by Ethan Egorov
“Hey…it’s okay. You did what’s best now where is she can you tell me that?”
“Yeah. The ambulance took her to the big hospital um, General I believe. You may want to ask the cops just to make sure though. She was pretty bad, Saul.”
“I just don’t understand, Sally… who would want to hurt my Lucille, she’s a quiet lady and aside from having opponents in her weekly bridge games, I don’t think she’s ruffled anyone’s feathers.”
“Have you, Saul?”
“No! I don’t think so, I mean I haven’t pissed the health inspector off or anything. I know where you’re going with this Sally. I don’t owe anyone any gambling debts either. It’s been about three years since the itch has hit me, so I really don’t have any outstanding bets. I got my fill with the world series a few years back… another opportunity wasted for my team.”
“Yeah yeah. Well I’m glad you’re not taking wagers on the ponies again, but Saul, something gives. Let’s go see Lucille and maybe she’s patched up at least enough to talk to one of us about what happened.”
“Are you sure you didn’t see or hear anything else, Sally?”
“Nope. I just came in and found her lying in all of that blood with a handle sticking out of her midsection. She was unconscious at that point.”
“Someone stabbed her?!”
“Yes. That’s why I thought you may had pissed someone off.”
“Fuck. Come on let’s go. I have to see my wife now.”
They arrived at the hospital and Saul was advised his wife had already been admitted to the ICU. They all walked up to the unit where she was being taken care of and Saul saw a beautiful young doctor standing over her bed looking concerned as she charted a few numbers. She furrowed her brow while looking at the machines which were hooked up to Lucille, whose eyelids fluttered. Saul walked up to the doorway slowly and swallowed a lump which had formed in his throat.
“Excuse me, Miss?”
“Yes?”
“I think you’re the doctor taking care of my wife, Lucille.”
“Ah yes. It’s good to meet you...”
“Saul.”
“It’s very nice to meet you Saul. I’ll go ahead and start by saying that your wife Lucille, well she is indeed a very tough lady. I’d imagine that you already know this though.”
“Yes. She is a stubborn lady, but the love of my life.”
“Sigh. I understand, well the bad news first is your wife has suffered some very extensive internal injuries so she will be on the mend for quite some time. The good news though is your wife came through her surgery with flying colors. We were able to stop the blood flow from the artery quite easily, so she should be okay within a few weeks. Fortunately the ambulance got her here in time before she lost too much blood and she was in relatively good health so that’s a plus. She does have a touch of high blood pressure, though and I’ll be prescribing her some medication once she stabilizes for that so we will have to monitor that carefully. Do you understand?”
“Yes, doctor, of course anything! Anything that my wife needs she will have.”
“Good. I think though what she needs more than anything now is to see her husband.”
Saul walked to the side of the bed and gently took his wife’s limp hand in his own. He sniffled a few times before bringing her wrist up to his lips and kissing it. He then wrapped it once again in his own. “Lucille… I’m here my love, I’m here.” To his surprise she groaned and her eyelids fluttered open slightly. “Saul… is it you? I knew you would come. That’s what I told your sister, that you were on your way.”
“Oh my darling…my love of course I’d be here. There’s no way I’d leave you Lucille. Not now, not ever. Do you hear me? I love you more than this world could ever hold.”
“I love you too, my sweet.”
“I’m just so relieved to hear your voice… honey what happened?”
“I really don’t know. I was in the kitchen and had just finished gathering up your sister’s Tupperware. I heard a knock on the door and thought it was her so I opened it. Then I just felt something in my side and I felt warm all over. I really hadn’t felt that warm in ages….it was like the time when I was a little girl and had a high fever. All I wanted to do was sleep Saul. I just wanted to sleep and dream of you.”
“Well you don’t have to sleep. You don’t have to dream because I’m right here my love. Do you remember anything else that might help the police, did the person at the door say anything.”
“Now that you mention it…I think they did. I thought it was so odd… I mean I’m not even in the holiday spirit yet and you know how much I love Christmas. They just said, Merry Christmas. That was it.”
“Oh God. Okay my love.” The machines at Lucille’s bedside started beeping once more and before they could talk anymore the doctor reentered the room. “Doctor, why are the machines beeping, what’s going on?”
“Please, Saul. We’re going to be seeing a lot of each other from this point on, please just call me Rachel.”
“Rachel. Okay. Is she okay, why are they making such a racket?”
‘That’s just an indication that Lucille’s heart rate is less than optimal for the moment. It’s not a major concern, but I do believe that she needs to go ahead and get her rest. She’s been through quite a shock, so what I’m going to do is give her a slight sedative. She will go back to sleep now, but you’re more than welcome to sit by her beside if you wish. I’ll be back to check on her in couple, hours, okay Saul?”
“Yes. I understand Rachel. I’ll be here, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Just relax and if you can do that, I’m certain that it will help your wife too.” Rachel began to put some medication in an IV and after a few short minutes, he watched as Lucille’s body relaxed and she fell back into a soft slumber. After he was certain she was asleep, Saul exited the room for a few minutes and saw that Trent and Antonio were still standing outside waiting on him.
“So what’s going on, Saul? Is she going to be okay?”
“Yes, it seems as if she will be if she gets enough rest. I just still can’t believe this happened. Lucille couldn’t remember much, but she did remember whoever stabbed her saying, ‘Merry Christmas,’ before she passed out.”
Antonio’s eyes darkened and his jaw muscles clenched. He stared at Lucille’s hospital room and his eyes were so heated with anger that if it were possible he would have set the entire ward on fire with him. “What did you say again, Saul? I want to make sure I heard that right.”
“Merry Christmas, Antonio. They wished her Merry Christmas as whoever it was stabbed her. We’re lucky we got to her in time. The doctor said that they had to plug an artery and she’ll be touch and go for a bit, but should make a full recovery.”
“What can I do for you my friend?”
“You know I’m not a man that is well-suited for revenge or vengeance, but you have to understand Antonio, this is my wife. This is the woman that has kept me motivated and has inspired me to keep breathing for almost half of my life. With that said, what you can do for me is find the person who stabbed my wife and bring them to justice in whatever way you see fit.” Antonio placed his hand on Saul’s shoulder in an effort to console him.
“Well, that’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say. We’re going to find the person who stabbed your wife, and trust me…I think I have a pretty good idea where to start. Come on Trent, it’s time we took another stroll down memory lane.”
Chapter 4
They left the hospital leaving Saul with his wife so he could be at her bedside. Antonio and Trent both sat in the back seat of the driven car. Antonio had given the driver orders to take them immediately back to the family estate so as a family they could see what could plan out their strategy for retribution for Saul’s wife. It was a longer drive back to the mansion than from the Pennini residence. While they were in transit, Antonio looked at Trenton and gravely said, “I should have known at some point they’d return with a vengeanc
e.”
“What do you mean, pops. Why would our rivals attack Saul and his wife, they’ve got no place in this fight.”
“Well we were having a celebration at his restaurant and through the years we have spent a lot of time there as a family. I can honestly see why Saul would be a target, I’m just heartbroken he was one.”
“Yeah. Saul’ a great guy. It’s bullshit that they went after his wife, I mean…what kinda guy does that?”
“Yeah. Hey listen, you remember I promised your pop pop I’d finish telling his story, right?”
“Yeah you did.”
“Well… I’ll at least tell the part of it that I know best.”
Trent nodded his head and his heart pounded in his chest cavity. He could tell by his father’s demeanor that things had gotten serious. His father was not one to joke and carry on. His father never created myths and fairy tales. When his father told a story, of course, it was all factual with no hyperbole. Trent was happy for this, yet he was also very sad that things had turned grim and sullen for all of them.
“So why was pop pop being all cryptic about you telling me this?”
“Oh, pfft damned if I know. There’s not much to tell. In fact, you already know most of it. You remember the day your mother explained to you that you were adopted right?”
“Well yeah. I was barely in kindergarten but I remember the day. It was after school one day and we were having a snack when she said she had something very important to tell me. I had just finished a juice box and even then I think I wished it had been gin.”
“Hah! Like father, like son. At least like your pop here, like son.”
“She didn’t make it sound like a bad thing, and I don’t remember feeling really bad about it. She never treated me any different than another other family member. You didn’t either, I was loved, that was all that mattered.”
“Absolutely, son. She didn’t tell you the circumstances behind your adoption though, did she?”
“No, not at all.”
“Well let’s just say it was under some grave circumstances. You see when your great grandfather, Alessandro started courting Charlotte things changed and the relationship between him and Roberto was broken beyond repair. Word had gotten out that Alessandro had been sleeping with her for quite some time and Roberto, despite his own happiness, had already developed somewhat of a killer instinct in the business. You see, Alessandro was still his top competitor and Roberto wanted nothing more than the whole pie. He wasn’t content with just his own little piece of heaven.”
“Jeez. The guy didn’t let up, did he?”
“Nope. He was stubborn. To some though, he was a hero for his stubbornness and determination. In this story though, not so much. Let’s be clear, Trenton, he’s definitely the villain of this piece. He saw Alessandro distracted by his newfound romance and decided that could be the distraction he desperately needed to drive Alessandro out of town and out of business for good. Roberto had a friend in the District Attorney’s office, so he put a bug in his ear that Alessandro had a sweet young thing he was fucking on the down low. His mysterious friend in the DA’s office went directly to Charlotte’s husband, who already suspected her infidelity. The rest they say is history. Alessandro didn’t find happiness. What he found in early November was Charlotte’s body stretched out in front of his apartment. She was lying in a pool of blood, with the handgun used in her murder, still smoking beside her in the falling rain. Her husband, not wanting to dirty his own hands, of course, had her murdered when she was waiting on him to return from one of his business trips. Alessandro was once again heartbroken and defeated.”
“Wow. I can’t believe that, that’s crazy.”
“Yeah, that’s the kind of psychopath that Roberto really was. Of course now, I respect his business savvy, he was smart and for a couple weeks, his plan worked. Alessandro was beside himself with grieve and failed to keep up with his businesses. He lost employees to Roberto’s promises of larger paychecks. He also lost some properties to a lack of paying taxes, which Roberto quickly scooped up. Roberto, though, couldn’t anticipate Alessandro recovering from the loss of his first love. He also couldn’t anticipate him meeting his future wife, Monica.”
“You mean, great-great Grandmother Mon?”
“Yep, that’s her.”
“I never did know how they met, I keep missing that story when pop-pop tells it.”
“Well you know he tends to embellish. I’ll tell you what really happened, kiddo.” The car pulled into the driveway in front of the mansion and both men got out. When they arrived everyone else had either retired for the evening or had already went to other bars to finish up the night with dancing and nightcaps. Trent and his father walked into the kitchen and both men took off their coats and sat down at the table. The elder man put a bottle on the table between them and set out two whiskey glasses, filling them both with more Scotch and a few ice cubes. Trent then loosened his tie and though he normally wouldn’t do such a thing, he even untied his shoes at the table in an effort to become more comfortable. “I think we’re going to get settled for the evening, son, ‘m growing tired, but in the morning we’re going to take action on this Saul thing. This is an action which is inexcusable and of course there will be repercussions.”
“Of course, pop, why wouldn’t there be?”
“Exactly. Anyway let’s have a drink and I’ll finish up your bedtime story.”
“Haha! Well cheers to that, pop!” The men clinked their glasses and both took a sip of Scotch, the elder one sighing with contentment as it hit his throat. “Now as I was saying, Roberto couldn’t anticipate Alessandro coming back to run his businesses with a vengeance and also meeting another woman. He met your great grandmother Mon on a cold day when he was taking some time to go to the graveyard. You see, Alessandro, despite his mobster lifestyle, was a deeply spiritual man as well. He believed in honoring the afterlife, and of course the spirits. On the two-week anniversary of Charlotte’s death, he stopped at a florist in town. The young woman working behind the counter of the flower shop had dark hair and deep green eyes. She was lovingly tending to a bouquet of roses and was taking meticulous care snipping their stems when Alessandro walked in. He stood for a few moments, entranced by her delicate movements and fascinated by the care she took in her work. She seemed at peace and was almost lost in a daze. “Well, don’t just stand there, sir…please how can I help you?”
“I didn’t think you saw me here. Oh, I was aware of your presence. I just didn’t acknowledge you were standing there until I wanted to. I was a bit busy with this one, you see.”
“Yes, I can see you’re very detailed in your work. What are you making?”
“These are for a happy occasion… a wedding you see. The bride will wear white and dance until the flowers are wilted within two days. Ah…something tells me though you’re here for something else though… am I correct. Hmm… ah yes, sadness seeps through your essence. What shall it be for you? Flowers for a funeral?”
“Um… wow. You’re good.”
“I’ve just gotten really good at reading a room it seems. Let’s see what can I pick out for you. Give me a moment.” The woman put down the bouquet she was working on and went to the back of the store where he could hear her raffling through a stock room. When Monica returned, she held in her hands a beautiful, delicate bouquet of white lilies which had been adorned with off white pearls. In the evening light the pearls seemed to resemble teardrops on the petals and Alessandro knew they were a perfect match for the emotion he felt. “Yes…oh my I don’t know how you knew… this is how I feel.”
“Oh you poor soul. Yes, I know. I can tell you though, it’s going to be okay. Now I need you to do me a favor and take your lilies and leave. My wedding clients will be here to see my progress soon. I’ve afraid that you are hindering that.”
“Um, yes. How much do I owe you for these?”
“What did I tell you…leave. You can come back after business hours and my clients
are gone if you choose to make amends. I will probably be hungry by then so bring your wallet and know that I can eat more spaghetti then probably your body weight. Leave now.”
Again as if Alessandro was under some sort of spell he left the florist and walked with his perfect bouquet to Charlotte’s gravesite. Seeing the cold, grey stone he knelt by it and ran his hands along its smooth surface. It was cold and he frowned. He always wanted to keep her warm and he was quite saddened that he couldn’t uphold that promise. He gently laid the flowers at the foot of the stone and narrowed his eyes at the wording on the tombstone. Even in death she was still trapped in her loveless marriage. The grave marker was adorned with her married last name and Alessandro sat in silence for a few moments. He knew that Roberto was the person who tipped her husband off, after all he was the only one who had anything to gain from their relationship getting out. It was then he made a vow to reopen all his businesses and also expand on the drug trade. He would put Roberto out of business once and for all. A man could only take so much and now there had to be an equal and opposite reaction which would make him suffer just as much as Alessandro had.”
“So he went out with great grandmother Mon that night after he clients left?”
“Yes, son he did. He was suddenly reinvigorated about life and his businesses. He talked excitedly at dinner with Monica and she seemed to know things about him that he hadn’t dared tell a soul. She also knew that deep down he was longing for a companion that mirrored his own passion. He wanted to create something of his own and have a place to call home. He wanted to eventually have a life with a wife and a white picket fence. Despite her odd beliefs and utterly pagan lifestyle, they worked because together they both wanted the same thing. They wanted a future. They wanted a family. They wanted peace. When Alessandro walked Monica home that night, they held hands easily. Monica could tell that he was still mourning the loss of his former lover by the way he timidly held her hand under the moonlight. He was fearful that he would lose her, just as he did Charlotte. They sat on a park bench outside his building for a few moments after dinner and looked at the stars together. They didn’t talk. He didn’t want to share his feelings with her, and she really didn’t need him to speak. She already knew. Wordlessly she took his arm and looped it through hers and rested her head on his shoulder. She smiled at him and sighed contentedly. They had found each other despite all the events that had unfolded for them to come together.”
