Milanese Goodbye...

**…and his sunshine petal flower girl.**

A JOURNEY THROUGH ITALY

The address Enzo Blaze gave Sunny was for a town called Aosta, in Aosta Valley, (and according to Google) a mountainous region in the north of the country. Constantine lent her just enough money to get a taxi to the central station.

“Your suitcase will arrive tomorrow,” he said without giving further details.

Sunny Hirsch arrived for the first time at Milan's central train station. That huge place was one of the biggest train stations in Europe. The main entrance had a portico with columns and statues of winged lions. Over the portico, there was a large inscription in Latin: “STATIO MAGNA MILANENSIS”.

*Wow*, thought Sunny Hirsch. *Italians really like food to advertise Milanese food in such an old building.*

Entering the station, Sunny Hirsch felt her mouth drop at the glass and metal roof that covered the platforms. Clocks, lamps, mosaics, and frescoes decorated the interior of the station. That's pretty fancy. Like, Italian fancy. Sunny followed the signs to the box office, where there were several lines of people waiting to buy their tickets. She chose a line that looked faster and approached the window. There was a train that left in 10 minutes.

“A ticket to Aosta, please,” said Sunny Hirsch.

"It's 30 euros," said the attendant.

“30 *euros*? Wait, of course, it's euros. Why did that surprise me?”

Sunny Hirsch took only 30 euros Enzo Blaze left her from the envelope and gave it to the attendant. That idiot sure knew it was the exact ticket money. Probably another way of punishment. She was hungry after spending the day being occupied by two cops at the same time. It didn't help that there were good restaurants everywhere. *Damn, Italy.* Why even your food is sexy?

Sunny Hirsch sighed and followed the signs until she reached a walkway suspended over the tracks. Her train platform was on the other side. She was grumbling with hunger when she saw who was standing in the middle of the walkway.

Thiago Blaze.

Sunny Hirsch felt herself lighten and waved at him. She ran towards Thiago Blaze. But as soon as she smiled, his gaze cold more and more before her excitement. She tried to walk more slowly without knowing what the drama was.

Thiago Blaze's soul had been kept under dark and lonely clouds in the sky. He lived over 40 years in a daze. Where nothing mattered — not even himself.

But there before him was that young girl. That ray of sunshine. She jumped up excitedly and waved at him. The smile of that ray of sunshine illuminated Thiago. The smile lit up the whole place. She was lightly sprinting white dress flying. She ran like a sunflower petal that was blown towards him by the wind. She brought the sun to Thiago Blaze's clouded life.

For the first time in his life, Thiago Blaze didn't know what to do.

“Mr. Blaze?” asked the innocent voice of the sunbeam.

Thiago Blaze turned his face back. He was gasping for air.

"What?" he asked rudely.

"Did something happen?" Sunny Hirsch asked. "Sir, you look pale."

“I'm the one who should be asking you,” said Thiago Blaze.

Sunny Hirsch then remembered,

"Oh yes! Of course. I did everything Enzo asked, but I didn't sleep with him. But I did it with two policemen he sent. I believe they are his cousins or something. I didn't want to, but they threatened me.”

As she spoke, the two walked back across the platform side by side. But Thiago Blaze stopped suddenly when he spoke,

"You did what?!"

“Enzo was very impressed. He invited me to” Sunny Hirsch looked around and whispered “an orgy.”

“Oh, is it?”

“He offered me good money for it. Enough to pay the end of my contract. But I didn't accept it,” Sunny Hirsch was quick to say, “because I'm already melancholy enough about having to do these things against my will. I can't imagine doing that with 10 men at the same time. Even if it’s to buy my freedom.”

Sunny Hirsch and Thiago Blaze arrived on the platform. They saw her train stopped, ready to go. There were only 3 minutes to go.

“Do you know where you are going now?” asked Thiago Blaze.

“Aosta.”

"Do not forget."

"I know, I know. It's where Alessandro, Otto, Blair, and their mother live. I need to keep my eyes wide open" Sunny Hirsch folded her hands on binoculars in her eyes "for any leads as to who is trying to kill Mister Marcus Blaze."

Thiago Blaze sighed and dragged Sunny Hirsch by the dress collar. He pushed her into the train. She looked like a puppy that was being taken by its mother against her will.

Sunny Hirsch found the car that matched her ticket number and got on the train. She found her seat and sat by the window. As she looked out the window, she was startled to see Thiago Blaze still standing there. His face was covered by the black mask, but his eyes were dark and intense. A few women around were whispering about him but Thiago only had his eyes for Sunny.

All the women got "oooh" when Blaze offered her an American Express Black card.

“Take it,” said Thiago Blaze.

“Oh, I already did,” said Sunny Hirsch happy. "I'll pay as soon as I can."

"Transfer your money to me and I will make you swallow every note," said Thiago Blaze.

Sunny swallowed and nodded silently. She had many doubts in the world but one thing she was sure of: Thiago Blaze didn't bluff.

"You should accept."

"I already did, sir."

“I meant Enzo's proposal. You'll have money to leave if you do this for him. You always wanted to leave, right?" said Thiago Blaze, completely hiding the bitterness of his words.

“Does that mean the contract between us is going to be over?” Sunny Hirsch asked.

Thiago Blaze did not respond. The train began to move slowly, making a metallic noise.

Sunny Hirsch opened the window and stuck her head out the window.

“What does that mean, Mr. Blaze?” she yelled.

The train picked up speed and left the station, leaving Thiago Blaze behind. Sunny watched out the window until he was out of sight. She sighed and leaned her head against the window.

“You don't care if I leave?” she said quietly to the wind.