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Cesare - present
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“MICHAEL, WHAT WAS THAT all about?” I inquire in Michael’s office right after he shot the soldier in front of the other women in the living room.
Michael is on the warpath. “That soldier should’ve informed us. You know that.”
“Yes, but why the charade? Last night, you want to scare him, and today, you kill him on the spot. Let the rest leave. Only keep the date of the soldier you just killed, his accomplice. We killed all the men last night and eliminated the leader of the raid. Now, you need to calm down and go focus on saying goodbye to Rachel. Don’t waste your energy on drawn out revenge. We killed the ones who killed her. Now, go grieve.”
Michael braces his neck forcefully before relaxing. “Fine. Let them leave. I don’t understand why you kept them or Kinsey anyway. Do you hate her that much?”
“No, I love her that much. There’s something between Kinsey and Joey, and I’m not letting him ruin my third chance with her. If she’d left last night, she would’ve disappeared. I needed her to think about us for a night. A little manipulation can be quite persuasive. I’m doing it to protect her,” I reveal honestly. “I want her back.”
His gaze flies to me, astonished. “I always knew you were waiting for her. Every girl you dated had a certain...quality.” Michael sighs. “So go; take her back. But Cesare, be prepared to always protect her when she’s part of our life.”
“I’m ready,” I say with conviction.
For five years, I’ve been living life going through the motions, but Kinsey belongs with me. She’s a part of me that I’ve been missing for too long.
“I failed. I would hate for you to go through what I am now.”
“Together, we’ll get through it. Go to Rachel, Michael.”
My confirmation regarding Joey and Kins’s peculiar connection comes when I’m back in the living room, and Joey is manhandling her.
Rushing over, I slam his hands off her.
“Do not ever touch her again!” I snarl.
I can’t stand not knowing exactly what their association is, and I’m on edge, so I lock her back in the bedroom and order the captains to release the other captives – if they can be persuaded into silence. The rest will be killed.
***
AFTER I FINISH WITH the day’s business, I rush back to the mansion to see Kinsey and am confronted with how much she actually needs me.
I unlock the door and frown at the empty room. Then I spot the nightstand’s lamp broken on the floor and run to the bed.
“No!”
Kinsey is lying on the floor on the other side of the bed, unconscious.
Rushing over the mattress, I check her pulse, but it’s weak.
“Kins! Kins!”
Panic I haven’t experienced in years almost renders me incapacitated, then rage overcomes me when I see fresh track marks on the inside of her elbow. Hurriedly, I check her other arm and see more scars.
Unexpectedly, she starts to convulse and bucks, coughing. So I roll her to her side, and she vomits. I keep her in that position until she stops heaving; however, I still can’t wake her up.
“No! You’re fucking high!” As I sit on the floor, I take her weak body into my arms and hold her tightly while I call the Syndicate doctor.
“I need you at Michael’s house. Right now! I’ve got an overdose!” And the phone slides from my hand, dropping onto the floor with a thud.
While I wait in agonizing silence with her frail body in my arms, moisture wells in my eyes. I can’t lose her now that I’ve finally got her again.
The doctor storms into the room after I don’t know how long. I’ve been incessantly checking her pulse and carefully lay her on the bed. He examines her as I stare down at the love of my life.
“Cesare, she’ll wake soon. It’s good that you let her vomit or else she would’ve choked on it. Just keep her on her side until she wakes. And Cesare, from observing several puncture wounds on her arms, I can tell you that she’s an addict,” he states solemnly. “Who is she?”
“My best friend. You can go. I’ll watch over her.” I take the chair and sit down.
My best friend is on drugs.
What happened to you, piccolina?
Sadness washes over me, and the realization of how long we’ve been apart hits me. Life has a funny way of turning out. She left me due to drugs, and in the end, I’m clean and she’s an addict.
I never wanted this for you.
A tear streams down while I take her hand in mine, wishing she’d never left me. I won’t let this third chance escape my grasp. When she wakes, she must own up.