Bellissimo Fortuna (Beautiful Fortune) (13 page)

Jensen was found shortly after Callie was taken to the hospital, a bullet through his head, execution style. I’m sure Marco pulled the trigger although that fucker has disappeared, and Frank swears he has no idea where he is. He’s still playing innocent about being behind the attack on his daughter. What I still don’t understand is how he thought I’d leave her after she was attacked. Even if the unthinkable happened, and she was raped, that wouldn’t make me walk away, it would only make me hold her closer, protect her more. He truly didn’t think through his plan before implementing it. If he thought harming his daughter would make me leave her, he is sadly mistaken. If anything I’ll just up my security on her, love her more for all she has to endure from him. I’m glad she had the foresight to call me somehow before they grabbed her, allowing me to hear every sick fucking word they said to her, but hearing her cries and begging them to stop will haunt me for many lifetimes. I can’t even begin to contemplate what goes through his mind and if the unspeakable had happened, there is not a place on this earth he could hide from me.

I hear Luis say, “You want us to believe that you are clueless about this? Marco is your right hand man despite warnings to the contrary. He doesn’t shit without asking you, now he’s vanished, and of course you claim you’re innocence. You sent her to the docks to drop off something. That in itself is forbidden and you know that.” I know that tone, and he’s barely holding on to his composure. Callie flinches and buries herself closer to my side.

“Do you want me to take you to my room?” As much as this needs to be handled, if it’s too much for her, I’ll remove her.

She shakes her head before Frank’s voice booms through, “Luis, I’m telling you I had nothing to do with this. Is it your place to question me?”

“That’s exactly my job. Your daughter is out there battered, and you haven’t once asked how she is. That says a lot about the innocence you claim.”

“Damn it, Luis. That’s off limits, and you know it. I got a call from Jensen, the guy for the shipment was early, and I asked Callie to take it for me. That’s it. How Marco and Jensen are involved is beyond me. I’m not so sure they are involved, just hearsay.”

My father’s tone is ominous. “Don’t doubt it. We all heard the threats made to her. What delivery was this?” Silence. “You better pray to whatever God you worship it wasn’t for drugs. I made myself clear you wouldn’t be doing that any more, and you putting your daughter in that situation is ridiculous, beyond atonement. You know that. You’ve violated all that this family stands for.” I hear rustling, but it’s washed out by Callie’s sobs. After everything that man has done to her, this by far, is the worst. I don’t know how I would handle it if it were me.

The office door slams open, and Frank, Luis, and my father file out. Before he can reach us, Luis grabs him by the arm. “She stays.” Frank doesn’t argue and walks out of the door. It slams behind him so hard the walls shake. Luis glances at Callie, bites off a curse word under his breath, and meets my father’s eyes. A slight nod of the head is exchanged, and Luis takes off out back with his cell already up to his ear. My father sits down next to Callie, and I can see the fight inside of him. Anger at the situation, sadness that a trusted friend, part of our family, is responsible for this. Sorrow for what will come, knowing he has a huge decision in front of him. Most of all, I see pain and regret. All his decisions, his trust wrongly placed, it’s all weighing on him. I don’t feel sorry for him though, he isn’t the one whose life was turned upside down tonight. I’m angry with him for the first time I can remember; we were born into this. It was not our decision to be brought up in this world, yet it seems to constantly taint us.

“Don’t, Papá.” He drops his head. I’ve never rejected him before.

“I’m sorry, Figlio. So damn sorry.” He stands to leave, and Callie lifts her head from my side.

“Mr. Agosto—” He waits while he turns to her, closing his eyes, like he can’t bear to see her like this. “Do you believe him?” I hear the hope, yet resignation in her voice. She wants someone, anyone to give her hope, make her believe he didn’t do this to her.

“Caro, it’s not for me to believe or not. We deal in facts and have to bring it to the rest of the family.” No, he doesn’t believe for a second the man he once thought of as a brother, a best friend, isn’t liable. “Sometimes the truth can’t be explained away.”

“I hate him, but I love him. Does that make sense to you? I don’t know why he could never give me the same back. Each day he reminded me what a disappointment I was, but that’s fine because I feel the same of him. But underneath it all, I love him. Now it may be too late to salvage anything.”

My father has nothing to say, mulling over her words. “Please, don’t kill him. Don’t make me responsible for his death.” Her words nearly cripple me. Through it all, no matter what he does to her, the fact still remains, he is her father. I see my father take in a deep breath, and then Callie breaks. Sobs wrack her entire body, so much I am shaking, and in this moment I know what it means to be inconsolable. The hatred I feel makes it hard to breathe. I’m blinded trying to absorb her pain. He turns and walks out, never answering her. I’m torn. I want him rotting in the ground, but I don’t want her to carry that guilt. I gently pick her up and bring her to my room.

I cocoon her between the blankets and my body and pray for the first time in forever. We all have our own faith, and I don’t personally care whom someone prays to, or if they don’t, but right now I need some salvation. I need some support so I can help her. “Please,” I beg. When her body seems to relax, all her energy sucked from her, the explosion that quakes the house startles us both. I run to my window, watch the flames dance off what was our family boat. All of the memories fade into the ashes as they dance across the lake. I can make out Luis and a few other men standing around. This was their way of ensuring there was no evidence of anything left behind from them taking the boat many months ago. This latest act of betrayal made everyone skittish and no stone can be left unturned.

“Oh, God,” she says, wide-eyed and pale. She brings her hand to her mouth and jumps off the bed. She isn’t naïve, you can’t be in this life, but it affects her differently. She’s more empathetic to others. My father may not have to order the hit; I could take him out in this moment without a second thought. Following her to the bathroom, I get a wet washcloth, rub her back, and once she is done I tuck her in bed. “That’s because of my father,” she says pointing to the flames we can see outside.

“We don’t know yet,” the first lie that I’ve ever told her. I know. She knows. We all know. We just can’t admit it yet. Neither of us sleeps much, but we are anchored to one another’s side, both trying not to sink in the storm that is raining down upon us. I heard people coming and going all night, and as much as my father has always kept the business dealings out of our residence, it was center stage for this dilemma. Around three in the morning everyone left, including Luis and my father. I know Callie realized it because a deep shudder ran through her body, and she clung to me tighter.

When the sun beams in my window, I carefully climb out of bed. She drifted off about an hour ago, and she needs to rest. I get her some water and pain relievers and place them on the table. Staring out my window at the empty boat slip, I have so many emotions rolling through me. Anger isn’t even the main one anymore … despair, just wondering how the hell we all got here. Where does it end? Where will it leave us?

I smell coffee and head downstairs. I notice a small suitcase by the steps and wonder who’s here. Walking into the kitchen, my mom and dad are sitting at the table, heads together, quietly drawing strength from one another. It’s a remarkable sight and one I used to envy. I’m lucky enough to have that in my life now. “Who’s staying?”

“Carla packed a few things at my request. Callie will be staying here until you leave for college.” My mom may be soft spoken, but she’s firm, a force to be reckoned with when it comes to her kids, and she’s always considered Callie one of hers.

“Father.” I nod at him.

“When Callie wakes up, we’ll talk.”

“Does she need to know?”

“Bronson, it’s her father.”

“I’m right here,” I never heard her walk in the kitchen. She looks horrible. Her skin is paler than normal, and her face marred with bruises that seem to stand out even more. I can tell by the way she’s moving that she’s sore, and we’re lucky nothing was broken. Hurrying to her side, I help her to a chair

“Did you take the medicine I left you?”

“Yes, but I need my other pills. The ulcer ones.” Shit.

“Let me check your suitcase.”

“My what?”

“Bronson, go check, let me explain to Callie.” My mom wants to make sure she feels welcome. I rummage through her belongings and find no medicine.

“There are none. Dad can you call Doc? He gave him to her the first time.” Grabbing the phone, he handles it before turning back to us.

“They’ll be here within the hour. Do you need to wait to talk about this stuff?” He’s ignoring me. His focus is on Callie.

“A pill isn’t going to make this easier. Go ahead and tell me.”

I move to stand behind her, resting my hands on her shoulders, hoping if I show solidarity she won’t pull away, but instead, draw strength from my love. “I won’t go into extensive detail. We all met and without corroboration and his ranking in the family, we have to take his word on this situation.” I feel myself begin to shake. “But, that doesn’t mean trust hasn’t been broken. He was demoted; he didn’t take it well. It’s a waiting game to see if he’ll play by the rules or not.” I hear her exhale of relief.

“Thank you.”

“We did it by the book. Part of it as you know is you will stay here until you and Bianca join Bronson at college. How you handle your relationship with him is of course up to you, but I urge you to tread carefully. He is deeply upset, and I don’t know where he veered off course.” The pain etched on my father’s face is almost too much to see. Frank was his best friend, his right-hand man. Once a trusted and steadfast friend now is a foe. I wish he didn’t blame himself but when there are no clear answers, other than self-centered greed you have to question what you could have done differently.

“Yes sir.” My parents leave us alone.

“How do you feel?” I need her to talk to me.

“Relieved. Yet I still feel like nothing was resolved. If he was behind this, why? What motive does he have? If he wasn’t, then why is he so angry all the time? Why was Marco his right hand man? I’m so confused and hope with time things make sense and work out.”

“That’s all we can ask for. Now you need to get back to bed and rest. When your medicine gets here I’ll bring it to you.”

I help her up and back to bed, where luckily she falls into a deep sleep. On the other hand, I’m too keyed up and worried about what to do next. All I can do is stare at her and wish upon every higher power that things even out.

Chapter 15

Callie

I have been miserable for a month. It hurts to move, breathe, and exist. My ribs are sore, my face hurts, but more than anything my heart aches. I haven’t heard one word from my parents. It’s like I’m being punished for their transgressions. Once I sort through the feelings swirling through me, I’m pissed. I championed for him, regardless of our past, and he could give two shits. In a few days, I leave for college and that coward hasn’t shown his face. The Agostos, parents and kids alike, have gone out of their way to make me comfortable, and their house has always been my second home, but I can’t stand the sympathy. I didn’t do anything to deserve the punishment so I don’t want the pity received from it.

I missed my prom, my graduation, and my last week of senior year . . . all the special rites of passage. Tonight Bronson informed me he was making it all up to me. I’ve spent almost every night in his bed, unless Bianca pulls the girl-time card. His mom looks the other way, but I think it’s because she suspects her son is a perfect gentleman. Beyond me trying to tempt him. I get the obligatory kisses, although they’re anything but stale and lacking, occasionally I will get a make-out session in the middle of the day, but those have become rare. I’m beginning to think he’s mad I tried to save my dad, but it’s something I can’t explain to him. You have to experience it, and me telling him to put himself in my shoes does no good. It can’t be explained, only felt. As a child it is in your blood to want to please, to be accepted, and when you go your entire life without that approval and love, you don’t give up. You fight for it, you pray for it, you hope for it . . . otherwise it has to be you, right? I’m slowly accepting it isn’t me. I wasn’t a boy, but I am still human. I wasn’t the quiet child, but I was still respectful. I followed my heart and until the last days, he had a place there.

Bianca finds me, “Showtime, girly.”

“Speak English . . . show time?”

“I’m going to work my magic on you. I have a new outfit for you, now it’s time to make sure my brother can’t resist you.” She has been having sex for a year with Dakota, so she feels like the expert. I’ll never understand them. They aren’t in a relationship, but yet somehow they are exclusive. They aren’t a couple, yet they speak and see each other almost as much as Bronson and I. They aren’t involved; yet they share every milestone as one. I have given up trying to point out the obvious, though.

I allow her to pull and tweeze and fluff . . . then I open the little pink bag she gave me. A coral-colored panties and bra set falls out, and I am stunned. “Against your skin, you will rock that color.”