Evelyn was rambling a little and I let her. She needed to get it out. As she spoke, tears fell. She had known Sofia from childhood. Her father, Joe, had been friends with Gianfranco and his brother Carmine. I imagined them to be like an aunt and uncle to her.
“Let me get you a coffee or something. Tea?” I asked.
Evelyn nodded and I made my way around the breakfast bar. I seemed to be moving on autopilot; the earlier tears had dried up. It was only the rattle of the cups in their saucers that indicated I was shaking from head to foot. Evelyn began to stand. I gave her a small smile.
“It’s okay. I’ve got this,” I insisted. She gave a look that said she didn’t believe me, but sat back down anyway.
When the tea was brewed, I filled the two cups and sat beside her.
“What actually happened?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I was at the table and Sofia said she needed the restroom. The next thing I heard was an explosion. Someone, I don’t know who, pushed me under the table, and I stayed there until Scott pulled me out. He has some cuts to his face, nothing serious, but he was so good, Brooke. He helped everyone out.”
She paused to take a sip from her cup.
“The ballroom door was blown open, buckled by the blast and those closest were hurt I guess. Mack got everyone out the emergency exit. I didn’t even see what the reception was like. Were any of the security boys hurt?”
I didn’t want to tell her what I knew, what I’d seen. She was upset enough and I had no desire to have that image lodged in my brain. Since Joey, I had developed a coping strategy. I could erase images as quick as they popped into my mind, and that’s what I did then.
“Yes, but I don’t know who.”
It wasn’t a lie; I didn’t know the man who had possibly given up his life to protect us. I felt a pang of guilt. I should have acknowledged him as I passed, even given just a smile. If what Robert thought was correct, he had sacrificed himself for my family and friends and I didn’t even know his name.
Evelyn and I sat in silence as we sipped our tea. I kept listening out for Gerry, hoping that the evening wouldn’t bring on a nightmare. Robert and I would have to come up with an explanation, something to answer the questions I knew he would wake up with. The desire to check on him overwhelmed me.
“I’ll be back in a bit. I just want to check on Gerry,” I said, leaving Evelyn at the breakfast bar.
I opened the bedroom door and quietly crept to the side of the bed. Gerry was lying on his side. In his arms he clutched the same teddy bear he had owned for years. He looked peaceful in sleep. I wished he could have that all the time.
I headed to the bathroom and wet a washcloth. Moving some hair from his forehead, I wiped away the blood. There was a small cut just above his eyebrow but I doubted it would leave a scar.
The bedroom door opened and Robert walked in. He sat on the edge of the bed beside me. He took my hand in his. His thumb ran across my knuckles, and with his other, he stroked the top of Gerry’s head.
“You need to get some sleep,” he whispered. “I think we’ll have a busy day tomorrow.”
“How’s Franco?” I asked.
“Looking down the bottom of a whiskey bottle when I left him. He’s angry, angrier than I’ve seen him in years.”
Robert stood and pulled me to my feet.
“Evelyn has gone to bed in the guest room. I didn’t want her on her own. She’s really shaken up,” he said.
Quietly closing Gerry’s door behind us, we made our way to our bedroom. I stripped off my dirty dress and left it on the floor. Robert headed for the shower. I watched as he pulled his shirt over his head, his muscles flexed with the movement. He was tense, so very tense.
A bad feeling settled in my gut. The memory of seeing him with Dan flooded my brain. He was anxious, wanted to know Gerry and I would be protected, but that was a Robert I never saw. A shiver ran over me.
As he stepped under the shower, I leant against the bathroom sink to wash the make-up from my face. It was as I looked at the washcloth and saw the dirt and dust the explosion had caused, I realised I needed more than a quick wash before bed. I unpinned my hair and stepped in the shower with Robert.
He made way for me to stand under the flow of hot water alongside him. His arms snaked around my waist and he held me against his chest. His head rested on my shoulder as the water cleansed us, washing away the grime, the blood and dirt.
It couldn’t wash away our lives, though. Or the guilt of knowing a man had died because of us.
Robert had no choice; he had to go full circle. He had to return, full time, to his old lifestyle. We would never be safe if he didn’t.
Robert was the head of a powerful family, the Mafia, and no matter how hard he tried not to be, there was no getting away from it.
Chapter Three
“Mom.”
I woke with a start. Had I heard Gerry call out? I sat up in bed, immediately noticing I was alone. The room was dark as I swung my legs over the side, listening for a moment. The only sound I could hear was the faint voice of Robert talking.
Pulling on a t-shirt, I headed to Gerry’s bedroom. His door was never fully closed and I pushed it slowly open. He was in his usual position, star fished across the bed still asleep. I must have been dreaming when I heard him call out. I backed out of the room and pulled the door closed behind me.
Making my way upstairs, I followed the sound of Robert’s voice. He was in his home office with the door slightly open. Robert was at his desk in just a pair of jeans.
“I want you on standby, Tony, and I don’t care what the cost,” I heard him say.
I pushed open the door and walked in. Robert looked up; he was holding a mobile to his ear. He swivelled his chair to face me.
“I have to go. I’ll speak to you in the morning,” he told Tony, ending the call.
“I’m sorry. I’m interrupting you,” I said.
“Come here.” Robert held out his hand and as he took mine he pulled me onto his lap. “How are you doing?” he asked.
“Okay, I think. I thought I heard Gerry call out, but I must have been dreaming. He’s still sound asleep. We need to talk about what we are going to say to him.”
“You told him there had been an explosion in the kitchen, didn’t you? Leave it at that.”
“Who did this?”
“I’m trying to find out and when I do, I swear on your life they will pay.”
“Is there anything I can say to talk you out of that?”
“No. No one, Brooke, attacks my family and walks away.”
To hear him speak so softly as he ran his fingers down the side of my cheek, knowing what he meant by ‘they will pay’ had my stomach knotted. I sometimes forgot how dangerous Robert could be. My husband, the father of our child, and the image of him holding a gun to the forehead of Dan came to mind as if it were a reminder of what he was capable of.
I looked at him—his olive skin, his dark eyes and his crooked nose—and knew I would follow that man to the ends of the earth no matter what he did. I placed my hands either side of his face.
“You do what you have to,” I whispered as I lowered my lips to his.
His kiss was demanding, one hand snaked behind my head and gripped my hair while the other raked the t-shirt up my back. I placed my arms around his neck, running my hand down his back, feeling the scar between his shoulder blades.
Robert lowered his hands to my waist and stood, lifting me as he did. He placed me on the edge of his desk, swiping some papers to the floor. He broke his kiss long enough to raise the t-shirt I wore over my head. As I sat naked, I watched him undo the buttons and zipper of his jeans, and they fell to the floor. No matter how many times I had seen him naked, the sight of his muscular body, the scars and the tattoos, always had my stomach fluttering. I ran my fingers over my initials permanently inked into his skin just above his heart as he gripped my thighs and wrapped my legs around his waist.
“I need to fuck you,�
� he whispered.
I wrapped my hand around his cock, feeling the heat and softness of his skin in my palm. I slid my hand up and down his shaft as his lips caressed my neck. He wrapped his arms around me, his hand tugged at my hair, forcing my head back so he could get to my throat.
I dug my heels into his ass, forcing him closer to me as I rubbed the head of his cock against my clitoris. I wanted him inside me; I was ready for him. His hands slid down my sides to my waist as I guided him in. He stilled for a moment. I dug my heels in further, willing him to move. As his head came up to meet mine, he gave me a wicked smile.
“Tell me what you want,” he said.
“Fuck me hard.”
It was all the encouragement he needed. I leaned back, placing my hands on the desk for support. His fingers dug into my skin as he gripped my waist. I wanted him faster, deeper. I wanted to feel his sweat drip onto my skin and his hot breath on my neck as he fucked me. I moaned out loud as a heat coursed over my body.
My stomach knotted as my orgasm built, and it was Robert sinking his teeth into my chest, marking me, that threw me over the edge. I cried out his name as my body shook and I came. My legs had begun to ache, and I lessened my grip on him. Robert placed his hands on my knees, pushing my legs towards my chest, exposing me to him. He fucked me faster. I watched as beads of sweat rolled from his forehead and dripped to his chest. I saw his stomach muscles tighten as he threw back his head and came.
It was short and intense—just what we both needed.
Robert let go of my legs and I stretched them out as he pulled out of me. I sat up as he handed me a wad of tissues. I chuckled as I took them from him. Robert liked to fuck me anywhere the desire took him. I had learned long ago to make sure there was something to clean up with in every room.
“Did I tell you today that I loved you?” Robert said.
“Yes, but you can tell me again if you like.”
“I love you.”
He handed me the t-shirt I had been wearing and pulled on his jeans. Taking my hand in his, he led me from his office and back to our bedroom. The sun had risen, bathing the room in a soft yellow glow. Instead of climbing into bed, Robert headed for the shower. He could only have had a couple of hours sleep.
“Why don’t you come back to bed for an hour?” I asked as he strode back into the bedroom.
“I have calls to make.”
“Can’t they wait? It’s still so early.”
“No, the people I need to call will be up.”
He sat on the bed beside me. “Stay at home today, okay? Keep Gerry off school.”
I had no intention of letting Gerry out of my sight until I knew it was safe. While Robert dressed, I headed to the shower myself.
****
Robert was sitting at the breakfast bar nursing a cup of coffee. I walked across the room to join him. He looked worried, his fingers drummed on his mobile phone.
“Let me get you something to eat before you leave,” I said.
“I’m fine. I’ll grab something later.”
Before he had finished his sentence I heard the front door open. Travis made his way over to join us.
“You okay?” he said as he sat.
“Fine. Where’s Harley?” I asked.
“Still sleeping, and Franco is passed out on the sofa.”
“She’s fine like your sister says,” Robert said to Travis.
Travis gave me a sad smile. “It will be okay.”
I had no idea what Robert meant, an inside joke between them I guessed. I set about to make some tea and refreshed Robert’s cup. Travis had already helped himself.
“Any news?” Travis asked.
“Hopefully today. We need to get going soon.”
“What about Franco? Won’t he want to go with you?” I said.
“Maybe. Gary can collect him if he does. He’ll understand. He knows what we have to do.”
“And what is that? What do you have to do?” I asked.
“I have to find out who fucking put my family in danger, who killed Sofia.” Robert’s tone of voice had lowered and his features had hardened.
He placed his cup on the breakfast bar and stood. I watched both him and Travis look at each other before nodding, that silent communication at work again. Evelyn joined us just as Robert and Travis made to leave. Both gave her a hug before heading downstairs.
“Can I get you a cup of tea?” I asked as she sat on a stool.
“That would be lovely. Did you sleep any?”
“Not much. A couple of hours I guess. I’m going to keep the boys here today. Maybe we can look at home tutoring if this goes on too long.”
“I think that’s a good idea. Did Franco go with them?” Ev asked.
“No, from what Travis said, he passed out on the sofa. Which reminds me, Harley is still sleeping. I’ll go check on him.”
“I can do that. I need to shower and change anyway. I’ll send him over here. I’d like to sit with Franco for a while. I don’t want him to wake on his own,” she replied.
After drinking the last of her tea, Evelyn set off to her apartment. The house was quite save for the ticking of the clock in the living room. That sound used to comfort me on nights when I was alone. Now it irritated me. It was a symbol of time passing by, of all the hours I had waited for Robert or that dreaded phone call to tell me my husband was hurt. I decided then to remove the batteries.
I checked my watch and picked up my mobile phone. I scrolled down my contacts until I came to the name I wanted. Taking my tea, I settled on the sofa and dialled. The phone rang and rang. Eventually voicemail kicked in. I left a message.
“Sam, it’s me. I really need to talk to you. I’ll call again in a bit.”
I sent the same message by text.
I sat for a while just looking at the phone and recalling the previous evening. The explosion wasn’t large enough to destroy the building; it was a warning. A warning about what, though? I didn't know everything Robert did, but I knew enough, and for the past four years, we had been trouble free.
I dialled Sam again. That time the phone rang just a couple of times before the call was cut off. Did that mean he didn’t want to speak to me? My heart hurt at the thought. I had to make it right with him.
The noise of footsteps padding up the stairs brought me out of the thoughts. Gerry had woken. I watched with a big fake smile on my face as he came across the room. His face was creased and his eyes were still sleepy.
“Come here, darling,” I called out. He joined me on the sofa and curled into my side.
“What’s the time?”
“Nearly nine.”
“Shit, Mom. I’ll be late for school.” He immediately covered his mouth and his eyes, no longer sleep-ridden, were wide with fear.
“Gerry Stone! Don’t you dare swear.”
“I’m sorry. It just slipped out.”
“Well it can slip back in. I don’t ever want to hear you swear, okay?”
“It was just a little swear word though.”
“Little or big, it was a swear word.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. So am I going to be late?” he asked.
“No, there’s no school today. The teachers have a training day,” I lied. “Now, go and shower.”
“Cool,” he said and then smiled. Gerry hated school and I could imagine the mental fist pump he’d just given.
Before leaving the sofa, he gave me a hug. He was growing up fast. I’d overheard him and Harley talking and some of their choice of words left me baffled. I wasn’t silly. At that age, he was aware of bad language. I had no doubt he used them at school or when I wasn’t around, but I wasn’t standing for it. I smiled at a memory though. We couldn’t have been much older than Gerry when Sam and I were sitting on the grass in the playing field at school. We had a pencil and a piece of paper and wrote as many naughty words as we knew. I remember being in fits of laughter. Thoughts of Sam and happier times filled me with sadness. I had to find a way to make right our sit
uation.
I watched as Harley made his way across the drive. He and Gerry had become best friends, brothers even. He was in jeans and a t-shirt, his hair was still wet, or gelled, as was his style. The door opened and instead of coming up, he must have headed for Gerry’s bedroom. I could hear the faint chatter and then laughter.
I sent a text to Evelyn asking if she was with Franco and if there was anything I could do. Keeping the boys occupied and out of the way was the order of the morning.
I fired up the stove and set about to make pancakes, calling for the boys to come and eat. Two sets of feet stomped up the stairs followed by the purrs of the cat. Gerry’s task every day was to feed Smudge, which he did without prompting. He knew he was still in trouble.
“Pancakes and tea, then we are going for a walk,” I said, pushing a plate across the breakfast bar.
“Brooke, what happened last night?” Harley asked. Being older than Gerry he was more aware of the situation.
“The kitchen blew up,” Gerry answered.
Harley looked to me. I didn’t reply and he nodded. He didn’t believe Gerry it appeared, but accepted what was said. He was the most considerate boy and super intelligent. I wondered if there would shortly come a time when we would need to sit him down and explain a few things.
Both boys were surrounded by security. They believed Robert and Travis were businessmen, and they were aware of their privileged lifestyle. I worried that it wouldn’t be long before Harley heard the rumours, read the papers and questioned exactly what Robert and Travis did.
****
Although it was still early, it was already warm and humid. We pulled on sneakers and set off for our walk. I followed the path through the woods—the same path I had run through some years ago. We came to a clearing; the stump of a large tree provided a resting place for the boys. Little did they know that trunk was all that remained of a tree I was held against the night I believed I would lose my life. The gunroom and range were still there, although the boys were not allowed access to the room. I was uneasy about it. I didn’t want them around guns, although Travis had other ideas. He believed they should be trained at an early age to respect firearms, to learn to use them properly. It was something we argued about and something we agreed to disagree on.
Fallen Angel, Part 4 - A Mafia Romance: Fallen Angel Series Page 3
