ICE (on hold)

Chapter 20

We’re not going,” I stated firmly. Maurico and I had just left my doctor’s appointment. I was now seven months pregnant and Christmas was approaching soon. This year I had planned to share it with my family that included Maurico, Sofia and Steve or so I thought. Maurico had been acting funny all week and I was finally finding out why. He had agreed that his family and he would come visit his family this Christmas and I was beyond furious.

“Come on babe. They haven’t seen Sofia in almost two years. She’s walking and already trying to talk. My mother is getting tired of the pictures and so is Bella and hell everyone else.

“Do you not remember the last thing I said to your family? I do not wish to be in the company of those people. People that dislike me,” I say trying to keep calm.

“It not that my mother doesn’t like you, it’s more like she doesn’t like how you worded things though and Bella and Frank found the incident quit amusing minus the hitting. When Frank started dating Bella my father almost killed him. He refused to give up his only daughter. Frank never backed down nor gave up, he fought for Bella. If it was up to him they would probably never come to any of our family functions but he comes because he loves his wife and their child. Now Lorenzo my brother, let’s just say he was always the ladies’ man while I was the bad boy but don’t get it wrong Lorenzo can turn off all emotion when he needs to and be straight cold blooded. When Maria came along my father didn’t even acknowledge her until she had been coming over for about three months. Instead of taking offense Maria stuck around and one day she walked up to my dad and said, “Hey I’m Maria and one day I’m going to be your son’s lover, children’s mother and wife. “ Couple months later they were married, the twins came later. My father is a ruthless, arrogant man, but he’s also a loving man. He loves his family with all his being and will never believe that anybody is good enough for his kids. I don’t know if it’s because he doesn’t trust people or if he never wanted us to leave him but if you prove him wrong by your actions he can’t do anything but respect it and respect goes a long way in this family. He prays on the weak. You stay staying away is like telling him he won. That he was right about you.”

Maurico had said so much I had remained silent for the rest of the ride to think everything he just said over. Clearly Mr. Marino had issues but now I know that it’s not so personal. To me he seem like an over protective father who never wanted their kids to grow and leave him, afraid he would be left alone.  I honestly felt bad for him. He was scared of losing his family. Maybe it was his way of life. With a lifestyle they lived you could never know who your enemies could be and how far they would go to hurt you. I would bet he would try in take out a whole country if it came to his kids. His love for them was endless as a father’s love should be. I could not be upset about that I wish I had that same unconditional love from my very own father, but I will never forgive that man for his actions.

Knowing I probably would regret this I went and found Maurico who was watching Dora with Sofia in the living room. Taking a seat on the couch I took a deep breath before nodding my head. “Ok. Well go,” I say without looking at him.

“Really?” he asked half shocked. I could feel his eyes burning into me.

“This whole time you have been fighting for me. It’s time I fought for you.”

“I love you,” he said shooting me a breath taking smile.

“I love you to.” I couldn’t help but think, what did I just get myself into? These people could kill me!!