Chapter 12
TWELVE
Sable
I had been dreading this moment ever since Nico told me about his plans for Chance. Saying goodbye to my brother, even if it was temporary, wasn't going to be easy.
I gazed out the window of Milo’s office, taking in the sights of the city. How many times had Chance and I explored those streets? Hundreds. How many dreams did we have when we first arrived in this city with nothing but one another? Too many to count.
Promises were made that I would take care of him. I swore we would make a better life than the one we had. Doing that alone proved to be impossible. We needed help.
That assistance came from a place I never expected. A New Year’s Eve kiss with one of the most powerful men in the city. My dreams were coming true, but not in the way I had expected.
“Sable.” Chance entered Milo’s office, wearing a new flannel button-down shirt and black jeans. “Mr. Accetti said I could find you here.”
“You got a haircut.” I ran my hand through his short auburn hair. “It looks good.”
“Since I’m starting over, Mr. Accetti thought I should freshen up a bit. New clothes, shoes, hair, new me, you know?”
“This is what you need.” I pointed at the chairs in front of Milo’s desk. “Sit with me.”
“Italy seems so far away though, doesn’t it?” He took a seat. “I’m a little anxious about the plane.”
“I was too when I went to Puerto Rico last month, but it’s not scary. You can stream a show. After four or five episodes, you’ll almost be there.”
“When Milo wants to get rid of a person, he doesn’t mess around.”
“You should be thanking Milo, not insulting him.” I sat and crossed my legs at the ankles. “Going to a new country and learning a skill that you would never have had the opportunity to do without this family is a gift.”
“I know it is.” He patted my knee. “I wish I didn’t have to leave you.”
“I’ll come and visit when things settle down for Milo.” I smiled. “I can’t wait to see Italy.”
“Do you think Milo’s business will ever settle down?”
“I hope so.” My heart couldn’t handle the constant stress Milo had been under. I wanted him to be happy and worry-free. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I’ll always worry about you, especially when you’re with Milo.”
“Chance, I don’t want to fight today.”
“I’m not starting a fight,” he said. “Milo is a dangerous man who has plenty of enemies. You wanted me out of that life, but you’re still in it.”
“I’m with Milo because I love him. He’ll protect me. You don’t have to stress. I do enough of that for both of us. Just because you’ll be in another country won’t make me stop worrying about you.”
“I’m really going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too, but we’ll see one another soon.
” My voice cracked, but I had to hold it together.
“We’re going to get to do all the things we talked about through the years.
The vacations, being able to go see a movie in the theater, getting a milkshake whenever we want.
” I laughed. “You know, all that stuff we never got to do.”
“Like having heat in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer?”
“Birthday and Christmas presents.” I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to fight the tears. “Getting our own value meal and not having to split one.”
I wriggled my hands, feeling like a complete failure when I realized I didn’t deliver on my promises to give us a better life when we left our father.
“Nothing is your fault,” Chance said.
“Everything is my fault.” I looked at him as the tears streamed down my face. “I’m the one who said we had to run. We had to get away from the verbal and physical abuse. I didn’t have a plan.”
“You did have a plan. You kept us safe these last few years.” He nodded. “You got us out and kept us going even when I screwed up over and over again.”
“You screwed up a lot.” I wiped my nose with the back of my hand. “But that’s because we had it rough from the beginning. I hope you know that I tried.”
“You did more than try. You made it happen. You went to Milo when I got into trouble, and that saved us.” When he sighed, the regret in his eyes came through. “I made things difficult and I caused you so much pain, but I swear I was trying to look out for you.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry, Sable.” He stood and turned away from me. “I hurt you.”
“It all worked out.” I got up and placed my hand on his shoulder. “It’s going to work out.” I sucked in a breath in an attempt to control my erratic emotions. “We both did the best we could, and now all those struggles are paying off. We caught a break.”
“Finally,” he said, his voice low. “You deserve it.”
“So do you.” I nudged him to turn around. “But you can’t screw this up. Okay? Nico won’t give you a second chance. He’s not Milo.”
“I like him a lot more than Milo.”
“Stay out of trouble, and if you get the urge to make a choice that you know is wrong, please call me.”
“Even with the time difference?”
“Anytime you need me.”
“Okay.” He pulled me into a hug. “I have to go.”
“Wait.” I held him tighter. “This is all going to work out, I promise. I would never have agreed to it if I didn’t think this was the best thing for you.”
“You’re the only person in my life who has ever made sure I had the best possible things.”
“Thank you for saying that. I really did try.” I let go of him. “Text me when you get there. Nico said he added international data to your cell plan.”
“He thinks of everything."
“That’s why he’s in charge.”
“Sable.” Ax tapped on the doorframe. “I have to get your brother to the airport. We need to miss the afternoon traffic to JFK.”
“You’re taking him?” Knowing he’d be with Ax before he left made me feel better.
“To the airport.” Ax nodded. “He isn’t flying alone. Mr. Accetti has someone accompanying him who will get him settled once he arrives in Italy.”
“See,” Chance said. “I told you he thinks of everything.”
“Sable.” Ax motioned for me to join him by the door. “It will be a few hours before I get back, but Milo said you’re staying in the building with him.”
“I won’t leave.” Milo didn't let me out of his sight much these days. “Please take care of my brother.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about,” he said. “He’ll be fine.”
“That’s what I keep telling her.” Chance kissed my cheek. “Bye, sis.”
“Be careful.” I waved when he and Ax headed down the hall. “Call me.”
I placed my hand over my mouth, holding back the sob that wanted to burst out as I hurried back into the office. Sinking down in front of the fireplace, I pulled my knees into my chest and let the tears stream down my face.
I couldn’t remember a time that I was away from Chance. Even when I stayed at Milo’s house, he was still in the city. We were never more than fifteen minutes from one another and that was just in the last few weeks. The rest of our lives we were always together.
When we first arrived in the city, we stayed in a shelter, and after a few months we saved money from our jobs and rented a one-bedroom apartment in a horrible section of town. I made sure Chance went to school every day. He fought me most days, but I didn’t give in.
After he graduated two years ago, he worked as much as he could. He didn’t always find the best work or honest jobs. With what little we had, we paid the rent or bought groceries. Most months we couldn’t do both.
Our lives were not perfect, but we managed. It was always an adventure. This past Christmas, we decorated a house plant that the previous tenant left behind in our apartment. It was a pathetic Christmas tree but the first one we had in many years.
The night before, we scrounged up enough money to buy a pizza and mozzarella sticks. A big splurge. Chance could have eaten more, but he wrapped the pizza up and put it away so we would have something to eat the next day.
I told him if he was still hungry, he should eat. He could have whatever was left the next day and I would be fine with whatever we had in the cabinet. A can of soup and crackers. He waited until the next day and we shared the leftover pizza.
A week later, we found ourselves in a strange nightclub on New Year's Eve. Unbeknownst to me, Chance was trying to sell drugs he couldn’t afford to men who were loyal to Milo. In my heart, I knew my brother did that so we wouldn't have to spend another Christmas hungry and cold.
What should have been the worst night of our lives was anything but because Milo saved me. And now, Chance was headed to Italy to start a new life with opportunities that people like us weren’t often afforded.
I had been so focused on my sob story, I hadn’t realized Milo had joined me on the floor until he held me in his arms.
“I should have been here, but I was trying to give you space. I didn’t want Chance and I to argue in front of you.”
“I appreciate that.” I cuddled into him. “It was difficult to say goodbye, but I know this is the right move for him.”
“My father will make him a man.” Milo kissed the top of my head. “As hard as this is for you, you need some time to focus on you. You’ve taken care of Chance his whole life. You’re an amazing person, and I understand how much you’ve sacrificed to take care of him.”
“I never wanted to sacrifice you.”
“I don’t think that’s what you did.” He held me close. “I gave you an impossible scenario that night in the cabin, and you did what you had to do.”
“You’ve given me much more than that impossible scenario. You saved me in more ways than one.” I rubbed my fingers along the top of his hand. “I don’t know how I’m ever going to thank you.”
“Be happy.”
“I am.”
“That’s enough for me.” He tilted my chin and kissed me. “I have to get back to work.”
“I have some files that I wanted to put away.” I motioned toward his desk. “Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“If I didn’t have to get back to work, I’d let you blow me.” He smirked. “I still might.”
“Milo, you’re a mess.”
“But I’m your mess.” He stood and extended his hand for me. “You don’t have to file today. This is an emotional day for you. Why don’t you snuggle on the couch and watch a movie on the tablet?”
“That’s not what I’m here to do.”
“You’re here to do whatever I tell you to do.” He pulled me from the floor. “If you’re not up to working, I want you to relax.”
“Maybe after the filing,” I said. “I can order us lunch.”
“I have a meeting with a buyer in my dad’s office, but I’m free for lunch.”
“What would you like?”
“Surprise me.”
“I will.” I touched the faint hole in his nose. “I do miss your piercing.”
“Talk to the old man.” He winked. “Maybe if you ask him, he’ll let me put it back in.”
“You’re so tough.” I laughed. “Why are you afraid of him?”
“Well, if you don’t know the answer to that question, you ask him.”
“He terrifies me.”
“See you later, baby.” Milo gave me a quick kiss before hustling out of the room.
I smiled as I went to the desk and began sorting through the files. Is there anyone who isn’t afraid of Nico?
“Are you okay?” Angela asked from the doorway. “I saw your brother leave for the airport.”
“It will take some getting used to not having him around, but I’m fine.” I set the files down. “Thanks for asking.”
Her concern took me by surprise. Maybe I had misjudged her.
“Years ago, Nico sent my cousin to that vineyard to learn the business.”
“How did that go?”
“He owns three wineries in Napa Valley.”
“Oh wow, that’s great.” Maybe there is hope for Chance.
“Nico has some redeeming qualities.” She leaned against the doorframe. “According to some people.”
“Are you one of those people?”
“Depends on the day you ask me.”
“Bosses can be hard to deal with.” I ran my hand along the edge of Milo’s desk. “Especially when they belong to this family.”
“You’re learning.”
“Milo’s so generous to me. I don’t have any complaints.”
“I’m glad you and Milo found one another, but if you want some advice, I’d like to offer it up.”
I ran my hand through my hair, pushing it from my face. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what she had to say, but I was a captive audience.
“This family offers many opportunities and can be very kind, especially to those in need.”
“I’ve seen that.”
“But they can be extremely deadly.” She pointed at me. “The women they fall in love with tend to pay the price, and death isn’t always the worst of it.”
“That’s a little dire.”
“It’s true though.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
“Just something for you to keep in mind as you adjust to this new life of yours.”