Chapter 202

Nico steps through the door with Leo’s hand held tight in his own. I look up and moan at the sight of my little boy, who looks frightened and scared, his face pale and –

And flecked with blood –

I reach for him, crying his name, and Leo breaks from Nico, dashing for me, throwing himself into my lap alongside Daisy and likewise breaking into tears, our own sadness and grief finally giving him permission.

Nico sighs and closes the door behind him, his face grave. I look up at him through my tears, shaking my head, hating him a great deal. Hating his sharp, handsome features and that cold demeanor that always lets him do whatever Christian tells him to without heart or emotion.

My eyes flick over the blood smeared across his shirt, a wave of nausea crashing over me.

But I don’t have time for it. I swallow hard, turning towards my boy.

“Leo!” I whisper, pulling away a little, my hand moving over his head and his little face, down his shoulder and his arm, looking for any wounds any injuries. “Baby are you okay – are you hurt – are you –“

I snarl – literally snarl - whipping my head up to Nico, my eyes and expression telling him that I’ll never, ever forgive him as it is – but if that my son is hurt that I’ll tear him limb from limb right now –

“Oh, calm down, Iris,” Nico says with a sigh, crossing to my sink and starting to wash his hands. “The boy is fine.”

“Mommy,” Leo moans, his voice a raw plea that tears at my heart. I whip my eyes back to Leo’s face, seeing there a mixture of shock and fear, his dark hair tousled and his cheeks pale. My heart drops as I realize he’s seen something terrible – something that will change his entire life.

I growl, pulling him close to me, clutching him tightly as panic courses through my veins. Furious, I move my eyes back up to Christian. “How could you?” I growl.

Christian ignores me, turning to Nico instead. “Did it go as planned?”

Nico’s expression is stoic, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes as he gives a simple shrug, looking around for a dish towel. “It’s done,” he says simply, and my stomach drops.

“No…” I whisper, the realization hitting me like a physical blow. Tears spill down my cheeks as I clutch my children to my chest, their small bodies pressed against me.

Christian crouches down beside me, his face cold and emotionless. “This all could have been avoided if you had just been my good and faithful wife, Iris,” he says, his tone almost casual as if he’s discussing the weather.

“Don’t you dare say that!” I snarl, my words raw. “You can’t pin this on me! You’re the one who made these choices – you did this! You could have just – just let us be!”

“What’s done is done, Iris,” Christian states, his voice cold and unyielding. “You’ve made your choices and so have I.” He shrugs as he stands. “Now we both have to live with them.”

My throat tightens as I process his words. I swallow hard, clutching my children, Daisy still crying and Leo still shockingly silent. “We’re not going with you,” I whisper, trying to imbue my voice with as much authority as I can muster. “I can’t go back to that life. I won’t. I won’t let you drag these two into it. Frankie – he took us away from all of that -”

“Frankie knew the risks,” Christian replies, unblinking. “You can’t live in a fairy tale, Iris. You should have stayed where you belonged.”

I turn to Nico, desperation etched across my face. “How could you – he was your friend -” My voice falters as a sob breaks free, choking me. “Did you really?”

Nico’s silence speaks volumes, and my heart shatters. I bury my face in Leo’s hair, my body shaking with sobs.

Christian watches me, his expression inscrutable, as if he’s detached from the chaos unfolding before him. After a moment he sighs, like he’s tired of all of this. “Get up, Iris,” he says finally, his voice almost softening, though it still carries that chilling edge. “You’re embarrassing yourself and traumatizing your children. Let’s go.”

My eyes dart between Christian and Nico, fast and frantic, trying to think of a way out of this. “Where are you taking me?”

Christian straightens, the coldness returning to his demeanor. “I’m taking you home,” he says, his voice firm. “You’re my wife, after all. It’s time for you to come back to me.”

A mix of disbelief and horror washes over me. “Home? You mean back to America? To that life? I can’t! I won’t!” I shake my head, feeling as if I’m spiraling. Leo clings to me tightly, sensing my distress, and I feel the weight of his small body grounding me, but I’m terrified of what Christian might do next.

“This entire life was a lie, Iris,” Christian insists, his voice steely. “You’re mine, my wife, whether you like it or not. And I’m taking you home.”

Nico stands back, watching silently, his face a mask of indifference. I realize he’s not here to comfort me; he’s here to enforce Christian’s will.

I swallow hard, my heart racing as I look at my children. Leo’s frightened expression pierces me, and I squeeze him tighter, wishing I could shield him from this nightmare. I look to Daisy next, who continues to cry, her beautiful brown eyes – Frankie’s eyes, trained on mine.

What – what am I going to do? How do I get out of this?

“If you come now, without a fight,” Christian replies, and the finality of his words leaves no room for argument, “then I will allow you to raise your children in peace. But if you don’t, Iris,” he says, leaning down towards me. “I will take them away from you – you know that I can. And you will lose everything. Those are your choices right now – lose everything you’ve ever loved? Or settle for the loss you’ve already suffered today and let me take care of you for the rest of your life.”

I shake my head, disbelief mingling with anger, completely overwhelmed by this…ridiculous ultimatum.

“Take the deal, Iris,” Nico says on a sigh, wandering over to the little basket of fruit we always keep on the table and snatching up an apricot, lifting it to his mouth to take a big bite. “It’s better than you deserve. I told Christian to let me take out both of you.”

I just stare at him, disbelieving.

But the calm way that he continues to eat convinces me that…that my death is still very much on the table right now. And I am not yet out of danger.

That I…may never be.

My face crumples at the realization that I have lost – lost utterly -

And as my world crumbles around me, the reality of my situation hits me like a freight train. There’s no escape. Not now. Not ever. And as I look into Christian’s icy eyes, I know he means every word of what he says.

“Let’s go,” Christian says, straightening and taking a step back. “The car is waiting. So is the plane.”

I glance around, suddenly panicked, wanting to stay in my little house forever – wanting to stay here with Frankie and my kids –

A hand wraps around my arm, starting to pull me to my feet. I shout in protest, not wanting to go.

“You’re embarrassing yourself, Iris,” Christian sighs, looking down into my face as I stand, my children now sitting on the floor and staring up at me, their eyes wide and wet. “Pull yourself together, for their sake.”

“Mommy, are we going?” Leo asks, his voice small and shaky.

I look down at him, at his innocent face, and feel my breath echoing shakily in my chest. I turn my eyes back up to Christian. “Promise me,” I whisper – beg, really. “Promise me that you’ll never hurt them – hurt either of them.”

Christian stares at me for a long moment and then gives a single, steady nod. “I promise, Iris. Forever. I will never heart Daisy or Leo.”

I stare into his eyes for a long moment before I make my decision – the worst decision I’ve ever been forced to make. But which we both know…isn’t really a decision at all. My head hangs, half nod, half defeat as I agree to this devil’s deal.

“All right,” Christian snaps, moving for the door. “Get the children. Let’s go.”

Nico comes to stand next to me, again taking Leo by the hand and pulling him to his feet. To my surprise, Leo goes willingly.

“Pick up your daughter, Iris,” Nico sighs, glancing down at Daisy and then lifting his eyes to mine. “It’s time to go.”

“But their things,” I whisper, looking towards the stairs – to our bedrooms –

“Leave it all,” Nico says with a too-casual shrug, moving towards the door. “This life is over. From now on, Christian will provide everything you need.”

I watch him step to the door with my son, still shocked and shaken, before I bend at the waist, picking up my little girl.

She still cries shakily as I pull her close to my chest.

And follow the Mafia King out the door and into our horrible new life.