Remember When We

by Gray, Khardine

  Damn I was in pain. It would have been a straight shot if not for the pain, I would have blown his head off.

  I charged over to him, running like a bull in a ring and knocked him over while he punched and kicked at me. The asshole could fight and he fought dirty too.

  I was on top of him, giving him the beating of his life with my fists, one blow after the other for all the shit. Somehow he managed to he jab his fingers into my wound.

  The pain was so much that it made me see stars and feel nauseous.

  That one thing gave him the advantage and he managed to flip me over. Having the upper hand grabbed his gun. He hit me several times with the handle of the gun, then smiled as he held it over me.

  This was it, point blank range.

  I couldn’t get out of this one.

  Me, ‘Mister all talk and action’ Gio Bianchi.

  At least I did something right. Lyssa would get back to Matthew, but I wouldn’t though.

  I wouldn’t make it this time.

  Frankie smiled then laughed. “This is how we do it in Philly, Chicago.”

  More laughter then his head literally blew up. Blood sprayed everywhere. All over me and through the fountain of blood I gazed across to the balcony and saw Claudius aiming his shot gun with Alex right next to him.

  Claudius lowered his gun and stepped closer into the light. It bounced off the cross tattooed on his cheek.

  “Hey, when you ask for backup, fucking ask for backup properly next time.” Claudius bellowed. “You have this wise ass criticizing my city and two assholes on the move outside like fucking rats.”

  I just about heard that when the room started spinning. I had to lie down.

  Claudius and Alex made their way down to me. Coming through the door were more of our guys.

  Two had Bailey, their guns pointing at him. Another two held Torrez. Jade stepped out from behind them with a wide smile on her face. Xiou was with her followed by Gibbs.

  I should end this now.

  I wanted to stab him the fuck up with ricin and make him pick up his organs as I sliced him up. I wanted to end him for Marshall.

  “This the guy? Captain Donovan?” Claudius asked with a smile.

  “Yeah, that’s him.”

  “And what should I do with him Gio?”

  I looked to Claudius and knew he was asking me to choose his death.

  “Blood, blood for blood.” I muttered.

  Claudius’ smiled brightened and he looked over at Jade. “Jade, I hear that’s your area of expertise. Take him away.” Claudius then turned his attention on the guys holding Torrez. “Take him to the feds as a peace offering.”

  The room spun again when I tried to get up. “Lyssa, I have to …”

  My head wouldn’t stop spinning.

  “Don’t worry we got her,” Alex replied. “She’s safe.”

  Safe.

  Thank God, my girl was safe.

  I looked over at Bailey as he tried to break away from the guys holding him. Jade pulled a syringe from the sleeve of her kimono like outfit and stabbed him in his chest with it. Instantly he stopped fighting. I got the feeling that was only the first dose of ricin.

  Torrez kept quiet the same way he had when we had brought him over here.

  It was over, finally.

  The room spun again and …

  then there was darkness.

  Chapter 24

  Lyssa

  “The doctor said to give you plenty of soup.” I laughed at the way Gio scowled.

  “No, I don’t want it. Looks like shit?” he grunted.

  He tried to get up again, but winced when the pain took him. He’d been out of hospital now for the last two days.

  He hated soup and refused to take any pain meds.

  I was playing nurse and enjoying it especially, because I got to keep him in my bed.

  “You’re saying my cooking looks like shit?”

  “Baby doll, it doesn’t matter who’s soup it is still looks like shit. I don’t want anything like that. I’ll go out and get a burger or something like that.” Again, he tried to make a move to go. Instead I set the soup bowl down on the nightstand and put a hand out to his chest, stopping him.

  He looked at me and settled back down when I sat next to him on the bed.

  “You got that look in your eyes.” He gave me that sexy smile.

  “What look is that?”

  “Like you want to ravish me. FYI, my bottom half works just fine. Bullet got me in my side.”

  “You were advised against any strenuous activities. Remember?”

  “That doctor really needs to get laid. He was jealous of me from the moment he saw you and realized you’re mine.” He nodded like he really believed that.

  I just laughed.

  He took my hand and gave me a gentle squeeze. I noticed that look in his eyes, the same one he’d been giving me since we came home after all of that craziness.

  I didn’t think I’d ever forget everything that happened.

  Frankie, the whole Captain Bailey thing.

  No wonder some things were better not known. I remember him coming to my school once talking about the dangers of drugs and how to keep safe on the streets.

  I didn’t realize he was a monster, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He was the monster that took my brother away from me.

  It was him.

  “Baby doll. I’m sorry for everything. You’re not used to all this crap. The danger and I put you in that situation.” Gio said with a slow nod.

  “It was just something that happened. It wasn’t your fault. I don’t want you to blame yourself for anything ever again.” I shook my head.

  “It’s who I am doll. I take responsibility for everything and try to fix what I can.”

  “I know, I know you do. It’s good to take ownership of your faults, but you can’t blame yourself for everything. I know that I didn’t help anything with my secrets either.” That was me taking ownership of mine too.

  “No, I’m pissed about that and Paul’s lucky I can’t move right now.”

  “Gio. I know you can only see the end result of what happened to me, but I had to find a way. He’s my father and I didn’t want to lose him the same way I lost Marshall. Frankie came here and beat him up. He was going to kill him, so I did what he wanted. Paid up and accepted that if I couldn’t pay, he’d get me. I can’t tell you how that makes me feel.” It felt good to be able to talk about it with him.

  Carla had been by a few times to see me. Now that Frankie was gone and out of the picture, I selfishly felt relieved. I couldn’t explain how that made me feel either, because I wasn’t the kind of person to be happy about someone’s death.

  A lot had happened to change me, and some of those weren’t good changes at all.

  It had hardened my heart. Frankie’s death meant Dad’s debt was repaid and he got to keep his house; my family home. I could go to Chicago knowing he’d be here in his own home and he wouldn’t have to worry about Frankie Santora any more.

  I wasn’t told the details, but apparently he wouldn’t have to worry about any Santora ever again.

  It was something Claudius had arranged. All I knew was he gave them something.

  It must have been something very valuable to keep them from blowing up over Frankie’s death and start a war.

  “Never again. Never again. It will never happen to you again.” Gio’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

  “No?”

  “Chicago isn’t a walk in the park, but I will always protect you … you and Matthew. No more secrets though. Not ever, we don’t keep secrets from each other.”

  I shook my head. “No more secrets.”

  “Here’s what’s going to happen in two days.” He gave me a playful smile.

  “Two days?”

  “I’ll be able to walk around by then, even bend my knees.”

  I laughed. “Bend your knees, really?”

  “Yes.”

  “You can’t bend them now
?”

  “Not the way I want to.”

  “And how do you want to bend you knees?”

  He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it. “I’m going to bend down on one knee and ask the most beautiful woman in the world to marry me. I plan to remind her of how much I love her, and make sure she knows she’s mine.”

  My heart squeezed. “That sounds like a very lucky woman.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yeah. I know she’ll say yes.”

  “Yeah?” He chuckled. “That makes me one hell of a lucky guy.”

  I moved forward to kiss him as

  Matthew rushed into the room carrying bags of Cheetos.

  “Yes!” Gio smiled. “Now this is what I call food. The little guy knows me.”

  Matthew started laughing and the two began feasting away on the junk food.

  I looked at the both of them and finally …

  finally, I felt like I had everything I’d ever wanted. I found that happiness I longed for. The kind of happiness that made me feel alive.

  I remembered it and remembered how I used to long for it.

  I had that again and it was all because of him.

  Epilogue

  Gio

  6 months later …

  I came here once before we left for Chicago.

  We were visiting Paul and I thought I’d take my journey to the cemetery once more.

  Twice in one year was a lot more than the nothing it had been over the last eight years.

  Last time I came to test how I’d feel.

  Lyssa and I both went together. She’d told me that up until my arrival she used to go to the parking lot. She’d stopped doing that, because it had lost its significance. She said she went there to be close to the last shred of life he’d had. But none of us knew where he actually died.

  It was still a mystery. One I wouldn’t be solving.

  I crouched down and laid a single red rose on his grave.

  I still didn’t fully believe this was reality.

  In my head I had saw us both growing old together as the crazy friends we used to be.

  “Hey man.” I began. “I’m back again. I know right, you’d make some comment about seeing me too often.” I chuckled. “So, I married your sister.”

  I thought I’d talk about the good news. Me married … it didn’t feel real either.

  “I married your sister and I promise to take great care of her. We’re also expecting our second child. She’s only a month in, but damn I love kissing her stomach. I love being a dad too. My Matthew would make you so proud. That little guy knows motorcycles. I know I’m going to watch him like a hawk.” I laughed; both sadness and happiness pulled on my heart. “Remember when we crashed into Mrs. Thomas’ hedge and smashed her window. That was so funny because I didn’t know how it all happened. It was like some damn movie, because out came her parrot. Boy did that thing fly. Remember when we got so drunk you got a chicken tattooed on your forehead? Remember when … when we got on to the football team, I was so mad they chose you to be quarterback and not me.”

  I looked on at his grave and bowed my head in reverence.

  “Thank you for the memories Marshall. I won’t ever forget.”