MILLIE
I arrived at the Santa Fe restaurant well ahead of our scheduled meeting time, allowing myself the luxury of a half-hour cushion. My instincts guided me to a booth by the window, affording me a strategic vantage point over the bustling street outside. While my trust in Kaye was strong, I couldn’t ignore the prickle of caution that lingered. Yes, she was my friend, but more significantly, she was Mathias’s wife. I held little doubt that she would betray our confidence, yet the currents of prudence nudged me to exercise extra care.
The waiter, a curious eyebrow raised at my unconventional choice of peppermint tea for dinner, brought me the drink I’d requested. At the moment, it was the only sustenance my unsettled stomach could entertain. During the wait, a fleeting thought had tempted me to venture into a nearby pharmacy for a pregnancy test, but the impulse waned as I battled down the uncertainty that churned within me.
Suddenly, my attention was snagged by a woman, pregnant and shrouded in a sweeping black coat, stepping out of a taxi. Her haste carried her purposefully toward the entrance of the restaurant. A moment later, Kaye materialized within the establishment, sans Karsen-yet my apprehensions had prepared me for this likelihood. Our eyes locked, and Kaye communicated her intent to join me through a subtle gesture to the attentive waiter.
Gracefully, she slid into the booth opposite me, and her greeting was wrapped in a tender smile, though the undercurrent of tension remained palpable beneath her surface. Her decision to leave her daughter behind underscored the gravity of our entanglement. This was not solely our battle, but we were inextricably woven into its fabric. A waiter took her order before retreating discreetly.
“Millie,” she uttered my name softly, her tone laced with both familiarity and the restraint of circumstance, “how have you been?”
I discerned the genuine warmth in her words, yet it was evident that a labyrinth of complexities surrounded us. I mirrored her inquiry, concealing my inner turmoil behind a facade of composed interest. “Kaye, Patrice is an enchanting child. I’ll miss her presence deeply. And your son-when can we expect him to grace this world?”
Her smile softened, hinting at both excitement and a seasoned awareness of the challenges ahead. “If he follows the schedule, he should be here in about three weeks. But enough about me-what of you and Gio? Is parenthood a realm you wish to explore?”
Gazing aside, my fingers instinctively fluttered to my abdomen, a subconscious gesture betraying the yearning that had taken root within me. “Yes, Kaye, the desire is there. Yet Gio’s hesitations are tethered to the strife we find ourselves submerged in. He refuses to usher new life into a world tainted by conflict.”
Her nod conveyed a deeper understanding than words could muster. “Mathias held similar reservations about a second child. The intricacies of our husbands’ roles often eclipse the simpler joys. Their minds are consumed by power dynamics and the machinations of the drug trade.”
“Family,” I interjected, the weight of the sentiment passing between us, its resonance reverberating through the air. Our shared glance acknowledged the boundaries we were transgressing. After all, Kaye was, by circumstance, my adversary.
A fleeting glance of recollection clouded her features, and a trace of tension returned. “Why have you come, Millie?”
I chose my words carefully, considering the depth of our connection and the knowledge that even friendship had its constraints. “As I mentioned, it’s Karsen. I’m worried. It’s Christmas, and he’s alone.”
Kaye’s silence validated the connection between her and my father-Karsen.
“How is he holding up?” I inquired, my heart heavy with the memory of our recent conversation, the words that had left an indelible scar on my soul.
She offered a slight shrug, a gesture betraying a concealed turbulence beneath her calm exterior. “Physically, he seems stable within the induction process. But appearances can veil a multitude of struggles.”
We both understood that clothing could conceal the turmoil within a person, the unspoken truths that remained hidden from the world.
“Is there any chance I could see him?” The words tumbled out before I could restrain them, a desperate plea laden with the legacy of family ties.
Uncertainty flickered across her gaze, her loyalty to Mathias intersecting with her genuine care for me. “He is entrenched in the Outfit. I’m uncertain if it’s wise.”
Her loyalties were undeniably aligned with her husband’s empire, yet here she was, offering me a fraction of her allegiance. But even her friendship held its boundaries. “But he’s my brother, Kaye. My blood. I practically raised him until my departure for New York. I wish to shield him, to assume a guardian’s role.”
She tenderly touched her swelling belly, her dark eyes reflecting both empathy and conflict. “This war-so unnecessary.”
“An opinion our husbands would contest,” I mused, the weight of our predicament casting a shadow over our conversation. “Or do you think you could persuade Mathias to reconsider the truce?”
In that moment, a tapestry of emotions wove between us, our words an offering of vulnerability amidst the battlefield we navigated-a battlefield that extended beyond mere physical combat, into the realm of our hearts and loyalties.
Kaye let out a sigh that carried with it a mixture of resignation and concern, her breath forming a thin mist in the cold night air. “Pride and honor,” she muttered, her voice carrying the weight of the world. “They’ll prevent both Gio and Mathias from ever reaching an agreement again. You and I both understand, they never truly got along.”
My response was a somber murmur, barely audible in the quiet ambiance of the restaurant. “I wish that reality weren’t as stark as it seems.” My gaze remained fixed on the entrance, my thoughts a storm of emotions, as the door’s bell tinkled with the arrival of an unexpected guest.
Time seemed to slow as my eyes locked onto the tall figure stepping inside, his presence commanding the attention of the room. A shock of blond hair framed a face that exuded an icy demeanor, his sharp eyes piercing through the dim light. A gray three-piece suit adorned him like armor, sending an unspoken message of power and control.
Kaye followed my line of sight, her complexion draining of color. Panic danced in her eyes as she stammered, desperate to clarify her innocence. “Millie, I swear, I didn’t disclose anything. I would never-”
My body froze as the man approached our table with a measured stride. Mathias Ruberti. His very name held a resonance of danger and authority that sent a shiver cascading down my spine. His voice was low, a volatile undercurrent weaving through each syllable as he spoke. “She’s telling the truth. Kaye said nothing.” His gaze remained locked on Kayla, cold and unwavering. “But in times like these, I can’t let anyone go unmonitored.”
Kaye’s voice trembled as she protested her innocence, her attention fixated on her mobile device lying inert on the tabletop.
“Indeed,” he acknowledged, his tone holding a hint of detachment. “And Luigi noticed a familiar face during your brunch with Leila earlier today. Uncertain, he captured an image and sent it to me. By the time I advised him to intercept, you had already vanished.”
The realization that Luigi had managed to photograph me drenched me in self-reproach. Mathias’s unexpected move, sliding into my booth rather than Kaye’s, caught me off guard. This shift positioned him between me and any escape route, effectively trapping me. My heart hammered within my chest, its frantic rhythm a testament to my anxiety.
Kaye’s eyes widened with trepidation, her distress now aimed at my predicament.
“Mathias,” she implored, her voice a soothing plea amidst the tension.
“Go outside. Two of my men are waiting. They’ll ensure you get home safely,” he commanded her, his words a firm directive.
“Mathias,” she attempted once more, the word weighted with unspoken worries.
“Kayla,” his tone turned sharp, the authority in it chilling. I rested my trembling hands on my lap, attempting to conceal my anxiety.
She rose from her seat, her gaze apologetic as she glanced at me.
“Thank you for being here, Kaye,” I managed, my voice quivering as I fought to maintain a semblance of composure.
She nodded and departed, leaving me alone with the enigmatic figure who had just intruded into our lives.