MAVERICK
Terzo stopped asking questions since then. He brought me to a small villa in Marettimo instead of Sicily. He said I was in the right place if I wanted to hide from someone. Since he was far richer than me and people around here and Sicily knew him, he took care of the rent. That was a week ago. He didn’t call, and I did not reach out as well.
I hadn’t seen him after that besides some random guy who brought some groceries, coffee, or pastries, and damn, the Cassatelle. It was so good. I would gain weight if I wouldn’t be cautious.
I heard the door locked. Terzo trusted his men so much that he gave them the Villa key.
“What do you have for me today? Muccunetti?” I stopped my Yoga in the backyard.
“Have you been eating?” I stiffened at his voice behind me.
“It’s nice of you to show up.” I turned around and smiled. It even felt weird to smile. I cried every night until I stopped. Maybe my eyes or my body just gave up. Everything had an end. Even a robot malfunctioned-what more for a human like me?
“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy.” There was a frown on his forehead as he strolled his gaze on my body. It wasn’t anything malicious, but he looked worried.
“I was just kidding.” I grabbed the towel and covered my shoulder. “What do you have in there?” I looked at the plastic bags he was carrying.
“My men said you didn’t want anything.”
I followed him without uttering a word. He turned on the TV and scrolled through random channels, stopping at the US news channel.
My heart nearly stopped as Lake’s picture flashed on the TV screen. I looked away, and Terzo instantly saw my reaction.
I didn’t want to listen. I was sure Lake was okay, considering Terzo did not call me if there was an emergency.
The newscaster mentioned my husband’s name, making my heart skip a beat. “After Winston Holdings Inc. announced the resignation of the COO, Lake Winston, earlier this week, parting ways from the family business and legacy since he joined at nineteen years old, he followed the announcement of selling his share, leading to the company’s possible collapse. Is it a random coincidence, or does he know the position of the company in the world market? Or there has been a rift between the father, Wallace Winston, and his son. Over the years, there has been a report that the young business mogul will take over the CEO position.”
I glared at Terzo as he watched the news with enthusiasm.
“According to the business analyst Brennan Jake, Lake Winston may have more power and influence than the current CEO. We’re still waiting for a comment from both parties. Lake Winston will remain a billionaire as he continues running Infinite Media, Archer Solar Solution, and the latest company of the young capital venture, Archer Morgan and Company, LLC.”
“Archer Morgan, huh? Nice name for a kid,” he said with a laugh. “I love this guy. He has balls, unlike someone I know.”
I pressed the remote and turned it off. “Why are you here, Terzo?”
“No thank you or hug?” He arched a brow.
I drew a deep breath and checked what he had for me. “I grabbed a fresh fruit juice and drank it from the bottle.
“You haven’t told me what happened back in the US. And I didn’t press you because I know you were hurting.”
“Just drop it.”
“You can’t stay here for the rest of your life and stay away from civilization. If our family hadn’t been enemies, I would have taken you to Sicily, where you belonged. You can work on the family business, but we both know Lake needs you, and you’re still his wife.”
“I don’t belong anywhere. I’m sure I can’t get back in the States. They might have issued me a departure hold or warrant of arrest.”
“Are you kidding me?” He glared at me. “Why? Because you took your husband’s money? Winston would never do that to you. He would never ruin your life. I know that man. I know until now he’s given you the benefits of the doubt if you show your ass up there and explain your side.”
“I can’t.” I swallowed hard.
“Who?”
“Tomas. He’s some random guy from our enemy.”
“Did you kill him?” I asked in horror.
“What do you think? I- You don’t wanna hear this, but he admitted threatening and blackmailing you.”
“So you know why? Why are you still asking?”
“I want to hear it from you.”
“Did you tell him?”
“Tell who?”
“Him.” I dropped my gaze. Guilt was still eating me every day. I hated it that I could not tell anyone the whole story.
“You mean your husband.” He snorted.
“Yes, my husband,” I grunted, glaring at him.
“How could you be so cowardly? You know he would protect you.”
“How about Nana?” There you go. Just like that, I cried again. “That Tomas guy. If that was him. Why was he with Rusher?”
“You should ask your husband about that.”
“I can’t.”
“You can’t, or you won’t?”
“Is Nana okay? Did you see her?” I changed the topic when my emotions became too much.
“She’s fine. I told you I would take care of her, and I’m sure Winston has assigned some Osmium guy to watch her. Why don’t you tell your husband?”
“It would kill me if something happened to Nana.” I sniffled, wiping my tears. “That said, if I tell a soul, he would blow up the house and kill Nana. He would expose my connection to you and your father, which could ruin Lake’s image and businesses. He could be arrested for aiding and abetting the world’s most wanted criminal.”
“Thanks for protecting us, but you’ve done some terrible shit. I am sure it was just an empty threat. The real point you missed here is not about exposing your relationship with us. It’s to ruin your marriage. You know who ordered the threat?”
“Wallace?”
“Yes. That fucking bastard!” He spat out in anger. “If he’s not your husband’s father, I already blew off his head. That motherfucker.”
“Does he know?”
“Why?” He stalked in my direction, eyes taunting me. “Does it hurt so much to say his name? Is the guilt still stabbing you in the heart? Or does it feel like millions of needles pricking your skin every millisecond until you can’t feel anything anymore? Does it twist your gut every time you think of your poor crying husband?”
“Just shut up!” I dashed out of the kitchen and ran towards the patio. Warm air hugged my skin.
“You need to go back and tell the truth that you did what you did to protect him.”
“No.”
“Why? It’s okay to be embarrassed for taking his money.” He chuckled in the end. “He has billions anyway. I’m sure, by now, he forgot the five million dollars you took.”
“God, I hate you.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“How would I know no one is going to expose him?”
“You know what? You should tell him that, too. He wasn’t pissed off that you took his five million dollars. He said if you asked nicely, he would have doubled it. Imagine how generous he is. That’s why I love that guy. At first, I thought he was playing with you and would break your heart in the end, but two days ago, I saw how your separation had caused him. He was not himself. He loves you, Maverick. That’s not going to change because some random guy threatened the people you care about. You’re even a hero for sacrificing your relationship over saving lives.”
“I love him, too.”
“Then just tell him you love him.”
“No, but I want you to give him something.”