Mafia Men: Nikolai's Inferno - Chapter 120: Chapter 120

.Evangeline.
We walked into the kitchen, he picked me up by my waist and placed me on the kitchen counter as he took out ingredients to whip up breakfast for both of us.
A sense of deja vu washed over me, it all reminded me of the time when I didn't even know what life had in store for me. I watched silently as he handed me a plate and leaned against the opposite counter, eating his breakfast.
"Did you not like it?" he asked, with a deep frown.
I shook my head and smiled, "No, it's fine."
We silently ate our breakfast, no one said a single word. After we were done, he placed the plates over the sink and I jumped down the counter.
"Easy..." he said in a scolding tone.
He was treating me like I was made of glass like the tinniest thing was capable of hurting me. This wasn't Nikolai, my Nikolai was mean, this one was all nice and I don't think I like all-nice-Niko. He was starting to get on my nerves because he was confusing me about my feelings for him.
I blew out a breath as he followed behind me, "What?"
"It's time for your walk."
"Ugh! Do we have to!"
"Your legs are still too weak."
Faint familiar deep voices fell on my ears, my head snapped in the direction of the door. Since the day I gained consciousness back, no one had been here except for Nikolai and me, and his men whom I knew nothing about. I heard that Bianca came by a few times but Nikolai didn't allow anyone to see me right now, considering that I was a complete trainwreck right now I think his decision was right.
A few seconds later, Lorenzo and Marco appeared in my view and when their eyes met mine, they also stilled.
"Mrs. Costello..." "Evangeline..." they both said in unison.
I awkwardly raised a hand and waved, "Hi, guys..."
"How are you now?" Marco asked, stepping closer to me.
I smiled, "I'm fine..."
He nodded, "If you need anything you know I'm always here..." he said and I nodded back at him, then he turned to Nikolai, "Niko, a word."
Nikolai looked between him and me before he went over to a corner with Marco and they talked among themselves.
I bit the inside of my cheek. "Hi, Lorenzo..."
He nodded at me with acknowledgment, "Mrs. Costello"
I shifted my weight from one foot to another. I don't know what it was about him but I still cared for him. I know who he was, what he did and I couldn't bring myself to hate him anymore, "I wanted to apologize for the way things went-"
He cut me off, "You don't have to..."
"But I should, I tricked you, and then handed you to an animal, I shouldn't have-"
Lorenzo chuckled; it was like a real chuckle. He doesn't smile very often and laughing is out of the question. My eyes went wide as I looked at him, "He wasn't an animal, Mrs. Costello, but I am. The only reason
he lived as long as he did was that you tried everything to prevent this war, I didn't want to make things difficult for you. I would have killed him in that cell if it wasn't for you and I wouldn't have needed a weapon to do it." 2
A sigh escaped from my lips, "I think I owe you a conversation, I promised, remember?"
He nodded, "But you were mad at me, I understand, I killed your parents, it must be difficult for you..."
I glanced up at the ceiling before taking a step his way, "Walk with me, Lorenzo..."
He offered me his arm and I took it, as we were about to step out, Nikolai's voice stopped us, "Where are you going?"
"For a walk with Lorenzo."
"I could take you."
I looked at him and remembered how he left me alone in the house with only Lorenzo. Maybe, it's time Nikolai gets a taste of his own medicine.
I looked up at Lorenzo, "No, I think we'll be fine, right Lorenzo?"
"Yes, Mrs. Costello."
"Okay, just be careful with her, Lorenzo. She needs help while walking and walk inside the mansion, don't even think about going out of the house," he ordered, in that bossy annoying Don Niko voice of his.
I rolled my eyes, "Fine, dad!"
I tugged Lorenzo out of the house and he obliged. He was careful with me just as Nikolai had told him to be.
"I don't blame you, Lorenzo..." I said, referring to what he said inside about my parent's death, "You just did your job, I'm not going to hold it against you anymore," I took a deep breath and stumbled a little. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, keeping me steady. "My parents were... they weren't innocent in any way just like the rest of us. Now that I know, I understand how everything works... what my dad was going to do was foolish but I can't blame him also, he wanted a better life for me. Whatever he did, he did it for me."
"I would still like to apologize for it, I didn't know you back then."
"I understand now where Nikolai was coming from. Dad did exactly what Enzo did to me but worse-dad killed an innocent woman to take a jab at Nikolai. I trusted Enzo with my life and he betrayed me. I thought of him as family, just as Nikolai's father felt for dad, and when the same person you'd take a bullet for, ends up pulling the trigger on you, everything just falls into place," I looked up at him "So, no, Lorenzo, I really don't blame you anymore. Betrayal and disloyalty are unforgivable crimes and getting over the loss of trust is a very painful process to go through."
"I understand," he whispered.
I heaved a deep sigh and smiled, "I am trying to let it all go. I'm cleansing my mind, my soul... wish me luck."
"What about, Don Niko? Are you going to forgive him too?" he asked, a hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"He is a completely different story. He doesn't get off easily," I lifted a shoulder, "Mr. Nikolai Costello has to work for it and I plan on making him work for it. So, next time, he'll think a hundred times before treating me like a stupid little girl that he can mold in any shape or form."
He shook his head, "He respects you a lot, he doesn't think that way about you," he let out a laugh, "I have never seen him so smitten by someone and I must say, it's funny to see his guard down. It reminds me that he is also just a man, Don or not."
That made me laugh too, "He is being a little too nice to me, and honestly, it's annoying."
Lorenzo and I walked around the gardens, it was nice, it was peaceful. I couldn't ask for anything more at this moment.
I felt like I was finally back home.