Chapter 45 (Aliyana)


    I jerk back from the past as a loud honk of a car shocks my senses. Marco drives with a casual shift in


    gears, flying at an insanely illegal speed I know too well.


    "So?" He asks, patiently waiting for my reply.


    "Matteo devised a n to kidnap Alec. Alec escaped with Alice''s help, we weren''t going to kill him. She


    told Matteo, believing he was on Alec''s side. The night of the Fraternity party, Matteo sent Xander to


    us, knowing Alice was there."


    "So, Xander was a diversion?"


    "Yes, he was keeping Alice upied, well, all of us upied while Matteo got Alec. Ren slipped out


    after Matteo sent him a message. They were close enough that Ren could walk back to the party and


    far enough that nobody saw them. I didn''t know any of this until Ren got back and told me."


    "And I supposed the others don''t know?"


    "No, they didn''t trust Matteo. Deno is the only one who knows Matteo''s involvement."


    "Sure, he does." I ignore Marco''s sarcastic reply.


    "Papa is getting old if he thinks Matteo is going to keep me safe."


    "Or maybe he sees an opportunity," His words have me frowning.


    "For what?"


    His lips thin as his mind works.


    Marco doesn''t answer my question.


    "Have you decided how you''re going to find out which of your friends killed my brother?"


    "Maybe after you tell me why you told us about Diamond and the drug, knowing that this probably has


    very little to do with Diamond?"


    "I''m not, but I have my reasons. This, it has everything to do with Diamond, she might not be the


    reason he is dead, but she is the reason Lorenzo lived." I don''t ask him to borate, sometimes even I


    know when to leave certain things alone.


    "I was thinking of a direct approach," I answer him.


    "That won''t work. Have you considered it might have been all of them?" Yes, but I don''t say the words.


    They are my friends, and right now, they are innocent.


    "What do you suggest I do? Hold a séance?"


    "No. I''m going to talk your father into hiring them as soldiers. That way, you can be more hands-on.


    With Matteo in the picture, it might be just the trigger we need."


    "And he would listen to you, why? You do know my father doesn''t enjoy getting told what to do,


    especially from a Catelli."


    "Your father and I share a mutual interest, he would listen. Now, get yourself inside so I can leave."


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Yes, sir."


    He parks the car next to the entrance of the dorm. I don''t inquire how he knows where Josey stays. He


    is a Catelli, there isn''t much he doesn''t know. Josey was Ren''s friend too. Ren spent quite some time


    with her shooting the shit and getting his assignments done since they both shared a chemistry ss


    together. The Catelli''s didn''t invite her to the funeral. I doubt she would have joined if they did. Josey


    hated funerals. Didn''t me her, when her kid brother was killed at a gravesite.


    "Thank you."


    He turns his head to face me. I stand with my hand on the open door doing the same, except Marco is


    frowning, and I am trying not to drown in the weight of it all.


    We have both lost, for Marco, it''s a brother, a sibling.


    Me? I lost a friend, my person, one who I have chosen to be a part of my life.


    Sometimes I wonder what hurts more, letting go of someone you are rted to and obligated to love or


    someone you choose, and start to love.


    Only those who have had both and lost them could tell you, and even then, the answer changes from


    person to person.