◆ MILES ◆Every punch, every strike, every heavy blow to the head had the guy shouting profanities at the armed men beating him till he could barely speak. I winced and watched from afar. Fortunately, I wasn't the one hanging from thick, long chains, clutching onto them as if my life depended on it.The guy in shackles lifted his head while the rest of his bruised body helplessly swayed. The taller goon toyed with a baseball bat, using it to hit Niccolo's outstretched limbs."Figlio— Cazzo!" Niccolo's handcuffed wrists stayed attached to a concrete beam. Metal clanking against metal echoed within the cold walls of the basement. We all watched the Vinciguerra heir suffer. At least he still had the energy to swear out loud.I scowled when Niccolo glared at me again. Utter hostility hardened the guy's darkened eyes as I stood in the corner. Watching. Waiting.Did Niccolo blame me? It wasn't my fault we ended up here. He made the choice to betray my trust; the guy even tried to black
◇ KEL ◇"Maxim."His mom's voice. Did she need something? I turned and saw Mrs. Falco, who smiled at me after calling out to her son using his childhood nickname."Sorry to hear about your father being ill, Mykaela. I hope he feels better soon." Mrs. Falco walked towards us while carrying a small black box, her white dress and shiny hair just showing off elegance and poise."I just checked on Cloe and Charr again. We called for paramedics again but she's doing much better. Thanks to you, dear.""Glad I could help, Signora." I flicked Miles' forearm and gestured for him to acknowledge his mother."Maxim.""What, Mamma?" Miles kept focusing on his phone screen and didn't even look at his mother.His bored sigh and rude tone made me slap his arm discreetly. "Everything okay, Mrs. Falco?" I asked the matriarch.Ofelia lagged behind Mrs. Falco, now carrying a tray of food. The maid served plates of colorful biscuits, fruits, bread, and juice on the coffee table in front of me and Miles."G
◆ MILES ◆"Can't take any chances, Maxim."Alright. Whatever. Mykaela's safety would be at risk if I didn't shove her out of my life. It would confuse and hurt her, of course, but Ricchar's forethought and cautionary advice made a lot of sense. And I should understand that he was only looking out for me and Kel.Out of all our cousins, he was the only one whose opinion I respected. The only one I actually liked to be around. The others only saw me as the problem child. "The prodigal son" and some other derogatory adjectives that bordered on absurdly judgmental. "How do I even tell her about them? About the deal?" I muttered, still unsure of what to do next.Ricchar scoffed at my question. "You can't. Are you serious right now?" "Why not?" I frowned. "She'll listen. She'd understand.""You just can't," Ricchar almost shouted. "What is wrong with you?""Charr, she's not dumb or stupid.""She doesn't need to know anything. She shouldn't. You'll just put her in a very risky situation, b
◇ KEL ◇"Enzo will stay in the guest room near yours. For your convenience." Ricchar didn't say anything else after he told his security guys to transfer Cloe and Enzo out of the basement.It happened before I retreated back to the guest room, which served as my private room for the rest of the weekend, until I could hop on a flight to New York to visit my family.
◇ KEL ◇"Mykaela? Sweetie?""Mom." I sighed with relief. My mother's endearing but worried voice sounded faint on the other end. I locked the door behind me.The solace of the private guest room provided the comfort I ne
◆ MILES ◆ My father pretty much dragged me by the collar out of the study room. My Pappa's idea of complete privacy pushed us past the thick hedges that led us into the quiet maze.The sunset had dimmed the wide garden, especially the labyrinth. I kept up with his impatient pace. Why my father wanted to talk to me out here—I had no clue. But if it would give me the answers I needed to hear, then fine. My head no longer felt like I just came out of an invasive brain surgery, but my logic still craved for some clarification.In apprehension, I blindly followed my father's rushed steps further into the dim maze. I pressed the back of my hand onto my nose. The smell of fertile soil, degrading leaves, dead pests and animal manure was just overwhelming.Why exactly did he bring me here?Right. Of course. To control the conversation and the situation. What else... I ignored the lecturing voice in my mind and kept up a steady pace behind Pappa."You see?" My father turned to glance at me.
◇ KEL ◇This day just kept getting weirder and weirder.First, the ambush.Then Enzo, eagerly offering me money for my "services".
◇ KEL ◇A long, tense silence filled the room as I stood before Mr. Falco. My legs felt a bit numb, weak, but that didn't really bother me. What held my attention was his apparent allegations regarding me being here at the same time his nephew's wife and new business associate almost got murdered.Subtlety wasn't one of this family's strong suits, I reckon. Why did he even think I was affiliated to Niccolo? So what if