◆ MAGNUS ◆
Pressure points. Certain areas on the human body that could be manipulated to cause pain or other significant effects.
I was no masseur, but in this world I lived in, using specific pressure points to deal with people from all walks of life helped me get to where I am today.
Privileged. Comfortable. Somewhat influential. Running my own businesses. Free to do whatever I wanted. Whenever. Wherever possible.
Growing up in a family of hardened criminals could be the major catalyst, but I wasn't one to dwell on the past. Not anymore. Most people who knew me did things for me because I helped them see their future. Not the opposite.
Being a bit of a fortune-teller didn't always amuse
◆ MILES ◆ "How's the baby?" "Baby Jules is healthy, and ready to go home," Ricchar announced over the phone. "And Cloe?" "She's doing fine. Tired and bled for a few hours, but, all's good. Doc said it's normal." "Congrats." I smiled and pressed my phone onto my ear, the pinch of panic after hearing Cloe just gave birth now subsiding. At least my cousin had good news for me tonight. Good enough to distract me from the sense of imminent doom creeping into my thoughts. "Still no sign of him?" Ricchar sighed after a stretch of silence. "Don't bother." I lit a cigarette and glared at a black SUV as it snuck into the half-empty parking lot beside the nightclub. "He's prolly holing up in a beach house somewhere with his whore." "And Zia?" "Mamma's home. Resting
◇ KEL ◇ "Hi. You hungry?" Enzo scooted closer to me as we sat in the backseat of a new Lexus. It must be his. Or a rental. It was six in the evening. He just got out of the airport after a long flight and went straight here to pick me up after my shift. "No. I'm good." I smiled at him. I reclined and hugged my bag, pasting a smile on my face. No proper sleep. Growing list of schoolwork and responsibilities. Poor appetite. Another one of those days. But seeing him again here in New York uplifted my spirits somehow. "You?" "I ate on the plane. You feel alright?" Enzo leaned in till his forehead touched my hair. He felt my neck to check my temperature, then kissed my right cheek in greeting. "I'm fine," I muttered after his soft lips landed a little too close to mine. To him, the kiss meant nothing. As usual. Just a quick hello. Nothing of substance.
◇ KEL ◇ "They think we're dating." "Why?" Enzo snickered and picked up his glass of wine. He sat next to me, watching the casually dressed guests chatting and enjoying the snacks and party favors. It's the day of my niece's christening. Baby Meesha's much-awaited party. After Mommy Tilda's request, Enzo had agreed to be one of the godfathers, even though he just met my family a few hours ago. He'd met Mom several months ago the last time he was here in New York for a few days, but it was more like he dropped by just to make sure I was still alive and coping well with med school. That was shortly after Daddy Jim's death. So far, the demands of my chosen career path hadn't killed me yet. "I haven't even held your hand since I got here," Enzo murmured as he sat close to me. We'd been getting curious gazes from my mom and Jill, my sister, who must be convinced that Enzo's the new man in my life. J
◇ KEL ◇ "Cloe and Baby Jules are doing great. Ricchar's still with them. In Berlin." "Yeah. I called Cloe. Saw Baby Jules for the first time," I replied to the raspy-voiced guy on the other line. Finally, he stopped ignoring my calls. He sounded like he just woke up. Miles didn't say so, but he did confirm he was still staying with his Mamma Eleana. "Normal delivery," he muttered, chuckling to himself, sounding a bit surprised. "I told her she should try at least." I kept up a pleasant, friendly tone. Although I knew he didn't pick up just to chat about his cousins and their new baby, I didn't mind. I was giving him time to organize his thoughts. Enough time until he felt ready to talk over the things we really needed to discuss. "How's the family? Fun party?" "Yeah. Lots of guests," I replied. "Mom, Jill and David's co-workers showed up with their kids." "Enzo sho
◇ KEL ◇ "Ciao." "Ciao, Signore Tomassini." I grinned and approached the guy leaning against a shiny gray convertible. As per usual, he gave me a hug, then a kiss on both cheeks.Except...when he kissed me this time, his lips lingered a little too close to mine, and the kiss lasted a moment too long. Just like his hug. Not too tight, and not pervy in any way. But the gesture still pricked tiny needles deep into my gut. I didn't back off, though. I missed him. We hadn't seen each other in weeks. I would text him twice a week. Check on him. Ask about his family and all. Some nights, he would call me and we would video-chat for an hour or two. But I still craved his company. Sheesh. Not a good sign. It's my fault, though. I just hoped
◇ KEL ◇ "And how do you really feel about it?" "Nervous. Sometimes terrified. But mostly guilty." I turned to look at him, quite surprised by his admission. A pleasant surprise. He trusted me enough to tell me how he really felt. Perhaps his family's most recent issues often stressed him out. Enzo seemed anxious now, his hand fidgeting on his lap, his leg restless. The likelihood of Leandro facing trial must be the main reason. Miles had mentioned Enzo decided to testify against his own brother, which I imagined was frowned upon by the entire Tomassini clan. Must be why Enzo didn't stay in Florence for too long. "Of Leo?" I inched closer to him. "Why?" "Well, put it bluntly, it's still betrayal. To them, I have no loyalty. Terribly selfish. Self-righteous. Yada yada..."
◆ MILES ◆"Magnus called me again. He wants your number.""Why?""My guess?" Niccolo sighed on the other line. "He's gonna try to convince you to send Kel's new address and number."Persistent son of a bitch. "Tell him I'm too busy for his bullshit." I shook my head and put my phone on speaker, sitting alongside stacks of paperwork in front of the wide desk, all alone in my mother's office. Privacy wasn't an issue in here, and she was stuck in another meeting in the conference room upstairs."Already did. He badly wants Ilya's money; he's not gonna stop till he finds Kel.""Magnus tried to bribe you again?""Yeah. Twice now," Niccolo replied, chuckling as though he found the whole thing amusing."Where's Ilya now?""Still in Belgrade. Getting treatment. His liver's shutting down. He needs a transplant this week.""You called him up?" I grinned to myself. "And said
◇ KEL ◇We left the carnie during sunset. Then Enzo asked if he could check out my new apartment. He said he wanted to make sure it was "safe and comfortableenough".Half an hour later, I caught him trying to snooze in the small livingroom which I often used forstudying. So I told him to use my bed. I practically forced him to take a nap on my bed while I cooked us dinner.He's too tall and muscular for my cheap and squeaky little couch, and I didn't want him to feel like he wasn't welcome in here. Enzo had been sleeping in my room since 6:30.I glimpsed the time on my phone. It was almost nine now. He should be hungry. With careful steps, I approached the bed and sat on the floor. He's snoring lightly. Definitely exhausted from the long flight.Smiling to myself, I waited and got busy texting my best friends until Enzo stirred on the