Shadows from the past

Chapter 9

George 

Then, before I could blink, she pulled away, slipping out of my grasp with a soft but firm push.

A familiar frown crept back onto her face. “Don’t forget the rules, George,” she said, her voice cool and steady. “Stay away from Leo and I… or I’ll have no choice but to leave. Got it?”

She turned and walked away without sparing me so much as a second glance.

I stood still, a mix of surprise and amusement tugging at my lips. She still had that fire in her. But I wasn’t backing down. Not this time. I couldn’t afford to let her slip away from me one more time.

Later that night, I retreated to my room, stealing one last glance towards her door before quietly closing mine.

By morning, I stepped into the living room with my phone already dialing Zach… the private investigator I’d hired the moment Alice moved in.

“What’s the update?” I asked the moment he picked up.

Zach exhaled sharply, followed by a tense pause. “Boss, this isn’t good,” he said, his voice laced with urgency. “It’s been confirmed. Thomas is back… and he’s already started hunting for Alice.”

My jaw tightened. I dragged a restless hand through my tousled hair.

“Damn it,” I muttered. “Thanks for the heads-up. Keep your eyes on him, Zach. I want to know every move he makes.”

“Will do, boss.”

The call ended, but the tension still sat heavy on my shoulders. I turned to the far end of the room… and there he was… Leo, running towards me with his arms stretched wide.

“Daddy!”

I dropped to my knees just in time to catch him, his tiny body crashing joyfully into my arms.

“Hey, kid,” I said, ruffling his curls. His energy… that same spark I had as a little boy… it was written all over him. 

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, daddy,” he beamed, his soft giggles lighting up the room. “I’m so happy I finally have a daddy. In my old school, kids used to call me a bastard because I didn’t.”

My heart clenched.

“Hey,” I whispered, gently rubbing his shoulder. “You don’t ever have to hear that again. You’ve got me now, okay?”

He nodded, then suddenly his smile faded, replaced by a small, sad frown.

I carried him to the couch and pulled him onto my lap. “What’s wrong, buddy?”

He hesitated, chewing on his finger nervously. “I want to go back to school… I miss my friends.”

I glanced down and cuddled him closer, gently brushing my fingers through his curls. “I'm sorry, buddy. But going back to Europe isn’t safe right now. No need to worry though… daddy will find a new school for you right here in NYC, alright?”

His eyes lit up with excitement, and he bounced with joy. “Yayyy! I can’t wait!”

I chuckled, unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips. “Of course. It’ll be fun, I promise.”

But then a sharp voice sliced across the room… behind us. “And what in heaven’s name is going on here?”

We both flinched. I turned quickly, my heart skipping at the sight of her.

“Alice,” I breathed, my eyes scanning her face. “You’re awake.”

She shot me a frosty look and moved straight to Leo, crouching beside him. “I told you to stay in your room until I came for you.”

Leo looked up, a little nervous. “I just wanted to say hi to daddy,” he said quietly.

Alice’s expression tightened. She pulled him gently but firmly towards her. “Don’t call him that. He’s not your father!”

“Hey, Alice,” I muttered, my voice calm but firm as I stepped in, gently taking Leo back into my arms. “Take it easy on him.”

She rose to her feet, her eyes narrowing. “Maybe he should start learning to follow instructions.”

“He’s just a kid.”

“He’s old enough to understand boundaries!” she snapped, her voice sharp. “I don’t want him entangled in your dangerous world, George. And I definitely don’t want him calling you that name.”

I held Leo close, his small hands gripping my shirt, and looked her straight in the eye. My voice dropped, steady and quiet. “But he’s not wrong. He is my son, Alice. You and I both know that.”

She froze, her lips pressed to a thin line as the room fell into a still silence. We stared at each other for a long moment, the tension stretching longer between us.

Finally, I cleared my throat and shifted Leo slightly. “By the way… he’s starting school today. I’ll have my team find the best one in the city.”

Her eyes hardened. She stepped forward, grabbed Leo’s hand and pulled him away sharply from my grip. “Absolutely not. Not until all this is over.”

“Come on, Alice,” I said gently. “He wants to go. And I’ll make sure he’s protected. Nothing will happen to him, trust me.”

“No way.” she insisted firmly, shaking her head. “He's not enrolling in any school here in NYC. This city has done nothing but hurt me. I can’t afford to take any more risks.”

Leo turned towards her, his eyes brimming with tears. “Mommy, why don’t you want me to go to school?” His voice cracked. “Do you hate me now?”

“Oh baby, no,” Alice gasped, quickly dropping to her knees and cupping his cheeks. “I don’t hate you… never. I just want to keep you safe.”

“But daddy said I’ll be safe.”

She froze at that, completely stunned. For a moment, she just stared at him, then shot a sharp glare at me, like she was mentally cursing me for putting those words in his mouth.

After a heavy pause, she sighed. “Alright, sweetheart. Mommy agrees. You’ll go to school. But on one condition…”

Leo's brows furrowed with suspense 

“You must wait for me after school every day. I’ll be the one to pick you up. No one else. Understood?”

He nodded eagerly, his face lighting up with excitement. “Thank you, Mommy!”

I leaned back in my chair and reached for my phone to call my assistant. But just as I was about to unlock it, the screen lit up with an incoming call… from Zach.

I picked without hesitation. “What’s up?”

“Boss, we’ve got a problem,” Zach said, his voice tight with urgency. “There’s a loose end.”

My body tensed.

He didn’t wait for my response before dropping the bomb.

“The doctor… the one from six years ago. He’s just been found dead in his apartment.”