Chapter - 13

Oliver was trying to calm a crying Mia who wasn't ready to leave. She wanted to play with Simon and Elio.

"I have another meeting here next week you can come with me then."

Mia sniffled and nodded to it. But Elio wasn't having it.

"Oliver can i talk to you alone?"

Nicolas snapped his head towards them when Elio said that. Oliver nodded in agreement and told Mia to go wait for him outside.

"I don't think you should bring her here anymore. It's not a suitable environment for kids."

Oliver looked like he was thinking so hard.

"I'll give you my number and you can text or call me whenever she wants to play."

"That's a great idea."

Oliver took his phone out and held it towards Elio. But Nicolas caught Elio's wrist.

"It's dangerous considering our situation now."

Elio frowned at that. What situation was Nicolas talking about?

"Well she can come here to play or i can go there?"

Elio gives another idea.

"No."

"Or.."

"I said no and that's final."

Nicolas said and left the room. Elio stood there shook at Nicolas's reaction. Oliver didn't know what to do so he just gave an awkward wave and left.

"What an asshole."

Elio said trying to control his tears. Wow it's really worse than living with his family.

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It was dinner time and Nicolas was still in his office spacing out. He shouldn't have denied Elio of what he wanted. He remembers the crestfallen look on Elio's face when he said no. He sighed rubbing his face with his hand. Upon checking the time, he realised it was much past his dinner hour and made the decision to head downstairs to the dining area. He saw Elio having his food chatting with the three bodyguards. The moment he saw Nicolas his whole attitude changed. He became silent and looked down to his plate. Nicolas stared at Elio and he was sure Elio could feel his stare from the way he's shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Carla brought out his plate and placed it in front of him, to which he thanked with his eyes still on Elio. Nicolas took his phone and send Oliver's contact to Elio. Elio's phone pinged with notification and he opened his phone. He looked at Nicolas when he realized he send a message. He was confused seeing Oliver's number.

"You can text whenever you want to see Mia."

Elio's face broke out into a huge smile hearing this.

"Really? Oh my god! Thank you."

Nicolas felt happy seeing he made Elio smile and happy. See he can also make Elio smile not just those three. He smiled smugly at the bodyguards. Tyler, Jay and Simon looked at each other scared by seeing Nicolas smile at them.

"I'm finished. I'll head up to sleep then. Goodnight."

Elio said standing up from his seat. He stopped at Nicolas and bend down to kiss his cheeks, shocking both him and Nicolas.

"T-thanks for allowing to meet Mia."

Elio said and walked away. The three followed Elio trying so hard to not laugh. Nicolas was frozen in his place, his fork stuck halfway in the air.

"You're welcome?"

He said after coming out of his trance, not realising Elio already left.

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Nicolas was at Elena's office, discussing about the information got from the men they sent to Bali to trail Atticus.

"They checked in with the hotel Atticus is told to be stayed at, they checked the CCTV cameras. It's him."

Nicolas clenched his jaws in anger. That motherfucker is alive and free out there still posing as a threat to Elio.

"He didn't come back to the hotel after going out. The same day our men was killed."

Nicolas hit the table in frustration making Elena sigh.

"Chill. Our men went through the CCTV cameras near the site where our men died. And they concluded that Atticus must be still in Bali."

Nicolas perks up at that information.

"He must be hiding in some secluded locations. These are some of the places they came up with it."

Elena gives her phone to Nicolas who reads the places their men send.

"The ones in the red are already checked by them. Only 2 locations are left to be checked."

Nicolas looked at Elena and smirked.

"Let's go there personally and show him what happens when he messes with La Rosa and The Phoenix."

Elena stands up and looks at him with an evil smile.

"What are we waiting for then?"

Both of them left the office calling their base to arrange their private jet and men to accompany them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elio sighed for the nth time making Jay laugh again.

"Eli if you sigh again i'll make you read some big ass historical book."

Simon said with a straight face. They were on their way to the local library to buy some books. They were still trying to find a hobby for Elio. Well Tyler tried teaching Elio how to play saxophone, which ended up with a frustrated Tyler and whole laughing mess of Jay. Simon suggested getting into reading. Elio was against it at first but after a lot of convincing from Simon he decided to go. They reached the library and got inside.

"Look around and select some books which you think you would like."

Simon said to Elio. Elio dragged himself to the aisles labelled with different genres. At the end Elio googled some books to read and selected The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The librarian wrote the book under Simon's library card since Elio didn't have one. They walked outside and was about to get inside the car when Elio saw Oliver opposite the road.

"Oliver!"

Elio shouted catching Oliver's attention. Elio waved at him to which he received one back. Elio crosses the road and walks over to Oliver.

"Hey Mr Luciano."

Oliver greeted him with a smile.

"Guess what? Nicolas said i can meet Mia whenever i want."

"That's great! I'm sure.."

Suddenly Oliver's phone rings.

"Excuse me."

Elio nods at him while Oliver walks away from Elio and stands near the pole to talk. Someone walked towards Oliver bumping Elio's shoulder.

"Hey watch it!"

Elio shouts at the person. But the person walks without looking back. Elio watches with horror as the person take out a knife from his pocket and aim at Oliver who have his back facing them. Elio runs over to them and instinctively holds the knife. The blade slices through Elio's palm making him scream. Oliver turns around and kicks the person in the chest. The person didn't get time to run away, since he was cornered by Oliver's men and Tyler, Jay and Simon. Elio holds his bleeding hand and silently cries.

"Oh shit! You're bleeding!"

Jay says in a panic.

"Let's get him to a hospital first."

Oliver says rushing them all to his car.