Melina walks to the main mansion the following morning to see Kat. On her way, she feels an ache in her lower abdomen and realizes her period is approaching. Melina couldn’t help but recall the last time she thought her period was coming. Tears fill up her eyes as she remembers the loss of her baby. She misses her child every day. She wipes her eyes, sniffing as she enters the family house. Melina hopes Kat doesn’t notice she was about to cry as she walks to the kitchen to meet her. Kat is usually in the kitchen at this time in the morning.
“Hello dear,” Kat says as Melina walks in.
“Morning Kat, how are you doing?” Melina asks, walking up to her by the stove. She pecks her cheeks before sitting on one of the kitchen stools.
“I’m good, dear. How are you?”
“Good.”
“That’s nice to hear. Have you had breakfast?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Here you go, honey,” Kat says as she places a plate of eggs and a cup of coffee in front of Melina.
“Thank you.” Melina takes a sip of the coffee, using the hot beverage to clear her throat before speaking. “I want to speak to you about something.”
“Go ahead, dear.”
“I want to apologize for making it impossible for you to visit the city that is very important to you.” Kat and Enzo met and fell in love in New York City. It’s more than just another city ruled by the Costanzo; it means so much more to Kat. Melina feels terrible about this, which is why she came to see Kat this morning.
“What are you talking about?”
Melina recounts all that happened the day before to Kat.
“You don’t have to apologize, dear, a city is small compared to the pain this family has caused you,” Kat says.
“I know, but I still feel bad about it.”
“It’s okay, we might have lost the city, but I doubt it will be long before we reclaim it.”
“Is that why Thomas let it go so easily?” Melina can’t help the ache in her chest as she imagines this is why he gave it away so easily.
“No, he gave it to Rafael because he loves you and would do anything to make you happy.”
“Oh,” Melina says, moved by what he did yet again.
“I know with everything going on, and what happened before, it must be difficult for you even to consider a future with my son.”
“How did you know?” Melina is surprised Kat is aware of this, as she has never discussed it with her.
“I can tell you love him but doubt he’s worth choosing this life for.”
“I don’t know if I still love Thomas, but is loving him enough? He caused me great pain. I still have nightmares about him killing a man because of me. Every day, I live in fear of being abducted and tortured even more than before. My sister is currently suffering because of him. It’s hard for me to even think of a future with him when all I feel now with him is pain,” Melina says, wiping her tears. She doesn’t even know when she started crying.
“But is that truly all he has made you feel, dear?”
“No,” Melina replies, sniffing.
“Exactly. Knowing my son, he must’ve made you feel loved and desired.”
“Yes, he has.”
“Then why don’t you only focus on that when you think of him.”
“It’s hard, Kat, it’s hard.” Melina also wishes to forget the past and move on but feels it’s easier said than done.
“But, it’s not impossible?”
“Yes,” Melina says softly. Her heart yearns for Thomas, but her brain reminds her constantly why she shouldn’t be with him. Melina is genuinely torn on what to do.
“So think of him only in that light, my dear. I know my son doesn’t deserve you, but you deserve to be happy, and I don’t believe any other man on this earth could give you the world like he would.”
“I know.” Melina feels Kat is right, but the doubts in her heart still lingers. She’s still not sure if she wants to be with Thomas.
“That’s good. Now, eat your breakfast,” Kat smiles, pushing the plate closer to her.
“Thank you,” Melina says, wiping away her tears and biting into the egg on her plate. She goes to the office with Thomas after she finishes her breakfast.
***
Melina spends the day with Thomas as he attends meetings and gets work done in his office. She usually uses her phone during meetings because she doesn’t understand what is being said because they speak Italian. It’s always like this when she follows him to work.
Melina washes her hands, dries them with a paper towel, before reaching for Thomas’ restroom door. She comes to a half as she pulls the door open when she hears someone mention her name. Thomas wasn’t in his office when she went into the restroom. He must have returned with someone.
“Keep her name out of your fucking mouth,” Thomas barks at the person in the room. Melina opens the door a little more to see who he is talking to and her eyes widen.
“James,” Melina whisper-yells, her eye-widening. What is he doing here?
“You know I’m the reason she’s yours.” “If I weren’t open to sharing my little slut, you wouldn’t have her today,” James says, and Thomas punches him square in the face.
“I told you to keep her out of your fucking mouth,” Thomas growls, glaring at him as James checks his busted lip.
“Oh, Thomas, you shouldn’t have done that,” James says after spitting blood out of his mouth. In the blink of an eye, James pulls out a gun and shoots Thomas in the arm.
“Thomas!” Melina screams as blood soaks Thomas’ white shirt. She rushes out of the restroom to him.
“You fucking asshole, get out of my office before I kill you and regret it afterwards,” Thomas barks at James.
“Remember Rafael’s words. Goodbye,” James says before approaching the door.
“Oh my God! Thomas, you’re bleeding,” Melina says, touching Thomas’ arm. She applies pressure on the wound with her palms, trying to stop the bleeding. Melina didn’t bother asking what James was doing here or why Thomas had done nothing to James after he shot him. It didn’t make sense, but that was beside the point right now.
“I’m fine,” Thomas says, wiping away her tears. Melina doesn’t even know when they started flowing.
“Leo, Leo, Thomas has been shot,” Melina screams for help as more of Thomas’ warm blood coats her hand. Her hands tremble as she recalls how Franky’s blood coated her hands before her body went cold. Her heart races at the thought of Thomas dying. She couldn’t imagine her life without Thomas.
“Sotto capo!” Leo exclaims, running into the room.
“I’m fine. Get the doctor on the phone and me a new shirt,” Thomas orders Leo as he moves to the couch to sit down. Melina doesn’t take her hands off his arm, trying to keep the pressure on as he moves. I can’t afford to lose him; I just can’t.
“Yes, sir,” Leo says, fetching out his phone from his pocket.
“Can you stop crying, principessa? I don’t like seeing you cry,” Thomas says, wiping her tears away again.
“You’re bleeding. Why won’t I cry?” Melina asks, sniffing.
“It’s just a bullet to the arm. I’m going to be fine.”
“Let the doctor get here first and confirm it, then I’ll believe you.”
“Alright,” Thomas replies, smiling at her. Melina shakes her head. She couldn’t believe how undisturbed he was about getting shot. Her heart is hammering against her ribcage, and he’s smiling at her like he just got a scratch to the arm.
“You know, I’m not bothered because it’s not the first time.”
“I know, but it doesn’t matter. You could still die.”
“Don’t worry, principessa, it will take more than a bullet to the arm to kill me,” he says as he pushes her hair out of her face.
“It’s better because you can’t die,” Melina says, her bottom lips quivering. She bites her lip to hold in her tears. I can’t lose Thomas. Please, God, don’t make me lose him.
“I won’t die.” He wipes her tears once again as they fall.