I kissed her awake, and she rolled on top of me. Much later, we emerged together and moseyed downstairs for breakfast. The mood in the kitchen was stifling compared to the mood I carried with me. Immediately, I felt bad for the joy in my heart.
Sera’s bloodshot eyes met mine over the rim of her coffee cup. “We shall go together and bring Bettina home. Later today, we will lay your father’s ashes to rest. Will this fit into your plans?”
Guilt exploded in my throat, temporarily rendering me mute. I swallowed hard, forcing down the emotion. “Of course. Bettina is my top priority, as is honoring my father. I’m sorry if you thought I felt otherwise.”
Sera toyed with a spoon before speaking. “I was not accusing you of disrespect, Dante. I need you with me today.”
Elena poured coffee into a mug and sat down next to Sera. Without a word, Elena laid her forehead against hers. The fight went out of Sera like a snowman defrosting in bright sunlight.
I stared at them, drinking in Elena’s beauty, not believing my luck. At least I hoped it was luck and not my cousin’s grand plan. Lennox said she was my bodyguard, but I’d suspected other intentions when he’d paired us. I hoped the intention was matchmaking and not espionage. Having Elena in my life meant Lennox had the means to keep tabs on me.
I couldn’t help but wonder about Sera and Dad’s pairing. Was it love at first sight, as I’d thought, or an arrangement that suited someone else?
Stowing my mistrust, I mentally prepared for the day ahead. “Sera, is Cat ready or is she staying here?”
Sera and Elena parted, sharing a secret sisterhood I knew nothing of. Sera wiped her tears. “I don’t want her to see Bettina that way. Our neighbor has agreed to keep Cat this morning. She will bring her home before we go to the cemetery.”
“That’s for the best. Lennox and Luca still have bodyguards out front. We’ll bring them with us to the cemetery. Deloris and Elena will accompany us this morning.”
At the mention of her name, Elena frowned. “Not as if I did much to protect you yesterday against those men on the bikes. That was a huge embarrassment.” She shot me a look that melted my shoes. “Now I’ll be more diligent.”
She hadn’t had time to react during the bike incident due to the glare of the sun and the surprise nature of the attack. I certainly hadn’t seen the danger until too late and I didn’t blame her for what had happened. Guilt was plentiful in this house and spread like germs from an uncovered sneeze.
Elena consumed a bowl of cereal, but my appetite fled with the thought of what the day might bring. No matter if Bettina played a part in our father’s death, she was still my sister and I loved her. Even with the evidence against her, I couldn’t believe she’d be capable of murdering our father in such a cruel manner. At fifteen, all she had was a learner’s permit and very little road experience. Someone had either wanted to punish him or wanted something from him so badly they were willing to torture him.
Retreating to the solitude of the office, I made arrangements for a bail bondsman to meet me at the courthouse in case the judge decided on bail. I remained sequestered in the office until it was time to leave.
I wanted to drive my car, needing to be in control, but Deloris nixed the idea, insisting we travel in her armored SUV. Guns weren’t allowed in court, so Deloris and Elena left theirs behind in the SUV when we arrived. Despite my resolution to protect my family, I’d forgotten my weapon.
The backup through security cost us a half hour, and we took the only available seats in an uncomfortable pew near the back. The wood-paneled courtroom gave the illusion of grandeur, but misery was the only permanent inhabitant. We witnessed other families endure the same process we were about to undergo. Some sat stoically when the charges were read—others cried and swore. Court officers forcibly ejected one family from the courtroom. As they passed by our row, the smell of unwashed bodies caused me to flinch. The experience numbed me.
The ones who suffered in silence were the ones that splintered my soul, for these were the people whom I resembled the most. By the time the bridge officer called out, “People against Bettina Costello,” my brain had nearly short-circuited.
Sera gasped and covered her mouth at the sight of Bettina dressed in prison garb. The intent of the jumpsuit was to allow for easy detection if an inmate escaped from prison, but the attire swallowed Bettina, dehumanizing her.
An officer of the court marched Bettina to the front of the courtroom, and Warren Bailey, the attorney, stood beside her. The bridge officer asked Bailey whether he “waived the reading,” and he answered yes.
I had no idea what that meant and I hoped he’d given the right response. The judge dropped his head and read from a file. Only the drum roll pounding in my ears broke the reverent-like silence in the room. The discussion of bail was batted back and forth. The prosecutor didn’t want bail because our family’s wealth made Bettina a flight risk. Bailey countered that she had a loving family who needed her with them and the evidence was circumstantial in nature. Finally, the judge set Bettina’s bail at one million dollars. The proceeding lasted approximately three minutes from start to finish, and I vaguely remembered Bettina entering a plea of not guilty.
The next case was called and we rushed from the courtroom. I sent a text to the bail bondsman, and he met at my bank, which was within walking distance. He accepted my cashier’s check for one hundred thousand dollars, then we went to the clerk’s office where he helped file the bond. I walked out of the clerk’s office in a haze, as if I’d been sleepwalking.
The deserted hallway loomed before me. I didn’t know what to do next or even where to go. Never before in my life had I been so aware of my shortcomings.
Aunt Deloris rounded the corner, nearly colliding with me. “Dante, take Elena and go home. I’ll wait for Bettina to be released and transport her.”
“I want to be the one to bring her home. I need for her to know we believe in her innocence.” The truth of the statement resonated.
I do believe in her innocence.
“And I need to speak with her while she’s still vulnerable.” Deloris gave me a maternal look—sad and forthright.
My support wouldn’t keep her out of jail. Deloris’ brand of support would. I didn’t envy Bettina this discussion. “Of course. I’ll get a taxi.”
She gave me her keys. “No, use mine. I’ll make other arrangements.” She winked before turning and striding back to God knew where.
I rounded up Sera and Elena and drove home in light traffic. No one spoke on the drive and once inside the house, everyone went their separate ways. The neighbor brought Cat home, and I returned to my studio in an attempt to soothe my battered spirit. My heart rejected all attempts by my brain to disengage. I put down the brushes and searched for Elena. I found her in the kitchen, standing over the stove holding a spoon.
“I whipped up a batch of potato soup. I’ll get you a bowl.”
I resisted the urge to protest because I knew I’d lose the ensuing argument. “Comfort food? Sure, why not.”
She sat a bowl in front of me, then brought her lips to mine in a quick kiss. “Yes, comfort food. You’ll need it to get through the day.”
I moved the soup closer without comment. She brought her own bowl and sat down beside me, circling her spoon around the rim while I ate.
I finished eating and she slid her uneaten soup in front of me. “You aren’t hungry?”
“Don’t act so surprised. You’ll give me a complex.” Her lips stretched in a wry grin.
I laid down my spoon. “I love watching you eat. Everything you do, you do with gusto. I wish I had half your joy.”
She bit her lip. “Dante, I want to teach you about joy.” She sighed and our gazes met. “I don’t think you’re prepared for Bettina’s homecoming.”
“What do you mean?” Her expression made me reach for her to offer comfort.
“Her experience will make her…different. I don’t know how else to put it. She’s seen the worst of huma
nity and she won’t ever be innocent again.”
“Are you using ‘innocent’ as a metaphor? Are you trying to say she’s guilty?” Her strange behavior had me on edge. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
She frowned. “I always say what I mean, and I barely know your sister. You internalize your feelings. You haven’t fully grieved for your father or for what has happened to your family with Bettina’s arrest.” She moved away. “I’m worried you won’t be able to process the difference in your sister when she gets home.”
I reached for her again. “I have you to help me through.”
“I’ll be here to deflect the impending storm.” She studied me as she spoke. “What happens after that is up to you.”
She was right. I did internalize, but I recognized a gauntlet had been thrown. “I want you in my life, Elena. Things are crazy right now, and I’ll admit my mind is fuzzy, but I’m certain I want you.”
Tears pooled before spilling onto her cheeks. “I never thought anyone would say that.” She squeezed my arm. “I’m really glad you’re the one who did.”
Noise from the front of the house drew us apart. Sera’s low cry resonated throughout the house, followed by a wail. We sprang from our seats and raced toward the sound.
Sera and Bettina were in the parlor, locked in an embrace. Deloris watched over the mother and daughter reunion, but left when we arrived.
Bettina saw us and disengaged from Sera. She ran to me and flung her arms around my neck. “Dante, I shouldn’t have lied to you. I swear, I’ll never skip school again.” She spoke with a hint of desperation.
I loosened her grip from around my neck. “Bettina, were you with someone new the day Dad died? I didn’t recognize the vehicle that dropped you off.”
Her cheeks reddened, and she flashed a peek over my shoulder. She leaned closer. “A guy I met last month. He’s older and I knew no one would approve.”
Despite her efforts to keep her voice quiet, Sera overheard. “Bettina Sofia Costello. What were you thinking? Your father and I make rules to keep you safe, not to stifle you.”
At the mention of her father, Bettina drew a sharp breath and whirled in her mother’s direction. “I had nothing to do with what happened to Papà.” She pivoted toward me. “You must believe me.”
I didn’t know if I wanted to hug her or beat the hell out of her. Her eyes had lost their youthful spunk, replaced with something I didn’t recognize.
Since our father’s murder and Bettina’s arrest, I’d been hollow inside. Having Elena by my side helped to alleviate the emptiness, but old ghosts once again roamed my mind. “Did you tell the attorney the name of the boy you were with?”
She buried her face in my shoulder. “No. I didn’t want to tell him anything.”
Sera rushed to my side and pried Bettina away. “We must know the truth. The allegations and evidence against you are serious. We will sit and you will tell the truth.”
She led Bettina to a chair by the fireplace, and I sat nearby. I waited for Sera to speak, but when she didn’t, I said, “Start with the name of the boy you were with when you skipped school.”
She dragged in a halting breath. “I met him last month at the school dance. He was there with someone else, but he started talking to me. He brought me home and asked if I wanted to go out the next weekend.”
Elena kneeled beside my chair. “So, you got his phone number?”
Bettina shook her head. “He said he didn’t have a phone and he’d need to call me from someone else’s. Every time he called the number was different.” She wiped a tear. “Deloris already asked me these questions. Can’t you talk to her?”
Sera, who’d been pacing the floor in front of the window, stopped abruptly. “Bettina, do you have his name?”
Bettina jumped at her sharp tone. “He said his name was John Smith.” More tears crisscrossed her cheeks. “I didn’t think anything of it until Deloris asked me the same question.” Her shoulders slumped. “I guess I’m pretty dumb.”
“Where did you go with him?” Something about her story didn’t ring true, as if she were leaving out details.
“A restaurant in Manhattan. He said they had the best homemade cannoli.” She offered a tiny grin. “It was, too.”
Elena’s attention was focused on Bettina, as if studying her body language. Sera stood still, her lips pressed together and her expression horrified. She stumbled to a chair and sat.
Since no one else seemed interested in learning about this mysterious boyfriend, I continued. “Did you ever bring him into this house? Allow him into your bedroom?”
She blushed a deep scarlet and peeked out from under her lowered lashes. “Just once.” She swiveled toward her mother. “I swear. He wanted to see what my house was like and everyone was gone for the evening. It was just one time.”
“Did he bring pot with him or did the bag in your room belong to you?” I hated being the judge and jury, but I needed to be assured of her innocence before planning a strategy for her defense.
She clenched her hands in her lap and cast a furtive glance at her mother. “The pot was his. I knew he had it with him, but I didn’t know he’d left the baggie in my bedroom.” Guilt seemed to overcome her. “I only smoked it once with him. I swear.”
“We believe you.” I kept my tone gentle. “Why did you write in your diary you hated Dad?”
She jumped from her chair, her features drawn. “Because he knew about my boyfriend and he told me to stop seeing him. He said he was from a dangerous family and was using me.” She ran to her mother and knelt.
Everything clicked—especially the Cuccia family’s claim they could exonerate Bettina. They could provide her with an alibi because they had set her up. My stomach lurched at the realization the Cuccias had used her to get to my father. Deloris thought they were trying to get to me because of my ties to the art world, but instead they’d kept him in line by threatening Bettina. When he wouldn’t cooperate, they killed him. It sickened me that he’d died knowing they had access to her.
I’d tried not to think about the horrible manner of his death, but I feared he’d been aware of the pain as the vehicle dragged him across the pavement. His suffering must have been amplified with the knowledge they held Bettina at their mercy. My expression apparently reflected my thoughts, because when I turned, Elena was staring.
Bettina sobbed in Sera’s lap. We were due to leave for the cemetery in less than an hour and continued questioning wouldn’t solve anything if she didn’t have any way to contact her fake boyfriend.
I excused myself and went in search of Deloris, finding her in the office. “Did the police check Bettina’s phone records?”
She didn’t shift her gaze from the computer screen. “Yes. All dead ends. I asked for a description of John Smith”—she shrugged—“but she didn’t even have a picture. What teenage girl doesn’t have a picture on their phone of their latest crush?”
“What about contacting some of her girlfriends? Maybe one of them snuck a quick photo.”
She reached beside the computer and held up Bettina’s phone. “I just sent texts to her BFFs pretending I was her and asking for that very thing. I had to silence the ringer because of all the questions about her arrest, but so far no pictures.” She put down the phone and rubbed her forehead. “She should consider finding new friends. Some of them are a little too thrilled with her current difficulties.”
“Teenage girls can be real piranhas. Maybe when this is over we should move her to another school.” I swung around to leave and bumped into Elena who’d apparently followed me.
“Bettina and Serafina are going upstairs to get ready for the cemetery. You should do the same.” Elena brushed past me and dragged a chair over to Deloris, shooing me. “Go on. We’ll work on this until it’s time to go.”
I climbed the stairs, but instead of going to my room, I stopped outside of Cat’s closed door. Inside, Bettina chatted with Cat as if she hadn’t just spent the worst few hour
s in her teenage life.
I didn’t interrupt. Instead, I went to my room and showered. Dressed in a suit and tie, I sat near the window and observed the wildlife at play in the back yard. The antics of three gray squirrels flagging their tails and barking while risking life and limb jumping from tree to tree provided a calming effect, and I dozed off.
Chapter 10
Elena shook me awake. She wore a simple black dress and low-heeled shoes, but her nails were painted bright red. Together we made the trek down the stairs to where the rest of the family waited. Vincent, Luca, Oren, and Lennox had arrived while I slept, and I greeted each of them with what I hoped wasn’t the wariness I felt.
Vincent broke away from the group and offered a handshake. “I was never angry at Antonio for not participating in the family business. When the Cuccia family sunk their claws into him, I tried to help, but he wanted to protect his Serafina. I respected that wish. I’m sorry I couldn’t save him.”
I shook his proffered hand. “I apologize for all the years I shunned you, Uncle Vincent. There is much I didn’t know about my father.”
The emotional gut-punch of the impending interment and my uncle’s heartfelt regret at losing his brother made me wonder if I would survive the pain.
The day had become cool, and a cold mist coated the landscaping. I donned a coat and helped Elena into hers. Isaac and Jimmy waited outside. The procession to the cemetery involved three black SUVs moving in what seemed like slow motion. In my heart, this was more difficult than the memorial service because Dad would be there with us. Placing the urn in the crypt solidified his exit from my life. I wasn’t ready to let him go.
The vehicles stopped in front of the mausoleum, and we trooped across the grass to where our pastor and the funeral director waited. The classical-style stone structure featured one exterior door framed by ionic columns and a small interior vestibule situated between the crypts. Inside, a decorative urn sat near what was to be my father’s final resting place. Large floral wreaths stood next to the open crypt. Our footsteps echoed in the silent structure as we gathered near the urn. The pastor led us through the scripture and prayers. My participation consisted of the bare minimum. Elena hugged my arm close to her body, but watched the door and kept a hand inside her purse where she’d stowed her weapon.
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