by Tania Trozzo
“Sure the hell seems like it.” Sonia answered as she looked cautiously at all of them. “Perfect timing, isn’t it?” she asked suspiciously.
“Yeah it is.” Connor spoke. Henry looked at Gabe who was looking around until his gaze landed on Lucas. Lucas glanced at him and shook his head ever so slightly as if answering the person next to him but Clara could tell he was answering Gabe’s silent question. Gabe relaxed.
Gabe’s father approached after having been outside speaking to the cops. “Well, it seems as though, everyone’s late to class so you don’t need me to let you in. I also told the principle I needed to speak to him but we’ll do it later this week.” His gaze travelled across each one of them, stopping at Clara, “Clara.”
“Hi Mr. Caruso.” He smiled and looked at Gabe, becoming serious again.
“That was Bruno?” Gabe nodded. “Ok, I’ll see what I can find out, but the cops will be here to check his other lockers so you guys might get out early. Keep me posted if you do. And if they want to question any of you or any of your other friends, call me.”
“Thanks, Uncle Ralph.” Alex answered.
“Thanks, Dad.” Gabe responded at the same time.
As Ralph left, Leo drew closer to the group. In a hard tone he says, “Did you guys have anything to do with this?”
“No.” Gabe answered knowing it was he the one that Leo was truly questioning. Leo looked at him a second searching for the truth “You sure? It’s rather convenient, don’t you think?”
“It is. But I had nothing to do with it.” Leo stared at him a few seconds and then nodded seeming content with the answer. “Sorry but then who was it?”
“Did you ever think it could be Bruno himself?” Sonia had the courage to ask.
“He wouldn’t be careless and hide two pouches with drugs in his locker,” Leo retorted.
“Yeah, he’s volatile but he’s not totally stupid.” Alex answered.
Henry kept looking at Gabe and the others. “Well, the cops will figure it out. I’ve got to get to class.” Everyone murmured their agreement, but Giuseppe was the only one who left with him.
“Leo, since you’re his friend the cops may want to talk to you. Call me so my dad can be there with you.” Gabe said.
Leo sighed and nodded. “Yeah they probably will. Thanks.”
He walked away when Connor said, “I’m going after him. You’re good with Clara, right?”
“Yeah, I’ll walk her and Sonia to class.” Gabe answered.
“I can take it from here, Bruno isn’t here, remember? But you guys need to go after Leo. He needs you.” Sonia replied, squeezing Clara’s arm.
“You coming too?” Connor asked Alex.
“Yeah.” Alex followed right after him towards Leo, waving to Gabe and Clara.
Clara looked up at Gabe who leaned down to peck her softly on the lips and they started walking.
“Ask, Clara.”
She whipped her head towards him. “How do you know I was going to ask you something?”
“Clara, it’s me. I notice everything about you.”
“Are you sure you didn’t have anything to do with what happened to Bruno?”
“I didn’t.”
“But you would have done something like that if you needed to, right?” Clara asked but already knew the answer, stating it rather matter of fact.
Gabe pulled her over into an alcove and held her close and said quietly, “I would do whatever I needed to do to make sure you were safe. Except maybe kill the guy.” Gabe smirked at her and she rolled her eyes until he turned serious again. “I won’t lose sleep over what may happen to him. He chose his path. Even if it was planted, the truth is that he does deal drugs. But I had nothing to do with this.”
“I know. But then if it wasn’t Bruno who was it?”
“I don’t know baby, all I know is that if I ever find out, I’d thank them. Come on, let’s go to class.”
48
Gabe
He dropped Clara off to class and headed to his own class where Henry was sitting. He lifted his chin to Gabe who sat down right next to him.
“You have anything to do with what just happened?” Henry asked him quietly. Everyone in class was talking about the scene with Bruno. The teacher was trying to get everyone’s attention but failed repeatedly.
“No, I didn’t, but I’m glad someone did.”
“Yeah so am I.”
Henry hesitated, “you asked me for help. If he comes back, you still have it.”
“Thanks, man.”
After class, Alex texted him and they met in their usual quiet hallway with Connor.
“Thanks for taking Clara to school today, Connor.”
“Anytime.” Connor hesitated a second.
“No I didn’t have time to do anything.”
“I know you didn’t.” They both looked at Alex and raised their eyebrows in question.
“It wasn’t me either. I got here early and scoped everything out but the custodian was actually cleaning the classrooms in that hallway at that time. I know we said we were going to do it this week but if it wasn’t you or me, who was it?”
“I don’t know. Lucas was supposed to get the weed but I’m pretty sure he didn’t,” Gabe stated.
“That definitely wasn’t weed in there.” Connor smirked.
“Exactly, whoever did it, went all out. Two pouches filled with pills?” Alex said incredulously.
“The cops were searching his gym locker too and they’re still here now. Word is that we get out at 11.” Connor told them.
“Ok, just keep your heads down. We have nothing to be afraid of since we didn’t do anything.” Gabe stated.
“I know but it’s kind of freaky that this was one of our ideas.” Alex said.
“Agreed, but again, it was either Bruno himself thinking he could get away with anything. Or someone beat us to it.”
“But who?”
“I don’t know Connor but I sure would like to.” Gabe contemplated. “They may bring us all in for questioning. Some of the football players too.”
Alex nodded, “Well, let’s see how this plays out. Clara should be safe now.”
“Yeah, but I’m still not letting her out of my sight.” Gabe smirked.
“I think you’re enjoying this protecting shit a bit too much,” Alex laughed. Connor chuckled right along with him.
“Oh I am.”
49
Epilogue
Months later
Bruno was waiting sentencing for possession of narcotics. A lot of narcotics. They found marijuana and ecstasy at his house, and of course all the drugs at school in both lockers.
The cops eventually did question some of Bruno’s friends especially Leo, being he had known him a long time. But Gabe’s father, true to his word, was right there with him. Leo’s mother was so thankful, crying and hugging Gabe’s father saying she would repay him. But he told her that he didn’t want anything in return, and to just continue doing what she is doing because she raised a great guy.
They also questioned Gabe and the others, seeing as they didn’t get along. But the cops realized that none of them had anything to do with planting evidence as Bruno had suggested. They all had alibis plus the drugs they found had a specific stamp on them according to the police.
Although Clara knew they didn’t have anything to do with what happened to Bruno, she did question where they went the night before the incident, but Gabe either evaded the question or distracted her, so she decided to let it go. Leo went to see Bruno, and after repeatedly telling him that Gabe and the others weren’t behind it, Bruno started to think it could have been one of the guys from a rival drug gang. Hopefully he continued to think that.
Everything was pretty much back to normal or maybe not normal but in a pretty good place. Sarah returned to schoo
l eventually and although she was no longer friends with Kristin, she was still friends with Jamie. However they both steered clear of Clara and the others.
Sonia had planned an amazing prom. Clara was deep in soccer training as were Connor and Gabe. Alex was busy with lacrosse and already being scouted by colleges. School was almost over and then on to their senior year.
Clara closed the door to her car. Gabe was speaking to Bobby on the sidewalk, he noticed her and smiled. She began to walk towards him realizing that she forgot her water bottle. As she turned back, she stilled and slowly turned her head to the right. Clara felt as though someone was staring at her so she looked around carefully trying to figure it out. There were a ton of students walking into school. She shook her head. They stared at her all the time, not sure why she felt today was any different.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
Gabe had approached and he looked at her in concern. As she looked at him she sighed. It was cliché for sure, but the effect he had on her hadn’t changed and he always seemed to notice when something with her wasn’t right. Gabe pulled her close and pecked her lips. “You ok?” Another peck.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just paranoid.” This time she kissed him.
With his arm around her waist, he cupped her jaw with his other hand. “It’s over, baby.”
She nodded, “I know. I guess I just need more time to remember that.”
He narrowed his eyes slightly at her but then relaxed, kissing her on the temple and pulling her close. He took a deep breath. With Bruno awaiting trial Gabe had considerably been more at ease, but he still worried about her especially since she slowly began opening up a bit more with him. “Let’s go. I’m glad it’s half a day today. Then I get you all to myself this weekend down the shore,” as he waggled his eyebrows.
She chuckled. Today was a half a day and there was the annual Spring Festival at school and right after they were all leaving for Sonia and Alex’s beach house for the weekend. Clara was excited. Vince was coming down with his girlfriend too. Gabe didn’t seem to mind that her aunt and uncle seemed a bit strict wanting Vince there, he respected it. Plus he knew that Vince trusted them and wouldn’t be hovering.
As she began walking with Gabe, however, she couldn’t shake this feeling of being watched. She took a deep breath. Breath, Clara.
The day went by quickly, they only had three classes and then most of the students were finishing setting up before the actual event started. Everyone in school pretty much helped, as they raised funds for various clubs and teams for next year.
At the end of the day, as soon as it turned dark, one of the parents who lived in a mansion close by, would set off fireworks to kick off the holiday weekend.
The weather had been beautiful all day. Gabe and the soccer team had organized valet parking so more people came, making the event successful for pretty much everyone.
It was the end of the night and everyone was waiting for the fireworks to start. Gabe and the others had placed their cars strategically so they could have a great view. All their families had been there to support, but had left, since by the time they cleaned everything up it would be a while. Gabe was leaning up against his car with Clara in front of him. He kissed her behind her ear and she shivered. Gabe grinned as he nuzzled her neck.
The fireworks started and they all looked at the sky. Clara sighed. “What was that sigh about baby?” Gabe whispered. She turned her head to look at him and he smiled that special smile of his meant only for her. God she loved him.
“I was just thinking that I can’t wait to sleep in your arms this weekend. I want to stay up and watch the sun rise with you. Would you do that with me?”
Gabe groaned and turned her around, holding her tightly against him. He buried his face in her neck. “Don’t you know that I would do anything for you?”
“You guys are missing the fireworks,” Connor said ruefully. Sonia swatted his arm. Clara laughed as she looked at them. Something was going on between them, Clara saw it but hadn’t said anything. Not even to Sonia. When Sonia was ready, she would talk to her about it, just like she had about her family issues.
She kissed Gabe on his neck this time and glanced at sky taking in the fireworks. “Happy now, Connor?” Everyone chuckled. Bobby was there holding Giada’s hand. Leo and Claudia. Giuseppe, Henry and a few others. Alex was standing next to Rosie and seemed awfully tense.
Clara looked at Gabe who was eyeing Alex curiously when all of a sudden Alex bent down to tie his shoe which wasn’t untied. He stood up and turned around smiling as if he was going to crack a joke. “Clara?”
She smiled at him, “Yeah, Alex?”
He lowered his voice, “Keep smiling, and don’t look right away but who’s the douche staring at you with the hoodie near the black Charger.”
Clara continued to smile and carefully looked over, thinking it could probably be someone from her old school or one of her cousins’ friends. But when those eyes met hers, her heart started racing and her smile dropped. She instantly stiffened.
“Clara?” It was Gabe, he looked at her in concern and noticed the panic in her face. He quickly looked up and noticed the guy staring at her.
“Clara?” It was Alex this time and he stepped in front of her. “Who is that?” she gasped and pushed him out of the way. It couldn’t be. The guy with the hoodie wasn’t there anymore. Sonia and the others approached her in concern. She frantically looked around the parking lot.
Gabe grabbed her by her arms gently. “Clara, look at me. Who was that guy?”
She looked up at him, eyes wide and swallowed. “It was. I’m pretty sure it was,” she shook her head. It couldn’t be him, could it? She looked up at Gabe, then at Alex and back to Gabe. “It was Cain.”
Acknowledgments
I truly have quite a few people to thank.
I started writing this book when my father became ill with Kidney disease and Dementia and through it all, with the support of quite a few people, I was able to put this book on paper.
Thank you to Federica, whether is was watching over my kids as an au pair, telling me I could do it as a friend, or as my beta reader. Thank you.
Thank you to Rosanna, the first time I told you about this book your first words were, “I’m so proud of you.” You don’t know what that meant me to me. Thank you for your support and motivation as well as being one of my beta readers.
Thank you to my third Beta reader, Barb, your encouraging words really mean a lot. I am so glad that when I pushed submit, you were there with me. Thank you.
Thank you to Manuela Biase and Jennette Fischer for my beautiful cover.
Thank you to Loreta, you told me you weren’t surprised that I wrote a book, since I always was telling stories when I was younger. Thanks for talking me through scenes when you had no idea what the book was about.
And thank you to all of those friends, family, acquaintances and strangers, that have offered a kind word of support, there are really too many of you to name and I’m afraid I’ll forget someone but thank you! To my mom who always had a delicious meal ready for me or to watch her grandchildren while I wrote. To my husband, who doubted that I could write a book in the beginning, as it seemed such a hefty thing to do with a full time job, 3 kids, a household and all the others things I seem to get involved in here or there. Don’t doubt me again, baby, but thank you for all the promo you do and the fish dinners you cook.
And finally and most importantly to my 3 G’s. I’m determined to get on that cool mom list sooner or later. All I can say is that behind it all, you are the drive and determination that I seem to find through this and almost anything I put in my head to do. I want you to know, that it doesn’t matter how old you or how late you think you are, if you have a dream or a passion, go for it. If it’s something that lights your soul on fire, that brings you pride, you can do anything you put your mind to, anything your p
ut heart into and anything that lights your soul and I will ALWAYS be in the corner cheering you on. (I am the loud soccer mom after all.)
I would also like to thank Connor, Colin and anyone else that helped get answers to my many high school and soccer questions.
And a special thanks to anyone reading this book! Your support means a lot!