by Tara Oakes
The photographer’s information was legit. I dial up Carmine’s cell and fill him in. “Cut him loose.” I instruct. “He gave me what we needed. I’ve got a pretty good resolution security camera still-frame of EJ making a cash wire transfer to the camera-man. I’ve got all I need. Send the guy home, Carmine, but make sure he’s clear on whose team he’s on now. Head back to the house right away. We’ve got some plans to make before we make our move.”
I can hear the disappointment in his voice. I know he was secretly wishing the man had provided us with false clues. “If you’re sure. I’ll let him go.”
“No sidetracking. Come straight back here.” I give final orders before disconnecting from the call.
The rest of my phone calls can wait until morning. At almost one in the morning, there isn’t much I can do about this tonight. I know I won’t be able to sleep, but, I can at least rest and plan out my next move.
I shut the laptop and turn the finger switch to the desk lamp, lowering the wattage to a soft dim. I travel up the spiral staircase, the wrought iron cold under my bare feet. Pushing the bedroom door open further, I see that V lies undisturbed from where I’d left her.
She remains that way as I slip in next to her.
~*~
The loud, hollow popping noise resonates through the dark, moonlit night. V and I bolt upright, jolted from sleep.
Was it a dream? Another one of her nightmares?
But, I heard it too. It was real.
Instinct sets in, I somehow know in every fiver of my being what the sound was. V is in a daze, eyes wandering around, lost, stunned, from her deep sleep. I throw myself from the bed, reaching blindly, deep into the bottom drawer of my nightstand. The cold, hard, steel of the hidden gun is lying in wait.
It hasn’t been touched in months, but it’s there for a reason. This moment was never supposed to come, but I always knew it was a possibility.
“Get down!” I call out to V, reaching and extending my arm to help her, pressing her forward. “Crouch down and crawl to this side of the bed.”
She does as she’s told, in shock, not registering the full weight of our situation. I crawl to my closet, slipping on a pair of jeans and sneakers. I don’t risk turning on a light, instead, I maneuver in the dark, my senses heightened on alert. I find the clip of bullets hidden deep behind a piece of luggage and snap it into the hollow handle of the killing machine in my palm.
I slap it hard, clicking it into place, and pull back on the barrel to engage the first bullet. It’s ready and I’m more than willing to use it if I have to. The initial gunshot is still ringing in my ears, but as I anxiously wait for a follow-up.
V is close, I can see her in the dark. “My robe!”
I see her start to raise herself to collect her draped satin robe from the sitting chair nearby.
“No! Stay down!” I push her down again. The windows along the far side of the room are large and I won’t risk her being a target of someone’s aim. Instead, I am in arm distance of my own heavy robe hanging in my closet. I tug hard on it, freeing it from the hanger that follows behind, dropping on the floor.
“Here! Put this on!” V takes the robe from me thankfully, covering up her flimsy nighty. I take a deep breath, grabbing her hand tight, and urge her to move toward the door. I follow immediately behind, waving the gun behind me, aimed at the windows to offer us cover from any threat as we exit the room in a hurry.
The packed house has been woken, moving around in a frenzy. John shields his family as we all rush down the stairs. The half-awake, terrified family members in bed clothes crawl around, following each other as we herd ourselves downstairs.
I have V’s hand tight in my own, and I quicken our pace to take lead of the group. Other than the sobbing of John’s frightened daughters, fear keeps everyone silent. The only lights in the house are coming from the kitchen. Jim barrels through the open door and meets us in the main foyer as I collect everyone together, making sure we aren’t missing anyone. Mike meets us from the family room, groggy and shell shocked.
“We’ve got to get everyone downstairs, Mr. D.” Jim ushers us, pointing in the direction of the basement stairs.
“What the hell was that noise, Jim?” I ask my head of security quietly as not to further scare the children.
I help person after person to the doorway of the staircase in the dark. Momma is holding closely to Nonna, talking in hushed voice to help guide her as they blindly move through the shadows.
“Terrence was making his normal patrol along the western perimeter. He found the back service gate open, with a pair of bolt cutters on the ground. He pursued, and the perp shot at him.” The retired police captain provides me an explanation.
He moves with me as we take up the rear, escorting my family to safety. His firearm is drawn, with the two of us guarding the most valuable things in this house… my family.
“I’ve got twelve men out there, working in a grid to box him in. He was last seen near the potting shed on the far side of the garden. The dogs were just released, and they’ve picked up a scent.” He finished his update as John corrals the group from the lead in to the hidden wall panel near the billiard table in the rec room.
One by one, they disappear into the recessed opening, women and children first. The Lombardi brothers collect near the entrance helping their mother, sister, wives, and children inside.
Once the secret panic room is full with the lot of them, Jim steps back to keep watch of the hidden depths of the empty basement. V carefully pushes her way back through the crowd to the doorway.
“Dom! Please! Come in with us. I-you… please….”
Her eyes are wide, her pupils huge, adjusted to the darkness. “V, I’ll be back as soon as I can. I need you to stay here with Momma.” She starts to panic at my words, realizing that I won’t be with her. “Do not open this door under any circumstances. When everything is over, I’ll come get you. I swear.”
I know I don’t have much time. I need to get this door closed with them all safely behind it. I pull her into me, pressing her into a kiss. I pray this isn’t the last time I see my wife, but I won’t risk not kissing her one last time in case I’m wrong. I show no trace of my creeping doubt.
She grabs hold, tight, not willing to release me as I steal my lips away. “No! Dom- you can’t. I won’t let you.”
Voices from the main floor waft down to us and all of our eyes divert to the stairway. We’ve run out of time. I need to get that door shut. I hand my gun cautiously to Tony. His eyes not registering the intent behind my actions.
“Shoot if you need to. Don’t second guess anything. You aim for the head.” I advise him.
He studies the gun, clearly not comfortable with a firearm. “Dom! No, bro. I’m going with you guys,” he fights me.
I stare him down, there’s no time to argue both him and my wife. The Lombardi’s can be stubborn people. I pull out the one thing that I know will work. It just happens to also be the truth.
“Tony. You need to protect my wife. You need to protect your daughter, and your own wife. I’m trusting you with my everything.”
He’s silent, he knows there’s no way he can let me down when I need him most. He nods, swallowing hard. V watches our exchange, knowing that it will directly affect her.
I turn to my wife. “I’ll be back, V. I swear.”
I pull myself from her clutch, just as Tony grabs hold before she lunges to reclaim me. I turn fast and force myself with everything I have not to look back. I know Tony would give his life for her, and he’ll protect her with his last breath if need be. That’s all I can ask for right now.
I can hear her screaming and calling out to me, begging me to return. The door is finally closed, with her pleas disappearing being the reinforced safety door. She’ll hate me for leaving her, I know. But I’d hate myself for staying.
This is our home, those are my loved ones. I’ll gladly die to protect them if I have to, but I pray God will take mercy and let me
see my wife again.
~*~
VINCENZA
He left me here.
He actually left me here.
I know he must be long gone by now, charging head first into the danger that has taken over our home, but I continue to pound my closed fists against the door, regardless. John’s kids are wailing, terrified behind me in the confines of the secure panic room. The adults are quiet, their hushed soothing tones trying to calm the children. I know my behavior is making that harder for them, but all sense of reason has left. It disappeared with Dom when he left.
My hands are numbing, my throat coarse from sobbing incoherently. My body shakes in uneven tremors and I can feel all eyes on me. The low wattage of the interior lights in the huge closet-like structure isn’t ideal for most circumstances, but in this moment I’m thankful for imperfect lighting to hide my tear swollen face.
I know I’m acting like a child. I know I should be stoic and strong, like Momma, or Aunt Rosie, Mary or even Cecily. They’re holding it together. They’re not losing their minds. But they also don’t have their husband on the other side of this door risking his life. John is here, holding his wife and their children. Tony is here holding his newborn daughter while keeping Cecily close. Even Mike is here comforting our mom.
The only people in this room that can even remotely begin to understand the gravity of the pressure threatening to crush my heart are Aunt Rosie, Theresa, and Nonna. Dom may be my blood through sacred wedding vows but he is their Dom, too. He is their heir, their son, and brother.
Theresa steps forward to reach out to me, and I gratefully step into her arms. We may have had some small issues lately, but it’s nothing, all forgotten, now.
“I know, V. I know.” She lets me lean in to her for support. “He’ll be back. I know it. My brother is the strongest, bravest man I’ve ever met. He’s waited his whole life for you, and I know he’s not going to give it up that easily.”
My tears are drying. Not from a change of heart, but because my body is wiped out. I have nothing left to give, I’ve cried everything I have.
“He needs you to be brave, V. He needs you to be strong for him. He knows you can do that. There’s no way he could bear to think of your heart breaking in here, so you’ve got to hold it together.” Her words begin to ring true to my ears, my heart.
She’s right. Dom and I have a kismet connection. I can feel what’s in his heart and I know he can feel mine. I can’t risk him being distracted right now, thinking about little helpless me in here. I’m better than this. He deserves more of me than this.
I suck back my tears, breathing deep to allow a strong resolve to wash over. I can do this. Even if I’m just faking it, I can do this. There will be time to cry later.
~*~
“Here Momma,” I hand over the rolled blanket.
The bunker isn’t large, wasn’t exactly intended to have this many people inside at one given time. But, it’s well stocked. Between the bunk beds in the back, and the sofas and the recliner in main living area, I’ve managed to set everyone up with a sleeping area. I know sleep won’t come easy to anyone tonight, but they all need rest and the children will be calmer if we’re all settled in.
I’ve only been down here in the panic room twice before. Once when it was being constructed, a few months after my dad died. Dom’s dad had the construction project completed rather quickly. Curiosity had gotten the best of Theresa and I one night and we had crept down here to check it out.
We had even started to play house in the apartment-like structure. Dom’s mom caught us after we had been missing for a few hours and given us quite an ear-full about the seriousness of the room. We avoided the place like the plague after that, not wanting to anger Aunt Rosie any further.
The second time I walked through that door was right before the wedding. The movers were bringing most of my things here from my apartment. Dom thought that it was important enough to show me the room again and give me the security codes and lockdown instructions. He assured me over and over again that it would never be necessary to use, but better safe than sorry.
This room is as fortified as an army bunker is. It can withstand a direct blast and can become completely self-sufficient with its own electric and water filtration pumps. There’s a pantry full of food and some small comforts. Internet access, phone lines and basic television are available. At this late hour, I know we’d all rather the quite, though.
If we’re down here more than another ten minutes or so, I won’t hesitate to phone the gatehouse to get a status update. Until then, I’ll sit here in the corner and stare at the clock.
No words are exchanged as we all alternate between avoiding each other’s gazes to sharing sympathetic glances. Six minutes left and then I can make my call.
Minute after minute passes slower than the last. When it’s finally time, I take the phone deeper into chamber for whatever shred of privacy I find. I enter the digits carefully, my shaking finger struggling to regain enough composure to press the raised buttons. Theresa sees what I’m doing and leaves her mom’s side to join my phone call.
It rings twice.
“Security,” the monotone security guard announces. I know their phone system is advanced enough for him to have notice of which phone is calling.
“This is Mrs. D. The-the younger Mrs. D. Um, we’re just wondering if it’s safe to leave the safe room yet?” I can’t quite place the voice of the guard that answered.
“I haven’t been given word, yet ma’am. I’ll connect you to Jim’s mobile phone. He may have more current information on the security breach. Hold the line please.” He politely instructs.
I can hear the crackling as the phone line switches over. “Mrs. D., this is Jimmy. We’ve got everything under control, but we need you to stay put for the time being. Everythi-Dom!!!”
The loud gunshot echoes through the receiver causing me to drop the phone handle. My hands fly to cover my mouth as I scream. I’m instantly surrounded by curious family. I can’t speak. I can’t breathe. I’ll choke on my own words if I try.
Theresa bends to retrieve the cordless phone, speaking aloud to it, but it’s no use. The call is dead. No one else is on the other line.
“V, what was it? What did they say?” John takes control of the situation.
My voice quivers, shakes. “Gun… Dom-”
I feel dizziness swirl around as tears and gasping ripple through the small crowd. Nonna has wedged her way to the front just as my words are spoken. We lock eyes. It’s like looking in a mirror, watching my own heart break. A see a light flash across those same eyes as her chin drops and her tiny little-boned hand clutches her chest and she falls to the floor.
A surge of strength flows through my veins. I rip the phone from Theresa’s grip, redialing the guardhouse.
“This is Mrs. D again. I need an ambulance immediately.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
DOM
The flashing lights are blinding through the dark night as the ambulance approaches. The man is lying dead at my feet, his last breath having left his body. The bullet has left a blood soaked puddle growing around his limp body, dripping through the wooden floorboards of the front porch.
I had stolen the gun from him, our contest of a struggle pushing back and forth as we each tried to overpower the other. Ultimately I won the prize… my life.
The slamming of the car doors as the ambulance pulls to a complete stop snaps my attention to the EMT’s rushing forward with canvas bags of equipment. “Is this him? The heart attack victim?” they ask.
My security team has descended on the scene, having secured the rest of the property. We all look at each other in confusion.
“What?” I ask the first responder. “This is an intruder that tried to kill me. It’s a gunshot wound, not a heart attack. He’s dead, though.”
The man with sewn patches on his uniform nods, “OK. My partner will stay with him and check for vitals. I need one of you to call that in to 911.
Bring me to the cardiac patient.”
There must have been some confusion with the dispatch. Jake, one of the rookies down at the guardhouse runs up the hill towards us, waving his arms frantically. “The safe room! She’s in the safe room!”
What? I grab the EMT’s arm and pull him along as I guide us, running to the basement and the reinforced bunker. What the hell is going on?
I turn the main lights on, no longer cautious from the hit man. The property is secure. I can move faster down the stairs now that I can see my footing. The ambulance driver is right behind. I enter the eight digit passcode into the keypad outside the hidden room and place my thumb on the scanner. The locking mechanism unlatches and clicks the door free just as I push it open.
The room is in chaos. I see everyone huddled back toward the kitchen area. Their backs are turned towards me. I rush in. Tony sees me, blood covering most of my clothes.
“Dom! What happened? You were shot?” he inspects me as I move past. I shake off his questions, not wanting to waste time explaining.
“Dom! You’re alive!” V jumps to her feet and throws herself in my arms. Thank god! She’s OK, she’s not hurt. It’s not her that needed the ambulance. I hold her tight and count my blessings. I came close to being taken from her tonight, and for a moment, I feared that she had been taken from me.
“Nonna! Nonna, the doctor is here now. You’ll be fine now.” I hear Theresa sobbing from down below.
I relax my hold on my wife to set my eyes down where my sister is crying. The medic drops down with his heavy bag of equipment and begins to work frantically on my grandmother. My fragile, delicate little grandmother lying on the floor.
~*~
The detective scribbles a few more notes into his black leather covered flip pad. “I think that about covers it all. It should be a straight forward case of self-defense. Your security detail has done a pretty thorough job on the grounds, but we’ll need to close off the area while we conduct our investigation. Do you have some place to go tonight, Mr. DiBenedetto?”
