◆ Another Ugly Goodbye ◆
◇ KEL ◇
"Hi, babe. Morning. Get enough sleep?"
"No. Are you in his room?"
"Yeah. Why?" I held my phone against my ear, ignoring Miles' peeved tone on the other line. I glanced at the sleeping patient on the hospital bed. I had dimmed the lights. Maybe I could log some Zs before the doctor checked up on Enzo again. "Nicco okay?"
"Alive and kicking," Miles muttered. "Guards still up?"
"Alessio brought food an hour ago. The other guard left, just finished his shift. Tell Nicco to rest more. Don't overwork him."
Miles scoffed. "He'll live. Your patient's still asleep?" Now his tone sounded genuinely curious and derisive.
"Yeah. Didn't sleep much last night." I got up from the couch to look out the thick glass windows. The weather looked gloomier than my current thoughts. Hopefully Miles and Ricchar didn't have to drive out of the estate for some "business meetings". I didn't even want to know the details at this point. "You droppin' by?" I stood still as I waited for a quick, affirmative reply.
"No."
"Oh." Unfortunate. My chest ached a little at his terse reply. "Are you leaving the estate now? With Ricchar?"
"In a bit."
"Come see me before you leave. Please?"
"I can't." Miles sighed on the other line. "Sorry."
"Okay."
"Tell me you're still leaving tomorrow," he muttered. He sounded rather glib and...frustrated? His voice was quite gruff. It's the lack of sleep again. Did he think I would just leave Enzo in here?
Should I leave Italy now? This morning? The plane ticket wasn't going to be an issue, but, Enzo still needed company.
Miles expected I'd just leave Enzo here, away from his family and friends, hurt and weak. I understood why, but I just couldn't walk out on the guy. Also, Enzo asked me to stay.
Practically begged me last night. For how long did he want me to stay? No idea, really.
"You know why that nutjob did that to his own brother?" Miles sighed loudly when I didn't respond. "He caught Lorenzio peeking at his itinerary, bank transactions and stuff. Don Luciano just had another stroke. Still alive, but, y'know...already vegetable. So the psycho tracked Enzo's phone and beat him up for spying on him, and being away instead of taking care of their old man."
"His concept of strong family ties seriously needs some reassessment." I rolled my eyes. If only Leandro wasn't such a ticking time bomb, I wouldn't have to stay here. I would still be spending my free time today with Miles, and my weekend plans wouldn't have gotten this disrupted.
"Sparing you the other details. Just, for now."
"Right." As usual...
"Did he tell you he wants Leandro jailed?"
"Enzo? Why? Because of last night?"
"No. Last night's just the icing."
"What? What else did he tell you?" Oh crap. My gut feeling last night was right. Enzo had been planning something with Miles. Why else would he tell Miles about his beef with his older brother?
"Don't believe for one second his batshit brother's performance earlier means he's the devoted son. That psycho just wants the best inheritance in the will." Miles chuckled, his tone humorless and disparaging. "He's getting in bed with his father's top tier connections so they can monopolize the trade."
"Sounds...lethal."
"Lorenzio found out about the underage hookers, said he wants to clean up the family business. So he's a big threat."
I let out a sigh. My heartbeat kind of halted at his explanations. Well, more like, bombshells. It all made much more sense now.
So Lorenzio trusted the Falcos more than his own family? He must've spilled a lot to Miles, and maybe Enzo trusted Ricchar with his brother's secrets, too.
"What happens now?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"Say your goodbyes. Get on that flight. Don't talk to anyone else except family, Gaia, people at school. Minimum online visibility. Maintain a normal routine."
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 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."
Darn it. It was sounding crazier by the second. "Right," I muttered, glancing at the hospital bed. Enzo was still sleeping soundly with his back to the door. "I can't contact you? Even if I'm using the new one?" I stared at my bag.
The new and "more secure" phone Miles gave me last time remained quiet in the side pocket. He probably brought and disposed of dozens of burner phones the past year alone. "No. Just for a while. I'll get in touch. After this shit blows over." Miles sighed on the other end. "Just go home. Focus on school. Nothing else."
Right. Now his advice sounded like commands. But they were in my best interest. Of course. I wanted to complain, even though he just wanted me safe and out of his family's mess. That clearly meant I couldn't communicate with him for months, and my heart sank at the reality.
"I'll be in New York soon. Don't stress over it," Miles reassured when I fell totally silent. "Just don't talk to Lorenzio about his brother, or meet up with anyone you don't know. Alei will drive you to the airport. Two guys will pick you up in New York and drive you home. Alei will show you their photos. He'll check your phone before the flight."
Why bring up Leandro now? My heart skipped a beat at some violent images that popped into my mind. "Did something else happen? Your Pappa tell you somethin'?"
"No. I just need you to stay out of it. Okay?" Miles sounded almost pleading now. Desperate. Scared for my safety, from the sound of it.
But why? Was I or my family in grave danger? My chest tightened at the mere thought. "What's wrong?" I sat down near the windows, my legs slowly weakening. "Miles..."
"Nothing. Relax," he said, prolonging his monotone. "We just gotta be more careful."
"What? You're scaring me."
"Just go home. Okay? I just want you back in New York."
"Stop saying that." I paused, realizing my voice got louder. I wasn't alone in the room, but Enzo remained still on the hospital bed, his chest only moving slightly with every breath he took. He looked deep in sleep, resting better now. Thank goodness. "What're you guys planning?"
"Nothing you need to know." His tone sounded rather cold now. "Safe trip. See you soon."
"Where are you?" Darn it. I wanted answers, not empty promises again.
"Driving to the city with Ricchar and Nicco." Miles cleared his throat. "Lorenzio knows you gotta leave tomorrow; I already talked to him."
"Can you drop by? At the airport?" I was still hoping for a quick 'yes' from him. "We could, grab a bite before my flight and..." I held my breath. My anxiety made me feel like I needed him here now, for some reason. Wishful thinking. But I still hoped. "Please?"
Miles sighed again. We both stayed quiet for a moment. "Sorry. I can't."
"Fine." Alright. Clearly he had more important things to do. I shouldn't be so clingy. "Just don't do anything brash."
"I'll try."
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