45 ◆ The Faithful Departed ◆

◇ KEL ◇

"Kel, it's Nicco."

"Hey." I pulled my phone away from my ear to stare at the unsaved number on my phone screen.  Local area code.  The familiar, husky voice assured me it was definitely Niccolo.  "Where are you? You okay? How's your..."

"Relax. I'm fine."

"You went to the ER or not?"

"Later. Miles said you're in the hospital with Lorenzio." Nicco paused and sounded genuinely concerned. "What's up with him?"

"Had to take him to the ER. He was concussed. Plus rib injuries."

"Go back to New York. Lay low. Don't meet up with Ilya."

"You used to talk to him all the time? Right?  Why does he want to meet up again?"

"Don't know yet. Just don't talk to him again," Niccolo murmured. "Stay off social media. If Ilya finds you, and I hope he doesn't, don't believe anything he says.