Page 169 of Arturo's Temptation

“This some sort of sick fuckin’ joke?” I hissed, stepping back.

“It’s no joke,mi hijo… I’m here.” Her mahogany eyes watered as they traced my face.

“Mama?” I managed.

“Sí, Arturo,” she whispered. “Te he extrañado.”

“I don’t understand, I?—”

“I don’t understand either.” She closed the distance between us, holding her arms open to me. “Please…”

Confused and dazed, I wrapped my arms around her, breathing in her familiar scent. This felt different from before. Gone was her warmth and words of comfort, and in their place a hollow shadow of her former self.

“How’d you know where to find me?” I asked.

“I called Ben, he told me you were here.” My shoulders relaxed. Ben was the son of my mum’s best friend. Growing up we’d been like cousins. He’d been the only one who knew where I was going after she died. The only person from my past I had trusted.

“Come in, I, uh… need to make a call.” She nodded then followed me inside. I cracked my knuckles. What was I supposed to do? Pump her for answers? Embrace her? Tell her how much I had missed her? No, mother or not, she had some explaining to do so as usual I kept my guard up. “Sorry, I ain’t got much in, I don’t live here any more.”

“It’s okay. You go make your call. I’ll wait here.” I turned my back and stalked over to the balcony, pulling out my phone and dialling Lorenzo’s number. He answered after one ring.

“Arturo, everything okay?” The shock was clear in his voice.

“Sorry, I didn't want to ruin Bella’s day with her mum,” I sighed.

“What is it?” He asked, going straight into business mode. “You sound off.”

“I hate to ask, but, is there a spare room at the house?” I asked. What else was I supposed to do? I couldn’t leave her here alone, could I? Besides, I needed someone to keep an eye on her while I did a little digging.

“We have a few. Why, who’s it f?—?”

“My mum.” A sharp intake of breath told me I’d surprised him again. Fuck, it sounded insane to my own ears.

“Arturo, son… your mom is dead?—”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought an’ all but she’s here with me right now.” I gazed from the balcony to the lounge, watching her wander around, taking in the sparseness of my flat.

“Bring her here, and then we’ll talk.” He sounded so calm, it was what I needed right now. My first instinct had been to call Bella, but she needed some time with her mum, and I needed to get my head straight before I told her what was going on.

“Thank you.” I hung up the phone and headed back inside. When I reached the lounge, my mum was sitting on the sofa, twiddling the abandoned ring box in her hands.

“So, you are engaged. What is she like?” she asked, her voice flat.

“She’s everythin’,” I smiled. “You’ll meet her soon as we’re goin’ there now.” She handed the box to me, her eyes vacant. “Shit, I guess I should ask,” I murmured, feeling awkward and uncomfortable. “You okay if I give her the ring dad gave you?”

“It’s okay. My memory is a little… hazy. I don’t remember your papa giving me anything other than a wedding band. So, please, I’d be honoured if you gave it to her.” I frowned at the apathetic tone to her voice. I needed to get to the bottom of all of this, but I trusted the guys to help me figure it out.

“Okay, uhm, where are your bags?” I peered around.

“I don’t have anything but this.” She held up her handbag, which was the size of a fucking lunch box. It couldn’t hold much more than a passport and a phone.

“Let’s go then.”

Her eyes widenedas we stood outside the Ricci home. It wasn’t too dissimilar to the reaction I’d had when I first saw it.

“You live here?” I helped her up the steps to the door, where Lorenzo stood waiting.

“Yeah.” I glanced up at Lorenzo whose eyes were strained with concern and suspicion. The bloke never worried about me, and now he was full on panicking. It was downright laughable.

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