of his ice cream.

I sigh, as everyone eats their ice cream, I can't believe Gio wouldn't tell me something like this, he must have felt my glare because he looks up at me.

•••

"Look at me!" Cade shouts as he jumps from couch to couch.

And this is why I don't let that boy eat sweets.

I walk into the kitchen and roll my eyes when I spot Lia. "What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Just picking up some stuff." She shrugs.. there's something about her that I don't like.

Giovanni walks into the room and I cross my arms. "We need to talk."

He grabs a cup and grabs a bottle from one of the cabinets pouring himself a shot. "leave." He says, directing it at Lia.

"But I-"

"Out!" He shouts and she skitters away.

"First of all, I would appreciate it if you didn't drink while my kids are in the other room," I say as I grab the drink from his hand and pour it down the sink. "Two, why wouldn't you tell me about Cade?"

He looks down at the liquid pouring down the drain before looking up at me. "They made it seem important." He says.

"They're 5! You should've told me that my child was being bullied at school, then none of this would've happened today!" I shout.

He grabs the bottle and puts it back in the cabinet. "What do you want me to say, Mila?." He says.

"Are you serious?"

He runs his fingers through his hair. "I'm going to teach him how to defend himself, then nothing like this can happen-"

"You will do no such thing!" I say, it would take an idiot to not realize that Giovanni wasn't the safest person on earth and that scared me for my kids. "It's dangerous enough as it is having them around you!" I shout before instantly regretting it.

Shit, that was mean.

He stares at me for a while. "I would never let them get hurt. Don't do that." He says.

I sigh. "I didn't mean that.."

"You did, I don't blame you... I'm sorry for not telling you." He says and I look up at him. "Is that all?"

I sigh. "Just don't keep things from me."

That's very rich coming from me!

He nods.