◆ The Faithful Departed ◆

◇ KEL ◇

"Kel, it's Nicco."

"Hey." I pulled my phone away from my ear to stare at the unsaved number on my phone screen.  Local area code.  The familiar, husky voice assured me it was definitely Niccolo.  "Where are you? You okay? How's your..."

"Relax. I'm fine."

"You went to the ER or not?"

"Later. Miles said you're in the hospital with Lorenzio." Nicco paused and sounded genuinely concerned. "What's up with him?"

"Had to take him to the ER. He was concussed. Plus rib injuries."

"Go back to New York. Lay low. Don't meet up with Ilya."

"You used to talk to him all the time? Right?  Why does he want to meet up again?"

"Don't know yet. Just don't talk to him again," Niccolo murmured. "Stay off social media. If Ilya finds you, and I hope he doesn't, don't believe anything he says."

"W-What? Why?"

"Just stay away from him," Niccolo said, his tone quieter.

"But, Stefano wants me to meet up with Ilya. You heard that. Right?" In fact, I could still recall the man insisting that I should go see Ilya soon. Why? I wish I knew all the answers. "They used to do business together. Right?" I glanced behind and saw Enzo fully awake now and talking to the nursing staff who was changing his bandages.

"Yeah. It was that messed up port deal. Happened years ago."

"I see," I muttered. "At least, let me know you'll be okay...wherever you and Miles are going." I tried not to frown as I stepped closer to the patient.

Enzo glanced at me twice while the female staff walked out of the room.  He still looked pitiful.  New bandages.  Baggy eyes.   Not a hint of a smile on his swollen, bruised face.

"Let's hope for the best," Niccolo replied over the phone.  Then he sighed. "Go back to New York. Put yourself and your family first. Not those people you barely know." His flat tone hinted of some annoyance.  "Be safe."

"Thanks. Likewise." I hung up on him, his words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.  Hopefully Ricchar or Miles would tell me much more.  But I doubted it.  I just hoped there would be no bloodshed involved.  Another night of unbridled violence might derail everything I'd planned for the rest of the year.

"Mykaela."

I turned around.  The patient was on his feet now, standing closer to me than to his hospital bed. I put my phone away and focused my attention on him.

"We're leaving."

◇

The patient.

Bless his thoughtful, caring heart...

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

He just knew how to tug at my heartstrings. Even in the most unexpected moments. I smiled to myself.

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

Far from it, though. His limp worsened, his fractures were still healing, and his posture wasn't back to normal yet. "We're leaving," Enzo insisted. "Can't miss your flight."

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

"Cab? You're joking." Enzo frowned. "I'd drive you there myself if I could."

"You can't. Just stay here. Rest up. You need at least two weeks to recover."

"I'm fine. Already talked to the nurse. She's talking to the doctor now." Enzo stayed sitting on the edge of the bed, both hands busy with his phone, as if to show off that he was physically able now.

Just to halt the argument, I asked a question that didn't have anything to do with my departure or their recent family drama. "Wanna visit the chapel with me?" I almost grinned when he froze. The question completely held his attention for at least five seconds.  "Just for a few. Please?"

He made a face, then sighed shortly when I didn't stop staring at him. "Alright."

◇

Alessio opened the door for us as I guided the patient out of the private room. Enzo's bodyguard followed suit till we reached the entrance of the small, dim chapel on the second floor.

The place was empty.  We had the whole front row to ourselves.  Enzo sat beside me in silence, his left hand and thigh almost touching mine.

To my senses, the all-white drapes, floor, and wooden chairs didn't strongly smell of antiseptic this time. The air-conditioning wasn't turned on. I sat next to the silent patient who was just staring at the small altar. The lifelike sculpture of Jesus dying on the Cross held his attention for a while.

After reciting a few prayers under my breath, I kept watching Enzo, containing the urge to reach for his hand. Was he praying? Was he still sad? Angry? Did he feel lonelier?

Most likely. I knew and fully understood why.

We stayed speechless for what felt like ten minutes. While slouching beside me, Enzo kept his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze vacuous.

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

He sighed and kept staring at the altar. "I don't pray anymore."

I blinked at his profile. Was he serious?  His terse response just pricked a needle into my heart.

He looked and sounded like he meant what he said. "There's no point."

"Um..." I continued to stare at the aging bruises on his face.  "Sorry you feel that way."

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

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

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

"God always listens." I squeezed the top of his arm in reassurance. How he ended up losing faith in God, I might never know. I should tell him that better days would come. Would he believe my word, though?  "Why don't you pray anymore?"

"I killed him."  Enzo gave me a weak shrug after a lengthy silence.  Then he sniveled. The noise drew my attention to the fresh tears on his cheek.  "He's dead now. Because of me."

◇