How Deep is Your Love?

by Kathryn Shay

Sammy stood before him. He seemed as sad as Dante felt. “Sorry to interrupt.”

  “That’s okay. Come sit.”

  The boy dropped down next to him but stared down at the floor. “My dad left.”

  “The principal told us. How are you feeling about that?”

  “I’m a terrible person.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m glad he’s gone.”

  He put his hand on Sammy’s arm. “Look at me, Sam.”

  The boy raised his gaze.

  “You are not terrible. Your life has been a nightmare. It’s only human to be glad it might be over.”

  His face told Dante Sammy wanted to believe him.

  “I’m right, son.”

  “What do I do with all these bad feelings about him?”

  “Let yourself feel them. For a while. Then try to get rid of them. You like basketball. Shoot some hoops. Run around the court. I could play with you.”

  “My mother said I have to forgive him.”

  “Forgiveness is hard in coming when people have hurt us.” Dante knew that, all right.

  “Will just playing ball work?”

  “Some. But you also should talk about it.”

  “Yeah? I like the counselor.”

  “I’m sure Mrs. Stevens would meet with you. Tell you what. How about if I walk you down to her office? See if she’s available, and if not, we’ll make an appointment.”

  He seemed hesitant.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m skipping Ms. Gentileschi’s class.”

  “I think she’ll understand.”

  Dante threw on a shirt, and they walked out of the weight room. Sammy said, “You think I can forgive him?”

  “Maybe not right away. But someday, I think you will.”

  Hypocrite, his conscience shouted. You’re a hypocrite, Dante Federico.

  Chapter 11

  Angelina met Brie at the crack of dawn for the third time this week. “Do you hate me for this?” she asked as she stretched her calves. She needed to run to keep the demons at bay.

  “Nah. It keeps me in shape.” She winked at Brie. “So I’ll be able to get into my wedding dress.”

  “Angie, you never said you were getting married. How great.” She frowned. “You must miss him.”

  “I do, but like I said, I’m glad for this opportunity.”

  “How does he handle you being a bodyguard?”

  “He’s Italian,” she said dryly. “We have knock-down drag-outs about it.”

  “But you stay together?”

  “We’re crazy about each other. Have been since we were kids. We’ve bided our time until we were both in a position to tie the knot. This gig, with you, is going to make it possible for us to get married.”

  She squeezed Angelina’s arm. “I’m so glad.”

  They headed outside and started down the road. Even this early, the air was warm, and Brie wore a sleeveless T-shirt and shorts. Angelina dressed similarly but with a baggy shirt. Brie caught sight of her gun underneath.

  “Tell me about the wedding. Where, when, colors, dresses, the whole shebang.”

  “Well, it’s a traditional wedding. We—aargh...”

  From the corner of her eye, Brie saw Angelina slump to the ground.

  She turned to help her. But her bodyguard hadn’t tripped. A man stood beside her with his foot on her chest. Angelina was bleeding on the ground, her gun useless peeking out from her waistband.

  “Hello, princess.” The sleazy voice was familiar. He wore a mask over his face that he yanked off. My God. Vittorino stood before her in all his ugliness. But he’d pumped up, too. How could he be here?”

  Her heart galloped in her chest.

  Her vision clouded.

  She couldn’t breathe.

  He started to laugh. “That’s it, little girl. Get scared. Get really scared. When I’m through with you, you’ll be scared the rest of your life. I’m gonna finish what I never got to do under Lorenzo’s thumb.”

  In the haze of her fear, something spoke to her.

  Disarm him. Don’t kick and scream at first. Wait until he’s comfortable, so he thinks he has the upper hand.

  He grabbed Brie roughly by the arms. “Turn around and start walking.”

  Instead, she leaned her head into his chest. Started to weep. “I can’t. I’m so scared. Please don’t hurt me.”

  He grasped her hand and pushed it to his groin. “Then make me happy, senora.”

  Brie clamped her fingers onto his genitals and squeezed as hard as she could. He howled. She stomped on his foot and raised her knee to finish the job. Before he went down, she poked him with two fingers in his eyes.

  She left him crumpled up to check on Angie. When she bent over the girl, she saw through her own legs a hand snake out and grab her ankle. “Not so fast, puttana.”

  Brie tried to shake him loose but she fell down to the ground, too. She knew this was the worst place to be. He stumbled to his feet.

  And went for her.

  A shot rang out.

  Vittorino fell on top of her. Bled on her. Immersed her in his stink.

  But he didn’t move.

  * * *

  A knock came hard on the Phys Ed. door.

  “Hold your horses.” Dante was getting dressed, and was in no mood to be interrupted.

  Louder knocking. He was tempted to answer it in his jocks, but yanked on the blue fleece. He jerked on the handle and was shocked to see Madelyn standing in the hall. “Brie got mugged this morning. Amanda’s calling subs for you and Brie, and I’ll drive you to her house.”

  He gripped the open door. “Is she all right?”

  “Yes. Let’s go, and I’ll fill you in on the way.”

  He didn’t object to Madelyn driving because his hands were shaking. He didn’t ask questions until they started to drive. Then, “What happened?”

  “Apparently, someone’s been stalking her.”

  Guilt rose up. “I know all that.”

  “Her family sent guards to be with her and her sister, and Brie went jogging with her bodyguard at dawn today. The stalker attacked them from behind.”

  “Who was it?”

  “The same man who kidnapped her.”

  “Marone. She must have been terrified.”

  “That’s all I know.”

  Because of morning traffic, it took forever to reach Brie’s house. His knee started bobbing, and he couldn’t stop it. Finally, they reached her house. Two cop cars sat out front. They were met at the curb by an officer who came to the car window on Dante’s side. The officer kept his hand on his gun. He said, “Who are you?”

  “I’m Madelyn Price, Brie’s friend and principal of her school. This is her colleague.”

  “Licenses and school ID.”

  They provided both.

  “I’ll check to see if she wants to see anyone.”

  She did. They found Brie in the living room, with the queen and the princess who lived next door flanking her, and her two bodyguards by the exits. Dante stood back as Madelyn crossed to them. Madelyn nodded to her mother, then took the chair across from Brie and grasped her hands. “Sweetie, I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m all right, Maddie.” She lifted her chin, and Dante could tell she’d been crying. “I fought back this time.”

  “I’m glad. But you don’t have to talk about it now. I wanted to see for myself how you are.”

  Renata slid her arm around Brie’s shoulders. “She’s right, mi amore. Telling the story again will make you relive the experience.”

  “I can tell her, Mamá. Vittorino came from behind. Threw Angelina to the ground. Then he grabbed me. I grabbed his penis then kicked him in the balls. Poked at his eyes. He went down, but I couldn’t run. Couldn’t leave Angie. He recovered some and got hold of my ankle.”

  “How did you get away?” Madelyn asked.

  “Angelina came to and shot him.”

  “Is he in custody?”

  Renata answ
ered. “Yes. Francesca called, and said she was in touch with the district commander. He assured her they had him.”

  Dante wanted to ask a million questions. But he wasn’t even sure she noticed him. She didn’t acknowledge him, so he started to back out of the room.

  “Dante, don’t go.”

  He stopped. His pulse raced, and he could only stare at her. “Come over and sit.” She turned to her mother. “Mamá, I want to talk to Dante alone.”

  “All right, darling. Madelyn, we made coffee. Let’s take some outside and get acquainted.”

  “I have to stay with her,” the female cop from the doorway said.

  “You can stand right outside the front door,” the queen told the woman. “They need privacy.”

  Everybody obeyed the queen, of course, and when they’d left, Dante crossed to Brie. She grasped his hand to pull him into the seat Madelyn had vacated. He searched her face.

  “You must have been terrified. I know how awful it was the first time.”

  “I was immobilized at first. But I did something this time, Dante, and I’m proud of myself.”

  He gave her a half smile, though he felt like smashing something because she’d been attacked. “I’m proud of you, too.”

  She rubbed his hand. “I’m so sorry we insinuated it might be you. Or whatever we did. It was that bastardo, all this time.”

  “If you want it, I forgive you. Let me say I’m sorry I didn’t handle all this better.”

  “Listen to us. We’re both a bundle of regrets.”

  “What do you need from me now, honey? I can stay or go. Do whatever.”

  “Truthfully, I’d like to take a nap. And I know nothing’s settled between us, but can you come with me and lie down. Hold me?”

  “I’d like nothing better.”

  “Thank you.”

  He drew her up, took her hand and led her out.

  * * *

  On Monday, Vittorino was sent to Sicily under heavy guard. Papá had talks with the authorities there, and after he reamed them out for not alerting him of Vittorino’s escape, they told him maximum security imprisonment would be put in place. He was out of Brie’s life for good. She returned to work on Wednesday and asked Dante to drive her. She was perfectly capable of getting there herself, but she wanted to be with him.

  The kids were not told what happened to her, and it wasn’t made public, of course, but the staff had to be informed. In the car, Dante sat beside her, solemn. Both knew their hiatus was over.

  “Thank you for everything these past three days.” She touched his hand where it rested on the console as he drove. “I know you didn’t want me to come back to work so soon.”

  “Your decision, Brie.”

  Apparently, he was working on his protectiveness.

  “And thanks for staying with me.”

  “Quite frankly, I’m surprised you let me stay.”

  They’d only talked about their relationship once when she asked him to be with her...

  “I know you’re mad at me. If the roles were reversed, I’d be furious.”

  “A crisis trumps anger and regret, Brie.”

  “If you’re willing, I’d like to talk about all this sometime. Not yet, with my family in and out. But...could you be here, as much as you can. I want you...near me.”

  “I can be here as much and as long as you like, sweetheart.”

  And he was. After their nap the morning of the assault, he’d spent the day with her at her house. She’d wanted him to hold her all night, but Renata asked him not to stay. She wanted time with Brie, of course, but she also thought that might rush things between them. So for three days, he came over during the day and left at night. She’d slept with Mamá one night, and Frankie the other. All the girls had shown up one day, but she’d kicked everybody out on Thursday. Even Antonio and Angelina. They were returning home with Mamá.

  When Dante drove into the school parking lot, where her adventure with him began, she turned to him. “It seems like eons ago I backed into your car.”

  “It does.” He parked and shut off the engine. “So, what happens now, Brie?”

  “I want calm. Peace. Serenity. I’ve had so much drama. I’m sick of it.”

  “Let’s play us by ear, then, for a while.”

  “I suppose that would be smart.”

  They exited the car and walked inside. They both seemed sad, but she guessed that was to be expected.

  * * *

  By the end of the day, Brie was done with serenity. So she’d asked Dante to come for dinner that night. To talk. And maybe more. At five, she slid the roast in the oven so it would cook slowly. In her room, she donned a new dress. It was a bright yellow with two wide straps at the top. October had brought Indian summer, and the weather was still warm out at suppertime.

  The doorbell rang, making her startle and the mascara she’d been applying slipped. She got it in her eye. Wetting a cloth, she bathed her eye and blinked. Now it was red. “Fuck!” She rarely used that word, but it fit tonight. The bell rang twice more.

  Hurrying out of the bathroom and to the foyer, she opened the door. There he stood, in khaki pants and a white polo shirt that contrasted the tan he’d gotten from being outside so much. Did he seem taller? Were his shoulders broader? “Hi.”

  “Hi. Something happen to your eye?”

  “The mascara wand attacked me.”

  He laughed. She moved aside and he started to step up. But he tripped and went down on one knee. “Owww....”

  “Dante. Oh, dear.”

  She offered her hand to help him up but he grabbed the jamb and hobbled to his feet. Looking down, he said, “Fuck.” His pants had ripped at the knee and his skin had already reddened. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to be vulgar.”

  She giggled. “I used the same word in the bathroom.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders so she could help him inside, and as she tried to heft him up, she heard a ripping sound. The strap on her dress popped. “Damn it.”

  “Aw, such a pretty dress.”

  “Never mind it,” she said, clinging to the bosom with one hand, the other around Dante. “Let’s get you something for that.”

  As they made their way to the kitchen, despite the situation, his woodsy scent made her inhale deeply. Once at the table, she pulled out two chairs. “Here, prop up your foot on one.” As he did, she retrieved an ice pack.

  “Now this is familiar. We’ve had way too many ice packs between us.”

  While he put the compress in place, she went to the cupboard, took out a sewing kit and pinned the strap in place. When she turned she said, “I look gorgeous, don’t I?”

  “You always do, to me, Brie.”

  “Want some wine? Or would you rather have ibuprofen?”

  “I’ll have medicine when we eat. Wine sounds good now.”

  She retrieved the same vintage they’d had one romantic night here and sat across from him. Poured. Her eye watered and she blotted it with a napkin. “I’m nervous.”

  “Me, too. That’s probably why I fell.” He glanced outside. “I don’t suppose we can make it out there. The night’s cool enough.”

  “Let’s try.”

  When they were settled at the table, his foot propped up again, she retrieved the wine and he raised a glass. “To better times.”

  “For us both.” She gestured to the patio. “This is where it all began.”

  “With Vittorino?”

  The mention of his name didn’t escalate her pulse anymore. “Yes.”

  “And now it’s over.”

  “For good.”

  “I don’t know how he got here, Brie. When you told me about the kidnapping, you said he’d gone to jail in the island where he’d been born.”

  “He did. His island of origin extradited him. Apparently, security wasn’t that good. He was in a cell, conked the guard over the head when the poor man brought him supper, and escaped. Nobody found out for a while. My guess is they were afraid to alert Casar
ina. They knew Papá would be enraged.”

  “And Vittorino came here? To hurt you?”

  “He was unbalanced. Apparently, he became obsessed with me. But thankfully, it’s over.”

  “You’re easy to obsess about. I haven’t stopped thinking about you these whole few weeks we’ve been apart.”

  “Can I say something about that now?”

  “Sure.”

  “I’m not only sorry about the fiasco with Frankie and Evvie. I’m sorry that I reacted like I did about your possessiveness. I talked with Linda, my therapist. She helped me see where I was coming from with that.”

  “I’m glad. But I was too protective. I am. I started that with my family when I was eighteen and Dad died. I guess I transferred it to you.”

  “You said you didn’t go to college right away because he died.”

  “Yeah, I’d been accepted at Yale on a track scholarship. I turned it down without my mother knowing. She couldn’t talk me out of staying home.” He raked a hand through his hair. “And I kept doing the same thing.” He got a faraway look in his eyes. “Maybe I should talk to somebody like Linda about it.”

  “Mamá always said it’s the crazy people who don’t get counseling.”

  He leaned back. “So...where do we...”

  A beeping sound rent the air.

  “What the hell?”

  Brie’s eyes widened and she sniffed. “That’s the smoke alarm.” She bolted up and raced to the sliding doors. When she opened them, smoke billowed out. She went into the house anyway. He limped in behind her.

  “It’s the roast.” She opened the oven. More smoke poured out, making her cough. She grabbed the meat with two potholders. “I put it on low.”

  Dante had been opening windows and doors then and came back to the stove. “Honey, it’s on five hundred.”

  “Dear Lord, I’m an idiot.”

  He turned the knob to off. “Let’s go outside until the smoke clears.”

  They sat again on the chairs. “Will Mari see the smoke and come running over?” Dante asked.

  “I told her not to come even if she saw smoke or blood. I was kidding. Guess I cursed myself.”