Melina walks to the main mansion the following morning to see Kat. On her way, she feels an ache in her lower abdomen and realizes her period is approaching. Melina can't help but recall the last time she thought her period was coming. Tears fill up her eyes as she remembers the loss of her baby. She misses her child every day. She wipes her eyes, sniffing as she enters the family house. Melina hopes Kat doesn't notice she is about to cry as she walks to the kitchen to meet her. Kat is usually in the kitchen at this time in the morning.
"Hello dear," Kat says as Melina walks in.
"Morning Kat, how are you doing?" Melina walks up to her by the stove. She pecks her cheeks before sitting on one of the kitchen stools.
"I'm good, dear. How are you?"
"Good."
"That's nice to hear. Have you had breakfast?"
"No, I haven't."
"Here you go, honey." Kat places a plate of eggs and a cup of coffee in front of Melina.
"Thank you." Melina takes a sip of the coffee, using the hot beverage to clear her throat before speaking. "I want to speak to you about something."
"Go ahead, dear."
"I want to apologize for making it impossible for you to visit the city that is very important to you." Kat and Enzo met and fell in love in New York City. It's more than just another city ruled by the Costanzo; it means so much more to Kat. Melina feels terrible about this, which is why she came to see Kat this morning.
"What are you talking about?" Melina recounts all that happened the day before to Kat. "You don't have to apologize, dear, a city is small compared to the pain this family has caused you."
"I know, but I still feel bad about it."
"It's okay, we might have lost the city, but I doubt it will be long before we reclaim it."
"Is that why Thomas let it go so easily?" Melina can't help the ache in her chest as she imagines this is why he gave it away so easily.
"No, he gave it to Rafael because he loves you and would do anything to make you happy."
"Oh."
"I know with everything going on, and what happened before, it must be difficult for you even to consider a future with my son."
"How did you know?" Melina is surprised Kat is aware of this, as she has never discussed it with her.
"I can tell you love him but doubt he's worth choosing this life for."
"I don't know if I still love Thomas, but is loving him enough? He caused me great pain. I still have nightmares about him killing a man because of me. Every day, I live in fear of being abducted and tortured even more than before. My sister is currently suffering because of him. It's hard for me to even think of a future with him when all I feel now with him is pain." Melina wipes away her tears. She doesn't even know when she started crying.
"But is that truly all he has made you feel, dear?"
"No." Melina snuffles.
"Exactly. Knowing my son, he must've made you feel loved and desired."
"Yes, he has."
"Then why don't you only focus on that when you think of him."
"It's hard, Kat, it's hard." Melina also wishes to forget the past and move on but feels it's easier said than done.
"But, it's not impossible?"
"Yes." Her heart yearns for Thomas, but her brain reminds her constantly why she shouldn't be with him. Melina is genuinely torn on what to do.
"So think of him only in that light, my dear. I know my son doesn't deserve you, but you deserve to be happy, and I don't believe any other man on this earth could give you the world like he would."
"I know." Melina feels Kat is right, but the doubts in her heart still lingers. She's still not sure if she wants to be with Thomas.
"That's good. Now, eat your breakfast." Smiling, Kat pushes the plate closer to her.
"Thank you," Melina says, wiping away her tears and biting into the egg on her plate. After she finishes breakfast, she heads to the office with Thomas.
***
Melina spends the day with Thomas as he attends meetings and gets work done in his office. She usually uses her phone during meetings because she doesn't understand what is being said because they speak Italian. It's always like this when she follows him to work.
Melina washes her hands and dries them with a paper towel before reaching for Thomas' restroom doorknob. She comes to a halt when she pulls the door open and hears someone mention her name. Thomas wasn't in his office when she went into the restroom. He must have returned with someone.
"Keep her name out of your fucking mouth," Thomas barks at the person in the room. Melina opens the door a little more to see who he is talking to, and her eyes widen.
"James," Melina whisper-yells, her eyes widening. What is he doing here?
"You know I'm the reason she's yours. If I weren't open to sharing my little slut, you wouldn't have her today," James says, and Thomas punches him square in the face.
"I told you to keep her out of your fucking mouth." Thomas glares at him as James checks his busted lip.
"Oh, Thomas, you shouldn't have done that," James says after spitting blood out of his mouth. In the blink of an eye, James pulls out a gun and shoots Thomas in the arm.
"Thomas!" Melina screams as blood soaks Thomas' white shirt. She rushes out of the restroom to him.
"You fucking asshole, get out of my office before I kill you and regret it afterwards," Thomas barks at James.
"Remember Rafael's words. Goodbye." James approaches the door and leaves Thomas' office.
"Oh my God! Thomas, you're bleeding." Melina touches his arm and applies pressure on the wound with her palms, trying to stop the bleeding. Melina doesn't bother asking what James was doing here or why Thomas had done nothing to James after he shot him. It didn't make sense, but that was beside the point right now.
"I'm fine," Thomas says, wiping away her tears. Melina doesn't even know when they started flowing.
"Leo, Leo, Thomas has been shot!" Melina screams for help as more of Thomas' warm blood coats her hand. Her hands tremble as she recalls how Franky's blood coated her hands before her body went cold. Her heart races at the thought of Thomas dying. She can't imagine her life without him.
"Sotto capo!" Leo exclaims, running into the room.
"I'm fine. Get the doctor on the phone and me a new shirt," Thomas orders Leo as he moves to the couch to sit down. Melina doesn't take her hands off his arm, trying to keep the pressure on as he moves. I can't afford to lose him; I just can't.
"Yes, sir," Leo says, fetching out his phone from his pocket.
"Can you stop crying, principessa? I don't like seeing you cry." Thomas wipes more of her tears.
"You're bleeding. Why won't I cry?" Melina asks, sniffing.
"It's just a bullet to the arm. I'm going to be fine."
"Let the doctor get here first and confirm it, then I'll believe you."
"Alright," Thomas replies, smiling at her. Melina shakes her head. She can't believe how undisturbed he is about getting shot. Her heart is hammering against her ribcage, and he's smiling at her like he just got a scratch to the arm.
"You know, I'm not bothered because it's not the first time."
"I know, but it doesn't matter. You could still die."
"Don't worry, principessa, it will take more than a bullet to the arm to kill me." He pushes her hair out of her face.
"It's better not because you can't die," Melina says, her bottom lips quivering. She bites her lip to hold in her tears. I can't lose Thomas. Please, God, don't make me lose him.
"I won't die." He wipes her tears once again as they fall.
The doctor arrives in record time and treats Thomas' shoulder. Melina's heart races the entire time and only stops when the doctor says Thomas will be fine.
She holds Thomas' hand as he sleeps on his office couch. She needs to feel the warmth of his hand against her skin to remind her that he's alive. Thomas refused to go home and rest, saying an hour nap was all he needed. Melina wishes she can drag him home and put him in bed to sleep.
"What the fuck happened?" someone says as they storm into the office. Melina lets go of Thomas' hands and shh the person.
"He's sleeping," she tells Stefano, who walks in with his mother. Leo must have informed them about what happened.
"Mel, dear, what happened?" Kat asks, sniffing. Melina could tell she had just finished crying as her face is red and her cheeks are stained with tears.
"James shot Thomas."
"James shot him?" Stefano asks, shocked.
"Yes."
"Fuck! He must have sent him with the date." He curses as he runs his hand through his hair.
"What are you talking about?" Melina asks, confused.
"Rafael has set a date for when. . ."
"Don't fucking tell her." Thomas cuts him off.
"Thomas, you're awake. How are you feeling?" Melina inquires, rushing to his side as he stands. He walks over to where his brother and mother are standing.
"I'm feeling better, principessa," Thomas assures her with a smile. "Hi, mama; it's nothing serious; it's just a bullet to the arm," Thomas assures Kat as he shows her his bandaged arm.
"Thank you, God! I hope it doesn't hurt too much, honey," Kat inquires as she examines the wound.
"It doesn't. You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine."
"That's good to hear. Now care to explain to me why you fucking let that bastard shoot you and walk out of here alive?" Stefano inquires.
"I punched him for calling Melina a slut. He did it to get back at me."
"And you let him go? How is that possible?" Kat asks in disbelief.
"Rafael sent him to inform me of an important matter. He warned me not to mess with his messenger or Franky would suffer the consequences. I told Rafael to leave Franky alone and let me deal with the consequences. The asshole fucking provoked me, and I took the bait."
Melina can't believe he was shot, and he let it go so her sister wouldn't have to pay the price. If James had decided to shoot him in the heart or head, he could have died. Why would Thomas take such a risk for me? Does he love me that much?
"What's the important information?" Melina asks.
"Nothing that concerns you."
"Are you sure?" Melina has a gut feeling that it does.
"Believe me, principessa, it doesn't."
"How come I don't believe you?" Her heart tells her it does, and she has no idea why.
"I'm telling you it doesn't," Thomas claims, but Melina feels he's lying.
"It does. Please tell me."
"No!"
"I want to know."
"I'm not telling you, regardless."
"I think you should tell her," Stefano says suddenly.
"No, I shouldn't." Thomas' eyes harden as he stares at his brother. Melina turns to face Stefano.
"Please tell me." Her heart tells her it's something she must know.
"Thomas is going to. . ."
"Fucking shut up, Stefano," Thomas barks, warning his brother. Melina turns to look at Thomas, his eyes plead with her to drop it, but she doesn't. Thomas isn't the type to keep things from her, so why is he doing it this time?
"Please, tell me." Melina shifts her eyes away from Thomas and back to Stefano.
"James came to tell Thomas when he would swap places with Franky." Melina's mind freezes as she wishes she heard wrong.
"No! Thomas will not do that." Tears well up in Melina's eyes. She turns to face Thomas, who has his eyes shooting daggers at his brother. He probably wants to kill him for telling her.
"Please tell me he's lying, please," Melina begs as her voice begins to crack. She refuses to believe it. No!
"Remember what I said about this being my fault, not yours." Thomas tries to reassure Melina.
"That doesn't mean you should die in place of my sister," Melina screams as tears roll down her face.
"Then should she die because of me?"
"No." Melina's voice is clogged with emotion. Her heart is pounding in her chest. This is way too much for me. Thomas will die because of me. I have no beef with Rafael, as his primary target is Thomas, but I can't ignore the fact that Rafael will get Thomas because of me. Rafael would have no sway over him if he didn't love me, and Thomas won't have to take Franky's place and sign his death warrant.
"Then you understand why I must do it."
"No, there has to be another way, Thomas. Please, there has to be." Melina doesn't want to lose her sister, but she can't afford to lose Thomas either. How will I live in a world without Thomas?
"There is no other way, mi amore." Thomas wraps his arms around Melina. She sobs her eyeballs out, clutching his shirt as if it were a lifeline. Melina has never been more pained than she is right now. Thomas will die, and my hands will be stained with his blood.