My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 98

Aidan

As I paced back and forth, Ivy’s voice brought me back to reality.

"Aidan, please stop. You’re making me dizzy," she said, clearly irritated. But how could I stop when my mind was in such disarray?

"I can’t believe she left. Just walked away without a second glance," I murmured, trying to process the situation.

"At least this time, it wasn’t out of spite," Ivy argued. And she was right, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept.

True. The last time Ellie left, she did it because she hated me. But this time she did, it was because...because what? The reason was still unclear to me. She said she did it to keep her children safe, but were they really safe with Giovanni?

Sure, I wasn’t a saint either, but compared to Giovanni, I might as well be one. He had a reputation for being ruthless and merciless, while I at least had some semblance of a moral code.

"Fuck!" I cried out.

"Aidan," Ivy said softly. "She is going to be fine."

"How do you know that?" I barked.

"I spoke to her today. She said Giovanni is...trying. He made sure she and the children were comfortable, and he even treated her to a nice dinner. Does that seem like someone who wants to hurt them?" Ivy pointed out.

"I don’t trust him," I said.

"Why? Is it because he is the same as you are?" Ivy accused.

I stopped pacing and turned to Ivy, my eyes flashing with frustration. "What do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice tight with anger.

Ivy crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "You know exactly what I mean, Aidan. Giovanni might be ruthless, but so are you. The difference is that he’s showing Ellie kindness. Something you rarely did with me."

I felt a pang of guilt at her words. She wasn’t wrong. "I apologize to you before and I will apologize again. I will do it as many times as you want but I just want the best for Ellie. You know that," I said defensively.

"Do you?" Ivy challenged, her eyes narrowing. "Or are you doing what’s best for you?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but no words came out. Ivy’s words hit too close to home. Deep down, I knew she was right. Maybe I just wanted to keep my sister close out of guilt.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. "I just want her to be safe," I said quietly. "And I don’t trust Giovanni to ensure that."

Ivy’s expression softened, and she took a step closer. "Aidan, sometimes you have to let go and trust that things will work out. Ellie is strong. She can handle herself. And maybe, just maybe, Giovanni isn’t the monster you think he is."

I stared at Ivy, my mind racing. Could I really trust Giovanni? Could I trust Ellie to make the right decisions for herself and her children? It was a leap of faith, but I had no other choice.

At least, not at the moment. I had to come up with a plan to bring her back.

"Alright," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "I’ll try to trust her judgment. But if anything happens to her or the kids, I will raise hell."

"I have no doubt you would, Aidan," Ivy said, rolling her eyes. "But just promise me you won’t do something stupid."

"I promise," I said, though the words felt heavy and uncertain. Ivy sighed, looking at me with a mix of frustration and sympathy. As the tension in the room hung in the air, I noticed a subtle change in Ivy’s expression.

She winced slightly, her hand moving instinctively to her stomach. "Aidan," she said softly, her eyes widening. "The baby just kicked."

My frustration melted away as I rushed to her side, my hand gently covering hers on her growing belly. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice filled with concern. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"I’m fine," Ivy reassured me, a small smile playing on her lips. "It’s just... it always feels so surreal when the baby moves. Like a reminder that there’s this little life growing inside me."

I couldn’t help but smile, feeling a momentary peace wash over me. "It’s amazing," I said, my voice softening. "I can’t wait to meet our baby."

Ivy’s expression softened as she looked at me, the tension between us easing. "Me neither," she said quietly. "But, Aidan, you have to promise me something else. Promise me you’ll be here for us. Not just physically, but emotionally too."

I nodded, understanding the weight of her words. "I promise, Ivy. I’ll be here. I’ll do everything I can to make sure we’re all safe and happy."

Ivy nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "That’s all I want, Aidan. For us to be a family. For Ellie and the kids to be safe. And for us to find some peace."

I nodded. "Me too, Ivy."

That’s all I ever wanted. A family. And I was finally going to have one despite all odds.

"I do miss them," Ivy admitted. "Maybe I should go visit them."

"NO!" I snapped. "I am not letting you step foot inside Giovanni’s house."

"Aidan! If I don’t go, I will never see the kids again." Ivy pouted.

Ivy’s plea made my heart clench. I could see the worry etched into her face, the longing in her eyes. She missed Ellie and the kids deeply, and so did I.

I took a deep breath. "Then let me go with you," I said finally. "If you insist on going."

Ivy nodded. "Yes. We’ll go together. I know you miss them too."

I finally smiled. "Yes. I miss the little guy."

"Giovanni can’t stop Ellie from seeing her own brother," Ivy pointed out.

"He sure as hell can’t," I said.

"Then it’s decided. Call Giovanni and tell him we want to come and see Ellie and the kids," Ivy demanded.

I grinned and grabbed her waist to pull her closer to me. "Sometimes, wife, you can be very bossy."

Ivy snorted. "And sometimes, husband, you need a little push."

I couldn’t help but smile, her infectious energy lifting my spirits. I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Alright, I’ll call him."

As I dialed Giovanni’s number, I braced myself. The phone rang a few times before he picked up, his voice cool and composed. "Blackwood," he greeted, his tone neutral.

"Giovanni," I replied. "Ivy and I would like to come and see Ellie and the kids. Can we arrange a visit?"

There was a brief pause on the other end, and I could almost hear the gears turning in Giovanni’s mind. Finally, he spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Of course. How can I refuse my future brother-in-law’s request to see his sister?"

"I am not your fucking brother-in-law!" I sneered, ignoring Ivy’s glare.

"That’s why I said, ’future’ brother-in-law," Giovanni said evenly.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to control my anger. "Can we arrange a visit or not?"

Giovanni’s chuckle echoed through the phone. "Yes, Blackwood. You can visit. How about tomorrow afternoon?"

"Fine," I replied curtly. "We’ll see you then."

As I hung up, Ivy’s eyes were fixed on me, a mix of concern and frustration in her gaze. "You need to keep your cool, Aidan," she said softly. "For Ellie’s sake and for ours."

"He is infuriating," I complained. "Can’t I just kill him?"

"No!" Ivy snapped.

I let out an exasperated sigh. It’ll be hard for me to keep my temper in check tomorrow. I could already tell.