ATONEMENT (Alfonzo)

by Frank, S. W.

  Her head stayed bowed, afraid if she looked or peeked and saw those two again she’d go ballistic. She didn’t trust her reaction. Someone wiped her face with a damp cloth. It felt cool and nice but it didn’t erase what they’d done. The hands loosened some more and this is when Selange bolted. She sprint down the driveway not caring which direction she fled as long it carried her somewhere other than there. She’d get far away and call Alfonzo. He’d make them pay for this; he’d do it if she asked.

  They were calling her name, shouting loudly in the night but she was running and they couldn’t catch her in their high heels and cumbersome gait. She wanted to go home. Her children are what she needed, not a wet cloth or disingenuous women with their dumb games.

  “Nico stop her!” A woman demanded.

  The name carried in the distance and she tripped. One human falter cost her more than the thousand stumbles in her life. She teetered on the edge of damnation for her transgression. Once her secret became exposed, she’d fall into the deepest pit with no way out. She came upright and turned. There he was, approaching with determined strides. The familiar and handsome face altered by facial hair, giving it a more rugged and dangerous appearance. The man coming to her on the shores of Italy, at a moment of heartbreak was the lover she hoped to forget but one fate forced her to remember, Nico!

  ***

  Vincent waited outside the closed door, his ears tuned for signs of trouble. Alfonzo was in a meeting with a contractor, who obviously had no idea who he was talking to judging by the height of his voice.

  “Who the fuck told you that?”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’m asking you.”

  “It’s a motherfucking lie!”

  “Shouting doesn’t mean you’re heard. Matter-of-fact, Bryan I start listening less!” Alfonzo said getting to his feet.

  “The worker’s going to be okay, what’s the big deal he ‘aint dead?”

  Alfonzo came from behind his desk. He put his hands in his pockets to keep from clocking the arrogant contractor. “I don’t tolerate drinking on the job or two hour lunch breaks. You haven’t supervised the foreman; frankly, you haven’t done much except put me behind schedule. Now I’ve got an injured worker and undoubtedly OSHA coming in because of you. Where were you when Carl fell and broke his leg?”

  “At lunch.”

  “Yeah, where?”

  “The deli down the block.”

  “We had a rough inspection today and were given the okay to start covering the inside walls. You had one foreman trying to cover six floors and an inexperienced worker out on a catenary with no fall arrest system and you’re out to lunch down the block, that’s your excuse?”

  “Well, yeah. I was on the site since seven and hadn’t eaten.”

  Alfonzo almost laughed at Bryan’s incompetence. He was a recent hire brought in to replace the former general contractor who suffered a heart attack. Bryan came with all the bells and whistles, as they say. Good track record, clean license, checkable references, except the man had a drinking problem. He found this out after the construction accident. The foreman didn’t want to snitch but finally came clean and told Alfonzo Bryan wasn’t on hand when the accident occurred, he was at a bar!

  Alfonzo stood inches from Bryan and sure enough, the scent of alcohol and cigarettes clung to his skin. “Give me the access key.”

  “Come on…you’re firing me?”

  Alfonzo put out his hand; his face stern, “The key!”

  Bryan reached in his back pocket, took out a swipe card and slammed it on the desk, “Fine…here take it and shove it up your ass, you prick.”

  “What did you say to me?”

  Bryan opened his mouth, “Fuck…”

  Alfonzo struck him right below the ribcage then did a foot sweep and Bryan crashed to the floor. Vincent entered and Alfonzo pointed down, “Bryan tripped, help him find the exit.”

  “Sure thing,” Vincent said, lifting the man roughly to his feet and shoving him out the office.

  When the door closed Alfonzo exhaled. Thanks to Bryan, he’d have to work late again, visit the site, do an equipment check, make sure the safety arrest system got installed before OSHA and an inspector came roaring in tomorrow morning. He’d wake early and stay late interviewing replacement contractors, all due to one man’s incompetence. He instructed Georgina to pull some of the former applicant’s files and schedule the interviews for the afternoon if any were still interested in the position. He scoffed, sometimes; it was easier being a bad guy. You didn’t have to think so goddamn hard about doing right!

  He straightened, grabbed the electronic key and headed over to the site with Vincent in tow. It was six-thirty; the foreman was getting paid overtime due to Bryan’s dumb ass and so were the electrician, plumber and a stone mason. Sure, they were all there, working gladly, at those hourly rates, who wouldn’t?

  Vincent shadowed him as he did a walk through and stood silently in the background. Alfonzo warned the foreman to call him if Bryan appeared wanting his tools, and notified the guards as well, in case the drunken fool got any bright ideas about sabotage.

  He called the house, told his children good-night, spoke to Anita then waited for the night delivery.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Somehow Nico convinced Selange to return to the house. It took a lot of coaxing. Nico appealed to her sense of family. “Look, they’re not bad people, not all of them anyway. Renalda and Lucia got carried away. The women usually have an initiation for new members as a way to sort out the weak links in the chain.” He hugged her, “Most of the women are just trying to protect their families, like you.”

  When she looked at him with an ‘are you kidding’ expression, Nico tried not to laugh. “You have the upper hand in the situation. After kicking their asses and unleashing a bit of crazy, I doubt they’ll mess with you again.” He put a mock fist to her cheek, “You throw a mean left hook.”

  Selange chuckled in spite of her trepidation, “Sure do?”

  “Yeah, and who taught you those moves?”

  “Alfonzo.”

  “Yeah, figured he’d teach you how to fight instead of shoot.”

  “I’ve been married for years, though it’s not like they don’t know who I am. The hazing nonsense is collegiate childishness.” She shook her head at the stupidity of the act, “I don’t know if I want to go back after they threatened my kids. My kids Nico, that’s really low!”

  His eyes were soft and protective. “No one…I mean no one is going to lay a hand on those children. They have you, Alfonzo and a string of crazy motherfuckers like me who’ll stop anyone who tries.”

  She inhaled and smelled vomit coming from his shirt, “I sprayed you didn’t I?”

  He grimaced, “A little.”

  “Smells like a lot.”

  “They’re clothes, I’ve got more…” he looked toward the estate, from the distance he could see figures inside the house. Nico had been out at the edge of the estate trying to convince Selange to return for close to an hour. The group tired, some grew cold and went inside. A few silhouettes watched from the windows, hoping she’d return, because if Selange didn’t they had a helluva lot of explaining to do to the men. Selange was their guest and the wife of a powerful American ally. The prank displayed a sign of disrespect. “Come on let’s meet the nice ones, this way I can shower and change. Let them kiss your rump, you don’t have to forgive them, heck, scare them a bit, make them wonder whether you’re going to tell your husband or not.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Selange, what they did was mean and stupid but you didn’t crack…well…not until later, anyway,” he found the vision of her beating the women, hilarious. He could’ve intervened sooner but waited until Renalda and Lucia got the lashing they deserved. And, man, did they get it good!

  “What’s so funny, Nico?”

  “Trust me you passed the psychological hazing with flying colors.” He squeezed her tighter, “This is your extended family. They’re dysfunction
al but family. Running home will make you appear petty. Sometimes it’s best to use a bit of power to right a wrong then to let it waste by inaction.”

  She listened to his advice. She hadn’t thought of it that way. It was hard to justify pranking somebody and threatening to harm their kids; they’re lucky she didn’t have a weapon because someone may have gotten killed. She didn’t like their tactics or warped reasoning for doing such a thing, defending family from outsiders, she got, but she wasn’t an outsider or was she in their eyes? Ugh, she growled in frustration, maybe exacting a bit of payback was her incentive to stay. “Okay…I’ll stay but I swear if any one of them so much as…”

  Nico chuckled, “Oh, I don’t think they’ll pull anymore stunts.”

  Hearing Nico guffaw was contagious and she burst out laughing, “Did you see that girl’s face when I dragged her out the car by her hair, oh goodness it’s precious!”

  “I heard the screams first,” he snickered as he ushered her toward the large villa.

  The door swung open before Nico rang the bell and a woman with hawkish eyes and a tart expression stood there. “Entrare stanno aspettando.”

  “Who’s she?” Selange whispered as they followed behind the woman.

  “Tia. She’s the nicest woman ever.”

  Selange’s face was incredulous, “Nice, you’re joking right?”

  Nico maintained a straight face, “Nope, she’s the one who got you something to drink and a cool cloth.”

  “Um, good for her.”

  His nose wrinkled. “That didn’t sound gracious.”

  “What did you expect? She wouldn’t have to do any that if it wasn’t for those witches.”

  Nico’s intense glare transformed into tenderness when he looked at her then his head came up when they entered the living-room. The women were quiet. They sat in separate cliques on cozy divans and expensive sofas. They ranged in age from young to seniors. Their expressions were a mixture of haughty, impassive, welcoming and meek and they were all trained on her!

  Amelda, Giuseppe’s sister and bride-to-be rose along with her mother, Sophie. They were genuinely happy to have her, it showed in their faces. Amelda’s thick black hair hung to her shoulders, the dark eyes were sparkling diamonds. Her curvaceous body was in a silk form fitting knock-out dress that stopped above the knees. The sexy split on both sides drew Selange’s admiration. She had style. The woman was beautiful, not skin and bones like America’s ideal of attractive. No, she was all woman, a young version of the former screen siren Monica Belluci. Amelda’s mother was equally stunning. A voluptuous brunette who Selange was certain men of any age would love to bed. They came and kissed her cheeks in a warm welcome.

  Sophie apologized profusely for their behavior and pat her face.

  “We are so sorry. Nico reminded us of your tragedies, excusi por favore.” Amelda said taking her arm and escorting her around the room for proper introductions.

  Sophie did not follow, instead she turned her attention on Nico. “Your persuasion is remarkably effective,” she said in a sugary tone.

  “She ultimately came to the decision on her own.”

  The wise woman’s feline eyes twinkled, um, I see a glow in your eyes. It wasn’t there earlier.”

  Nico remained silent.

  Sophie smiled, “She’s so beautiful, like a fire on a winter night. I can also see her innocence, she’s young to our ways but you are not. Her fire will melt your ice into water and it will run red. Do not love her so openly, it’s in your eyes.”

  “You imagine things zia Sophie.”

  “You are my brother’s son. I have known you since you were a bambino. This is the first I have seen life in those eyes in some time. They’re mirrors, they say, non é vero?”

  He didn’t confirm or deny it, instead he changed the subject, “I’m going to shower.”

  She cupped his face, kissed each cheek lovingly then smiled, “Be discreet,” then joined the others.

  Selange noticed Nico leaving and focused on the continuing introductions. She met the elders first, mothers and grandmothers who smiled politely. One of the women touched her face, said something in Italian to a woman beside her and she nodded in agreement.

  “What did she say?” Selange whispered to Amelda.

  “You’re lovelier than many here. She’ll adopt you and make you a black Italian.”

  Selange thought, ‘Oh, what can I say to that? Awkward!’

  Then there were more introductions. These were the bridesmaids whose names mostly ended in vowels along with titles she would never remember. Marcella, a large woman with mean eyes and wife of Don so and so. Bruised, pug nose Renalda the daughter of who cares. Ugh, the skinny bitch Lucia, who unfortunately was Matteo’s sister. Selange smiled familiarly at Gabriela and Adrianna, she’d seen their pictures, yet they never met. They were Alfonzo’s step-sisters who inherited the same blue eyes. They smiled demurely and kissed her, saying things like, “Do not worry we stand with you,” and, “I hated what they did…you should tell Alfonzo to make them pay. Dumb cunts!”

  Okay, well not as sweet as she thought. Yeah, Alfonzo’s father was definitely an Old Gangster Player in his day!

  Crystalia, jumped up. She was a fiery redhead, who preferred to introduce herself. “I’m Crystalia, benvenuto Selange. We’re not all like those two.” She said loudly pointing to Renalda and Lucia, before snickering, “I like how you fight. I wanted to beat them many times!”

  Her English was heavily accented but understandable. Selange thought she may have found a friend. Last of the bridesmaids was a Chinese woman Kim-Sung wife of, oh-my-goodness will this ever end? Selange stood bored under their inspection wishing she could simply go to bed. By the size of the gathering, food and wine adorning the table in the large dining room, rest wouldn’t come for quite some time.

  Goddamn, this is going to be a slumber party and my limited conversational Italian is embarrassing, were the thoughts running through her mind. Ay, Nico rescue me!

  ***

  Last night felt like a crazy dream until Selange noticed her boots and an icky stain on the toe. Dried vomit, yuck!

  But seeing Nico was the biggest shock of all. She frowned, sat up and faced the empty bed. She shared a room with Kim-Sung, apparently she was an early riser, usually Selange was also, but being up to the wee hours of the morning gave her a hang-over effect. She overslept and missed the outing. They talked last night about it but she only remembered they were to leave early. Something, about a long drive to somewhere, breakfast or was it lunch and dinner with somebody or other? The details were foggy and so was her brain. They were all talking at once, some in English, some in Italian, some in broken English, some soft, some loud, some with their posture and others with distasteful scowls in her direction. The scowls belonged to Lucia and Renalda, of course. Their pride and faces were wounded, poor things!

  Selange immediately reached for her cell and called Alfonzo. He answered quickly, “Morning to you, babe.”

  “Good evening to you, hun.” She replied still feeling a bit groggy.

  He laughed, “Hectic night?”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  “They party like us Latinos.”

  “And then some.”

  “I hear the sleep in your voice. Get some more rest and call me later.”

  “I wanted to say good-night to the kids.”

  “Babe, it’s after midnight here, they’re sleeping.”

  “Oh wow, shucks. Never-mind. How are you?”

  “Missing you, what’d you think?”

  “Sure you are. You probably partied the minute I got out of your hair. You get the bed to yourself and can thrash around without me commenting.”

  He laughed. It was a hoarse type of laughter. A tired one. “You’re funny.”

  “Get some rest yourself, you sound beat.”

  “I am. I just got in.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “Just a small problem at one of the work s
ites. I’ll tell you about it another time. I’m going to hit the sack.”

  “Alright, I love you. I hope you know it.”

  “Babe, of course I do. Why else would Snow Brown put up with Grumpy, huh?”

  “We read too many storybooks, it’s starting to show.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Good-night, Sleepy. Umwah!”

  “Ummm, I needed the kiss. Buenos noches, amor.”

  “Buenas diás, esposo.”

  She hung up, looked around the large room, got her behind out of the bed and went to shower.

  Later, she emerged from the master suite and jumped at the sight of Nico sitting in a chair near her door. She clutched her chest, “Nico, you startled me, what are you doing and how long were you out here?”

  He glanced at his chrome watch. A functional timekeeper, the kind adventurers use. She knew this by the complicated dial, “About three hours.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s my job.” He said, stretching out his long legs and leaning his head on the wall.

  “Geez, it’s overkill. I don’t think anyone’s coming through the window to steal me away. Please, give a girl a little space.”

  “Just a little,” then he reached to the floor for a floral basket, she hadn’t noticed before. “An olive branch from Lucia.”

  Selange eyed it suspiciously, “What’s in it, a bomb?”

  He shrugged, “I only see flowers and a note.”

  She took it, tried to read the fancy writing and laughed, “I don’t know what it says.”