IMILI

You

unregistered number. A new one, but I'd already memorized the last dig

mera showed him. A white coat partly c

he greasy rag on my desk. By "shit", I meant he look

closer to his phone, probably another burner. His brown eyes squinted at me. His grimace

my birth

om

ap

head. The video feed o

ood desk. I reclined in the swivel chair, repeatedly pulling the curved trigger as the cold, dark walls of my private

icense f

You wa

my grin. "Wh

s, shrugging off the violent ima

d? I thought your of

eti

s la

heer dedication to keep the family business running, all of this would go down the drain in a matte

hs-old fear, guilt, and paranoia. I blamed the asshole who got my mother pregnant a

e give y

red. "Been his errand

ss

s scowl and lifted the weapon to aim it a

o m

new o

is per

eah? He offer you a private island or somethin

the size of my fist. Good make. Not the cheap kind. Accurate an

me. That day I gave in to the pressure and ruined my fate, he'd decided a gun would be a proper congratulatory

fts from him? Just plain old bribes, really. He believed working for the family business wa

ficially hire a new CEO. Only a matter of weeks now. Or days, since Interpol wanted m

nd him aliv

, choosing not to mention Ilya's full name in case s

ore under his breath, his forehea

her crime-magnet biological father who didn't ta

N

sitation. Must be accur

ased brows. "I can still access some cam

ole still needs a t

ow one of his nurses. I'd know

u s

would

now?" I asked, to w

I dunno. Maybe he thinks if he gives me enou

ch we t

arms, glaring at the camera as thoug

ndr

mil.

round-probably losing sleep waiting to cash in that

eady hired a

d you aga

en new disposable cells." Nicco dropped his gaze

bet?" I

a death wish

." This full-time glorified errand boy slash

aning a loaded gun at work?" Nicco made

ank

s, emails, phone numbers

worry a

on Nicco's face. "You forgot he's just

ur

connections in ev

b

ons. Desperation might push Magnus to find Kel himself, shove her

staff would protect Mykaela if her brother trie

ys are wat

w m

d Nicco. Time to change the subject

mpanied his calmer tone.

ar tol

the news,

mile. "Bang-

set on?" Niccolo sq

hy

someone was listenin

s from the

rest of the second batch. M

lter. G

afficking victims the police managed to rescue back at the port, with our help. Leandro and his

e?" I polished th

h. Near Gia

p with the

asia's dating this new guy, Fren

learly Raffaele Valtieri was too busy to giv

eat on Mommy, so..." Niccolo

ill clean? The

'm busy with

ly

How's

sie

her th

ed her through t

s about staying in

h. S

lopsided. "What, she tol

d by Mamma's h

h.

private, mutual agreement, and Enzo knew the consequences should he f

d him and Mykaela. Ilya might've already found out that Enzo had been helping us keep her whereabouts saf

. "Just remind her not to use her name again

't need a

ys use anonymous emai

her yo

ce. "I don't have

's not talking to me,

uriosity trumped the hint of suspicion on hi

er, the one with two locks. My mother would lose her shit and dr

with you?" N

way '

aid so? Because

shrugged

of hackers and PIs on s

guys. You already did enough with the h

lk to your Mamma about the deal? He knows. R

st couldn't tell whether she'd finally made up her mind. We all had to. It was only a matter

hin and leaned closer to

shut up about it. S

ho would

messages, then my emails. "Fuck." No new replies

YKA

just call me

e, I'd think he used that word in a different sense. A less

quite hoarse, no longer hugging me tight

"I'm good." My eyes, head, and chest ached less. Sure. But the useless tears hadn't run out

hat dumb non-breakup. Probably thought I w

t massage along my shoulders and upper back. "Still cold? Here. Put this on." He took off hi

his coat and kept

d his throat, shifting his posture. H

rdness he fe

in that to me, this wasn't a real date. I knew my place. And I wasn't del

ha

m...dumping al

emails. His phone held his attention while h

ocks away. But I doubted we'

n't me

nzo murmured

mood to... I mean, I know you're

ht. No p

d dropped my gaze, clasping the straps

ur

m not gonna- I mean, I know you're stressed enough w

tically why

mean to... I'm sorry. I shouldn't text or call

ied to laugh, but his brows crease

t w

a laugh. "When I was trying to get over s

uh

or exams, and everything was drivi

To what

lained." With some gentleness, he flicked my bangs away from my

his hotel room overnight just to make s

Enzo lightly pinched my cheek. "I'm jus

ka

me an apology

my chuckle just sounded terribly force

red. "So? You told Gaia?

her day. We haven't really talked.

'd sh

usu

su

off as friends," I sighe

sounded in

oxic bullshit', was her exact

l and family issues. She'd made me confess months ago, when I finally expla

with the law. She also thought Miles was far from the ty

ed to her advice, I wouldn't be dealing with all this heartache

lip and prolonged a sigh. "Erm... To some ex

ow

u's still a

Or I might be a full-blown masochist at this point. Thanks to Mi

t brutal

eas

. "At this point, you'll just have to accept that he's actively avoiding a serious c

eah. Pretty accurate, even though he and Miles were

w his

ty

neck and arms. "He and Rafa," he mutte

friend? I scowled.

m, until he noticed my discomfort. "Not really." He st

y liking. On social media, he looked and dressed like a model slash virile r

e wiring." Enzo

ani

cond-guessing. Can't make up his bloody mind. Doe

ffaele was helping Alodia hide from Enzo's batshit insane brothe

're not gonna e

afa and his family wer

love with her. And v

all

ter finding out he visited his ex in prison. Basically, Al

her leaving Leandro and eloping with Raffaele. Or it could've been mere infatuation when she

t him just seemed too complicated for my brain to proce

alr

ing my mouth to relax and stay frien

trained and breathy. "Imag

can

fa wants to