My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin

Chapter 419: Nothing

[Mama, are you okay?]

Ashley’s thoughts came to a halt when Primo waved a hand in front of her. She looked at the boy across the table, who was watching her with curious eyes.

She smiled and reached over, gently ruffling his hair.

"Yep. I’m fine," she said, pulling her hand back. "Don’t worry about me."

Resting her folded arms on the table, Ashley smiled reassuringly.

"Just thinking about a lot of things, Primo. Adult stuff."

Primo studied her for a second before nodding. Satisfied, he resumed eating.

Ashley watched him quietly, letting out a slow, heavy breath.

She stayed with Primo until Nolan arrived to take over. Ashley and Lucian didn’t want him staying in the hospital any longer than necessary, but they also wanted him close enough that they could check on him at any time.

After seeing him off, Nolan took Primo to a nearby hotel.

As for Ashley, she intended to return to Tommy’s ward and keep Liza company.

At least, that had been the plan.

Instead, her feet carried her to the wing where Isabella was staying.

Ashley stopped outside the private ward, her gaze settling on the window overlooking the room.

Inside, Isabella sat propped against the bed, looking utterly pitiful with that small bandage on the side of her forehead.

Carmella sat beside her, worry written all over her face as she held her daughter’s hand. Marshal stood next to his wife, gently stroking Isabella’s hair.

Ashley didn’t need to hear their conversation to guess what they were talking about.

It was only a few scratches.

Yet they were treating Isabella as though she had survived a life-and-death ordeal.

If this had happened before, Ashley would’ve laughed to hide the ache in her chest.

She had been hospitalized before too. Not once had these people come to see her.

Now, however, she felt nothing.

She thought she should.

The last time she saw Marshal together with his family, her emotions had nearly overwhelmed her.

But this time, there was nothing.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t force herself to feel anything.

She was simply too numb.

Too tired.

Too fed up.

"Good for them," she whispered, giving herself a faint nod.

She watched them for another moment before turning away.

The moment she did, her steps halted.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze.

Scott stood several feet away, his scarred face as unreadable as ever.

Neither of them spoke.

After a brief silence, Ashley walked toward him as though he weren’t there.

She passed him without a word.

"You’re not checking your phone." His voice stopped her after only a few steps.

Ashley glanced over her shoulder.

"Why?" she asked flatly. "Did Marshal tell you to send me another message?"

Scott remained silent.

Instead, he slowly turned to face her.

"I heard you were attacked," he said. "Be very careful, Miss Ashley. Being a soldier of the family is different from being Madam of Dominion."

Ashley immediately understood what he meant.

The enemies she had made while working for the Di Carpios were nothing compared to the enemies she’d make standing beside Lucian.

She scoffed before turning fully toward him.

Looking him up and down, she tilted her head slightly.

Scott never changed.

He still looked at her like she was the little girl who needed everything explained to her.

"It’s good to see you too, Scott," she replied with a sarcastic smile. "I think I’m old enough to know that. You don’t have to spell it out for me."

She held his gaze.

"Scott, I’ll only say this once—for the sake of all the years we worked together."

"You’re no longer talking to one of the family’s soldiers," she said. "My current position allows me to do much more... even without a reason."

The only reason she restrained herself was because she didn’t want to give Lucian more problems than he already had.

Silence settled between them once again.

Then, Ashley turned and took a step.

"I’m glad to see you’re doing well, Miss Ashley."

She paused at his remarks. Ashley bit the inside of her lip but never looked back. Instead, she continued walking while Scott silently watched her leave.

Ashley didn’t hate Scott.

She was angry with him.

There was a difference.

Despite the cruel training, the twisted lessons, and the warped beliefs he had drilled into her as a child, everything he taught her had kept her alive.

It helped her survive the underground.

The Di Carpios.

Marshal.

Every mission that should’ve killed her.

Scott had taught her everything she needed to survive. Had he not constantly watched her back, she would’ve died years ago.

Whenever she was injured, it was always Scott who came to see her.

Though his visits rarely contained comfort.

Instead, he would point out every mistake she had made, forcing her to learn from them so she would never repeat them.

So no...

Ashley never hated him.

Deep down, she was grateful — grateful that he had taught her how to survive. That gratitude, however, was exactly why the anger inside her felt so complicated.

Because no child should’ve needed those lessons in the first place.

Most of that anger belonged to her father.

Yet Scott wasn’t innocent either.

He was the one who made Marshal stronger. The one who gave Marshal the confidence to become the man he was.

In one way or another, Scott had helped create the monster.

Just as Ashley herself had.

She understood that better than anyone.

*****

Scott let out a long sigh as he continued staring in the direction Ashley had disappeared.

"She’s always so stubborn," he muttered.

Just then, the private ward door opened. Scott turned as Marshal stepped out.

Marshal raised an eyebrow.

"What are you doing standing there?"

Scott lowered his head. "Mr. June is awake. Fortunately, he suffered only minor injuries, just like Miss Isabella. But the incident appears to have shaken him."

"What a sissy." Marshal clicked his tongue. "Take me to him before he starts crying to his grandfather. We need to make sure this doesn’t reflect poorly on us."

"Yes, sir."

Scott silently led Marshal in the opposite direction from where Ashley had gone.

He said nothing about seeing Ashley.

Nothing about Dominion.

He could only hope this hospital was large enough that neither side would cross paths again.