Beyond What Meets The Eye

Chapter Twenty-Five

Mira woke up in bed next to Adrian, his arms wrapped around her. She thought back to how they ended up in the same bed, nonetheless, entangled with one another.

She'd been an emotional wreck last night, and instead of pushing her to talk about it, Adrian had just held her, comforting her as she cried. He'd taken her to his bed, offering to sleep on the couch, but sleeping by herself was the last thing she wanted. Being close to him made her feel like despite the ache of her heart, she was going to be ok.

She reached out and traced his cheek, his skin warm against her touch.

His eyes slowly opened, his dark grey eyes that many would consider cold, meeting hers.

"How are you feeling?" He asked. She pulled her hand away, tucking it back under the covers.

"Better . . ." She said. "I know my father did a lot of horrible things, and that no one else will ever forgive him . . . but I do. I think I finally understand him, why he did everything he did . . . and because of that, I'm going to remember him for the man I knew him to be."

He smiled softly at her.

"No one is completely bad . . . I'm glad you were able to find the good in him, Mira." She was glad her understood where she was coming from, despite once calling him a monster. It brought her some peace, knowing that she saw the side of him he kept hidden, his true self. He hadn't died as a monster in her eyes, simply a broken man.

Adrian shifted, sitting up on the edge of the bed, his hair tousled messily.

"I'm making breakfast, you want some?" He asked. She grinned. One thing she hadn't even realized she missed was Adrian's five star cooking.

"That'd be nice she replied."

She laid in his bed for a few more minutes, staring up at the ceiling while tucked beneath the covers. Yesterday the grief and guilt had slammed into her like a brick wall, but now, it all just felt so surreal.

Life would go on, even if her dad was gone. It sucked, but she knew eventually the pain would begin to dull, the same way it had with her mom. Part of her felt guilty for still being alive, while her parents had died chasing a dream of happiness, but she also knew that if she didn't continue her life, survived this horrific mess, everything they worked for would be for nothing. She was the walking, breathing embodiment of their dream. Her father wanted to protect her from his world, and for that, she needed to keep going.

She slipped out of bed and made her way into the living room, plopping down on the couch next to Pickles.

It seemed Adrian had taken good care of him, which was more than what she could have asked for. It's all going to be ok, she reminded herself as she ran scratched behind his ears, his blissful snorts bringing a smile to her lips.

Her eyes turned towards the kitchen where Adrian worked at scrambling some eggs and cooking some sausage, an apron tied around his waist. She bit back a laugh at the sight of him wearing the apron. He was such a house-mom.

"So, how long do you think all this will last?" She asked, Adrian lifting a curious brow at her.

"You mean the Bonnano family hunting you down. I know you could really use some good news right now, but if Leo successfully framed you for the murder of your father, then you will be their top priority for... a while. Loyalty is everything in the mafia, there's no doubt they want you dead." He pursed his lips, eyeing her cautiously, waiting for her reaction. So she was basically a walking target for thousands of people. God, would she ever be able to even step outside again?

She leaned back in her seat, wrapping her head around the situation. I will find a way out. She thought back to her father's journal entry. There was a way out, but if she could pull it off was a different issue entirely.

"What if I prove it wasn't me?" She asked, Adrian pausing from flipping the sausage. He stepped away from the stove, walking over to the counter and leaning on his elbows, a thoughtful look on his face.

"If you could prove yourself innocent and Leonardo to be the your dad's true murderer, then not only would the target on your back disappear, but you'd also be named the new head of the family. You'd have the power to do whatever you please, and if you wanted to leave the organization and elect a new head, they might actually respect your wishes." He paused, likely seeing the way Mira's expression had lit up. "But as of now, we have no alibi, no evidence against Leonardo. Unless we can get something on him, we're just sitting ducks." He finished, frowning.

Right, in order to prove herself innocent, she'd have to prove Leo, in which she had nothing.

"So basically we'd have to get him to confess." Mira concluded, letting out a long sigh. Leo was a thick skulled asshole, there was no way she could get him to admit what he did. He knew the mafia much better than she did, that's how he manipulated her father's death so well.

Adrian finished cooking a brought her out a plate piled high with food. She took it, poking around her food with her fork.

"But unless I can prove my innocence, they're going to hunt me down like a wild animal until they find and kill me. I'm just thinking out loud, but if that's the case, don't you think it's worth a shot?" Mira looked over at Adrian, who rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Right now, the Genovese and Lucchese aren't on good terms with the Bonnano family, so there's a chance we could offer you some sort of protection, but that would most certainly come with a price. You'd have to be useful to the families, for them to make that kind of bargain. I'm not a 100% sure myself what my father and the Lucchese plan on doing about the Bonnano situation, but if you agree to help out in any way you can, we might be able to find a way to clear your name and get the Bonnano family off your back." He looked at her. "It might not be pretty, but our options are limited here Mira. I only have so much power, and surely, if they find out you're hiding out here, they'll have no problem declaring war against the Genovese family. This isn't about whether or not you want to be involved in the mafia affairs now, because right now, you're at the top of their hit list."

Mira nodded her head slowly. She knew there was no easy way out and had mentally prepared that much, but to become this deeply entangled... it scared her. But then again, what choice did she have. Any chance at clearing her name, she had to take. It was a matter of life and death.

"So who do I need to speak to about making this deal?"