Kate

The hospital trip had confirmed some important things. One being that I did have cracked ribs, and that when I am presented before a doctor someone always gets hurt. This time it wasn't even my fault. Sergio and the doctor had actually gotten into a disagreement.

From the moment we walked in the doctor was being short and crude with us. As it turns out, it was because he knew who Sergio was.

News had traveled quite quickly that the Genovese and Moretti were now at war, the hospital we were in, despite having been here just a month ago for my hand, was apparently Moretti territory. Sergio was a Genovese. That was a problem.

The doctor had been pretty rude and when they were arguing about whether or not I needed an IV the doctor casually pushed his lab coat aside to reveal his own gun things got even more out of hand. Sergio had insisted I see a different doctor but he wouldn't budge.

The doctor left with a broken nose and Sergio came dangerously close to getting a bullet through his arm in the struggle but at least I had gotten a different doctor. And pain pills. Niiice pain pills. As promised.

I fiddled with Roary, the Beanie Baby Lion in my hand as I leaned back on a mountain of pillows on the couch. Fun thing about cracked ribs, laying flat. Definite no-no. When I was younger after a trip to the doctors Dad would always get me a beanie baby to praise my good behavior, despite the fact that I never had good behavior at the doctors. In my drugged up state I had told Sergio this and he had bought me Roary.

Sergio was pacing the room back and forth on the house phone talking in a low voice in Italian. I hadn't the slightest clue who he was even talking to.

I read the TY tag in my hand to pass the time. Roary was apparently a cowardly lion, ran from his own roar. What a silly lion.

Sergio finally hung up the phone and turned to me. "Alessio is on some sort of rampage. He can't find you, he's not used to not getting his way you know."

"Trust me...I know." He had had his cake and was eating it too all this time. He always got his way.

"Are you alright?"

"Nope." I admitted with no hesitation and the looked up to Sergio again. "Can we wrap my chest?"

"The doctor said no."

"The doctor said they used to do it to help pain."

"And that it was bad for your lungs, which might I add need all the stimulation they can get after the whole you know, drowning thing."

"But it hurts!" I whined.

"Should I get you a sippy cup and binky while I'm out?"

"Out?"

"Yeah. Some diapers too?"

"You're leaving?"

He watched me for a few moments. "I have to go pick up your pain pills."

"You could get me the wrap too while you're out." I suggested hopefully and he chuckled.

We had actually already picked up some Tylenol. They had given me something stronger at the hospital but refused to write any sort of prescription. Sergio had told me he wasn't a part of the Mafia, but he apparently housed some of the same connections. If I had to guess, they were mostly through the Moretti family.

"Sergio?"

"Mm." He grumbled inaudible in response.

"Are you, erm, are you staying? Here with me that is." I said and flushed. It was bad enough I was wearing Sergio's clothes but now I was asking him to stay with me as well. My own clothes had been soaked and even when they'd dried had felt stiff and uncomfortable. He had a gym bag in his truck and had given me a pair of, thankfully clean, gym shorts and a black tank that was much too big on me.

"Did you want me to?" He said slowly, treading lightly through uncertain territory.

I gave a light half shrug. "I can't call any of my friends. I'm sure Alessio is tracking all of them, and phone calls too. If Nash or my uncle or Stace tried to leave I'm sure they would be followed."

"Ah, so you're just stuck with me by default then?" He asked and then pulled his jacket off the chair he'd so lazily thrown it on. "Yeah, I can stay."

"See, you're not as big of an asshole as you like to pretend. To be honest, I really just don't want to be alone right now."

"I understand. I'll be back." He handed me the remote to the television in one hand and a gun in the other.

"I don't need a gun. What am I going to do? Shoot Alessio if he finds me?"

"Might want to, that's a decision for you to make." I accepted both.

Sergio came back a little over an hour later.

"It's been six hours since the alleged bomb threat has swept across every airport in the nation and there has been still no-" I muted the TV and turned my attention to Sergio.

"Here." He offered me a generic phone. "You get one call. Make it short. I'm going to set up the room upstairs, been awhile since there's actually been anyone in it."

I nodded.

I knew I couldn't call Stacey, her phone was definitely bugged. My uncle was probably under a lot of security as my closest living relative. If Mia was called by a number she didn't recognize she likely wouldn't answer. So I called Nash. He always answered.

"Hello?"

"Nash." I breathed and was instantly finding myself fighting tears.

"Kate? Geez...hold on." He shuffled around on the other end for a minute before returning. "Want to tell me what the hell is going on? Where are you? Alessio is literally going insane over here, he's got the whole place on lock down."

"Nash." I repeated his name only this time is was a sob.

"Oh Katie-pie. Where are you? Are you okay?" I shook my head vigorously. "What's going on?" He pressed.

I tried to tell him only two words I knew would make the most sense to him. It's over. But I was too hysterical to get anything out.

"Calm down Katie, I can't understand you, it's what?"

I couldn't breathe, I couldn't roll into a ball and bring my knees to my chest, I couldn't punch a wall or scream until I lost my voice. I couldn't do this. It hurt too much. It hurt so damn much.

"I don't – I don't know what's going on, I don't know how to help you, please don't cry Katie. Just talk to me." I tried again but didn't do much better this time either. I had managed to sit up because laying back sobbing to too painful, I gripped the edge of the couch with one hand and held the phone with the other while I cried. "It's over?" Nash repeated me. "Oh Kate." His voice was saturated with sympathy. "Are you sure? You guys have had rocky moments before maybe this is just another bump in the road."

"No." I forced out firmly. "Tell-" I paused to gather myself, my voice was shaking. "Tell everyone to go home. Tell Alessio to let them."

"Yeah, yeah, of course, whatever you need. Where are you?"

"I've got to go. Just...just get everyone out." I shut the phone and looked up to Sergio who was just coming back down the stairs. I held the phone out to him. He took the phone apart and took the pieces to the bathroom and flushed them.

"I've got a few more if you want to make another call later. Should keep them spread out, different people."

I held onto the edge of the couch with both hands and stared at the ground.

Nothing in life had prepared me for this hurt. The physical ache in my chest of leaving the person I loved more than anything, after everything we had been through, everything we had planned. I was so desperate to not hurt...I understood why people took their own lives. I was far to cowardly to ever do so to myself but it made sense. This pain, still so fresh and new, felt a million years old and never ending.

"How long will it hurt?"

"Well the ribs, same projective as your wrist. Five to eight weeks." My new cast was blue. I wasn't talking about the ribs. "Come on." He finally said and offered me his hand.

"What if he won't let me leave?"

"I know you may not be in the mood for favors from the Moretti family, but they've got a jet. He won't likely see that one coming, he can track ticket sales and keep his men posted at every airport in the country but he can't stop a private jet."

"I know you think that I need time to think about this, and you're probably right. I shouldn't make a decision like this right now but I am. It's not as though I am asking him to not go out with his friends, or communicate more, I'm asking him to change who he is completely, who he has always been from the start. I don't want to wait. Or think about it." I finally looked up. "I know you think I should, but if I do I won't be able to go. I know I won't. It's – it's over. I have to...I can't...I can't stay here anymore."

"Okay." I took his hand and he came closer to help me up. "Take a pain pill, and sleep. I'll arrange it."

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Hey readers! I believe my update schedule has pretty much gone to helllllll. Who needs a schedule anyway?!

Anyone here think little Miss Kate will actually get her ass on a plane and gtfo of here? Anyone actually WANT her to? :D

Did want to let you guys know that I MAY be writing a prequel. Right now I'm pretty excited about it but it's still just a little baby seedling and is waiting to be nurtured. I've had the idea for awhile but wanted to wait until the big "former fiance" bomb was dropped before I began writing or posting so no spoilers. Now I can nurture the baby seedling. My main focus will be finishing KTMGB so updates will come after this is over or slowly for sure.

I have made the cover and posted the Prologue. If you go to my profile (WHILE YOU'RE THERE you might as well give me a follow ;D ) It is titled "Hazel Skies" sort of sticking with the theme of the sun moon stars, all of them can be found in the stars right? Anyway, if you are interested, go and add Hazel Skies to your reading list so when it really gets going you can get the updates right away!

WARNING. Hazel Skies is a major look into Alessio's past, into everything said during the past few books, what happened with Alessio and Sergio, what happened with Alessio and Aria, how Alessio came to be the Alessio he is.

There. Will. Be. No. Kate. Not in the prequel. It will be primarily about Alessio and Aria and will be told primarily in Aria's POV. If you hate Aria, and are strictly team Kate it may not be for you. Don't come to the story just to leave negativity. On the other hand, it may be interesting to see more into Alessio's past and understand all of the characters a little better, even Aria. Again, it'll be about their growing up and the challenges they faced growing up within the mafia, how they come together and fell apart, why they are the way they are etc. It will be mostly a romance though, I understand for some of you this will not be your kind of book because there will be no Kalessio, but for those interested it is again titled "Hazel Skies" and the prologue is available now. Follow to get notifications of updates.

ANYWAY. Don't forget to vote and comment and wash your hands often or you'll catch pink eye from your little shit children like I did today xD

Chapter dedication to @xYouFancyHuhx for the song suggestion!