<-I-L-A-<<< "How is your dad? Was your flight okay? How are you feeling?" Charlotte bombarded me with questions as she took both of my luggage out of my hands. "Was traffic bad? Also, I saw Emmet's Instagram post of him with a dog. Did he get a dog?"

With my head already fried, comprehending answers to reply seemed impossible. I rubbed my head and asked, "Um... can we start this in the morning? I'm really tried."

"Ah, jetlagged?" she questioned, wheeling the suitcases as she led me to the guest room. Seeing it as a convincing lie, I nodded my head and followed behind her. "You can stay in this room and you already know where the bathroom is."

"I'll shower in the morning," I said. Already, in my mind, I've decided to jump straight into bed as soon as Charlotte left the room.

"Okay, goodnight. Make sure you get a good amount of sleep because I want to hear all about it in the morning," Charlotte said. She set the suitcases aside and closed the door behind her after exiting.

I plopped onto the bed. Face first, I was sinking into the blanket-covered mattress. I stayed long enough until it was hard for me to breathe. In and out, I exhaled and inhaled harder. A scent filled my nose. Oddly, it smelt like Quinten's cologne.

I turned, rolling onto my side to lay on my back. Letting out a sigh, it was now easier to breathe. No matter how many times I did this, the heavyweight at my chest came back and it made me suffocate. Staring at the ceiling above, I broke.

As my eyes watered once more, I thought hard about my decision. In conclusion, I was sick of it. I felt sorry for myself, among other things like bad and guilty. I was done feeling that way. I'm finally out of organized crime and I'm finally going to stop worrying about it. My choice was right. Leaving the place that puts me in harm's way was the correct choice. So I'm asking myself, why do I have to convince myself that? Why do I feel so wrong?

>>>-M-A-T-T-E-O-> I'm not mad, I thought to myself. Upset? Disappoint? No, I'm fine.

Almost missing my turn, I made a sharp left. The turn was wider than expected and the car slightly drifted. Checking the speedometer, I was going 30 over the speed limit.

I guess I could calm down, I thought as I slowed down my speed. Eventually, the car brought me to the mafia mansion. I didn't mind to park in the garage, stopping the car right in the driveway.

I entered through the front door and I saw Aiden. Unlike the last time I saw him, Aiden had a familiar-looking cane by his side. He was using the walking stick rather than crutches to walk.

"Is that my grandmother's walking stick?" I asked, pointing it out.

Aiden looked down at the cane, "Yeah. Why? Is your nonna looking for it?"

I said, "No, she's in Italy right now."

"Oh, okay, good."

Before Aiden limped away, I stopped him. "Why exactly are you using her cane?"

"Giovanni is keeping my crutches away from me," Aiden explained and then he asked me questions in return, "Where is Ila? Didn't she leave with you?"

I frowned because he had reminded me of my current situation. Not wanting to answer, I walked passed Aiden. I sped up my walk, ignoring anyone who called for me. I didn't stop until I reached the pantry where the good liquor sat on the shelves. I grabbed a few bottles and headed to my room.

I need a drink.

<-I-L-A-<<< I woke up and from my room, I could hear the shower running. Charlotte must have reached the bathroom before me. I laid in my bed, stretching and yawning. My sleepiness went away and I got out of my bed. I walked over to my suitcases and brought them over to my bed. Opening it, I pulled out my outfit for the day and set it aside, on the bedside drawer, for when the bathroom was free.

I closed the suitcases and placed it back where I had gotten it from. Working on my bed, I fixed the pillows and the blankets. By the time I finished making my bed, there was a soft knock at the door. The door opened slowly until Charlotte saw me standing.

"Oh, good, you're awake," Charlotte said, giving me a bright smile. Her hair was wet from her morning shower and water at the ends of her hair damped her shirt. "I'm done with the shower, you can take one now."

"Okay," I said, grabbing my clothes and towel.

"I'll be cooking breakfast in the meantime."

"Great, I'm starving. I'll see you in 30 minutes," I smiled.

I quickly showered and dressed. Finished, I unlocked the door to the bathroom and walked out. A sudden unpleasant smell filled my nose and it got stronger as I walked closer to the kitchen.

"Is this what you made in 30 minutes?" I asked, staring at the pan that Charlotte had frantically moved off the stove. Inside it was things unidentifiable. Whatever she had made was burnt to a crisp. "I knew something smelled funny when I got out of the shower."

"Those were the last of my eggs," Charlotte said, frowning. She sadly scrapped the brunt eggs into the garbage. Placing the pan into the sink, she set it to soak.

I went to the fridge and opened it. Not expecting much, I peered inside the almost empty fridge. I saw a jug of milk and checked the date. It wasn't expired. I pulled it out and suggested, "Do you have cereal?"

Charlotte pointed to the cupboard by the fridge. I pulled out a box and waited for Charlotte to get the bowls and spoon. We made our breakfast and walked to the table to sit.

"Five stars," I joked as I ate.

Charlotte laughed and asked, "So, how have you been? What's up?"

"Where do I begin?" I asked.

"You can start where you never showed up at the donut shop. I waited for an hour, Ila."

I smiled sheepishly and apologized, "Sorry. That's when I got a call from my mother about my father's medical problem."

"Why didn't you take your car?" Charlotte questioned, "I think it got towed away."

Lying, I said, "I thought it was better than leaving it at the airport so I took a cab instead."

Charlotte nodded her head as she bought what I told her. I felt bad for lying; however, I couldn't help but feel relieved.

"How's your dad?" Charlotte asked, taking another spoonful of cereal to her mouth.

"He's doing fine now," I assured her.

She sympathized, "I'm sorry, Ila. It must be tough."

"No, no, it's okay."

The conversation ended and Charlotte went on her phone. She pulled up my brother's Instagram account and showed me the picture she had mentioned the night before.

"So, about this dog, is it his?"

Examining the picture, I guessed, "I think it's the neighbor's because that's not his backyard."

"That makes sense. His backyard wouldn't have anything living," Charlotte said, referring to the plants.

We were done eating by the time I caught her up on my life.

"When are you going to work?" I asked, placing our used dishware into the sink.

"I have an hour before I have to go," Charlotte said as she checked her watch to see the time.

"I'll have someone pick me up before then."

"I can give you a ride back to your apartment," My friend suggested.

I shook my head, "No, it's fine. They'll be bringing my keys anyways."

I went on my phone and texted Marcella.

ILA: Can you come to pick me up? Make sure you bring my apartment key. Ask Matteo for the address, he knows it.

MARCELLA: Sweetie, Matteo already left to get you.

ILA: What do you mean?

MARCELLA: He left like four hours ago.

If he left four hours ago, he should be here by now. I looked outside the window of the front house and saw Marcella's G Wagon. Matteo was leaning against it. How long has he been waiting?

"Hey, Charlotte?" I called for her.

"Yeah?" Following her voice, she was in her bedroom fixing her hair.

"My ride is here."

"Already?" She asked, surprised.

I went to the room I had stayed in last night and gathered my things. Charlotte walked me out and I asked, "Why does the room smell like Quiten?"

A blush rose to her face as she opened the door for me. Looking outside, she counter-attacked me and asked, "Why is that your uber driver has the keys to your apartment?"

"I'm not going to answer that since you didn't answer," I said, trying to hide the truth.

"Wait, I'll tell you because I want to know. It smells like Quinten beca-"

"Nope," I cut her off, halting the exchange of information. "I got to go. Bye!"

I rushed to Matteo. Charlotte watched from the door as he put my suitcases in the car. Waving, I got into the car and waited for Matteo to get in the driver's seat. By the time we pulled away from her driveway, Charlotte was back inside her house.

>>>-M-A-T-T-E-O-> "Did you bring my keys?" Ila asked. I took out her keychain from the cupholders and handed it to her. "Thanks."

We arrived at Ila's apartment complex and I wheeled both of her suitcases behind her as she walked. We took the elevator to the one floor up. Ila got ready to use her key, but I stopped her.

"You don't have to unlock it. It's already opened," I said. I grabbed the doorknob and turned it to show her. She looked shocked to see it wasn't locked. A small smirk appeared at my lips in response to her reaction. I opened the door to show her that Giovanni and Lorenzo were inside waiting for us.

"What are you guys doing here?" Ila asked.

"We came to bring the rest of your stuff," Lorenzo explained, pointing to the boxes on her living room floor.

Ila smiled, gratefully, "Thanks, guys." She stopped smiling when she noticed that Giovanni was frowning. "What's wrong, Gio?"

Giovanni threw his arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug, "I'm just sad you're leaving. You haven't even gotten a taste of me yet."

I frowned. Being to the side and behind Ila, I locked gaze with Giovanni and glared at him. He winked back and proceeded to whisper in Ila's ear.

<-I-L-A-<<< "I'm sorry. I know it must be hard," Giovanni whispered in my ear as he hugged me, sounding serious and sympathetic. He then joked again, "When you get restless at night and can't sleep, you can call me."

Not once has he never let down the chance to cross the line. I felt Matteo's hand on my shoulder as Matteo pulled me away from Giovanni's grip.

"We should get going," Matteo said. "We have a meeting to attend."

Lorenzo sighed and purposely asked, "What will we do if we get shot and there's no doctor to help us?"

Gio and Lorenzo looked at me with puppy eyes. I nervously laughed and suggested, "Dr. Montello?"

Everyone sighed, disappointed with my answer, and filed out of my home while muttering sad goodbyes.

<~> Please show much love <3