Chapter 130 - Salvatore And Emy

"How many times have I told you not to intervene into her private life? Keep your boys' nose out of ger personal affairs. Just stay in background….act only when she is in some serious danger… I don't need to know who she meets and what she does… Don't act until you get the orders from me." 

Santiago had been protecting his family from the sidelines from the moment he had enough resources. When he fled Lorenzo's prison, he thought of going back. But just the thought of how he escaped the prison, made him stop in his footsteps. He was fifteen at that time. And had killed two of Lorenzo's men. 

Thinking how his cop father would react when he would know that his son was a murderer, he realized that he was going to make a big mistake. Moreover, he wasn't the same boy anymore. He had killed and been killed by them mentally and emotionally since that day. He didn't see his life from the same mirror his father or his family did. Most of all, he would never be able to face them again, especially not after understanding how big of trouble his family would be when he returned. 

Lorenzo would hunt him down and kill him along with his family. At that moment, when he escaped that prison, he vowed to become strong and avenge him and his lost childhood in that dungeon. 

When he became a man of means and resources, he watched his family from the sidelines, protected them and made their life more comfortable. 

Thankfully, it wasn't too late. His family had another son, Cameron. He was loved and spoiled by all. Santiago longed to touch him and feel what it meant to spoil the little brother. But he wasn't allotted with the joy ever. He saw his sister falling in love with a man who had loved her genuinely and later marrying him. He saw Jackson's demise and his sister shattering into pieces. He also saw a little blue eyed little boy, his nephew coming to their lives. All from the sideline. 

When Jackson died, it was him who by his connection produced the document stating Jackson had a million in his account. It was him who had been bearing little Santiago's and Cameron's fee to fancy and private school in the name of educating the martyr's family. 

It was him who was paying for Cameron's so-called scholarship to NYC law school. It was also him who brought their ancestral home from Valencia in Boston at double the price. 

They would call him a bastard for manipulating them or cheating them. But in his opinion, he was just trying to make the lives of his family easier. He had seen Valencia shouldering more burden she deserved. He was just trying to help his family as he still considered him one of them. He loved them and cared for them in his own sick twisted way. 

Was it too much that he just wanted to see them happy? He knew that he would never be able to call them family as he feared their lives getting tangled with him, but still it didn't stop him from caring for them in his own way. 

And today, when he saw Cameron bleeding and getting beaten, all his deterrence flew away. All those years, he maintained distance from them but today, in a moment of loss of control, he did the unthinkable. And as greedy as he might look, he tricked Cameron with his words and made him stay the night at his home. Even for the one last time…

Still, Santiago wasn't able to understand Persephone's connection with Cameron. He wanted to know how they were acquainted. Given Persephone's obsession with pretty blue-eyed people, it wasn't hard to believe that she was acquainted with him just for this reason alone. After all, he had seen the height of her madness. She had tattooed blue eyes on her heart. Was it less proof? 

…. 

On Persephone's side… 

Persephone saw Isabelle and Sophia leaving with her pitiful face and hands clutched on her stomach.As Salvatore took a step, he murmured,"You can stop acting." 

Persephone's eyes widened and she turned her head in his direction. "How did you know?"

Salvatore ruffled her hair lovingly and murmured,"Perhaps, I have met people more dramatic than you " 

Persephone pursued her lips. "Why didn't you ---"

"Why didn't I tell everyone else about your lie?" Salvatore asked her. 

Persephone nodded her head. 

"That's simple...I wanted to know what you were planning." Salvatore's answer was some but there was a tinge of curiosity in it. "I have noticed you behave strangely with Vitello. Did he give you any kind of trouble?"

Persephone thought for a moment before saying,"If he gives me trouble, would you take my side? Would you stand against papa?"

"Try me," Salvatore said with a teasing look. But something in his eyes was telling her that he was indeed serious. Shaking these thoughts, she asked,"Don't ever fight with papa for me. It ain't worth it." 

"We will see when the time comes," Salavtore said as he held her hand and took her out of the parking lot. 

Since they were standing in front of Ellison's cafe,shouldn't they come in too? These were the thoughts that were wandering in Persephone's mind. 

"Sal?"

"Hmm?"

"How about you take me there?" Persephone asked him, pointing her finger at the cafe. 

"No," His answer was sharp and curt. 

"Why do I have a feeling that you are hiding something from me?" Persephone questioned him. 

"You are thinking too much," Salvatore ticked her forehead with his finger. 

"Really?" She looked at him with narrowed eyes. "If everything is as fine as you are making it seem, come and accompany me there. I will believe you." 

Salvatore was at a loss for words but in the end he nodded his head. 

With a huge grin and holding his hand, they entered the cafe. It was closing time and only a few people were present there. She asked Salvatore to accompany him to buy the desserts and snacks and immediately asked the family waitress to pack them up. Quickly, she was handed her paper bag and they were about to exit the cafe when they heard a loud wail. 

Persephone in worry turned her head to find a crying Emy. Her nanny was holding her and trying to console her but the kid was just keeping on crying. The nanny looked restless and the toddler… sick.

"Baby, calm down. Mama will be here soon," Her nanny said while consoling. 

Persephone kept the paper bag there and went to the crying toddler. "What happened to her? And why is she crying?" 

The nanny was on the verge of crying. She took this job just a month ago. The kid didn't cry unnecessarily but today she wasn't keeping calm.

"Emy! Baby!" Persephone cooed at her. She touched her red and wet cheek. "Why are you crying? Hush…" 

With a worried tone, she asked,"Where is Ellison?"

"Ellison had an accident in the kitchen…"Persephone's eyes widened at the intensity of the information. She continued," It was just twenty minutes ago. And Emy saw her mother's hand getting burned… It wasn't a big accident but it needed medical attention. So, Ace took her to see the doctor." 

"Will she be alright?"Persephone asked her. 

"It was a second degree burn. So, she will be fine,"The nanny replied. "But I don't know how to make Emy understand that her mom will be alright. She has been freaked out since then." 

Little Emy who was still crying was now breathless. She was having trouble breathing from all the crying. Her gaze accidentally fell on the tall figure standing behind Persephone. If one were to see him carefully right now, they would find him trembling. His face was empty and his jaw tight. 

"Dawdaaa!" Emmy wailed. 

"She is calling for her dad?" Persephone asked with furrowed brows. 

Emmy cried and tried to get out of her nanny's hold. 

They saw that the toddler was looking the figure behind them. She had been calling him her dad again and again. 

"Sal," Peesephone uttered. "Take her in your arms for a moment. Perhaps, she will stop crying. I can't see her crying any more." 

Salvador robotically took the toddler in his arms. Emmy clutched on his neck and buried her face in his strong shoulders. She let out an even louder wail this time. "Dawda, mommy huwrt. Hurt. Big hurt. Uff. Ewmy. Saw mommy crying." 

"Ahh," Salvatore hushed her as he patted her lovingly. "Mommy will be fine, cupcake." 

Much to their shock, Emy after her long crying session fell asleep in his arms soon after. 

"Thank you, Sir!" The nanny sighed in relief. She tried taking Emy out of his hold but she didn't understand why Emy even in her sleep isn't letting him leave.. It was such a weird scene for her. As much as she knew the toddler, she hadn't seen her as much attached to her mom than anyone