chapter 59

◇ KEL ◇   No Drew - Niccolo warning her about Ilya

"Morning. Get enough sleep?"

"Are you in his room?"

"Yeah. Why?" Mykaela gripped her phone and glanced at the sleeping patient on the hospital bed. She had dimmed the lights, aiming to log some Zs before the doctor checked up on Lorenzio again. "Niccolo okay?"

"Alive and kicking," Miles replied nonchalantly. "Guards still up?"

"I guess. Alessio brought food few hours ago. Tell Nicco to rest more. Don't overwork him."

"He'll live. Is the patient asleep?"

"Yeah. Didn't sleep much last night." Mykaela got up from the couch to look out the thick glass windows. She waited for an affirmative reply from Miles. Hopefully he and Ricchar didn't have to drive out of the estate to sort out some "business meetings".  She didn't even want to know at this point. "You dropping by?"

"No." Miles sighed shortly.

"Oh."

"Tell me you're still leaving tomorrow," Miles muttered, sounding rather glib and...frustrated? His voice sounded quite gruff. Lack of sleep again?

Actually she didn't know if she wanted to leave Italy. The plane tickets were ready, but, Enzo still needed company. It wouldn't be easy to just leave him here, away from his family and friends, hurt and weak. And he'd asked her to stay. For how long?

"You know why that nutjob did that to his own brother?" Miles sighed when she didn't respond. "He caught Lorenzio peeking at his itinerary, bank transactions and stuff. The don just had another stroke. Still alive, but, you know he's already vegetable. So the psycho wanted to murder Lorenzio for being away instead of taking care of the old man."

"His concept of strong family ties needs some reassessment." Kel almost rolled her eyes. If only Leandro wasn't such a ticking time bomb, she wouldn't have to be here. Her weekend plans wouldn't have to be this disrupted.

"Sparing you the details. Did he tell you he wants Leandro jailed?"

"What?" Crap. Her gut feeling of course was right; Enzo had been planning something.

"Don't believe for one second that performance earlier means he's the devoted son. That psycho just wants the best inheritance in the will. He's getting in bed with his father's top tier connections so they can monopolize the trade. Lorenzio found out and wants to clean up the family business, so he's a big threat."

She pondered the thought. Her heartbeat kind of halted at his every statement. Well, more like, bombshells. It all made perfect sense.  So...Lorenzio trusted the Falcos more than his own family? Enzo obviously spilled everything to Miles and Ricchar. "What happens now?" she asked Miles, genuinely confused.

"Say your goodbyes. Get on that flight tomorrow. Don't talk to anyone else except family, Gaia, minimum online visibility. Live normal."

Oh no. Not this again.

"If a cop or detective or anyone you don't know asks, say you only had to be here for work. We're not talking anymore, and you only met Lorenzio and Leandro a few times because they're Pappa's business associates. They ask you other questions,  tell them to talk to your lawyer."

Oh man. It was sounding crazier by the second. "Right," she muttered before glancing at the hospital bed.  Enzo was sleeping soundly, still. "I can't contact you? Even if I'm using the new one?" She stared at her bag. Miles had sent another new and "more secure" phone last night. He probably owned dozens of burner phones the past year alone.

"For a while, no. I'll get in touch, after this shit blows over." Miles sighed louder. "Just get on that flight. Go home. Focus on school. Nothing else."

Darn it. His advice sounded more like commands. But they were in her best interests. She wanted to complain, sure...but he just wanted her safe and out of his family's mess.

That also meant she couldn't communicate with him for months, and her heart sank at the reality.

"I'll see you soon. Don't stress over it," Miles reassured when she fell totally silent. "Just don't talk to Lorenzio or Andrew or meet up with anyone you don't know. The guards will pick you up at the airport and drive you home. They'll check your phone before the flight."

Andrew? Why bring up Drew again? Her heart skipped a beat at an image that popped into her mind. "Did something happen? You talked to Drew?"

"No. But I need you to stay out of it. Okay?" Miles sounded almost pleading now.

Desperate? Scared for her safety? But why? Was she or her family in grave danger? Her chest tightened at the mere thought. "Tell me everything. What's wrong?" She sat down again, her legs weakening. "Miles."

"Nothing.  We just gotta be more careful."

"You're...scaring me."

"Just go home. Don't worry." Miles lowered his voice. "I just want you back in New York, safe."

"Stop saying that." She paused, realizing her voice got louder. She wasn't alone in the room, but Enzo remained still on the hospital bed, his chest moving slightly with every breath he took and just resting better. Thank God.  "What're you guys planning?"



"Nothing you need to know," replied Miles, his tone cold. "Safe trip. Talk soon."

"Where are you?" Darn. She wanted answers, not empty promises again.

"Driving to the city with Ricchar." Miles cleared his throat. "Lorenzio knows you gotta leave tomorrow; I talked to him."

"Can you drop by? At the airport? My flight's before dinner. We could grab a bite..." She held her breath, hoping for a yes. Her anxiety wanted him here now, actually. Wishful thinking, obviously. But she still hoped. "Please?"

Miles sighed again. They were both quiet for a moment. "I can't."

Fine. Clearly he had more important things to do.  "Don't do anything brash."

"I'll try."

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"Kel, it's Nicco."

Mykaela pulled her phone away to stare at the unsaved number on her phone screen.  Local area code.  The familiar, husky voice assured her it was definitely Niccolo.  "Where are you?"

"Relax. Niccolo and I go way back."

"What?" Niccolo? He got her new number from Niccolo? He knew Niccolo all this time? But, how? "Wait. Are you still in LA? With Beth?"

"For now. You okay? He said you're in the hospital." Andrew paused and sounded genuinely concerned. "With that Tomassini guy."

"Had to take him to the ER. Hold up. How do you know Nicco?"

"Not important. Go back to New York. Lay low. Don't meet up with my uncle."

His Uncle Ilya? How did he even know? Oh. Niccolo must've told him. "You mean, you and Niccolo used to work for...  Why does your uncle want to meet up again? Meet up with us?"

"No. I'm leaving the country with Beth," Andrew replied casually. "Listen. Just go home. Stay in New York,  with bodyguards always, finish school, stay off social media. If Ilya finds you, and I genuinely hope he doesn't, don't believe anything he says."

"W-What? Why?"

"He's not someone you could trust," Andrew said of his Uncle Ilya.

"Mr. Falco wants me to meet up with your uncle." In fact, she could still recall Stefano insisting that she should go see Ilya. Why? She had not a single clue. "Nicco only told me they used to do business together."

"You don't need to know more. Trust me."

"Fine. At least, let me know you'll be okay...wherever you and Beth will be going." Kel tried not to frown. She glanced behind and saw Enzo fully awake now and talking to the nursing staff who was checking his bandages.

"Let's hope for the best," Andrew replied over the phone.

"D, be serious. I haven't heard from you in months. I was emailing Rob but he never messaged me back."

"Stop emailing him. I don't talk to him often. Or anyone else. It's smarter." Andrew stayed quiet for a moment. "We'll try the getting off the grid thing. Beth didn't want to at first, but..."

Well, alright. If he and Beth decided it was for the best, then she should just support their decision. "Just be careful. Please."

"You should tell yourself that, too." Andrew chuckled, but it wasn't one of humor. "First, the Falcos...and now the Tomassinis.  Un-fucking-believable.  Seriously, Kel. You clearly don't know these people. They're capable of anything."

"Can we meet up? Before you leave the States?" She just felt like he wanted to tell her a lot of things. A lot. But in person. More privately.

"Better we don't. Just be careful. Okay?" Drew sighed. "Put yourself and your family first. Not those people you barely know." His tone denoted annoyance now.  "Bye."

Their last goodbye? She prayed otherwise. She wasn't quite ready for another violent incident.  "Okay. Bye," she replied, his words leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. Hopefully Niccolo or Miles would tell her more.  Much more.

"Bellezza."

She turned around. The patient was on his feet now, standing closer to her than to his hospital bed. She put her phone away and focused her attention on him. The nurse had already left the room.

"We're leaving."

◇

The patient.

Bless his thoughtful, caring heart.

To her surprise, Enzo only wanted to leave the hospital just so he and the  guards could take her to the airport. He didn't want her to miss her flight.

He just knew how to tug at her heartstrings. Mykaela  smiled to herself.

Naturally she tried to talk him out of it. She tried and tried to reason with him, but the guy kept insisting he was ready to go home.

Far from it, considering his limp worsened and his posture wasn't back to normal yet, but of course he argued. "We're leaving. Can't miss your flight."

"I won't. I'll take a cab. Or Alessio can take me to the airport."

"Cab? You're joking." Enzo frowned. "I'd feel better if I drove you there myself."

"You can't. So just stay here. Rest up."

"I'm fine. Already talked to the nurse." Enzo stayed sitting on the edge of the bed, hands busy with his phone, as if to show her he was completely okay and able now.

Just to halt the arguing, she asked him to visit the chapel with her instead. The question caught his attention instantly. "Just for a few. Please?"

Although he hesitated for a moment, he agreed. "Just for a few."

Alessio opened the door for them as she guided the patient out of the private room. Enzo's bodyguard followed them till they reached the entrance of the small, dim-lit chapel on the second floor.

In the almost empty chapel, alone in the front row, Enzo sat beside her, his left hand and thigh almost touching hers. To her senses, the all-white drapes, floor, and wooden chairs didn't strongly smell of antiseptic this time. The A/C wasn't turned on, and she sat next to the patient who was simply staring at the quiet altar.

A lifelike sculpture of Jesus dying on the Cross held his full attention for a while.

After reciting a few prayers in her head, Mykaela continued watching him, containing the urge to reach for his hand. Was he praying? Was he sad? Did he still feel lonely?

Likely, and she fully understood why.

They stayed totally silent for what felt like half an hour. Slouching beside her, Enzo kept his arms crossed over his chest now, his expression blank, his gaze vacuous.

Should she try to console him? Ask him if he wanted to go back now?  She touched his forearm gently.  "Done praying?"

"I don't pray anymore."

Mykaela blinked. His terse response pricked a needle into her heart. Did he mean what he said?

"There's no point."

"Um...sorry...that you feel that way."

"Don't apologize for anything you didn't do." Enzo kept his head facing forward, eyes avoiding her stare. His voice sounded gruff, mellow and tired at the same time. "Can't remember the last time I went to church, honestly." He snickered.

Alright. Not everybody went to church. He could just be feeling particularly insouciant about it at this point in his life. "For what it's worth, He always forgives if you ask sincerely. And He always listens." She stopped touching the patient's hand to carefully put her arm over his shoulder. "All you gotta do is just talk to Him."

"Not sure about always, but...I'll try." Enzo forced a smile as his blue eyes stayed focused on the altar.

"God always listens. Trust me." She squeezed the top of his arm in reassurance. How he ended up losing faith in God, she might never know. Should she tell him that better days would come? Would he believe so?  "Why don't you pray anymore?"

"I killed him." Long pause. Weak shrug. Tear on his cheek. "He's dead now. Because of me."

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