◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ "Where the fuck are you?" I took a long drag on my second stick. My sleep-hungry brain replayed the question in a dizzying loop, but another ten minutes wouldn't hurt. Armed and bored out of my wits, I stood in the dim parking lot, waiting for a call from someone who owed me at least two hours tonight and roughly a pint of fresh blood. Not Mykaela, of course. Not anymore. She was officially done with me. She'd rather keep pretending I was dead. I even used my cousin's new baby as bait. Still got nada. Fine. I'd give it another week. For now, a temp blood bag would have to do. Alive and well—for my worsening health's sake. By sheer luck, I'd found someone even younger and healthier than Kel. I just had to be sure about the girl's real identity. Tonight, I'd make her fess up. I made my way past the bored partygoers carelessly lined up outside the entrance of the two-storey club. Eurotrash music seeped out of the establishment. The neon lights around the tall doors
◇ MYKAELA ◇New messageGaia"WTH! So he's staying there for good?" 11:09PM "I guess as long as Zione is in operation? I dunno. Just saw the property deed and everything. Place looks great. But the rooms still need more furniture." I sent the message to my best friend and muffled a sigh with my palm. New messageGaia"Send photos. What else is he up to?" 11:10PM "He wants to hire new bodyguards." I slipped in a shocked emoji at the end before tapping 'Send'.New messageGaia"For you?" 11:10PM "Yeah, he said Miles told him to! WTF!" I sent the reply as my legs started to cramp. I sat up on the bed, my butt scrunching on the plastic cover.New messageGaia"Nah he's just showing off as per usual...and he knew they'd catch up to his brother eventually and you'd be another credible witness. That's why he gave you all that money. To shut you up permanently!" 11:11PM I gawked at her message on my dimmed screen. I held my breath. Her words hurt a little. But I couldn't really blame
◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ • Valle Astra, Italy •"Where's your Mamma? She's not answering." "Home." "Alone?" Ricchar coughed. "You called her guards?" "Two hours ago. She's prolly asleep in her room," I replied to his mumbled question on the other line, putting the call on speaker mode. "She didn't answer my text." "Exhausted. Sleeping it off." I took off my vest as Alessio, my bodyguard, parked the car in the garage. The numbers on the top of my screen said it was past midnight. My poor, hardworking mother wouldn't be up and about this late after that horrendous three days of internal audit. That Interpol douche had been pressing not just the DEA, but also the local authorities to help nab my "international drug lord" wannabe father. Stefano Falco was now a flat-out guilty fugitive as far as every citizen in this wretched country is concerned. Last I heard, whoever caught him alive would get a hefty reward or an outright promotion. I'd chip in a few million euros if I had the cash. Un
◇ MYKAELA ◇ The deafening silence only thrust more negativity into my thoughts as the minutes stretched between my slow, controlled intakes of breath. What just happened? I wasn't sure why he didn't want to talk. Or look at me. Did I do or say something wrong? Did I upset him? Because this wasn't part of the plan? Or was it because I didn't say no or try anything to stop him? My insides somewhat burned after every breath I silenced with effort. I stayed put on the left side of his bed, my hands clammy, my backside growing warmer on his soft pillow. Enzo sat on the other side, completely still. Also naked. Merely inches away from me. Scowling. Fairly distraught. He stared at something on the floor. The padded covers hid his crotch and nearly both of his bare, muscular legs. What now? Was he waiting for me to start a conversation? Explain myself? Crap. I should bolt. This was not the way I imagined this night would end. Not while I was in his embrace and he was kissing
◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ "Does it still hurt?" "I'm alright. Why d'you keep asking?" "Just being proactive." I rested the back of my head on the pillow and checked the numbers on the nightstand clock. A little after four in the morning. But like myself, my female companion didn't feel like sleeping in. Adreana dragged herself out of my arms and pinched my cheek. "Quit it." "What?" "You're being sweet. Stop. I might read too much into it." Funny. I actually liked her sass. Her usual banter couldn't compete with my sexting game, but I appreciated her willingness to show vulnerability. "Am I?" I propped my weight on my elbows and watched her smirk disappear. "Stop it. I honestly can't afford to fall in love with you." With her hand on my chest, she closed her eyes and looked ready for sleep, her warm thigh stuck between my legs. "I have money." Adreana giggled. "I don't care. You're not husband material." That I wouldn't argue. But it was a subject we could discuss another time. "You wo
• Florence, Italy • ◆ LORENZIO ◆ "Nah. You'll still see me 'round once in a while. And if you need anything, just email me." "Sì, sappiamo. Ma ci mancherete molto, capo." [Yeah, we know. But we'll miss you a lot, boss.] "I'll tell Raffaele to make this a thing, and pay you more." I faked a grin for Davide, one of our pharmacy chain's oldest branch managers, aware that our new pharmacists were all eyes on us from their dining tables. Davide laughed with his tubby hand on his beer belly. "Così va meglio." [That sounds better.] "I know." We did a quick toast with our wine glasses. The clinking noises made me squint as I put on another chuffed smile. That ibuprofen pill was no match for this bloody jet lag. "See you soon." Grinning from ear-to-ear, Davide nodded and raised his glass. "Happy birthday! Enjoy New York." "Thanks." I turned around, the midday sun warming up the rest of my face and neck, forcing me to step away from the windows. Holding my empty glass, I headed towards t
◇ MYKAELA ◇1:49PM•••"Greetings from SBNYC! LORENZIO RUSSO TOMASSINI has sent USD35,000.00 to your account ending in '97033'. For any concerns, please contact the sender. Should you require further information about your account, call or email our Customer Care Desk."•••Thirty-five thousand in cash! Straight into my account? What on Earth?My legs numbed after my phone buzzed the second time. Another fund transfer notification with Enzo's full name just invaded my email inbox.After reading the rest of the text in the email, I glanced around the spacious library, almost cussing at the familiar pang in my lower abdomen as I tried to sit still beside my stalker—the money sender's bodyguard.One of his youngest security staff. Lele from Rome. A year my junior. The guy chewed gum as he stared at me with some amusement. Unlike the last time we saw each other, his blond hair looked shorter and gleamed under the ceiling lights. Neatly combed back and tapered on both sides. The colorf
• Months earlier •◆ LORENZIO ◆ "Now what?" I leaned forward and stared at the Falco heirs, feigning a poker face to mask the days-old panic, guilt, and profound regrets that kept me tossing and turning in bed until dawn. Ricchar, like Maximiliano, didn't look eager to sift through the evidence. The look in their scrutinizing eyes bordered on judgmental, even. Doubtful. Most likely they doubted my account of what happened. Their partly confused, sometimes nonchalant reactions to the photos could be due to distrust. Of me. Of my family. But I already saw this coming. "You tell me." Ricchar tilted his stubbled chin. The chandelier above his desk highlighted the curls in his hair and his curious stare. "I... Tell you what?""Let's cut the shit. Yeah? When you decided to come here, did you expect a certain reaction?"Bollocks. Why did it matter? Of course I expected them to react a certain way. Not just squint or stare at me as if they were merely watching me weave an elaborate web of