Page 19

"I'm glad you're doing well," I say, a wave of guilt washing over me for not asking sooner.
"Me too. And you make sure you keep doing well. Stay out of Italy, and I will try my best to find your brother."
"I'll be waiting for your call, and I'll get the money."
"I know. Goodbye, Nicola."
The phone clicks off. I walk out of the closet and collapse onto my bed, the weight of the conversation pressing down on me. My savings are depleted, and while Shane pays me well, it willbe a while before I have enough to make a difference. I need the money now.
I lie there, staring at the ceiling as the weight of the conversation with Francesca sinks in. My thoughts spiral, my anxiety mixing with relief, leaving me feeling both grounded and unmoored. Giovanni might still be safe, but for how long? And what will it take to find him?
A soft knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts.
"Yes?" I call out.
"It's me," Shane responds.
"You can come in," I say.
Shane steps in, his presence filling the space with a quiet warmth. "Hey," he says, leaning against the doorframe with an easy smile. "You okay?"
I push myself up to sit on the edge of the bed, trying to shake off the heavy emotions. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a lot on my mind."
Shane nods, his gaze lingering on me as if he can see right through the facade I'm putting up. "I noticed you watching earlier... when I was helping Jaime with his homework. You were standing there, looking like you wanted to say something."
His observation catches me off guard. I force a small laugh, hoping to brush it off. "I was just making sure everything was going smoothly. You know, focused on Jaime."
He steps closer, the distance between us shrinking. "Focused on Jaime... or something else?"
The way he says it, with a slight tilt of his head and a softness in his eyes, makes my heart skip a beat. I can feel my defenses starting to crumble. "Shane, I..."
He doesn't push. He waits, giving me space to find the right words. But I'm unsure of what to say. I like him more than I should. But there's too much at stake.
Finally, I admit, "I'm just worried about my brother." My voice comes out quieter than I intended. "I haven't heard from him in a while, and I feel like I should do more to help him."
Shane's expression shifts. He seems to understand, and he's concerned. "I get it. Family is important. It sounds like you're carrying a lot on your shoulders."
I nod, grateful he doesn't pry too much. He's curious, sensing there's more to my story. Instead of pressing, he offers a hopeful smile. "If you need to talk, I'm here. No pressure."
I return his smile, but it feels forced. "Thanks, Shane. That means a lot."
He hesitates as if there's more he wants to say, but then he changes his mind. Instead, he brings up a new topic. "I know this might come out of nowhere, but if you need an advance on your pay, I can arrange that."
His offer surprises me, and I can't help but wonder if he knows more than he's revealing. "An advance?" I ask.
He leans back slightly and confirms, "Yeah. In case your brother needs help, or for any other reason. I understand how stressful things can get."
I pause for a moment, then agree with a nod. "Actually, that would be really helpful. It's for... just in case something comes up with Giovanni."
Without hesitation, he assures me, "Of course. I'll take care of it tomorrow."
"Thank you, Shane," I say, my voice filled with genuine gratitude.
"Don't worry about that," he says, waving it off like it's no big deal. "Just focus on what you need to do."
We stand there momentarily, the silence between us comfortable yet heavy with unspoken words. Finally, Shane steps back a bit. "I should give you some space," he says.
"Yeah," I agree, watching as he turns to leave. But before he does, he glances back at me, his eyes filled with something I can't quite place—something between hope and hesitation.