24 • Two Steps Forward

◇ MYKAELA ◇

"Did you sign up for that training?"

"Yeah. Kinda had to," I replied to my best friend on the other line, the grogginess in her somewhat hoarse voice matching my energy. "Mommy told me I should."

Gaia yawned. "Thought so. Is it free?"

"Of course not." I scoffed. "I just paid for it. After selling half of my organs yesterday."

Gaia snickered. "Is your sugar daddy back?"

I chuckled. "No. On his way, he said."

"You said he's in Florence."

"Far as I know."

"So he's been hanging out with his best friend since the other day?"

"Probably," I muttered. I sure hoped Lorenzio was only hanging out with Rafa. In Florence. And Rome. Or wherever he'd been the past few days. "Last text he sent me said he's talking to two detectives."

"Hold on. In a precinct in Florence?" Gaia sounded more dubious than surprised. "What detectives? The cops handling his batshit insane brother's cases?"

"Maybe." I reclined in my study chair with my hand pressed on my warm forehead. "I dunno. He didn't say.