KE

w

***6

don't meet up with him. Talk over t

ay

of New York and Italy, and not one of them knew my other nickname. My friends and acquaintances in t

sent me: "Sofija Mihajlović". Maybe that's why Mommy chose the name "Mykaela". She still thought Ilya used "Mihajlov

r and over. I took off my face mask and leaned against the cold locker door. I jus

th me again, I should call him to make sure he was okay and to a

ans

moment as I stood alone next to the metal locker. The changing room smelled of some strong antisepti

to meet up with the man again. Why? Did he think Ilya would do s

truth...about me being Ilya's only

s whose first names I didn't even know. I had been planning to do more research on Ilya the

actually him, he would reply to me in an instant. Hopefully he's doing fine and

ade up a short prayer in my he

:29

tidy up the small dining table, unsure whether I should mention that

lija Mihajlović or "Ilya Božić"-my biological father's alias. Meaning: Niccolo's family was in f

ne, his voice sounding rather gruff. H

pleasantly surprised when I heard his voice. "Did you t

son, Magnus. Just found out Magnus an

rother, to be precise. "What's his f

use...it's not Ilya's rea

didn't know I'd already met Ilya in person. I had mulled over it many times and decide

urname. "Not sure. Maybe Magnus changed his name, too. For business and security reasons,"

y? Wait. Where are you exactly

sink while some classical music played thro

ly and physically exhausted from our trainings in the hospital. She would be staying here for two days

ghed. "Just lying low before Ilya dec

e okay? I mean...is he paying

no. More than twice. If he wants to get rid of the Falcos, he'll find someone el

palm, unsure whether I swore loudly. I glanced at my mom again. Sh

m what I could comprehend. I still didn't have all the facts straight because Miles wouldn't tell m

aid in a hushed tone. "Just don't meet u

hink Ilya would hurt me or something?

s. You can talk to him on the phone if he contacts you, but don't meet up with him

yeah.

s sch

a murmur, not bothering to

it." Niccolo sounded convincingly optimist

ank

en proud," he mumbled

in a year. Then I'd be off to residency. I still thought of my dad most days. Lately, the only thing that reli

be my Mommy Tilda, Jill, little Meesha and David cheering me on by the sidelines. I could imagine Gaia being too busy that

goodbye to each other. He ended the call just as m

massage her temples with her favorite liniment rub. He

ou want for bre

way from her face. "Just poached eg

her phone notifications. "But I don't think you

n the m

she asked with a slight grin. "So yo

I thought you gotta m

e to eat healthier

ed her long and wavy brown hair that reached the top of

of us just quietly sitting on the sofa whi

e. B

visit you thi

ith his job," I muttered while

ating someo

y he'd stopped meeting and dealing with strangers for a number of reasons-nor did he mention anythi

y talk that night, and I could vividly recall thos

e we were kissing in the backseat of his car. Did he think of me every night before he went t

out Miles again, my mom got busy with a work-related call. Then my pho

sent me

w Me

Gaia

his a

ay

kery is this? U owe

ay