Heartless Ending Book 3 of the Heartless Series

Chapter 10 - Surprise Gift

Carmela's POV

The plane ride back to New York was quiet, I refused to talk because I didn't want to hear anything Timo had to say. I knew he didn't like the way I gave Romeo is ring back but I knew he wouldn't judge me for it. "Will you just say it." I quietly snapped at him, I'd had enough of his eyes on me. "Do you think just taking Luca back is the best way to do this?" I turned slightly in my chair angling my back to Timo and stared out the window, trying to block him and his doubts out.

The clouds outside the window were white and fluffy covering all land mass fully so there was nothing of interest to look at out there. This allowed my mind to wonder over Timo's words, exactly where I didn't want it to be. I sighed, I knew that this probably wasn't the best way, but I could make him happy, I'm his mother he should be with me not her. But at the same time I didn't want to traumatise him, and damage any of the little trust we have gained. "So what did Romeo have to say on the matter?" I relented and asked, still not wanting to look at Timo. "He doesn't know that is what your planning, but I can imagine he thinks you will. He said he won't stop you seeing Luca." My heart clenched. "How do you know he's telling the truth? It could be a trap to finish me off and be a family with his new wife without interference from me." Timo took my hand in his, he has done this many times. It's his gesture to calm my fears and to just trust him and I knew I blindly would. "I trust you, I'm just scared." We remained like this for the rest of the journey to JFK airport.

As we pushed through the front door of our apartment we had agreed that in 3 days not 10, we would go back to Nevada and I would give it a shot at playing nice with Romeo to gain Luca's trust, in the end I still wanted him living with me full time but as Leo pointed out we would have to play this very smart and close to the chest as Stefano would be our biggest threat. Melanie was under his thumb and if she suspected or knew I was alive then you can be sure he knows too. I will admit he never entered my head until now, I just wanted the separation between myself and my son gone. I wondered if they knew it was me that killed Niko, I guess my desperation has led me to make rash and quick decisions, but I regret nothing.

I fully intended on having a fun night with the guys gambling and chilling after a stressful couple of months. "Pizza?" I called to the guys as I walked back into the living room after showering and changing into my comfortable lounge wear, I wasn't paying attention as I walked, I was just fixing my damp hair into a messy bun, when I was halted in my tracks, dropping my hair down my back as I took in the sight in front of me. No words. I had no words for what I saw just shock.

A dozen long stemmed red roses where stood in a vase on the coffee table with a white envelope attached to it. I was stunned. How did he know where we lived? Are we in danger? Does Stefano know? "He doesn't know Carmela. These were sent to your old place. I received a call from Nick these were left outside your door. He stole them from your door and checked if there were any bugs or trackers in them and then called me." I looked between Timo and the beautiful flowers. "Was there anything?" He shook his head. "What if someone saw you bring them here?" Timo said nothing but pushed me gently towards them, but I dug in my heels. "No, throw them out. I don't want them." I snarled. Romeo had no right sending me these, he has a wife and it isn't me. Yes, I was bitter about that, but I pushed the thought away and continued my journey to the kitchen, scooping up the vase as I went and threw them in the trash. "You might want to keep the envelope." I looked over my shoulder towards Timo leaning up against the doorframe in his usual stance of arms folded over his chest. "Why?" He shrugged and left me alone.

I looked back towards the discarded flowers and reached for the envelope. I hated Timo at times he knew by provoking me I would take this and eventually look at it, so I just got it out the way. I opened the lip of the envelope not knowing what to expect, my hand flew over my mouth as I gazed upon the photos of my beautiful baby boy in a photo strip from Coney Island, the time stamp was my birthday. He was here in New York, my heart squeezed and longed for him even more. I silently thanked Romeo for sending these to me, as always, the fourth photo was missing, this made me smile, I guess somethings don't change.

Timo came up behind me resting his head on my shoulder, I could sense the smug smile he was displaying on his face even without looking at him. "Shut up." I said, shrugging his off my shoulder and I could hear Leo laughing from the living room. "I think you owe me pizza. Make the call." I rolled my eyes and called the pizzeria to place our usual order. The rest of the night we laughed, ate and Leo lost a good chunk of the contents of his wallet to me and Timo, in the end giving up and became the dealer for us to go head to head. The stakes were high and money wasn't the only thing on the table to be won, we started to make things interesting and to the winner went a question that had to be answered truthfully. The first round went to me, I think he threw that game just to see what type of questions were to play for. I asked something about Amy, she was a subject that we didn't really talk about. "Do you miss her?" He smiled through his sadness before answering me. "You sure you want to go down this line of questioning? It works both ways." He eyed me as I bit my lip in contemplation before nodding. "Everyday. She was the love of my life." I smiled wide at his declaration, but I was sad at our loss, she was an amazing person.

The next round we both took our time and studied the other before making our play, I was a little nervous about losing but again I won. Just. "Do you think you will ever love again?" Timo repositioned himself in his chair, I wanted to retract my question, but I so wanted to know if he thought people could love again after that type of love. The type that was earth shattering and changed you, shook you to your very core. "I don't know. Maybe." I wasn't sure either. I was on a roll and won the next round too, I was in complete amazement, I thought for sure he had that one. "Tell me a secret." I know it wasn't a question, but I didn't know what else to ask. He rested his chin on his hands as his elbows propped him up and smirked at me. "Other than I'm letting you win?" I batted his arm resenting his assumption of letting me win, which made them both laugh. "I was engaged to Amy. The night she died is the day I proposed to her." My laugher instantly stopped at his confession, I was devastated for him, plus I didn't even know how to respond to that.

"Come on, it's your bet?" He encouraged me, but I was still in my stunned state. "Win again and I'll tell you all the details I had planned for the wedding, don't and I get to ask as many questions as I'd like." I nodded not really knowing if I wanted to know the answer, it was like a romantic tragedy from a movie or something. Safe to say I didn't win that round. "Do you miss Romeo?" He threw my question back at me. I looked to the floor for answers but found none. "Yes, but I can't forgive him."

"Why not?" I stared into his eyes seething, he knew why. "Because he left me for dead and took my son from me." He leaned back in his chair folding his arms over his chest. "What makes you think he had a choice?" I didn't want to think about this. I didn't want to think of him as not having a choice. "There's always a choice." I snapped. "Is there really?" "YES." I slammed my hand down on the table. "Seems to me like there's something we don't know about. Something that played his hand." My breathing was erratic, my chest heaved with anger. "Do you still love him?" I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat threatening to cut off my air supply. "Yes, but that doesn't matter. He will never have me, he destroyed my love for him. Are you on his side now?" I clenched my fists at my side while looming over him. "No, but I think you need to address these feelings before being in the same room as him and your son." I got into Timo's face, as if he were my target. "Don't tell me how to feel, he is lucky he isn't dead." I said the last word through my teeth before storming off to my room, slamming the door behind me.

Timo's POV

"Timo did you have to push her like that?" Leo said concern thick in his voice. "Yes I did. That boy needs love and stability not to be traumatised by their feud." I could see the conflict that was going on in his brain, remorse washed over me maybe I pushed too hard. "Will you go check on her, I don't think I'm her favourite person at the moment." Leo left the room headed for her room.

I walked to mine and picked up the photo frame from my dresser. It was a photo of myself and Amy the day Carmela and Romeo got married, she was so beautiful. Her gown was fitted and silver that went just above her knee, her golden hair glistened under the twinkling lights of the patio, her brown eyes soft and full of love. She was on my back, her arms wrapped around my neck and looking into my eyes as Enzo took that photo, this was the night I knew I wanted to marry Amy, I just hadn't found the perfect ring yet.

If I had the chance like Romeo does, I would stop at nothing to get her to love me again, at the very least get her to forgive me. 

If only I had the chance.