by J Haney
“I had a feeling you would say that. I’ve done all my research. My father was Consigliere, what he knew, I know. I’ve been groomed for years.” I start to open my satchel and pull out everything as I continue talking. “Now, before you think this is the only copy, you would be wrong. I’ve got it set up that if something happens to me or Rónán or Finn, everything will go to the FBI and Interpol. Every twenty-four hours we have to put in a secret code into a private server. Now down to business. In this document, you will see that I know where everything is… Drug dens, those that are supposed to be hidden, every family members name as well as their family along with all alias. I don’t want to do this but for Finn, I will. I’ve been his protector from day one, and I will not stop now.”
Gio nods and stands. Going to the humidor, he takes out what from the looks of things is a hand-rolled cigar. “Do you mind?” He looks to me as he clips it.
“Go ahead; I used to smoke with Tizio.” He offers one to me. “Why not? Not like I’ll taste anything like it back home.”
“They are handcrafted Nicaraguan; Cuban are good but expensive and frankly these taste better.” He leans over lighting a wooden match to seal in the flavor as it lights. “There, do you taste it? Oak, caramel, and citrus. Divine. Come, let's walk.”
I stand pulling the satchel back up my arm without grabbing the paperwork. They’re copies, and there’s plenty more where that came from. “Can I ask you something?” He nods, taking a puff of his cigar. “At home, I’d have been criticized for thinking I could talk to the Boss. Don’t get me wrong I’ve talked to him but not in a meeting aspect. Why did you accept my audience?”
He takes my arm and leads me through the glass doors into a vast crop garden. “Do you remember coming here? Spending considerable time as a child?”
“Vaguely, my training had not started yet.”
He nods again, leading me between the rows. Fencing and poles are around us, tall tomato, bean, and pepper plants go as far as my eye can see. “I keep this garden because it was my Apolonia’s. My first wife. You may not know this, but your mother was a skilled nurse. For more than six months, you were here, and she cared for my wife. Your mother took pity on an old man when he had very little love left in his heart. I never forgot her. So you can say she paved the way for you. I respected your mother, and that respect has been extended to you.” He turns toward a Roma tomato plant. “You see these? The way they grow? Clustered together? They are like a family. While their hearty and their fruit is sweet, they can easily spoil if left too long on the vine. They must be thinned, from time to time, to keep from bruising the flesh.”
“For Finn as well?”
He drops his head, plucking a small fruit from the vine. “The boy will get no pressure from us, but the door is open for him. Should you choose to leave Chicago, I would suggest it, by the way as Venanzio is a prideful creature and resourceful even without his money.” He looks at me with an eyebrow raised. “I would go where we are not.”
“I’ve already left. He won’t find me and if he does well…”
“We all do what we must to protect our own. I may not be able to help in a family way, as I must never show favoritism, I cannot say the same for Tiberio. Do you understand me?”
“Perfectly and Gio?”
“Yes?”
“I may not remember much of my time here, but I remember this garden. I used to keep one at home. It was my sanctuary.”
“Take the tomato, start your new life and a new garden.”
“Thank you.”
36 Rónán
I really am a good sport. Here I am sitting, watching the boy as he plays ball and losing my shirt at a game called Scopa. I’m down two hundred American dollars, and still after an hour haven’t figured out the system. I swear they cheat; I just haven’t figured out how… Yet.
The women and the men out here are nosy. I’ve been asked numerous times how Onóra and I met, how I proposed, and if we plan to have babies. All questions I have diverted in one way or another. Claudia, the lady of the house, loved the flowers we brought. A spray of pale pink calla lilies and roses with shoots of greenery. The pastries we brought which I’ll never be able to pronounce have been well received also. I’m stuffed full of food and sweets but would kill for a strong cup of tea.
I have lost yet again as I feel arms wrap over my shoulders. The smell of smoke invades my nostrils, making me pull back for a moment before I realize it’s actually Onóra. “Hey.” I smile, and she kisses me. We get a couple of catcalls, and I get a mouth full of smoky tongue. I pull back, surprised. “Ya don’t like it when I smoke, but ya do?”
“Was I to be rude when offered?”
“Did ya finish it?” I ask hoping there’s a hand-rolled masterpiece in my future.
“Wouldn’t you like to know? Have you lost enough money, yet?”
“Plenty, enough. I think they cheat.” I whisper before turning to the men. “Thank ya for the game.” I take out my wallet and pay up the two hundred.
Onóra pats my chest. “You’re just not on the up and up with Italian ways. We’ll have to work on it.” She winks at me before calling Finn’s name. “Let’s take our boy and go back to the apartment.”
I know better than to ask how it went, at least until it’s just us. Of course, the very fact we are walking out of here suggests it went her way. We pile into the car, and I let out a relieved sigh. “Ya gonna fill us in? Or leave us in suspense?”
“Well…”
Onóra tells me what went on, though I’m sure she’s holding things back. I don’t question her; I wouldn’t in front of Finn. There are things that he needn't know. With how swiftly we were given audience we had three more days to spend in Ostuni and the surrounding countryside. We took on the touristy stuff for Finn and me. Tours of the museums, churches and the old town during the day, at night Onóra was… Spirited, I could feel the lifting of the burdens. Early Wednesday we boarded the plane to Ireland. Eleven hours that make like ten as we literally travel back an hour to get there. It’s three in the afternoon when we arrive in Shannon International, a thirty-minute commute from Limerick. Shannon looks more like a hotel than an airport inside. All wood interior for shops and restaurants, sculptures. They really like their rugby here. Coming to the end of the tarmac, I see a familiar face in the distance, holding up a sign that reads Donnelly. Seems my bottle of Whisky was received and they’ve decided to greet us.
My smile goes up to my ears as I pull from Onóra to embrace my friend. When I look back, Finn's leaned into Onóra, and they're watching me.
“Sorry, Devon Cunningham, this is Onóra and her brother Finn.” I put my arm around her. “We’re gettin’ hitched but need to see the old man.” I look at my friend, a slim fit suit that makes his long legs look like they go to his neck. His once long shaggy brown hair is trimmed short, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he was wearing a bit of liner to bring out the green of his eyes. “Man since when do you drive for them?”
He smiles, “Be drivin’ for almost six years now. Been that long since ya arse was here. Ya should be more involved yerself.” He extends his hand to Onóra. “Pleasure. Let me get that luggage taken care of.” He whistles and over comes a few more guys with baggage carts.
“It's always a pleasure to meet someone from Rónán's past. I guess you would be the one that could tell me all the stories?”
He laughs. “Aye, I have a few. Tell ya over a pint anytime?”
“Sounds good. I’m starving; the plane food wasn’t good.” I say as we make our way through the rest of the Airport.
“Can we have something we've never tried?” Finn asks. He's enjoying seeing everything. “It's our first time here.”
“It's your first time here. I've come a few times.” Onóra pats his shoulder.
“If ya be wantin’ good Irish grub, Katie Dalys is great, if the rain lets up we can be eatin’ outside, it’s got good food and good drinks, and ya can see King John’s Castle too.”
<
br /> “Can we?” Finn turns asking us.
Onóra shakes her head. “I swear that's all you two do is eat.”
“He’s a growin’ boy.” I smile as we clear the exit doors and I see Devon has a Rolls Royce Phantom limousine in wait for us. “Armored?” I ask quietly.
Devon nods. “Always. Can’t be too careful round here.”
We pile into the thing. It’s comfy if not a bit restrictive. The seats are bucket. No bench seat for Onóra and I to sidle up and get cozy in. Finn is watching out the black tinted windows. The security measures are tight.
“So you’ve got a cottage just outside of town, and Mister O’Sullivan has invited you to his home tomorrow. For High tea, so you will have the day to explore, you let me know where you want to go and I am at your call.”
“We could have rented something.” I say, and Devon laughs.
“Mister O'Sullivan wouldn’t stand for that mischief.”
“I suppose not.” I take Onóra’s hand, and we sit back. The time change must be catchin’ up to me because I’m exhausted. I need to close my eyes, just for a moment…
***
I wake to Onóra’s gentle kiss on my lips. “Hmm, do that again, I’m still sleepin’.”
“I could, or I could kiss here.” She kisses my neck at the same time; her fingers tangle in my chest hair.
“Hmm, wee bird, best not start somethin’ we cannot be finishin’ just now.” My hand slips down her back.
“Guys! I’m sitting right in front of you!” Finn bemoans. “Getting traumatized.”
“Might as well start getting used to it now. I doubt it's going to let up anytime in the next few years.” She laughs.
“Please let me out!” Finn knocks on the glass as the door opens. “Thank God! They’re mauling each other.”
Devon nods, “G’head kiddo we’re right behind ya, grab a table.” He looks inside. “Should I entertain the boy so ya can have a quickie?”
“No, we’re just giving him a hard time as it’s so easy.”
“Someone’s got it hard a’ight.” I mumble. “We’re gettin' out.”
Onóra leans into me. “I promise to make you all better later over and over again.”
“Not helping.” I grit my teeth.
Katie Dalys is a pub and restaurant with plenty of character. The side of the building sports some awesome graffiti, the whole side of the building, it’s a man with an ice cream cone and tattoos. The colors are unreal. Katie’s is black and red with wooden umbrella-covered tables outside, if not for this incessant rain it would be nice. Finn is under the roof ledge keepin’ dry as we approach.
Inside the smell of the wood, fireplace permeates the atmosphere, and the chatter is a solid low hum. We’re seated, and I can’t wait to chow down. The shake of my hands says it's time for a shot. Off to the toilet I go, just hope it doesn’t take too long to level me.
37 Onóra
Katie Dalys Heritage Pub & Kitchen, this is where dad always brought me when he’d come here for business. Finn would be left at home, but I was always brought along to learn. I never went to the meetings, but I’ve explored this city plenty. It’s something I’ve yet to tell Rónán.
Speaking of Rónán, he ducked off to the bathroom. He’s in need of a shot, so I need to make sure there’s food waiting on him when he comes out. Over the last few weeks, I’ve learned the signs well.
“We’ll take three orders of panko breaded chicken goujons, to start. Would you like something as well Devon?”
“Aye, let me be startin’ with the vegetable spring roll and the onion rings, oh and you may as well be throwin’ in an order of the Alcatraz chicken wings to wrap it up.” He smiles at the waitress. “Ah and two Guinness, do you want one?”
“I’m not much of a drinker, thanks.”
“Haven’t embraced yer Irish, or embraced it too much, have ya?”
“No, I’ve got no problem with drinking. I just don’t see the sense in putting something in my body that isn’t clean or could make me act completely different.”
“Whatever ya say. Just the two pints then sweetheart.” He says, and the waitress leaves us.
“When we leave here, can we go to King John’s Castle?” Finn asks while we’re waiting.
“Not today, we’re going to the cottage after this. We may need to hit up a few shops along the way or go back out. What about a walk do you want to take a walk?”
“Sure! Can you keep your hands off Rónán long enough?”
“I’m sure I can. What if you and I go alone?”
“Okay. We’ve not been just us in a while. I like Rónán, but he’s always touching you. It’s gross.”
“The joys of having a ten-year-old around. You know one of these days you’ll find a girl you like and will want to be touching her all the time too. Of course, it better not happen till you’re much older.”
“Or a boy, because that would be okay too.” Devon smirks. “You never know with kids today which way the fruit is gonna hang.”
“Very true or a boy.”
“Boys are not supposed to like boys same for girls liking girls.” Finn says, confused.
“Yes, it may not have been what we were taught, but it happens every day. If that be the case, don’t be afraid to tell Rónán, and I-we won’t think of you any different.”
“Or at all.” Rónán’s voice clips in. “Well, I don’t judge that’s for sure. Er- excuse me.” He moves to the side as the appetizers are brought.
“You lie, you judge. You judged me the first time we met. Thinking I was some stupid little girl.” I pat his face. “It’s okay, just something you had to learn on your own.”
“I went on all available data for the time. When we met, ya were in a very different place.”
I hear a snort from Devon. “Ya already sound hitched.”
“The only thing different from now was my hair color. Well, that and I didn’t much care for you at first.” My eyes roll to Devon’s, and I hold up my hand. “Why, we are or haven’t you noticed?” I finish taking a bite of my food and Finn follows suit.
“On paper at least.” Rónán nudges me. “Before God is another story.”
“Aye, gotta take yer vows and all that malarkey.” Devon slugs his beer.
I swallow my bite and take a drink of my water. “Who says we can’t just vow ourselves to one another? We were raised in two very different ways. The Irish have a way they think weddings should be done as do the Italians. Considering I’m a mix of both that would be one fucked wedding. So, I’ve decided our vows are enough for me.”
Devon looks at me over his beer then to Rónán. “You didn’t tell her?”
Rónán looks to me his mouth twisted some. “It wasn’t- isn’t important.”
I sit back in my seat at the same time Finn does. “Oh, this is about to get good. The last time Rónán kept something from her, I bet he was feeling it the next morning.” Finn chuckles.
“Finnigan, sta 'zitto!” My way of getting him to sit back and shut up. “What isn’t important?” I ask Rónán completely ignoring Devon.
“Who my sperm donor was. I never met the bastard, so why should it matter?” Rónán grits out.
“His pops was Michello The Dicer Rinaldi, coldest blooded SOB to ever walk the streets of hell anywhere.” Devon chuckles. “His mum was here after getting away from the IRA as a wee lass. This boy comes from a line of doers. That’s for sure.”
Rónán hangs his head, his hands in his lap. I don’t know this look. Is it? Shame? I put my hand in between his and lean closer to him. He’s learning Italian so as to keep the conversation private that’s how I whisper to him.
“I’m sorry your friend is a dick. This was not something that should have been brought up over a meal. We can talk about after we’re alone.”
Rónán nods, and the look that crosses his eyes as he looks back at Devon is enough to silence a room. Devon’s continued chatter dies.
“I’m just being me. Sorry.” He fin
ishes his beer, tossing money at the table. “Guess I’m just the help.” He looks at me. “Really nice meetin’ ya. I’ll be with the car.” He walks away.
“I’m sorry.” Rónán whispers.
“He really has no idea who I am, huh?”
“He’s just a driver, in Limerick, there’s no reason for him to know. You’re Antaine’s family. I’m O’Sullivan’s, and so are you now.”
“I just hope it goes as well here as it did in Italy. I’m ready to start over. For the last time.”
“Aye.”
“We’re still in agreement, yes? We’re all getting out.”
“That’s the plan.”
The rest of our meal was quiet. Mostly because I was digesting everything and I’d bitten Finn’s head off. We’re finally at the cottage. Our walk didn’t happen. Finn and I got in and got things put away while Rónán dealt with his mouthy friend. Finn took his shower first then went to bed with his Switch. Whereas I’m just getting in as the door opens.
“I know you’re out there. Your stuff is put away. So, are you getting in or waiting till I’m done?”
“My head hurts, feels like a couple elephants are doing jig up there.” He leans against the doorway. “I think I’m gonna just lay down before I fall down.”
“O-kay. There’s stuff in my bag if you need it. Goodnight.”
The only reason I say goodnight is I know he’s about to fall asleep. He does it often after his sugar has messed up. After my shower, I pull on one of my new sets I bought in Italy. I probably spent more than I should have, but when I had to watch my money, it drove me nuts. I love shopping and buying pretty, silky, and lacy items. Getting my wardrobe back to where it should be is going to take forever.
I find Rónán asleep on the couch, so I cover him with a throw, kiss his head, and make my way to bed. We’re all jacked from the time difference. Even if I can’t sleep, I’ll lay here and think about everything that we have going on.
