Defender's Heartbeat

Chapter 37

Enzo

I hadn't been to school for around three weeks, and Pedro said he'd hire some tutors to help me catch up on the missed lessons, which I didn't even care about. But I missed my friends so much. When they asked why I hadn't been at school, I told them I had been in an accident, which wasn't entirely a lie. They wanted to come and see me, but I refused because I was afraid of Papa (Gerardo). I couldn't handle his hatred towards me, so I stayed away from him as much as possible. But deep down, there was still a part of me that craved his acceptance. No matter how much I tried to avoid that feeling, it never left me all these years. I wanted him to accept me. I wanted him not to hate me. I wanted him to look at me like I was one of his sons, not his enemy.

"Enzo, get ready to meet your therapist tomorrow. He's one of the best. I had to pay double to book him so soon," Pedro said, walking into my room. I looked at him, confused.

"Did Papa give permission?" I asked.

"I don't need Papa's permission for that," he said, then left.

The next day, I met the therapist. He asked lots of questions, but I couldn't answer most of them. I had never spoken about what happened in the house with a stranger, and I still carried the trauma from the punishment I received for it when I was a kid.

"He didn't say anything," the therapist told Pedro after the session ended. Pedro looked angry but didn't say anything at that moment. Instead, he took me to his car.

"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked angrily on the way home.

"What if Papa finds out I told him?" I replied.

"He'll never find out. That man is a professional. He'd never leak anything like that. And Papa doesn't even know who I'm hiring," Pedro said, frustrated.

"Is this a trap?" I asked, still feeling confused.

"Trap for what, Enzo?" Pedro asked, looking at me angrily.

"Trap to prove to Papa that I can't keep secrets? Are you trying to tell him I said everything to a stranger so he'll punish me?" I asked, genuine doubt and fear creeping into my voice.

"Are you crazy, Enzo? I'm trying to help you," Pedro snapped, blaming me.

"Really? Since when have you wanted to help me? You've always been on Papa's side. You never go against his will. And there's no way Papa would permit to take me to therapy. I know this is a trap, maybe all of you are in on it. But I'm not falling for it. I'm not a stupid child anymore," I said angrily.

"Listen, puppy, I took full custody of you from Papa just to get you to therapy. You think that's a trap?" Pedro yelled, turning my face towards him.

"You took full custody of me from Papa?" I asked, shocked.

"Yes," he said.

"And he gave it to you?" I asked with disbelief in my voice.

"Yes," he repeated.

"He just gave it to you?" My voice weakened as the weight of his words sank in. I couldn't believe it. He just gave up on me that easily. It felt like he never wanted me—ever.

"He hates me that much!" I whispered, tears flowing uncontrollably. "He hates me that much? He just threw me away that easily?"

"No, no, Enzo. You know he's busy and... Shit," Pedro said, fumbling for words. "Hey, I'm your brother. He doesn't have to worry about me taking custody of you," I heard him say, but I wasn't listening anymore.

I suddenly realized there was no one for me in this world. Papa (Gerado) had given up on me. Papa(Manuel) had his own family and children. Diego had his parents. I was the one with no one. I was just drifting from person to person, like a bastard who didn't belong anywhere.

"Enzo... Enzo?" I heard Pedro calling my name, and when I looked at him, his eyes were filled with shock and fear. We were already home, and I hadn't even noticed. I couldn't remember how we got there.

"Are you okay?" he asked, tapping my face gently.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear.

"You just froze, didn't talk or move..." Pedro said, still staring at me.

Without responding, I opened the car door and ran inside the house.