Page 166 of Arturo's Temptation

“Easy… Arturo.” I smiled as I shrugged. “He makes me push myself, Papa. When I’m around him I feel as though I can do anything, and that includes being a mom and leader. He’s loyal. You can trust him.”

“Okay.” He opened his arms and waited. “Come on, Bells. Don’t leave your old man waiting.”

“Promise you won’t hurt him again?” I asked, flicking at pine needles and dirt littering the ground with the toe of my sneaker.

“I won’t touch him again, you have my word.” Relieved, I stepped into his arms and breathed him in. “For the record, I’m looking forward to meeting my grandchild.”

“You have eight months to wait, Pa.” I chucked, as he kissed the top of my head.

“Goes by quicker than you think, diamond.”

“I love him.” I blurted, my eyes tearing up.

“I know. And although he’s a pain in the ass, I guess I can’t deny that he feels the same about you. Guy took the beating of a lifetime to prove it.”

My gut swirled with tension as I pulled back and asked the question that had been circling my mind for hours. “Pa, I need you to tell me the truth… If I hadn’t stopped you when I did, would you have killed him?” My father’s face became impassive as he pondered what I’d asked. My face fell as he sank his hands into his pockets and wandered back to the water’s edge. And just when I thought I couldn’t take another second of waiting his gruff tone floated over to me.

“I wanted to.” I licked my lips and ground my teeth together before wandering over to his side. “God knows I wanted to. Our family’s hands aren’t clean but… the stories I had heard about Arturo?” He stopped and rubbed his forehead. “There are men far more dangerous than me Bells that wouldn’t give me Arturo’s name. That’s the kind of fear he commanded. I probably shouldn’t tell you this but, Bells? Arturo killed his leader when he was barely eighteen.” I waited for the fear to come but it didn’t. I trusted Arturo and I knew if I asked he would tell me everything. But honestly? I didn’t need to. Our pasts were our pasts. All I wanted with him now was the future he promised me.

“You haven’t answered my question, Pa.” He turned to me and grimaced.

“No, Bella. By the time you got there my anger was fizzling out, and when my head was clearing I realised I couldn’t do it. You’re right. He’s been nothing but loyal since the moment he joined our house, and the look on his face when I found you both at that house, I’ve never seen a man look more hollow. A part of me knew he loved my baby girl and that he’d die before he let anything happen to you.”

“You don’t need to worry, Pa, he’s protected me more than once already, I think we’ll be fine.”

“What do you mean more than once already, what are you two hiding?” He questioned, his brows furrowing.

“Nothing! It’s in the past, nothing to worry about now. But if you’re bothered, you can quiz Arturo on it.” I giggled, leaving my father to mull everything over under the tree beside the lake.

One hot shower later,I jogged down the stairs to find Arturo leaning against the island sipping an espresso. “Ahi esta mi chica. Buen día, mi amor.” he beamed. “The bed was pretty fuckin’ empty without you.”

“Is that so?” I teased, running my fingertips along his abs under his tank. “Sorry, I went for a run. Didn’t want to wake you. You looked so tired.”

“I’m absolutely fine, it’s you I’m worried about.” he sighed, glancing over my shoulder to see my father walking toward the house.

“You don’t need to worry about me, I’m good. And the second I’m not you’ll be the first to know.” I whispered, tracing my thumb over the healing bruise under his eye.

“Promise?”

“I promise, now how about some breakfast?” I asked, shimmying away from him to the fridge.

“Great idea, why don’t you and Arturo cook for everyone?” My father voiced from the doorway. “Just don’t poison me, I’d like to meet my grandchild first.”

Arturo laughed as I scoffed.

“I don’t know why you’re laughing, mister. He’s talking about you.” I winked, cracking some eggs into a bowl.

“Bollocks, he ruined my plan.” And for the first time since my father found out, he and Arturo shared a real laugh.

“Can I help?” Theo smiled from the door.

“Of course you can, little man. We’re making pancakes!” Arturo scooped him into his arms as my father left the three of us alone.

“I love pancakes!” Theo wiggled with excitement.

I watched the pair of them laughing and joking as Arturo let Theo mix the batter.

“Papa likes chocolate, can we do that?” Theo asked, shoving chocolate chips into his mouth.

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