◆ Corrupted Morals ◆
◇ KEL ◇
He wanted me to press charges to help put his brother behind bars for good. It made sense and I clearly understood why, but, I didn't think it was my job to do.
Or maybe I was just being a stupid coward. Exams and heaps of books that needed reading still waited for me and I couldn't afford to lose sleep over our issues with his brother.
Maybe Enzo had run out of patience this time. Maybe seeing his brother jailed would be the only thing that would give him peace of mind...the only thing that would make him feel safe.
It's a no-brainer. I should help him. Help right some wrongs his brother did. Help seek justice for the people Leandro had harmed.
On the other hand, I didn't have the time, guts, or will. What I wanted now was for Enzo to recuperate fast. Then I could go back to studying every day, preparing for exams and residency. Time for anything else was not a luxury I had at this point.
"Sorry. I just can't." I put my arm on Enzo's shoulders, almost hugging him. "I need a normal life, like you said." I tried to dull the worry in my voice with a fake chuckle.
"At least your family should know."
"No," I insisted, exasperated by the subject. He worried too much for my sake even though right now, he was the one all beat up and hospitalized. "Worry about yourself. Okay?" I took a deep breath. Some familiar warmth was pooling in my eyes. I wanted to hug him but he had rib fractures and bruises all over. "You're hurt. Angry. I get it. You should be. But right now, let's focus on getting you out of here."
"You'll keep it a secret forever?" Enzo made a face when I kept mum. "Be realistic, Mykaela."
"You know what's at stake."
"Doesn't mean just sweep it under the rug."
I sighed and kept an argumentative comment to myself. Maybe he needed to be alone right now, and maybe he just didn't know how to say it. Fine. I'd make the move. "You want me to go?"
No answer again. Not even eye contact.
"I'll leave now, if me being here just upsets you more."
"No." Enzo closed his eyes. Then he finally got rid of his scowl.
Conceding? I hoped so. "I'm going." I backed away from the hospital bed. The tension in my muscles lessened when his expression turned quite neutral. A more comfortable silence lingered. "Berto and the guards will stay, anyway."
"No. Wait." Enzo sighed. "Okay. Okay. Sorry."
Finally. I almost let out a sigh of relief. An apology from him could mean he was back to being calm. Reasonable. Even agreeable. "It's okay." I stroked his slightly greasy bangs away from his bruised cheek. "What do you want?"
"Stare qui."
[Stay here.]
Oh shoot. He really wanted me to stay.
"Stai qui con me." Tears moistened his cheeks now.
[Just stay here with me.]
My chest coiled. His hand on my forearm grew warmer as I pressed my lips together. I sighed and stayed beside the hospital bed, his arm pulling me closer.
"Ti prego." Enzo hugged me. He muffled his sobs using my shirt, his face settling in the crook of my neck, his stubble scratching my skin. "È sbagliato...cosa ti ha fatto."
[Please.] [It's wrong...what he did.]
"Hey. It's fine." I stroked his back gently. I shouldn't hug him; his ribs would hurt more. But hearing him sniveling melted whatever negative thoughts I harbored. It was the first time I'd seen him get this emotional. "Lorenzio, I never blamed you."
"Sorry."
"It's okay, babe," I murmured. "Just worry about you right now."
Enzo kept sniveling, crying, apologizing. Then he hugged me tighter.
Fear, the trauma, his heartbreak, the helplessness...
It all plagued him, and I knew his brain was just deflecting when he brought up my decision to just forget about San Pietro. His mentally unstable criminal brother should be feeling sorry for this. But, rather unlikely.
"Just get better, so we could..." I sighed as I waited for Enzo to calm down, with his warm face still pressed onto my neck. "So you'll be out of here soon."
A quiet minute stretched. Then he pulled away to dry the tears on his flushed cheeks. Hastily, he wiped them off with his hand, the one without a stitched up knuckle wrapped with clean bandages.
I backed off. I should give him some space. I shouldn't be encouraging any more physical contact. He just had surgery. "Get some sleep." I handed him clean tissues and a glass of water.
He needed more rest and some time alone to deal with it all. After he drank some water, Enzo pulled the sheets over his legs and closed his eyes, still snuffling.
Okay. I should back off now. Leave him alone. He was no longer keen to talk about everything else that bothered him.
Neither should I stress him out further by telling him what else had gone wrong:
1) Stefano threatened me and my family after torturing a helpless Niccolo.
2) Stefano blackmailed me to work for them.
3) Stefano warned us about Ilya and the Russian mob.
Pretty sure the list didn't end there. Would Stefano put it on paper, though? I still had to undergo years of training after graduation.
Perhaps the sadistic mobster wanted me to finish residency training here in Italy. Then I'd be stuck working for the Falcos for years. Maybe even decades...
Would I be forced into the Falco clan? Feign a more formal relationship with Miles? I imagined that would require me to live with Miles again under the same roof. But, agreeing to a marriage of convenience...
My family would oppose if they knew the real reason behind it. No doubt. They would convince me to choose a different path. But merely thinking of what Stefano would do if I didn't hold my end of the deal...
Miles promised me his father didn't mean to threaten me, but the consequences of betraying his overbearing, influential father just frightened me. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Once I officially signed whatever Stefano needed me to sign, I would have to leave New York again. Then start my medical career here in Italy. I would miss home, my mom, my sister, my baby niece, Gaia...
The only upside? Well-paid security staff would keep an eye on my family, and make sure they're all safe every waking day. All on the Falcos' payroll. Maybe then, my family and I would no longer have to worry about money problems.
Plus I'd be with Miles again. Not every day, but, I would get to see him more often. Then we could take our relationship to the next level, and I'd be there for him whenever he needed me, if things went according to plan.
It all sounded promising. But, still a big if.
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