Animus (20 page)

Sal
sat cross-legged on the bed with his head in a biology book. When he finally looked up and saw his dad, he tossed it aside quick fast. “Oh dad, save me por favor, mom is going mad hard!”

“Yeah, how so
?” Alfonzo asked and closed the door.

“She
barely passed her final exam and now she’s going on and on about studying and getting good grades and stuff.”

Alfonzo’s forehead wrinkled.
He walked to his son’s bed and sat. He didn’t know Selange didn’t do well. She was competitive and smart, but there were times she never cut herself a break. Being a mom, running a non-profit, crazy husband and equally loco familia had to take a toll on the woman. Nobody’s damn perfect. She passed is how Alfonzo took it. In the real world once the head comes out of the book, there’s something called life and shit, that woman mastered life’s theory and application. Not everyone does. “Mom loves you. She only wants you to always do your best at all times. You can get intense when playing video-games and
we
both want to see equal intensity when it comes to schoolwork. You’re smart. ”

“Yeah,” Sal replied with the heard this before sigh attached. Kids are quirky, because he perked up all of a sudden. “Uncle Geo called
, he said he missed me and he’s sending me this new game, the kinds with the motion sensors….it’s cool dad….you don’t need the controls and…”

Alfonzo smirked. That fucking Giuseppe. He just sat here, trying to talk sense to a kid about applying himself in school and what happens, his brother inadvertently undermines the effort. Ah, Alfonzo sighed and rubbed his sore neck. The boy went quiet and Alfonzo noticed he looked a little sad. “What’s the matter hijo I’m still listening?”

Sal cocked his head to the side to look at the mark on his dad’s neck. “Does it still hurt?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

“Dad, I know it had to hurt. Only Superman doesn’t feel bullets and you’re not Superman.”

“Well
, in the beginning it did, but not now. I’m lucky Sal because I’m here kicking back with you when some people didn’t make it home to their kids. Hijo, I don’t complain about the pain because I can handle it as long as I’m here with you.”

“But you don’t cry and I know when something happens to me and it really
hurts, I cry. I’m just saying you can cry if you want to and I won’t laugh.”

“I’ll take that into consideration next time I’m
in pain.” Alfonzo grinned and then gripped his chest and said, “Ouch, oh mierda it hurts so bad hijo I think I’m going to cry.”

Sal laughed
.

“Hey, I thought you said you wouldn’t
laugh; now that’s fucked up?”

His
dad hugged him, gave him a kiss on his unruly hair and then shoved him over. “Oh man, you’re loco dad.”

“Yep, locos ojos azules,
loves you, now go to sleep. Buenos noches.”

The
conversation with Sal caused him to smile. That boy was something else. The smile faded when he entered the master bedroom and heard soft music streaming from the bathroom. On the center of the bed were a notebook and a laptop. Since when had Selange brought work to the bedroom?

Th
e intimacy gap had widened and he was responsible. He lay sideways on the large orthopedic mattress. From the linen to the decorative pillows, the bed was outfitted for the lover’s comfort. Even the muted hues of the walls instigated relaxation. This room is where he found peace in a woman’s arms at night and woke to beauty each day. He wanted that desperately, but fear took it away.

His eyes squint
ed at the wallpaper on the computer screen. Dual hearts. Not very subtle. He heard her humming and chuckled. Alright, she’s sending messages. Chica fights dirty. The notebook was open, cursive script filled the pages. His nosy ass inched closer, leaned on his elbow and read.

It’s strange when you can still smell Mentos on a lover’s breath,

Or hear the voice of the one you love even when he isn’t there,

Stranger still is the heart which beats louder when he nears,

Time fades away when love is present for who counts the years?

In the arms of my beloved I have found an eternity of happiness,

My love for Alfonzo will never break forever his honey I’ll be.

Alfonzo
’s lips puckered as he sucked in his cheeks. “Oh, snap!” The damn woman was pulling out the heavy artillery. He heard the water splashing and curled into a fetal position and distanced himself from the bait of the book. Slick ass woman. He heard her pad across the floor and felt her presence hovering above. “Alfonzo, are you sleeping?” she asked but he didn’t answer. She wanted sex and he needed a cure.

Selange sighed, removed the items from the bed
and stuck them in a drawer before climbing beside him. Naked, she spooned him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Man, she smelled delicious, like cinnamon buns, he thought. Goddamn woman didn’t play fair. She knew he gravitated to food and had made herself the human dessert. His senses heightened, he wanted to spin around and fuck her hungrily, but then his heart started racing when the image appeared.

Tumbling.

Blood.

Ectopic pregnancy.

Killed any thoughts of sex.

~ ~

Tony arrived at the address and rang the bell. He was buzzed in and the apartment door was opened before he got there. The young woman had her arms crossed and looked pissed. When he entered the small space, he saw why. Two large men, Italians occupied her couch. One stood and his voice was the deepest bass he heard in a while. “Tony?”

“Yeah.”

“The kids’ in the bedroom.”

Tony didn’t ask questions. These were undoubtedly men sent to guard Sergio. Another guy came out the kitchen, he’d seen the face. Yeah, at the hospital in Palermo. A doctor. Tony didn’t bother with an introduction, things stay simpler that way. When he entered the bedroom, Sergio was on his side. He’d lost several pounds and looked really bad. “Can you stand?”

Sergio nodded and then rose extremely slow like a damn turtle. He held his side which indicated the injury’s location. They were in the living room when Sergio stopped and hugged his sister. “I’m sorry sis.”

“You fucking call me bro.” Her eyes were watering. “I love you.”

“I wish you wouldn’t have resigned sis.” Remorse hit him hard and he almost broke down crying when Tony said, “We gotta’ go.”

Tyree passed Tony a bag. “There’s gauze, pain medication, antiseptic wipes, and antibiotics. Make sure he keeps the area dry and if there’s any sign of infection give me a call.”

Tony nodded. Well how fucking long was he expected to babysit?

Shit!

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Aaron collected the weapons. “You
girls don’t need these!” he scolded while shoving the guns in his father’s sack. “You better hope he makes it Evangeline, I swear, if he doesn’t I’m kicking your ass!”

Bianca had Nico
’s shirt to his neck. When she touched the vest, she smiled. The bullet hadn’t penetrated the armored garment. “Aye, he is good girls. He is alive.”

Madeline continued crying. Her sobs were so loud she hadn’t heard. Aaron stared at her head. His
aunts were very pretty and sometimes they were fun, but boy were they slow.

Darren argued with Evangeline and said what Aaron thought, by calling the girl dumb. But, when Aaron thought about it, she wasn’t solely to blame, after-all she was being choked.

Bianca sighed when Nico’s hand moved and his eyes opened to their anxious expressions. “What the hell, you all act like I’m dead!”

Nervous laughter
emanated from the dumb girls. Aaron wasn’t laughing, the shit wasn’t funny. They almost killed their dad. If their dad was badly hurt, boy they’d see what super mad looks like –squared!

Thank goodness their father wore that bullet-proof vest,
yep, he always did.

Nico sat up and breathed heavy. “Luckily that’s a small caliber girl or you might have done
real damage.”

Madeline hugged her brother around the neck and the sobs started again.
The boys rolled their eyes as she wailed. “Mi spiace grande fratello… mi spiace!”

“Oh shut-up. Why are you crying for anyway, your sister is the one with the happy finger?” Aaron said to the crybaby killer.

“Vaffanculo!” Evangeline retorted.

The two who were once close began to argue. “I should choke you!” Aaron threatened.

“Brutto!”

Bianca sunk to the floor in relief beside her husband’s son. “Mi spiace Nico. I am sworn not to speak. I could not tell you the truth. Only to Capo de tutti must I answer.”

“Does he know?”

“No, you and…”

“Tua madre fratello,” Madeline volunteered, still clinging to her brother like a child to a father’s neck.

Nico held the girl abreast. “Tua madre, my mother, what about my mother?”

“Madeline cannot keep secrets,” Evangeline sneered.

“He is our brother. I cannot keep a secret from Nico and I do not care what you think of me Evie!”

Evangeline snickered. “Ah, you will be the death of us.”

“Silenzio Evie!” Bianca snapped. “Your sister is right. Nico is not the enemy. We can trust him.” She sighed and placed a hand on Nico’s knee. “Forgive me Nico. I am weary. Your father’s strength is what I call upon to finish what must be done.”

“Bianca, what does my mother have to do with this?”

“She is the eyes and the ears in places we cannot go. Her sight is minimal but she can still see in one.”

“So she’s not fully blind?”

“No Nico, she saw you. Not very clearly but she commented on how handsome you are.”

“But why these games?”

“Nico, her husband has many connections. He knows nothing about your mother’s love for your father which bore her sons. The engagement was arranged and had she not married, the debts of her parents would have thrust them in to poverty or worse. She has been true in her protection of family and of you.”

“Do you see her often?”

“Yes, sometimes she is at bridge at the home of a mutual friend.”

“She was with you when I called?”

“Sí.”

Nico’s head bobbed in understanding. “My father put you guy’s in danger, he shouldn’t have done that!”

“Nico, I have exacted revenge for his death and will continue to do so. Leopold is who took his life and not the Russians.”

This news was shocking. “Wasn’t he a friend?”

“Apparently, not.”

Leopold died recently of a heart attack while taking a walk. Nico’s mouth began to stretch in a smile. “I do admire your handiwork bella.”

“Grazie. I have learned much from your father.”

“I see you all have.”

The dramatic night ended with the boys following their dad
’s car home. Ari and the baby had yet to wake. They tip-toed to separate bedrooms. Nico smashed the damn flash drive and reminded himself to stop holding on to incriminating evidence. Those damn kids were as nosy as their mom.

He slid in bed and Ari smiled. There wasn’t one shadow of fatigue beneath the eyes. “How nice of you to bring the boys home safely. Don’t think I’m not watching you big guy.”

Nico grinned sheepishly. “I’m glad you are sweetheart.” He gave her a kiss. “Buona notte beautiful.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Alfonzo could hear the house breathing. Everyone had fallen asleep. He had to call Sal earlier to request a rain-check on the gym. The business with Sergio had him tied up far longer than he anticipated. He dropped his briefcase on the floor and went to the wine cellar. A drink is what he needed.
He randomly picked from the line of liquors, popped the cork and sat on the stairs chugging down the damn stuff straight from the bottle. Apparently, Sergio required constant supervision!

Two fingers clamped the
glass neck and he chugged more, recognizing the flavor of a Cuban Rum. He scoffed, at the irony of life. Go to a christening, get shot at, come home, can’t fuck the wife, go to work, get fucked by Sergio who goes missing because he’s hiding and now he’s home and guess what? He’s still afraid to make-love to his wife.

“Alfonzo?”

Ah, maldito. Mi esposa!