alco

KAEL

talk about y

fam

Ricchar's cold basement. One of the suit-clad guards switched on the light

gun-toting bodyguard snuck out of the

is tone low, restrained annoya

somehow made my palms sweat buckets. Or it was this behind-closed-doors talk wit

her's recent hospitalization? Why bring

eted up. Grayish specs partly obscured his attentive eyes that pierce

." Mr. Falco squinted. He took another step clos

arents and sister know about

ust to help him stomach a weekend with his folks, I wouldn't even

a cruise and sh

chain of hotels

ly shook my head. Did I seem the type

tone. But I shouldn't be rude. For Miles' sake and min

ement--with his armed bodyguard, no less--to make sure I gave

ared his throat. "You've met Nicco

ecret that his only

tell them

with a s

They probably heard about Niccolo's disappear

und out that Miles li

was his girlfriend just to discourage Niccolo. To make the guy

ad some hackers trac

h

p their names." Mr. Falco stared at me

"I-I'm so

talking abou

e on his son's ex-b

ouldn't help scowling at the man standing in front of me and

al with the Falcos. That's why Enzo met up with Cloe Falco in the city and e

y money? That kind of thing? Wait. That would

n experiencing some, er, i

omassini didn't m

tial company information and whatnot. One of the few things Miles had shared about his ex wa

hat list was he even talking about? Did

: working class and immigrants. No big, dark secrets they

with the ambush." Without tearing his gaze away from me, Mr. Falco put on hi

ught Cloe and Enzo almost gettin

st trying to make me sweat

lence weaken

he wanted to slice me open

ttle. The longer his eyes gripped my attention, the quicker my heart switched to ov

me to say? His eyes just...

"I'm sorry, Sir. I don't know why they

ntly as he stepped closer. Just

ped my gaze to the floor, mentally tracing the outlines of the bloodstains till the brownish spots blurred

's family really think I had so

ed information. Bank records, ledgers, criminal re

ther t

e no longer droning. Forbidding, almost. "Just to keep their businesses a

Shit. Was tha

you anythin

Sir.] I folded my

head. "At times, however, like them, I'm forced to use other meas

Probably En

tell me now why your name hap

ime, Signore." Holding back a frown, I stepped

cusing me of lying

heard of him was when Miles told

have any idea where

do you

" Mr. Falco sh

idn't know the guy on a personal level, and vice ve

bout me, because he was jealous that I mov

? He was kidna

ted Niccolo dead

gave me a forced smile and escorted me out of the

around the living room adorned with red drapes, thick rugs, an

s stopped me from

ly. "

lance, he walked past me

He didn't even look my way. "Miles." I quick

aded towards the ot

Couldn't b

, too. Like he was comi

him past the hall, then the spa

d down, his steps echoing against the l

s, where y

here another one upstairs? Intricate artworks hung

s the definit

the altar, his long legs sprawled on the floor, l

he entrance. The frustration and lonel

taring at the opposite wall, Miles held back tears

t time ever I'd seen him cry. It hurt li

Not the best time to bring up the things his dad

ntative steps, I sat next to

aked a half-smile after swiftly wiping hi

his fairly swollen nose making me feel worse

ill wouldn't look me in the eye. W

re," I muttered, faking a

at when his voice faltered. "Ju

sho

his parents argue? About me being here

y," I said calmly

his face away from me as

between his outstretched legs on the floor and held his face. When his

d, then gently pushed me away

I pulle

he wanted was to se

l I wanted to do was comfort him, stay he

st, he gently shook his head. Only to hit his o

m so forcefully hurting himself, as if he

at we're stuck here. But was that it? T

me, for helping me get back on my feet, for encouraging me to pursue my goals, the l

nd last time we'd get to spen

ddy Jim feeling a little better? Did the surgery

ly, still avoiding my eyes

e'd he te

his forearm warmer than my palm. "And that, two of the attackers ha

e side of his head. A scowl deepene

nd pulled me to him. My stomach flipped when

hs, just trapping me in his embrace wh

he real

dal bas

"The Russian mob's actually

r his cousin-in-law and Enzo Tomassini. But why w

avoiding my eyes as if it would give away the secrets he'd been

nce those drugs in those jars? Was it

, the suspense and his reticence only doubling my suspicions.

on their convoy? No." Miles scowl

estrained and unfamiliar, constantly growing rage behind his scowls and swear

and Pappa

ou're sc

to lie? Tell you there'

g my face onto his warm neck so we could keep talking in wh

d. The rest of the mansion s

pulmonologist and the surgeons were experienced, trusted doctors... But we just didn't hav

but, Ricchar and Pappa don't want

ained to all of them why I

d in the basement, threatening me instead of thanking me, accusing me of lying and partly causing the

I couldn't stay in this town any longer. My dad couldn't wait another day. That surgery was scheduled for tomor

th. "That's what the head

eave until the cops get here?" I

call the local

guy?" Miles sat bac

at

ren

ons as if he wanted to get to know me. Or was it some kind of background check? Probably. "Upstairs." I sat

stitch up all of

m meds, too. H

any bu

the side of his neck. Not near hi

"Did he thank

d his bod

ude in a more business

a brow. "An

hough. I'd politely declined when Enzo brought it up the first ti

a face. "Him giving

c grin. "I feel like, you

les have billions. He prol

in the same bracket financially? Maybe they mingled in the same social circles. Or both. "But

dead." Miles pinche

in targets made it out of there alive. Wit

what I pictured when I got out of bed

you give him?

he IV drip. If it popped the clots, that'd be a different nightmare I might not be able to ha

not co

zo might not want to give any more personal

hed out loud. "We