Chapter 83: Epilogue - The Dangers Awaiting Us

One year later.

KEL.

"Recombinant, mRNA, or viral vector?"

"Viral vector. Or stick with recombinant subunit, but with a better adjuvant."

"Sure. That works, too." Partly covered by a towel, Enzo walked out of the bathroom with a scrunched up nose and knitted brows. "But why not mRNA?"

Why not go for the messenger-RNA type? If his CSO was doing his job, then the big boss should no longer ask me these questions weeks before their clinical efficacy trials. I sat beside the pillow and looked up from my phone, trying not to frown at the half-naked guy making the floor wet.

The new mop I bought should be desert-dry by now. I'd left it near the pool. The weather had been friendly all morning. Like my hormones. And thank heavens for both.

"If the board is now aiming for distribution on a global scale, your teams should opt for the one that's not gonna be a logistics nightmare."

"Yeah. We should," he mumbled with a restrained sigh. "And they definitely want to scale up."

"So go for the one that's easier and cheaper to mass-produce." I got up from the bed, counting the growing droplets around his feet while deciphering the determined look in his eyes...that intense, penetrating stare he had whenever something grievous or potentially ground-breaking gripped his concentration.

With his hands on his hips, he stood by the bathroom door, his dark brows furrowing, his slicked back hair flaunting the photogenic angles of his face. His smooth and tan skin glistened under the lights. A black towel partly hid his nudity while a frown drew small lines on his pinkish lips.

If I didn't know he was a licensed engineer and a businessman by profession, I would've imagined he was an athlete or a fitness model. Well, the former was also true; he liked sports and still joined triathlons whenever his schedule permitted. "Why? What's up?" I stepped closer to him to wipe his forehead with a clean face towel.

"That's exactly what Graham said, about which one's best," Enzo muttered, now staring blankly at the empty bed.

Oh. So their Chief Scientist wasn't lagging behind and snoozing at work. "And the board agreed?"

"Not yet. Three of them are getting antsy." Enzo heaved a sigh. "Roughly ten mil in total." He grunted and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ten million dollars out the door if I don't convince them to stay."

"Pretty sure you can." I stood beside him as I sprayed disinfectant all over my phone, then all over my hands. A long-time habit. I did the same to his gadgets at least twice a day. Just necessary precautions. "Don't stress about it too much."

"If I convince them that we could kickstart the safety trials by next year, they might stay."

"They should. Your R&D team needs more funding and support. Without both, you can't ensure less setbacks before Phase II."

"You should talk to them, love." With his arms crossed, Enzo leaned against the bathroom door as I poured rubbing alcohol onto his phone screen. "They'd listen to you and Graham."

I chuckled. "But I don't know much about vaccine development. And I'm not an infectious disease specialist or a virologist like him and Dr. Chen."

"Not yet." Enzo smirked, his thumb tracing my brow while small wrinkles deepened beside his slightly puffy eyes. "You're seriously considering it now?"

"Yeah. I could be an internist. Or I could focus on research, like Mommy." I smiled at him despite my face mask. Since becoming a neurosurgeon would take almost another decade of training plus more hard work, more money, moving to another state and more sleepless nights, I would rather specialize in a different field after residency.

"Sounds good, too." Enzo's smile widened. Then a look of concern wrinkled his forehead again. "What did your supervisors say?"

"They want us to stay in the hospital 24/7 every three weeks starting next month." I stood closer to him so I could dry his forehead and hair with the face towel.

He tried not to react for a few seconds, then gave up the façade and breathed a noisy sigh. "Why?" A curious squint lowered his dark lashes. They hid the tiny, pale green flecks in his irises. "You're still doing simulation trainings?"

"Every week. They're still hiring freshies, so, it's a must." I put on another tight-lipped smile. My job was an especially touchy subject lately. Way more than usual. And the guilt I tried to hide wasn't going away anytime soon. "We all have to be highly prepared. The R-naught's gonna increase soon if we don't contain the outbreaks better and much faster."

"Because it will definitely mutate?"

"It's a novel flu-like virus, love," I sighed, my breath warming my nostrils, mouth, and entire jaw area. The PCR and antigen test results assured us I was not an actively infectious carrier. But since I was exposed daily in the ER the past month, I still wore a surgical mask around him and other people. "I'm pretty sure it's happily mutating in infected populations right now."

He cussed in Italian and approached the closet, his steps hasty and firm. He put on dark boxers and a plain sweatshirt, tutting and sighing to himself every five seconds or so.

"What's wrong? Are you that worried about the board's decision?"

"No." With another frown, Enzo cleared his throat and watched me while I stood beside the bed. "I'm far more worried I won't see you again for another couple of weeks."

"Aww... I'm sorry." I stopped checking my phone and tried a quick laugh to lighten up the mood.

Well, he had the right to feel upset. He still thought of the worst every time we talked about my growing list of work responsibilities. He probably imagined something terrible would happen to me as long as I was providing direct patient care.

Not unrealistic at all. And I couldn't blame him for worrying too much. Even before the virus reached the country, most of the time I couldn't leave the hospital for an entire week. On two occasions, I had to eat, sleep, bathe, and work in the same building for 31 days straight. No exceptions.

And now that the newly discovered pathogen had already reached the most populated cities, I highly doubted my work schedule would become easier to manage from here onwards.

"I'm startin' to regret loaning you money for medical school." Enzo grinned and flumped down on the covers. The dimply smirk didn't do much to mask his growing concern—or the upper-class sense of despair in his heedful eyes that always riveted me. "Don't tell Mom, though," he murmured while stroking my hair.

Faking a chuckle, I stood between his muscular thighs. The fact that he was much closer to my family now always made me smile. Always made me feel secure. Fortunate. Content.

My mom and sister liked him too much. Even Gaia was warming up to him now...which was saying a lot. My ever-busy bestie never liked making new friends. She wasn't even the least bit surprised when I told her I wanted to move in with Enzo—actually his request.

"I won't if you won't." I couldn't help giggling when he pulled me closer so I would sit on his lap.

He fastened his arms around my back, trapping me in his embrace while I tried to avoid his face. "Deal."

"Any other questions, Mr. Tomassini?"

He kissed the side of my head. "How much d'you think we still need? For the research team and the tests alone?" He placed his cheek on my upper chest.

"I dunno, love," I sighed. "Two to four million? No. Maybe more, if you're looking to make it to Phase III sooner. Ask Graham, and Dr. Chen and Dr. Schulz. I suppose multi-center, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled is the gold standard now."

"We need it ASAP, then. And lots of volunteers."

"Yeah." I hugged him back, resting my chin on his firm shoulder, his warmth such a comfort to my tired and aching muscles. I positioned my face away from his, though, especially my nose and mouth.

Thankfully he understood my choice to still wear masks indoors every time I came home after ER and ward shifts. Nor did he protest my choice to abstain from sex as much as possible. It annoyed him sometimes, but, he understood the reasons and the risks.

The most thoughtful, understanding man I'd ever met, actually. I'd marry him and have his babies any day now if only I wasn't such a pessimistic coward.

"So give or take seven mil." He sighed louder with his head hung low. "Bollocks."

"I know someone who could help with the money."

He pulled away. "Who?" Enzo stared at me again, his crow's feet showing, the dark curves under his eyes and his fairly gruff voice reminding me of his equally brutal schedule. "Someone from the hospital?"

"No. I mean, I dunno if he will agree to your proposal. But, he will hear you out."

"You sound so sure," he murmured while squinting at me.

"And he's got a lot of resources and connections you could use." I stroked his upper back and feigned a chipper tone. Most likely he still didn't want to meet my paternal family, but he might consider the idea if his problems at work only worsened. "Same goes with his wife, I bet. Her family's from old money."

"Yeah? Who are we talkin' about again?" His dark brows wrinkled.

"He's co-owner of a big pharma company that's a subsidiary of the Astra Nova Group. He's a real-deal businessman, too."

"Who?"

"You haven't met him yet, but it's worth a try." I held my breath and looked him in the eye, hoping for a somewhat neutral reaction instead of an outright refusal. "I'm sure he knows lots of big shots in the field. He can help you out."

"I'm confident since you sound so convinced."

"Yeah. You should set up a meeting." My hands massaged Enzo's tense shoulders as he watched me closely, just waiting for me to drop the name. "With Magnus."

The End.

***

Author’s Note: Book III of this mafia romance series will also be published here on the Readict app.

The third book is titled 'Loving The Mafia Heirs.' Do check it out!

Thank you for your continued support. It motivates indie writers like me to keep writing original stories that I wish will inspire and/or resonate with you. Be nice to everyone, stay safe, and stay healthy!

Love, MZ.