Reaching Nonna Flavia's house, Gael still hadn't responded to Angela's text. He was at a loss for words on what to say. The two of them had been doing well lately despite their sticky situation. Although there's still an apparent distance between how they're talking to each other, Angela understood his circumstance better now—so seeing that she's more vocal about how she felt made him tread more carefully. He didn't want to ruin what's already fragile by saying the wrong thing. So what was he supposed to say?

'Thank you for worrying'?

It just didn't seem good enough of a response for him.

When they got to the house, Gael, Giovanni, and Alessandro had a conversation in the office where they could have some privacy. Gael and Giovanni relayed the information they got from their short trip to Chicago earlier and discussed their course of action.

"I say we fûck him over by wrecking the deliveries and burning their factory down," suggested Giovanni as he lazed down on the leather couch with his feet up on the couch's arm.

Gael, who sat in a winged armchair by the fireplace with his leg crossed over the other, nodded as he absentmindedly tapped his phone onto his lap. "I like that idea. The old one and the house they put insurance on."

"We can't risk it," Alessandro disagreed. "There might be people inside we don't want to hurt. The fewer casualties, the better."

"Fratello mio." Giovanni knitted his brows. "Don't tell me you've gone soft? Have you forgotten that they disregarded the lives of our family and killed papà without remorse?"

"No one forgot anything," Alessandro bit back. "I was there that night. I don't need a reminder."

"Then why are you hesitating?"

"Maybe it's you who has forgotten his last wishes. As much as we can help it, we are to avoid taking lives unless we have to. We will get our revenge. Just be patient. Marino and Don Mario's heads are what we want. We don't need to sacrifice other lives. What if there are women or children in those houses?"

Gael agreed to what his father just said. Because it seemed like their time was running out, he couldn't help but think about the more straightforward route which was to go over to their territory and let the bullets rain or burn the whole place down. He didn't care for anyone in the Morelli family. But his father was right. They didn't need to involve innocent lives.

Giovanni exhaled a sigh, looking defeated. He didn't answer, but his silence was considered as an agreement.

Gael turned to his father and said, "We still have time. Once we get everything that we need, we'll commence. I'm expecting to hear some news from Savannah in a couple of days. Hopefully, we will be ready then."

Alessandro nodded while he swirled the glass of whiskey in his hand. He had been drinking a lot these days, saying it helped calm his nerves. "What time is Ms. Morelli arriving tomorrow?"

"I have no idea," Gael answered.

"Clear your schedule and accompany her wherever she wants to go. We don't want to raise any suspicions."

Gael's jaw ticked. The thought of spending the day with that woman was repulsive. "I'm busy. Ruth is on leave for a few days. Her daughter is in the hospital again. Someone covered her shift today, but no one can do it tomorrow. I have deliveries to receive." He wasn't lying, and he was glad to work in his nightclub tomorrow.

"I'm sure Gio can take care of that."

"Sure." Giovanni rolled his eyes and spoke with utter sarcasm. "It's not like I have my own club to run."

"The Manor won't miss you if you don't go there for a day."

"Sono tuo fratello! Can't you be a little nicer?" ( I'm your brother! )

Alessandro only glanced at his brother before turning to face his son. "It's just one day, son. Bear with it."

Gael clenched his jaw and slumped back in his chair, sighing. He planned to wake up late and sleep early tomorrow. The shorter the time he had to spend with that woman, the better.

***

When Gael came home at eleven that night, he took a shower and dove in his bed. He'd told Angela earlier that he would call when he got home. Seeing as it was already late, he hoped that she was still awake.

Dialing her number, he waited until she'd pick up. It took her several rings, and he thought she was already asleep. Just as he was about to end the call, the line went through.

Her voice sounded shaky and pressed when she answered, "Hi. Ow! Ow." She hissed.

"You okay?" he asked, his brows deepening as he listened closely and tried to pick up more sounds from her end.

"I slipped in the bathroom and landed on my butt. I'm okay, but this is gonna bruise."

Gael exhaled a sigh of relief, and then he worried again, "Put some ice on it. We don't want it to bruise."

"Who's 'we'?"

"Me, myself, and I."

She laughed, and her laughter made the corners of his lips lift upward. "I miss you," he said with a gentle tone.

The line went silent for a few seconds, and then she cleared her throat as if to compose herself. He waited for her response but did not expect her to say the same. There was a shuffling of what he thought were the sheets on her bed. He thought she was lying on them, and so he turned to his left and imagined Angela was there in his bed.

"So, Lauretta's going there tomorrow," she muttered softly.

"Yeah…" He huffed. "Apparently, I have to chaperon her during her visit."

"I see…"

Even with only those two words, Gael could sense the dejection in her tone. "I'd much rather spend the day with you if that were possible," he told her.

"Yeah… Well, too bad I'm here." She softly chuckled, though she wasn't amused.

He briefly closed his eyes and wished that Angela would actually be right next to him when he opened them. "Yeah. Too bad."

His eyes fluttered open, and they landed on the books on his nightstand. Picking up the top book, which happened to be her first book, he casually said, "Grandma would love it if you come. I know I would."

"I'd love to see your grandma again too."

Gael scoffed as he looked at the cover of the book, planning to reread it tonight. "Only her? You said you were worried about me. Don't you want to see me too?"

"Nope. Just your grandma."

He chuckled. Flipping the cover of the book, the smile slowly slipped off his face when he saw a written letter on the page. Angela's beautiful and neat handwriting filled nearly the whole blank page. "You signed the book."

"What book?"

"The first book… I'm looking at it right now. I just saw it…"

"Oh…"

Gael became silent, his heart kicking his ribcage as he read what she wrote.

~~~

Gael,

I wouldn't have finished this or even attempted to write anything if I hadn't met you that night. I found my passion again because of you. And for that, I'll be forever grateful.

You have no idea how much writing this helped me during my dark days. This book saved me more than you can imagine.

"A buon intenditor poche parole."

I learned this phrase while writing this book and I like it more now because it reminds me of you. I love our late-night conversations, and I'm looking forward to more, knowing that you're always listening even when I don't speak.

Grazie, Nicco.

Grazie mille, Gael.

♥

Angela Kylie Su

Aka Kayla

Aka Galatea K.S.

????

~~~

A handsome and wide smile spread across Gael's face as he ran his fingers over the kiss mark in red lipstick. He couldn't believe he'd only read the letter just now. His chest was so full he thought it would burst.

"Still there?" she wondered.

"Yeah," he replied. "I have to see you soon, Angel... Or I'll go crazy."