Melina wakes up late the next morning to find the house empty and a bodyguard at her door. Everyone appears to have gone out. She goes to the mafia house in search of Thomas. She’s hoping he hasn’t already left for work. She wants to know what he has planned for the day of the exchange. Melina believes there is no way Thomas will go in blind, so she might as well know everything he plans to do that day if she can’t persuade him to change his mind. Perhaps I can help in some way.
Getting there, she finds his office and bedroom empty, so she checks the next possible place he could be, which is the basement. Melina asked Linda if he had gone to the office, and she said he was still at home.
Melina saunters into the basement because the lights are dim. As she walks down the stairs, she hears Thomas’ voice. Thank goodness I’ve found him. Following the sound of his voice, she finds him talking to someone she’s only ever met again in her dreams. She moves closer to the man, wondering if her eyes are playing tricks on her. Her mouth is agape as she stares at him standing across from Thomas.
“You’re alive,” Melina says to the man she remembers Thomas beating to death the last time because of her. She never thought she would say those words in reality. The guilt of being the one responsible for his death never faded from her heart. She can’t believe he’s standing in front of her right now, healed. But she is puzzled as to how he survived.
“How?”
“I’ll tell you in my office, wait for me there. I need to talk to him about something important first. When I’m finished here, I’ll explain everything to you,” Thomas says.
“Okay,” Melina returns to the stairs and starts walking out. She turns around one last time before leaving, staring at the man she believes she was instrumental to his death. She feels an enormous weight lifted off her chest now that she knows he’s alive. Thomas didn’t kill him. Thank God. I can now sleep a little better at night. I’m so happy he’s still alive.
Melina goes to Thomas’ office and waits for him. Her feet vigorously tap against the floor as she sits on one of the couches. She can’t wait for Thomas to arrive and explain how the man survived. Melina stands up and walks around his office, unable to sit still. She tries to divert her attention by scanning the books on his shelves. Melina reminisces about cleaning Thomas’ office. Her hand moves involuntarily to her throat, recalling how Thomas face-fucked her. She can’t believe it happened so long ago. Melina never imagined she’d be in his office for any reason other than to clean it.
Melina truly believed Thomas would never believe she didn’t want to betray him. She wipes a tear that unknowingly escapes her eyes. I went through a lot of horrible things within those months. Melina wonders if she will ever able to forget what happened and truly move on from it. Her train of thought is disrupted when the door squeaks opens. She quickly wipes her eyes and hopes Thomas doesn’t notice she almost cried.
“Did you sleep well, principessa?” Thomas asks as he walks over to her by the bookshelves.
“I did. How about you?”
“I didn’t. Someone was missing from my bed.” Melina knows he is talking about her.
“That’s your fault, but I’m not here to argue.” Melina walks to the couch, followed by Thomas.
“What brings you over?” he inquires as they take their seats.
“Before I tell you what, care to explain how I just saw the man you beat to death in California.”
“I changed my mind about killing him.”
“What made you change your mind?”
“You.”
“Me?” Melina asks, confused.
“Yes, you. I knew how guilty you felt about his death, so I asked Leo to get him treated the day after you inquired about him. I was going to tell you about it, but it always skipped my mind with everything going on.”
“Wow, I can’t believe it. I truly gave up hope on him being alive.”
“He’s fortunate. I’m not usually forgiving when it comes to what he did, but I knew how much his death would hurt and hunt you, so I gave him another chance. Let’s hope he doesn’t blow it this time.”
“Do you mind telling me what he did?”
“He tried stealing some ammo. I later found out he was stealing it because he needed money for his wife’s surgery. I wish he fucking came to me with his problem, but that’s that.”
“Oh, do you know why he didn’t?” Melina understands why Thomas would forgive him now. He even had a valid reason for stealing.
“He has a gambling problem, so he thought I won’t believe he needed the money for his wife.”
“Oh, that makes sense, but I have to ask, would you have spared his life if he didn’t have a valid reason for stealing?” Melina can’t help but be curious.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I would have kept him alive in a cell forever because of you.”
“You would do that for me?”
“I would do anything for you, principessa.”
“Thank you,” Melina smiles. She couldn’t believe, even then, he had done such for her.