142

142
Chapter 142
Bruno is Dead!!

“You’re my peace,” he whispered suddenly.

I smiled without lifting my head. “You say that like it’s something small.”

“It’s everything,” he said. “You’re everything.”

I closed my eyes. “You always know how to make me melt, you know that?”

He laughed quietly. “Good. Because you always know how to remind me I’m still human.”

I looked up at him again. “You ever think about her?”

“My sister?” he asked quietly.

I nodded.

“Every day,” he said. “Sometimes I hear her laugh in my head, and it feels like she’s still around. Then it fades, and it’s quiet again.”

I swallowed hard, tears forming again. “She’d be proud of you.”

He looked away, blinking slowly. “I hope so.”

I placed my hand on his cheek. “I know so.”

He leaned into my hand and closed his eyes for a second. “You’re the only one who says things like that and makes me believe them.”

“That’s because I mean it,” I said.

He smiled faintly, kissed my forehead, and stood up. “You should get some rest.”

I nodded, lying down on the bed. He walked to the window, pulling the curtain aside slightly. 

“You’re thinking again,” I said, watching him.

He turned. “Yeah.”

“About tomorrow?”

He nodded. “About everything. What I’ll say, how he’ll react…”

“Just be honest,” I said. “That’s all that matters.”

He smiled softly. “You always make things sound easy.”

“Because I trust you,” I replied.

He walked back to the bed and sat beside me. “You shouldn’t.”

“I already did,” I said simply.

He chuckled quietly, his eyes tired but warm. “You never stop surprising me.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I said, smiling.

He nodded. “It is.”

He laid beside me and pulled me into his arms. I rested my head on his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat.

“Don’t worry about Bruno,” I murmured. “Everything will fall in place.”

“I hope you’re right,” he said.

“I’m always right,” I teased.

He laughed quietly. “Yeah, you are.”

After a long silence, I heard him whisper, “Thank you for staying with me.”

I smiled against his chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He kissed my hair. “Good.”



The next morning came quietly.

The sun had barely risen when I opened my eyes. Nikolas was already awake, sitting by the edge of the bed, staring at the floor.

“You didn’t sleep much,” I said, sitting up.

He smiled faintly. “Didn’t need to.”

“You’re nervous,” I said softly.

He looked at me and shrugged. “Maybe a little.”

I got up and walked over, wrapping my arms around his shoulders from behind. “You’ll be fine.”

He reached up and held my hands. “As long as you’re with me.”

“I’m not leaving your side,” I said.

He turned slightly, looking up at me. “I know.”

We stayed like that for a while. Then he stood and said, “I should get ready.”

I nodded. “I’ll make breakfast.”

He smiled. “You don’t have to. The maids are all over..”

“I want to,” I said, already heading toward the kitchen.

He followed me a few minutes later, still buttoning his shirt. I turned when I heard him and smiled. “Coffee or juice?”

“Coffee,” he said.

I poured it and handed it to him. He took it, our fingers brushing briefly. He smiled. “You always know what I need.”

I chuckled. “I try.”

He sipped the coffee, eyes focused on me the whole time. “You sure you want to come with me?”

“Do you even have to ask?” I said.

He sighed softly. “Alright.”

“Hey,” I said, stepping closer. “You’re doing the right thing. And I’m proud of you.”

He smiled faintly. “That means everything to me.”

“Good,” I said, resting my hand on his chest. “Now eat something before you go.”

He nodded and took a bite of toast, still looking at me like I was the only thing grounding him to the world.

After a few minutes, he said quietly, “I keep thinking of what I’ll say first. I don’t even know how to begin.”

“Start with the truth,” I said. “Tell him what happened. He deserves that.”

He nodded slowly. “You’re right.”

I smiled. “I always am.”

He laughed softly, shaking his head. “You and your confidence.”

“I learned it from you,” I teased.

He looked at me for a moment, then leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Thank you, Cassy.”

“For what?”

“For being my peace.”

I smiled. “Always.”

He took my hand. “I will be back before you know it…”

I smiled and nodded as he kissed me one last time.

Nikolas sat in the car as it was driving while he was looking out of the window.

Dre kept glancing through the mirror, his hands tight on the steering wheel. “You look troubled…” he said quietly.

Nikolas sighed and blinked slowly, still looking outside. “No, I’m alright…” he said.

“Come on boss… I’ve been with you long enough to know when you’re not alright,” Dre said.

Nikolas said nothing. He only pressed his lips together and looked down at his hands.

Dre looked away, shaking his head. The car was silent for a few seconds until Nikolas’ phone suddenly rang.

He looked at the screen. It was a private line, one of the officers he had spoken to earlier. 

He picked it up quickly.

“Yeah,” he said, his tone sharp.

“Sir, check the headlines…” the officer’s voice came, shaky, rushed.

“What headlines?” Nikolas asked, already frowning.

“Bruno… Bruno just committed suicide in prison and he has been confirmed dead!!”

Nikolas froze, gripping the phone tighter. “What?!!”

“Yes sir, it just happened minutes ago. He… he was found in his cell… they rushed him to the emergency ward but…”

“But what?!” Nikolas barked, his voice rising.

“He didn’t make it. He was pronounced dead on arrival.”

Nikolas shut his eyes, his jaw clenching. “Shit!!”

“Sir, I’m sorry… we did everything we could.”

“Who was on duty?! Who was watching him?!” Nikolas shouted, anger flaring in his tone.

“Sir, we’ll get a full report soon…”

“Get it now!” Nikolas cut in. “Every damn detail!” He ended the call immediately and slammed the phone on the seat beside him.

Dre looked back. “Boss?”

“Drive faster,” Nikolas said, his voice heavy. “Drive damn faster!”

___

NIKOLAS VILA

The mansion was silent when Katy’s sudden footsteps echoed down the hallway. 

She was holding her phone tightly, breathing fast.

“Cassy!!” she shouted. “Cassy!! You need to see this!!”

I was sitting by the window, still thinking about what Nikolas told me the night before.  

I looked up at Katy, startled by her voice.

“What’s that?!” I asked, standing quickly.

She ran in, panting, and handed me her phone. Her hands were trembling.

“Just look!” she said.

I took it and stared at the screen.

BRUNO ANDRETTI COMMITTED SUICIDE EARLIER TODAY AND HAS BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD.

I blinked, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest.

“He’s dead?!!” I said, my voice shaking. “How?!!”

Katy swallowed. “They said he was found in his cell… unresponsive.”

I covered my mouth, tears instantly blurring my vision. “No… no, that’s not true.”

“I just saw it on the news, Cassy. It’s everywhere.”

I sat down slowly, holding the phone tighter, reading the headline again and again like maybe it would change. “He can’t be dead… he can’t.”

Katy knelt beside me, tears in her eyes too. “I’m so sorry.”

My chest tightened. “He was all I had left from my old life… the only connection I had.”

Katy held my hand. “Cassy…”

I shook my head. “No, it’s not fair. It’s not.”

She said nothing, just sat beside me, quiet.

Minutes passed.  

Then the sound of a car pulling up made me look toward the window.

“Nikolas…” I whispered, standing up quickly.

Katy followed me as I rushed downstairs. The moment I saw him walk through the door, I ran straight to him.

He didn’t say anything at first. He just opened his arms and caught me. I buried my face in his chest, and he held me tight.

“I’m sorry, Cassy…” he whispered, his voice cracked. “I couldn’t reach him early.”

I sniffed, shaking my head. “It’s fine… it’s not your fault.”

He pulled back and looked into my eyes, guilt swimming in his. “I was going there… I should’ve gone last night.”

“You didn’t know this would happen,” I said softly.

He looked down, exhaling deeply. “Still… I feel like I failed him.”

“You didn’t,” I said, placing my hand on his face. “He was broken, Nikolas. Maybe this was his way of escaping the pain.”

He looked back at me, eyes red. “No one deserves to die like that.”

I nodded slowly, tears rolling down my cheeks. “The man that was once my father is dead.”

He held me again, tighter this time. “I know, Cassy. I know.”

“Goodbye father. I forgive you…” I whispered.

Nikolas held my hand, “come, lets go inside…” he said holding my hand as we walked to the room.

“I should’ve gone sooner.” He whispered.

I looked up. “Don’t do that to yourself.”

“I made a promise to fix it,” he said. “And I didn’t.”

“You tried,” I said. “You really did.”

He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “Dre already called the station. They’re doing an autopsy. I want the full report.”