Massimo first sensation was that someone had hit his head with a baseball bat. His back was hurting as if the flesh had been sliced in half and his entire body was weak and stiff. Even his eyelids were heavy as if they were lead, but, as it seemed to be the only part of his body he still had the strength to control, Massimo struggled to open his eyes, grunting slightly as an intense light pierced his vision, making him close it again.Fuck, why was he feeling shit like this? And, mainly, why did he have the distinct impression it wasn't the first time he'd gone through something like this? When was the last time his body had been completely defeated like that? The confused memories in his mind said it had something to do with pain, blood and the loud noise of an ambulance piercing his ears... But, at that moment, he could only smell alcohol, something sickening that seemed to be medicine and the low soun
“Very well, Mr. Bianchi… Can you tell me which part exactly I’m playing right now?” the doctor asked and, because of the blue cloth that had been raised above Massimo's waist, hiding the doctor and his assistants from their view, not even Alice could tell.“That’s…” Massimo squeezed her hand lightly, concentrating “The space below my fingernail, right?”“Good.” the old man said, a smile clear in the heavy accent in his voice “Now, I will press a textured object against the sole of your foot and you must tell me what it feels like.”“They play doctor just like us at home, right, Mommy?” Millicent murmured, sitting on her lap as she watched the doctors work, curious.“Ki
“And this is the garden where daddy could walk in his chair, when he got out of bed.” Millicent said to Hoppy the bunny, holding him out as high as possible, as if she wanted the toy to see through the bushes behind the glass walls “It's beautiful, but the garden we have at home is much bigger. And in this closet right here are the nurse's things that Mommy uses to take care of Daddy. I wanted to get one of the cool things she used to listen his heart, but she said it was from the hospital…”“Millie! Don't get too close to the closet. Things can fall on you.” Alice warned her, as she helped Massimo settle into his chair, taking great care so the bandages on his back were not under pressure.“Come on, princess. Come help Grandpa carry your dad’s things to the car.” Micah called, handing Millicent just
There was a huge pile of papers in front of Alice, one more important than the other, but even so, she could only move her eyes every second towards the door to the back garden. On her cell phone, there were several messages from the administrators she had just hired to help her restructure the Dawsey companies and get them back into the spotlight they were in, when Lucas was still their CEO. However, absolutely nothing was able to make her concentrate as she should, and it wasn't just the recurring tiredness that she was feeling, now that her baby bump was becoming evident.Finally, the sound of the door opening made her jump to her feet, more than attentive to watch Massimo and Millicent enter, the two in an atypical silence for that Sunday morning, when they usually played all day long.“There you are.” she said in a gentle voice, as she ap
“This is the last document we need your signature on, Mr. Bianchi.” his assistant said, placing the paperwork on the table as if offering meat to a ferocious lion “It's about the profit shares of the Carnby's entertainment company. I called Mr. Carnby as you asked, but he's still away. However, his brother got in touch earlier and said he is more than interested in selling part of the company, as long as it does not exceed 50% of everything.”“Why aren’t this month’s financial reports here yet?” Massimo asked sharply, giving the papers a last careful read, before signing.“Uh… I’m sorry, Mr. Bianchi.” the woman swallowed “I don’t know. But, I'll get back to you right now, if you'll just give me a second…”“Contact
“Massimo?” Alice quickly tried to wipe her tears and pretend to be strong, just like he had learned she always did, when something really hurt her ""Millie and I came to visit my father, so she could play a little in the painting room that Dad made for her…”“I… I know I'm acting like an idiot…” Massimo forced the words out, feeling as if someone was turning his insides with a hot iron “All I wanted from that surgery was to feel complete again, to be the best father to Millicent and the best husband to you. I was on the way to resigning myself to the fact that I would spend the rest of my life just remembering what it was like to be able to get out of bed effortlessly, walk around the house without thinking about anything and not feel people's eyes looking down on me, as if I were a poor wretch… But, that shitty surgery made me dream of bringi
“Daddy, do you want more ice cream?” Millicent offered, raising the small plastic spoon to Massimo's lips, as the two of them approached the mall exit, with her on his lap.“No, piccola. I think I’ve had enough sweets for today.” Massimo chuckled, stroking her hair “Just remember to keep this a secret from your mother, okay? You know she won’t be happy to know that we didn’t just stop by the ice cream shop, but also the candy store and the bakery.” he winked, making her laugh.“Mommy will be happy that we bought her favorite ice cream, won’t she?” She turned her neck around, looking for one of her bodyguards, who was a few feet away, holding the package with the pistachio ice cream."Yes. Hopefully, this will help her get over her mourning sickn
“Listen…” Massimo forced himself to swallow his anger and remain calm, never letting go of Millicent’s coat “You want money, don’t you? I'll give you as much as you want. Just let my daughter go…”“Oh, you’re going to give me so much more than you think.” the bastard laughed “I promise it won't be long before you receive the ransom demand. Now…” he lowered the gun to Millicent’s knee “I’m going to count to three and, if you don’t let go of it, I’m going to…”“Daddy…!” Millicent whimpered, terrified, which only seemed to enrage the kidnapper.“Shut the fuck up!”“He won’t take you!” Massimo held