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CLEO GARCIA I remembered last night and all the places we had to be at. I recalled the wine, the large amounts of money, and the moving streetlights. Marco had put me to bed but now it was Isa walking around my room. Isa moved from the table to the bed. She paid me no mind. She didn’t know I was awake. I laid still on the bed, watching her move things around. I tried to blink and move my head. When there wasn't any sharp pain, I sighed in relief and swallowed. My throat was dry land and it hurt to roll things down it. I had to clear it noisily. Isa turned at that. “I thought I would have to carry you down the stairs and into the car,” Isa said, smiling softly. Her forehead was bare as she had pushed her head into a high ponytail. Her outfit was casual and simple, a stretch away from what she’d been wearing last night. It had to be morning. But if it was, where was Marco? Marco was meant to be here. He spent the night in my chair. I knew this because he’d woken
ISABELLA GARCIA I pulled Ethan close until his shoulders pressed against my waist and his head leaned in toward me. “Get in the car, baby,” I said to Ethan. Enzo stood behind the couch, his forehead and cheeks sprouting red. He was holding himself together, barely keeping from lashing out. All morning, I’d been pushing him to the edge. I kissed the top of Ethan’s head before sending him off. Enzo’s eyes burned into the floor. As soon as the door shut behind me, Enzo stepped forward. Ethan wasn’t here anymore. “What do you want?” Enzo asked. “To take my son for a check-up without looking over my shoulder,” I said, keeping my tone flat. Enzo wasn’t impressed. He still had plenty to say. His frown stayed in place, and the fist he had made with his left hand wasn’t letting up. “You want to protect your child,” Enzo said, letting it hang somewhere between a question and a statement. “I do,” I replied. I tucked my bag under my right arm and folded my hands around my torso. “T
ENZO MORETTI I pulled a chair and sat down thinking about how Bobby used to be hooked up to a lot more wires. No more wires could only mean he was getting better. Bobby rummaged through the bags we’d brought for him. Every item made his eyes and heart light up with joy. The feeling was contagious. “How are you feeling?” I asked, still watching Bobby. The doctor could tell me one thing, but only Bobby truly knew what his body was going through. If the doctor said he was improving, it didn’t mean much until Bobby believed it too. “Sore.” Bobby paused and coughed. “Okay, a little less sore. Before, I couldn’t cough without my chest hurting so bad.” He was putting the bags away just as Marco opened the door to Bobby’s room. Given the situation, Bobby had to stay at one of my safe houses. It was a private place, and the doctor came by every day to check on him. Marco walked in, distracted by his phone. “Before you ask, I’m good…” Bobby began. “How are you—” Marco still asked,
ISABELLA GARCIA And come on, Cleo. You see how this is not my fault,” I told Cleo over the line. She’d switched from video call to voice, so I dropped my phone on the fridge. I held the fridge open and looked inside while Cleo made a disapproving sound. “Everyone has faults here, sis,” Cleo squeezed out. I glared at the phone for a second. If only my eyes could do something from here. But they didn’t. The screen stayed black and Cleo stayed quiet. “Should I state the obvious?” Cleo asked after a moment had passed. “Which is? Don’t say anything stupid,” I added as an afterthought. “You earned him a court case,” Cleo said. The fridge was still open and I got distracted from the conversation for a minute. I wanted to make something. The chicken caught my eye but I lacked patience. I would have preferred to have it marinated properly. “Oh please,” I said, deflecting Cleo’s accusation. That was all her words were, an accusation. It wasn’t the truth. “Enzo got h
Isabella GarciaCleo hated when I canceled dates from the dating app she’d forced me to join. To her, finding love was the answer to all my problems.I didn’t agree, but today, I was so drained that I decided to use it to my advantage.“You’re canceling the date again?!” Cleo yelled from the room. She burst out, blue stockings muffling her hurried steps.“I have to take Ethan for his checkup. It’s the first Saturday of the month.” I wiped our lunch glasses and tucked them into the bottom cabinet.Normally, I wouldn’t tell Cleo when I planned to cancel. She would find out when she asked. But today, I wanted her to stop me.Right on cue, she said, “I’ll take Ethan to the hospital.” She stood in the doorway, arms folded.I glanced back, feigning surprise. “Oh, no. You don’t have to.”“Yes, I do. You’ve canceled enough dates already.”I sighed, closing the cabinet. “I can’t change your mind, can I?”She smiled, shaking her head. “You can’t.” Grabbing my arm, she pulled me toward my room.
Enzo MorettiI stepped forward cautiously, my hand hovering in the air. If I hadn’t seen her lash out earlier, I might have rested it on her shoulder.“I’m really sorry,” I said.She turned to face me, tears streaking her face, though she tried to push them away.It wasn’t my fault for thinking she was married. The way she was dressed screamed 'date night.' Her brown hair in soft ringlets, rose-colored lipstick, and a dress meant for special occasions. My gut told me she was heading to meet someone important, maybe her husband, before she got roped into helping me.If I was right, I needed to know immediately. If someone saw her leave with me and started looking for her, my safety was on the line.She might’ve helped me, but I wasn’t going to risk my life over a misstep.“I want to go home,” she said, her voice trembling.My instincts flared. This was survival. My life depended on dissecting every word, every move, because trust was a luxury I couldn’t afford. Everyone had a price, an
Isabella GarciaThe thought of dying hit me like a brick, and I froze, fear crawling over me. My lips clamped shut, my breath barely a whisper. My eyes stayed wide, still in shock, long after Enzo left. All I could think was how the hell I’d ended up here. Tears burned at the corners of my eyes. The fear was crushing, and my heart felt like it was going to explode in the silence that followed. I listened, desperate for any sound, any clue about what was happening outside. But there was nothing. Even though my legs were hurting fom squatting, I didn’t sit down. I stayed in my position, crouched, alert and ready. I had to make it out of here. I had to hold Ethan again, play cards with my Cleo, and sip red wine like nothing was wrong. I couldn’t die here. Not like this. "Please, God, not like this." Another bang. Louder. More violent. My body jerked, my fingers instinctively covering my ears. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited. Either Enzo shot at the intruder...or they shot at
ENZO MORETTI I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. Isa on the other hand slept after trying to sob quietly. She didn’t do a good job at keeping her voice low. I could hear her whimpers from where I was seated. I knew she wanted to be left alone. I promised not to leave her side and I was keeping that promise. On the other hand, I wished I could console her. I knew she wouldn’t have appreciated me coming to console her so I had to let her be until she eventually slept off. The entire night was a torture for me. I thought about Marco. I was mad at him for bringing Larry to my safe house. And Larry. If I could kill him again, I would do it. I’ll snap my boots deep into his guts so he wrenches in pain. I was only thinking about it but I could already see Isa watching me. She was filled with trembling fear as she watched me. I remembered the look in her eyes tonight and I hated myself some more. Sleep was far from me tonight so I stayed awake, rethinking my life
ISABELLA GARCIA And come on, Cleo. You see how this is not my fault,” I told Cleo over the line. She’d switched from video call to voice, so I dropped my phone on the fridge. I held the fridge open and looked inside while Cleo made a disapproving sound. “Everyone has faults here, sis,” Cleo squeezed out. I glared at the phone for a second. If only my eyes could do something from here. But they didn’t. The screen stayed black and Cleo stayed quiet. “Should I state the obvious?” Cleo asked after a moment had passed. “Which is? Don’t say anything stupid,” I added as an afterthought. “You earned him a court case,” Cleo said. The fridge was still open and I got distracted from the conversation for a minute. I wanted to make something. The chicken caught my eye but I lacked patience. I would have preferred to have it marinated properly. “Oh please,” I said, deflecting Cleo’s accusation. That was all her words were, an accusation. It wasn’t the truth. “Enzo got h
ENZO MORETTI I pulled a chair and sat down thinking about how Bobby used to be hooked up to a lot more wires. No more wires could only mean he was getting better. Bobby rummaged through the bags we’d brought for him. Every item made his eyes and heart light up with joy. The feeling was contagious. “How are you feeling?” I asked, still watching Bobby. The doctor could tell me one thing, but only Bobby truly knew what his body was going through. If the doctor said he was improving, it didn’t mean much until Bobby believed it too. “Sore.” Bobby paused and coughed. “Okay, a little less sore. Before, I couldn’t cough without my chest hurting so bad.” He was putting the bags away just as Marco opened the door to Bobby’s room. Given the situation, Bobby had to stay at one of my safe houses. It was a private place, and the doctor came by every day to check on him. Marco walked in, distracted by his phone. “Before you ask, I’m good…” Bobby began. “How are you—” Marco still asked,
ISABELLA GARCIA I pulled Ethan close until his shoulders pressed against my waist and his head leaned in toward me. “Get in the car, baby,” I said to Ethan. Enzo stood behind the couch, his forehead and cheeks sprouting red. He was holding himself together, barely keeping from lashing out. All morning, I’d been pushing him to the edge. I kissed the top of Ethan’s head before sending him off. Enzo’s eyes burned into the floor. As soon as the door shut behind me, Enzo stepped forward. Ethan wasn’t here anymore. “What do you want?” Enzo asked. “To take my son for a check-up without looking over my shoulder,” I said, keeping my tone flat. Enzo wasn’t impressed. He still had plenty to say. His frown stayed in place, and the fist he had made with his left hand wasn’t letting up. “You want to protect your child,” Enzo said, letting it hang somewhere between a question and a statement. “I do,” I replied. I tucked my bag under my right arm and folded my hands around my torso. “T
CLEO GARCIA I remembered last night and all the places we had to be at. I recalled the wine, the large amounts of money, and the moving streetlights. Marco had put me to bed but now it was Isa walking around my room. Isa moved from the table to the bed. She paid me no mind. She didn’t know I was awake. I laid still on the bed, watching her move things around. I tried to blink and move my head. When there wasn't any sharp pain, I sighed in relief and swallowed. My throat was dry land and it hurt to roll things down it. I had to clear it noisily. Isa turned at that. “I thought I would have to carry you down the stairs and into the car,” Isa said, smiling softly. Her forehead was bare as she had pushed her head into a high ponytail. Her outfit was casual and simple, a stretch away from what she’d been wearing last night. It had to be morning. But if it was, where was Marco? Marco was meant to be here. He spent the night in my chair. I knew this because he’d woken
MARCO MARTINSCleo almost tripped in her heels, tipsy and unsteady.I caught her just in time, preventing the disaster from happening."Thank you," Cleo said, touching the side of her head. "I don’t feel good," she muttered against my hands."We’re almost there," I reassured Cleo.We had made it up the elevator. and Cleo siged against me as the staticelevator sound rang out. Carefully, I guided her to her room.Cleo had performed really well today. I could hardly believe how much fun we’d had.If Cruz hadn’t been a dick, the night would have been perfect for me."Fuck, are we there yet?" Cleo asked, her voice more strained.I looked at her for a moment. Sweat was breaking out across her forehead. She pressed her lips into a thin line and wrapped her arms around my neck.Leaning her head against me, she closed her eyes.I pressed the back of my hand to her neck—it was slightly warm."Almost there," I told her, picking up the pace.It was four in the morning.The night had been packed wi
ENZO MORETTII got upstairs, washed my face and towel-dried it. A knock sounded at the door. I went to open it, thinking it was Isa, but it wasn’t her."Room service?" the lady and gentleman announced with cordial smiles."You ordered breakfast for two," the lady said.I remembered. I stepped aside and let them bring the food inside. As they were leaving, Isa appeared behind them.They exchanged polite greetings before she stepped in. The door was bolted, and I headed straight to the medium-sized breakfast table to eat.Isa walked over. For a second, I thought she was going to sit with me, but she only checked her food, picked it up, and went to the dresser.That was where she preferred to eat. At least six inches away from me."You only ever talk about Cleo. I didn’t even know you had a mum," I said, making a move to break the ice between us.The tension in the air was heavier than anything I had experienced.The truth was, my brain wasn’t ready for this conversation.We were meeting
ISABELLA gARCIAJust like the rest of the attendings, we made our way to the next room. This one had a more intentionally designed space.It resembled a sports field. The chairs were arranged around the stage, and an elevated surface stood in the middle of the hall with a pulpit-like structure set up nearby.A new host took the mic, tapping it lightly as people moved around the space. Enzo and I led the way and sat on one of the high-back seats.I didn’t understand why the seats were so much compared to the attendings in the hall. There were plenty of people before, but as we had moved to the next room, which was much larger, the gaps between groups became even more noticeable. It was like evryone didn't join us to the bidding room. Empty seats remained unattended to while people moved in small groups of twos and fours. We sat down, and a tray of champagne was served to us almost immediately. The staff moved quickly, acting as if they weren’t there, slipping through the empty spaces
ISABELLA GARCIA “Did you mean what you said last night?” Enzo asked as soon as he killed the engine. He had an event to attend and had asked me to come with him. He asked a week ago, and I promised I would go. After everything that had happened yesterday, I wished I could back out, but I had given him my word. My presence in his life had disrupted things for him, no matter how humble he was about it. The least I could do was try to fix what I could while I was still here. But I knew we were finally going to have this conversation about what I said. With Bobby’s situation, there was no time last night. He was doing better now, thank God. Still in recovery though which was why Enzo was driving. He didn't want to give his job to any other person. I think he didn't trust any other person. “Going to my mum’s? Yes. I meant it, and I’m sure you understand why. Ethan… he can’t handle something like that, physically or mentally,” I said all at once. I was in the passenger seat, wearing
ENZO MORETTI I stood by the door as Isa put Ethan to sleep. It wasn’t much of a bedtime story tonight. Ethan talked about what his dad’s death meant, and Isa held him close. I didn’t want to disrupt them. If it were up to me, I would have waited outside, but Isa asked me to stay. She wanted me here. “If you want me to stay with you tonight, I can do that,” Isa offered as she tucked the blanket around Ethan. Ethan clutched his pillow, lying on his side as Isa brushed his forehead gently. “No, thank you,” Ethan murmured. Isa bent down and kissed his forehead. She lingered there, pressing her cheek against his for a moment. “I love you,” Isa whispered, so softly that I barely caught the words. “Call me if you need anything.” Isa said and straightened. “Goodnight,” Ethan told her. Isa watched him for a few seconds, then let out a quiet sigh and stepped back. She turned off the lamp which was the last source of light in the room. Even the blinds were shut. My eyes adjusted to t