Chapter three

               🧁ARIA 🧁

" Mom why are we here ? Why can't we go back home ? " Red fired Questions at me as I passed him takeout for dinner .

" We're gonna spend this night at this lodge okay , I promise I'd look for a solution " I said and he frowned .

" Did the landlady chase us out already ? He asked sadly and my eyes stung with tears .

" It's okay mummy I was tired of staying there anyways this lodge seems nice ... there's a really cute bed " he said and flashed me a grin .

I looked at his face as I smiled .

Red wasn't a spoilt kid , He's very understanding and knows what I can afford ...he's never demanded more than I can offer ...and that has helped over the years .

He sat down on The bed as ate from the takeout ...he was still on his school uniform.

I rubbed my forehead tiredly as I thought of the next step to take .

Italy was the only place I could run to at this point ...I just hope Ann would accept me in her life .

We used to be so close ,she was my best friend and a soul sister .

We knew each other from our kindergarten years ...down to college .

She knew when I began working for Frederico ,she knew when we started dating ,infact she was the biggest fan of our ship ...

I thought with a sad smile....I didn't tell her when I left on my wedding day .

I didn't want her to stop me , she never knew I was pregnant .

I don't even know if she'd be willing to look at me in the face ,but I'm willing to give it a shot no matter what .

I helped my son take a shower and change into comfortable sleeping clothes .

" Mom" he called as I tucked him in bed .

" Yes sweetie" I answered and he kissed my forehead .

" Don't cry okay ,you're my super woman , I don't care where we go ...I just want us to be together always " he said and my eyes stung badly as I tried to hold back my tears .

" I love you Mom " he said and sobs escaped my lips softly but I covered it as I hugged him close .

" I love you too my Son .... mommy loves you a lot " I thought as I wiped my tears .

I watched him and immediately he slept ,I sat there and cried for sometime .

I ended up sleeping on an empty stomach after freshening up .

The next morning I got Red ready because I plan on returning that day .

I was nervous about the fact that I still owed his school and my colleague at work .

Plus my house rent but that was far from my list of thoughts because ... going to prison for dept wasn't what I wanted at this point .

Staying here would only cause danger for me and red .

Running away has been part of my life ..but this time I was running back to a place I'd run away from in the past .

I paid for the lodge and immediately we got to Italy ..I covered my son and made sure my hoodie covered most part of my face .

The last thing I wanted was the Deluca's knowing I was back in the country .

Those people had eyes everywhere ...

They where not just called the number one crime family for nothing .

It disgust me that I was even In a relationship with a Dangerous man like Frederico .

I didn't know ...I couldn't believe it ...he ...he ..." I stopped my trail of thoughts immediately in pannick .

" Mom are you okay" Red Asked and I gave a nod immediately .

" I'm fine baby ...I'm fine okay " I said and he smiled as I walked pulling our trolley .

Each step I took was feeling ten times heavier due to the fear I had in my heart .

" Where are you going ma'am " the Driver Asked and I gave him my address nervously .

Immediately we got in the Taxi , Red began to whisper to the tune of one of his favorite nursery rhymes .

" Sir where is this place " Red asked the driver and I ruffled his head immediately .

 " That's Enough my little lawyer " i said and he whinned immediately .

We got to our stop and I got down from the Taxi and paid the taxi driver.

" Have a nice day ahead ma'am " he said as he drove off .

" Mom ..." Red trailed and I caught him short .

" We are in Italy Red ...can I think properly now ? I asked and he blushed red .

" Good " I said as he looked away.

I looked at the Restaurant nervously and it red " Annabelle's foods and dishes " .

" Wow it's a restaurant mummy I can finally eat to my satisfaction right ? It's a free restaurant right ? Do they sell free foods here ! " He asked as he clapped excitedly .

" No they don't champ ...." I said and his smile vanished immediately .

" Oh " he said and I chuckled softly.

" Don't worry son, mummy's gonna get you something to eat okay " I said and he smiled .

We got into the restaurant and I walked over the counter , the place had really grown bigger than the last time I saw it six years ago .

" What do you wa....." The woman trailed as she looked at me in shock .

" Fvck ...ma'am Aria " She said shocked and I looked embarrassed at her shocked exspression .

" Oh my God ....where have you been ? It's been what ? Six years already " she said still in suprise.

" Where's Anna ? I asked and she swallowed down nothing.

" She's huh ..."

" Madam ..."She trailed and stopped talking immediately I turned and our eyes met .

The dash board on her hands fell down and she picked it up .

" Aria " she said suprised .

" Anna " I said and she looked at me with hurt in her eyes .

" I ...I can explain " I said and she looked at me then back to Red .

" He's ..." She trailed as her mouth opened and closed like a fish .

Anyone who knew Frederico wouldn't need a DNA test to know who his father was ...he was a carbon copy of his father .

" You better have a good explanation Aria " she spat Angrily as she walked in front.

" Mom ..." Red whinned and I ordered something for him to eat .

" Spaghetti and meatballs " he said immediately the waitress came to take our order ..

" Let's talk in my office " she said and I held my son's hand immediately .

I wasn't crazy to just leave him there .

" Serve the dish at my office " she said to her worker ..as I left with her .

Immediately Red saw the dish he began to dig in and Anna stared at him as she wiped the tears that threatened to leave her eyes .

" Go on ...tell me what happened because trust me I'm really loosing my mind right now Aria ! She yelled Angrily .

" I'm ...so .. sorry ...I just had to leave " I said as my voice shook with hurt .

" You had to leave ? What do you mean by you had to leave ...! Do you know what your running away caused all of us !

" I thought I was important to you ? I thought I was your sister ! She screamed and red looked at us confused .

" It's nothing honey " i said and he faced his food .

" Speak because I'm about to loose it , oh my God Aria and you even have a son ? What more are you hiding ! She asked Angrily and I felt hurt .

" You won't understand ...I wanted to tell you ,I badly wanted to tell you , but you wouldn't have let me Leave and Frederico ..." I trailed as I pannicked .

" I don't understand "she said frowning .

" You can't keep everyone in the dark ,it was so insensitive of you to have left him waiting at the Alter like that , Frederico was such a nice guy who loved you with his all ....he sacrificed a lot for you ....Aria ! She said confused and hurt .

My eyes stung as I looked away.

" Frederico is not who you think he is " I said and she scoffed .

" Why ? What are you trying to say Aria ...a man that loved you crazily? He waited for you at the Alter for hours ....that guy couldnt survive that heartbreak you fed him Aria ...he was looking for you everywhere and nearly went insane ! She spat angrily and tears rolled out of my eyes.

" I don't want to talk about it ...." I trailed .

" Don't feed me that rubbish , how can you not want to talk about him when you have his child with you ..."she bursted .

" Shhhh... please" I said and she folded her hands .

" I wonder what you told your son ? Did you tell him his dad was dead ? what's wrong with you Ari ? She asked and I ran my fingers in my hair .

" You don't get it ... you'd never understand .... Frederico is a criminal ....not just a minor criminal Anna ....he. .....he....is part of the mafia " I said and her eyes widened .

" What ? She said shocked .

" Yes ...I don't want to talk about the things that made me leave Italy ...but one thing I want is that Frederico never finds out about my son ..." I said in pannick .

" De LUCA ...I Can't believe this , Frederico is part of the mafia ? Aria you're both not safe here " she said and I rubbed my face .

" I know but I want to stay low key for the main time ... Frederico must never know I'm in the country ..."

" I'm here to help Ari ... always "

" I'm sorry about everything you had to go through ...I'm here now ... we've always been sisters ,I promise to stand by you" she said and I tears rolled outta my eyes as she pulled me into a hug .

He'd never know About Red ,I'd protect him from that monster .

TBC