CHAPTER 45: RINGS AND TENSIONS

Chapter 45

JULIAN POLE

It’s Saturday.

We were studying because exams are next week.

Someone knocked on the door.

Two short raps, then one longer one like a cop.

Luka went to open the door because I was too lazy to move. We weren’t expecting anyone, and the way Rico looked up from the couch, you’d think we were about to get raided.

"Who the hell is that?" he asked.

"I don’t know." Luka said, heading to the door.

It was a tall man in a dark jacket who looked like he’d walked straight out of a mob movie. Serious face, clean haircut and an energy that screamed don’t mess with me.

"Julian Pole?" the man said. His voice was deep and steady.

I froze where I sat. "Yeah?" I said walking to the door Rico followed.

"Package for you. I’m Dominic."

Luka looked at me. Rico looked at Luka. Then they both looked back at me like, what did you order, a bomb?

The man stepped forward and held out a small black box wrapped neatly, and a white envelope taped to it. Then he said, "From Mr. Marino."

Just like that.

No expression, no explanation.

Leave to Jace to know my whereabouts.

I swallowed. "You mean Jace?"

He didn’t answer that. Just gave me the faintest nod and then turned and walked away.

Luka shut the door fast, locking it like that would help if the guy decided to come back with guns.

"Julian," Rico said, "you didn’t tell us you were doing business with the Italian mafia."

"Shut up." I stared at the box like it might move.

We walked back inside.

"Open it," Luka said, half-whispering.

"I’m not opening this here," I muttered.

"You better. I want to see what kind of psycho gift your man just sent you."

I sat down on the edge of the coffee table and peeled the tape off the envelope first. The paper smelled like him. There was a short note written in Jace’s neat, firm handwriting.

For when promises start to mean something again.

My fingers went cold. I opened the box.

Inside was a ring. Simple, heavy, shiny silver ring. It looked handmade, the kind of thing you’d wear every day until it molded to your finger.

"Oh my god," Luka said, leaning closer. "Is that—?"

Rico grabbed my wrist. "That’s a ring. Dude, that’s a ring."

"It’s—" I swallowed again. "He said he was gonna get me one."

They both exploded at the same time.

"AND HE DID!"

"YOU’RE ENGAGED?"

"JULES, WHAT THE FUCK!"

I couldn’t even talk. My brain was running in circles, trying to figure out if this was real, if Jace had actually meant it when he said he’d give me a ring.

Rico grabbed my phone. "Call him right now."

"I can’t just—"

"Call. Him."

I hit Jace’s number. It rang once, twice, three times. Then straight to voicemail.

My stomach dropped.

"Maybe he’s busy," Luka said quickly. "Maybe he’s working."

Rico frowned. "Working? What kind of work does he do that needs a bodyguard named Dominic?" He asked like he doesn’t know what he does.

I didn’t answer.

A few seconds later, my phone buzzed.

1 new message.

Blocked number.

I opened it.

I’m with the devil. I will call you back latter

I stared at the screen until Luka took the phone out of my hand. "He’s with his father"

"I don’t know."

"Is he in danger?" Rico asked.

"He’s always in danger," I said before I could stop myself. My voice sounded small, tired.

We sat there for a while, the three of us, just staring at the ring like it might tell us something.

Rico finally broke the silence. "Well, if he’s serious, I’m buying a suit."

I gave him a look.

He grinned. "What? If we’re gonna be at the wedding, I gotta look good. The best man always look good"

Luka rolled his eyes. "You’re impossible."

But he smiled a little, and for a second, the weight on my chest lifted.

Still, when I held the ring again, the thought that kept coming back was.

What if he really meant it?

What if Jace wasn’t joking that night? What if, in his own dark, messed-up way, he was actually trying to give me something real?

The idea scared me more than it should have. Because it made me want to believe him.

Later that evening, I decided to go home for a bit.

Mom had been calling non-stop, asking if I was coming back, and I needed to grab more clothes anyway since we were going to be holed up at Luka’s for another maybe, year?

I slipped the ring into my pocket, not wearing it yet. I need to hear from him before I wear it.

The house was quiet when I walked in.

I took the stairs two at a time, heading to my room, but paused when I heard voices coming from my dad’s office downstairs.

"...we just need something solid," my father was saying. His voice was sharp, the kind he used when talking to other detectives. "Anything that ties the Marinos to the Yakuza network. Anything."

Mom said something softer that I couldn’t make out.

Then Dad again. "That family’s been clean for too long. Nobody’s that clean. There’s something buried and I’ll find it."

My stomach twisted.

I leaned closer to the doorframe, listening.

"Julian goes to that university," Mom said carefully. "Doesn’t he teach there? The professor?"

"Yeah, Jace Marino," Dad said. "I’ve already pulled his records. Immaculate. Not a single slip. He’s hiding something."

My heart started pounding.

"You think he’s involved?" Mom asked.

"I think he’s the reason people keep turning up quiet in Brooklyn," Dad said. "You don’t come from that kind of family and stay clean."

Something snapped in me.

Before I knew it, I pushed the door open. "Dad. Stop, please."

They both looked up, startled.

"Julian," my father said, lowering his phone. "What are you doing home?"

"I live here, remember?" I said flatly.

"Don’t use that tone," he warned.

"You’re talking about him like he’s some kind of monster."

"Because he is, Jules." Dad said, standing up now. "You don’t know what those people do."

"I know exactly who he is."

"And you haven’t explained to me why you know him personally. You’ve been avoiding that question since you came back from that hospital and your fri—

"I’m dating him," I said, cutting him off. "I’ve been dating him for months. And I don’t care what you or anyone else says."

The room went dead silent. Mom’s hand went to her mouth. Dad’s face went pale, then red.

"Julian, do you have any idea what you’re saying?"

"Yes."

"He’s dangerous."

"So am I when you push me," I snapped.

He blinked, like he didn’t recognize me.

"Look, I know what he is," I said, my voice softer now. "And I know what he’s done. But he’s not the person you’re looking for. He’s not like that anymore."

"You think people like that just change?"

"Yes." I held his stare. "Because he did, for me."

"You are dating your professor who happens to be a criminal"

"He’s no longer my professor. He quit"

For a long moment, nobody said anything. The only sound was the faint hum of the ceiling fan.

Finally, Dad sat down again, rubbing his temples. "You’re going to get yourself killed."

"Maybe. But it’s my choice."

Mom stood up and walked over, touching my arm. "Julian, honey, listen to us. You don’t understand what families like that are capable of."

I pulled away gently. "I understand enough. I’ve seen worse things done by people in uniforms."

That shut her up.

"I’m not changing my mind," I said, turning for the door.

"Julian," Dad said sharply. "Don’t walk away from me. Jules"

But I did.

I grabbed my bag from my room, shoved some clothes inside, and slipped the ring box into the pocket of my jacket.

When I reached the door, I heard Dad say quietly to Mom, "If he’s mixed up with a Marino, he’s not coming out clean."

I didn’t wait to hear the rest.

Outside, the air felt colder than before. My phone buzzed, another message. This time from the same blocked number.

Stay where it’s safe. Don’t answer unknown calls. I’ll call you soon. I love you a lot

He loves me and he said he’s trying. That much is clear.

I tucked the phone back into my pocket and started walking, clutching my bag tighter.

He wouldn’t do anything that would harm me

He loves me

He loves me