Chapter 24 (Aura)

"Please don't tell Enzo about this," I request.

Tommaso grunts as he lowers himself into a chair. "Your secret's safe with me."

He studies me for a moment, then nods approvingly. "I can see why the kid likes you. You've got guts."

I shift uncomfortably under his scrutiny. "How did you know I was here?"

"Enzo came to me for help recently," Tommaso explains. "Didn't take much to put two and two together after that."

I blink in surprise. "He didn't mention asking anyone for help."

Tommaso shrugs. "Course not. Kid's always gotta be in control, can't show any weakness. But he was in over his head with you."

I'm not sure how to feel about this revelation. On one hand, I'm touched that Enzo cared enough to seek outside assistance. On the other, I'm wary of trusting this stranger, no matter how much insight he seems to have into Enzo's life.

"Why are you here?" I ask, getting to the point.

"Came to check on Enzo," Tommaso replies. "Kid seemed pretty conflicted when we talked. Wanted to see how he was doing."

I nod, understanding. "I can imagine why he's conflicted."

Tommaso's eyes twinkle. "I might've done the same in his shoes. Gone against the family for a girl like you."

His words make me uncomfortable. "I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation," I say coolly. "Enzo's 'family' killed mine."

Tommaso's expression sobers. "Ah. I'm sorry to hear that. I knew your father, you know."

"Let me guess, you thought he was a bad man too?" I prepare myself for the usual dismissive response.

To my surprise, Tommaso shakes his head. "We're all bad men in this business, sweetheart. No point singling your old man out unless you need me to."

His honesty is refreshing, if a bit jarring. "I've heard enough condemnation of my father already," I say softly.

Tommaso nods. "Fair enough. For what it's worth, Enzo feels guilty as hell about hurting you. Shows he's still got some good in him."

I consider this. Enzo's remorse over causing me pain makes sense now, knowing he was unaware of my connection to his victims. The depth of his caring becomes even more apparent.

"So what happens now?" I ask, uncertain of where we go from here.

Tommaso sighs heavily. "Hard to say. How serious are things between you and Enzo?"

I hesitate, unsure how to answer. Tommaso doesn't wait for my response.

"If it were up to me, I'd lock you back up and make the kid forget about you," he says bluntly. "For both your sakes."

His gentle tone contrasts sharply with his harsh words. I blink in surprise. "You think I should be a sex slave?"

Tommaso's eyes widen. "Christ, no. That's not what I meant at all. I just don't want to see Enzo throw everything away for you."

I study him closely, seeing the genuine concern in his weathered face. "You really care about him, don't you?"

"Like he was my own son," Tommaso confirms. "I brought him into this life, taught him everything he knows. Hate to see it all go to waste."

"Can you help him?" I ask hesitantly.

Tommaso's slight smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. For a moment, I glimpse the dangerous man lurking beneath his kindly exterior. "Not as much as I'd like," he admits. "I'm mostly just a consultant these days. Not many of us old-timers left." He chuckles, but there's a hint of sadness in it.

"I'm sorry about your family," he says after a moment. "But don't hold it against Enzo. He was just following orders."

"I don't," I assure him. And it's true - somehow I've managed to separate Enzo from his actions that terrible day.

"How do I know I can trust you not to betray Enzo?" I ask cautiously.

Tommaso waves a hand dismissively. "Kid letting you out of that room? Small potatoes. Now if he tries to help you escape, that'd be a different story."

I bite my tongue, not mentioning Enzo's promise to save me. I suspect he hasn't shared that particular plan with Tommaso.

"Giacomo's a nasty piece of work," Tommaso continues. "Pardon my language. He won't like it if he finds out you're being treated better."

I nod, processing this information. "Enzo mentioned he's not a good person."

Tommaso snorts. "That's putting it mildly. But then, there ain't many saints in our line of work."

"You don't say," I mutter sarcastically.

"You gonna answer my question or keep dodging?" I press, tired of dancing around the issue.

Tommaso grins. "Sharp as a tack, aren't you? Alright, I'll level with you. Would you turn your father in to the cops if you knew what he'd done?"

I consider this briefly. "No," I admit. "I wouldn't."

"There you have it," Tommaso says. "I won't betray Enzo any more than you'd betray your old man. He's like a son to me."

His words are oddly reassuring. I feel I understand him a bit better now, his sense of loyalty and honor.

"Before I go," Tommaso says, standing slowly, "Tell me something. Why are you still here? You could walk out that door right now, take some of Enzo's cash, disappear. We probably wouldn't even bother looking for you."

I pause, caught off guard by the directness of his question. Why am I still here? The answer comes more easily than I expected.

"I'm here for Enzo," I say simply.

Tommaso's face breaks into a gentle smile. "That's what I was hoping you'd say."

He moves toward the door, and I follow to let him out. As he steps into the hallway, he turns back to me.

"One last thing," he says seriously. "If you really care about Enzo, you should run. He's likely to suffer greatly for you, and I'd prefer he didn't."

Before I can respond, Tommaso nods and walks away, leaving me stunned in the doorway.

I close the door and retreat to the kitchen, sinking into a chair. My mind replays every word of our conversation, analyzing each statement for hidden meanings. The implications of Tommaso's parting advice weigh heavily on me.

If I truly care about Enzo, I should leave. The realization is like a punch to the gut. Was Tommaso testing me, or offering sincere advice? Either way, the truth of his words is undeniable.

I contemplate the potential outcomes if I run away. Enzo might be angry, hurt, but ultimately safer without me complicating his life. The mafia might come after me, but isn't that preferable to them targeting Enzo for betraying them?

The choice before me seems impossible. Stay and potentially destroy Enzo's life, or leave and give him a chance at survival in his world. I could disappear, try to build a new life somewhere far away. But the thought of never seeing Enzo again makes my chest ache.

Hours pass as I sit frozen in indecision. The light outside shifts from afternoon to evening, but I barely notice. My mind circles endlessly through scenarios, weighing pros and cons, trying to determine the right path forward.