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Then the Kinross Organization, the people he was currently in the presence of, stepped in. Charlize and Mick put themselves in extreme danger to expose the crimes and take the nonprofit down. It was magnificent. Their grit and skill was masterful and he was still in awe of what they’d accomplished. It had cost him his life though. He was still breathing, but nothing would ever be the same.
Rose would be the only one who could really understand. They’d been through it together. Seen it all first-hand. And what he knew most of all was when he would question if he should have or could have done more on his own, she’d remind him he’d done all he could with what he had. Rose knew he was a good man, and he needed to hear that right now.
“Where is she?” Harry asked, the demand clear in his voice. They were asking a lot of him right now; he wanted some answers too.
“I can’t disclose Rose and her son’s location. She’s safe and is dedicated to testifying and making sure everyone knows what happened to her and the others.”
“Does she know I’m alive?” It was a bizarre thing to ask, but he wanted to know what Rose might be thinking. What she might want.
“She doesn’t.”
“What? She thinks I’m dead? How can you justify that? She deserves to know. We were... she and I care about each other and...”
“Trust me, I understand. But Rose needs to be focused on what she’s doing right now. It requires an enormous amount of energy to do what she’s about to do. She has Nathaniel to think about, and while we’re doing everything to keep them both safe, her testimony is critical to making sure everyone responsible is held accountable and no longer a threat. Telling her about you, and what you’re doing here is a distraction she can’t afford.”
“She thinks I’m dead.” Harry knew his voice sounded far off.
“Everyone does. And it needs to stay that way for now.”
“How long is for now? When Rose is done, I want to be talking to her. I want to see her. Why can’t she come here? You said this is a safe place.”
“We’re trying to make sure it stays that way. You’re not trapped here. If you want to go, you’re free to.” Kenan looked resolute to the idea that Harry might not stay. “I’m offering you a shot at something that can make a difference in a lot of lives.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Harry sighed. “I want to help. I have some things to atone for and some shit I need to square away in my head. Your people saved my ass and handled a situation I had no way of solving on my own. I owe you and I intend to pay that debt.”
“But you want to talk to Rose.” Kenan looked at least sorry for having to keep them apart. It didn’t make it any better though. That was torture. Harry had so much to say to Rose. Things he wanted to make right.
“I need to know that it can happen. That there is a path back. If you can guarantee me that, I’m all in on the rest of it.”
Kenan hesitated, tucked his hands in his pockets and looked away. “We don’t make guarantees around here. It’s bad business. You know well enough that what we do is messy. I can’tsay for sure what tomorrow brings for any of us. But you have my word if it’s possible, I’ll make it happen.”
That had to be enough. Harry knew there would be no more today. No promises. No more clarity. This was the job. And he stretched his hand across the table to shake on it.
“I’m in.”
CHAPTER 2
The apartment, though small, was steeped in a rustic allure. It was masculine and raw, and he liked that. The walls, a warm sun-bleached gray, reflected the Mediterranean sun that poured in from the large bay windows. He could hear the soft murmur of the lake's waters, a lullaby that promised solace, something he was deeply in need of.
Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. There was a chance absolutely nothing would happen and he’d only sit in this quiet place and heal his mind.
The faint aroma of aging wood mingled with the crisp scent of the lake drifted through the open windows. It was a clean, earthy smell, tinged with a hint of citrus from a bowl of fresh lemons that sat atop the kitchenette counter. He wondered if there was any booze here. If those lemons might turn into a garnish on the rim of a glass soon.
The sparsely furnished room didn’t bother him. He hated clutter. His life had been so hectic and messy, some minimalism was welcomed. And he could appreciate the furniture that seemed handpicked to create a sense of home. The bed was made with linens that held the faint scent of some flower, and in the corner of the bedroom an antique oak piece contained justenough clothes in his size. Not completely his style but he wasn’t picky.
Through the window, the view offered a vignette of Italian life. The narrow cobblestone street below was lined with houses adorned with overflowing flower boxes, their vibrant colors a stark contrast against the weathered stone. He vaguely remembered putting together a jigsaw puzzle with a similar picture with his grandmother when he was little. She was a woman who’d never been anywhere, and he imagined the puzzles were windows into a world she’d never see. And now he was here, looking down on such a scene.
He reached down on the small writing desk and picked up an envelope. It was labeled “Identity Information.” The notes indicated he was meant to study it, memorize it. His new last name was Bellini, a freelance writer traveling through Italy.
Harry opened the envelope and poured over the documents. Passport, driver's license, bank cards, everything he would need to become Mr. Bellini. He ran his fingers over the smooth paper, over the name that was now his shield and his sword.
He never really thought he wanted to be someone else until this last year. Now it was a pretty promising proposition. The only parts of his old life he still wished he could keep hold of were Nathanial and Rose. He’d left them to deal with the mess and to be strong enough on their own against a huge conglomerate of evil. The guilt clawed at him.
“Mr. Bellini,” a voice called timidly through the door. “Are you in?”
He felt a prickle of unease crawl up his back. “Uh, who is it?”
“My name is Gio. I’m meant to show you around. You hired me as a guide? I got your email.”
