Aftermath

by S. W. Frank

  “Yeah, babe, everything’s bueno. Just wanted to tell you, they’ve released the hold on your money.”

  “That’s a relief. I’ll talk to you later I’m in the hall and the professor’s giving a lecture.”

  “Yeah, what’s the course again?”

  “Critical Theory.”

  “You’ll ace it.”

  “I don’t know Alfonzo it’s hard. I’ve been out of school too long.”

  “Hey, don’t put failure in the brain. Tonight I’ll help you study.”

  “Okay.”

  “Don’t make plans for lunch; I’m coming by after your class to feed you.”

  “Aw that’s sweet. These girls are going to gawk.”

  “Yep, the chica’s are going to say, whoa look at that ugly dude with that fine chica, look at her mami…am I right girl?” He joked.

  She laughed and it made him feel good to hear her mood lighten, “You cannot imitate a girl –ugh, terrible. Okay honey I really have to go; the professor’s peeking in the hall right now at me. Bye.”

  “Hasta luego.”

  He chuckled; this dating shit was fun. Then the secretary stuck her head in the office and he straightened himself. “What’s up Georgina?”

  “Security says there’s a guy in the lobby to see you. He says he’s your cousin Sergio.”

  “Ah man…you got to be kidding!” Alfonzo exclaimed. Nico confirmed the con-man was indeed their kin. He’d checked hospital records, snuck in the dude’s apartment and took DNA samples which matched Nico’s. Since he and Vincent were twins they’re genetic markers were similar and this kid…no…grown-ass man downstairs was indeed Vincent’s son. “Cristo!” He loved Vincent but this joker of a son was someone he’d rather not deal with. He smelled trouble in the guy and trouble isn’t what he needed.

  “Do you want security to send him away?”

  Alfonzo leaned forward resting his elbows on the desk, “What time is Jack coming?”

  “Ten thirty.”

  He drummed his fingers on the desk contemplating. He decided to hear the man out. Yeah, he thought and reclined. He made himself relax. This was going to be interesting. “Tell security to let him up and have Lou strip search him when he arrives on the floor. Have him confiscate all of his electronics and jewelry then you can let him in my office, Georgina.”

  “There are metal detectors downstairs, are you sure you want to humiliate family like that Mr. Diaz?”

  He liked Georgina, but he would never take security advice from an Executive Secretary. No offense but she wasn’t well-informed about his family or an expert on personal protection. She heard the rumors concerning his links to organized crime and stayed on the job nonetheless. Men like Lou safeguarding the building weren’t hard to miss. It’s also a blatant sign his life entailed risks.

  Dangers also came concealed in an unsuspecting face.

  Alfonzo tapped the computer screen in the corner of his desk and scrolled to the icon for the camera trained on the lobby. Sure enough, there was Sergio as clear as day, ah and the dude had on a suit, which told Alfonzo the man came to play. He was ready to take the punk to school and Selange thought she had it bad. The lesson he planned to teach this dude was the kind that came from trying to fuck with someone with a doctorate in sniffing out bull-shit.

  When Georgina’s question remained suspended in air, she got the hint and slipped out of the office. He didn’t give her a backward glance. She didn’t consider the lack of response an insult. A six figure salary and hefty bonuses each year compensated for any offense. Either way, she’d stepped beyond her professional boundary. He’d told her without words to stop prying into his personal business and at some juncture it might save her ass. Aside from the occasional sullen mood swings, Mr. Diaz was the best boss she ever had and the hottest.     

   

   

   

   

   

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

   

   

   

   

  Sophie untied the silk scarf from around her neck, shook the shiny material with its designer logo imprinted on the edge and wrapped it about her shoulders. The air was not cold, the temperature on this October day was in the low 60’s, it’s the chill settling in her bones that inspired the action. A formation of ice clogged her bloodstream and it would not defrost until she eradicated the source of it. The cold-hearted bitch known as Geovonna.

  She had not shared her decision with the women of the circle, they may say she was acting too quickly and any mistake could cause another ripple up under their feet.

  She watched the entrance of the salon. Geovonna was a creature of habit and those were the easiest to track. The bitch defied her and pranced about shopping and laughing without a care. Her son called her a vile name and it struck a wound in her breast. She loved her son and the hatred he displayed was the result of one woman’s spite. She had planned to tell Giuseppe once her houseguests were gone.

  The love Geovonna claimed to have for Giuseppe was the most vicious kind.

  Sophie’s mascara lined eyes squint with hatred when the vapid young woman emerged from the salon and began walking toward her candy colored sports car. The arrogant girl traveled without bodyguards as if her ability to fire a gun were enough to protect her. Foolish child and to think the attempt on her life a few short weeks ago would have made her more cautious and not the opposite.

  Once the car began to move, Sophie nodded to Francisco the driver and he began pursuit at a safe distance. She wanted the woman to see her face in the final hour and realize her mistake. Giuseppe would never marry such a woman and to ensure this, today Geovonna would learn her fate.

  They followed the bright car through the congested Piazza. Sophie ‘tsked’ at the woman’s reckless driving. It matched her behavior. The silly girl almost mowed over an elderly pedestrian and then a rider on a Vespa near the main square.

  Thank goodness she hadn’t. The congested Piazza Castelnuovo is ringed by the Teatro Politeamo and a number of art galleries where she and Carlo frequented. Her beloved husband escorted her to plays here at the theatre and later they’d sip wine at one of the bistros and sit for hours chatting and people watching without care. This was the Italian pastime, unhurried and social unlike the American tourists rushing about to take pictures of buildings as they roamed the square.

  Oh how they’d laugh at the tourists’ traipse about instead of enjoying the atmosphere like the natives sitting at the sidewalk cafés who understood beauty is in the simplicity of living. Memories are far more meaningful when they are moments captured within the human spirit rather than seen through a lens.

  The car sped on the Autostrada 29 toward Marsala. Yes, Geovonna was going to visit friends. Her days consisted of shopping, salons and gossip with friends. Possibly, a fulfilling existence for a clueless child, but not for a woman of substance.

  They reached the straight away and Geovonna’s car traveled in the far right lane. Francisco accelerated, checking his mirrors and switched to the left; the engine of the Audi roaring as he changed gears. The car became a bolt of black lightning as it neared the spot with the low railings. His expert hands were undetectable, switching and changing gears like a race car professional. They reached the small car’s back bumper and maneuvered into her lane, aiming at the right wheel well and the little car was sent off course. It spun like a top and she saw the young woman’s panic-stricken face on the first rotation as she battled for control. In the distress, their eyes met and Sophie smiled.

  Their car then roared from view just as the pretty little car with its equally pretty driver flipped right over the rail.

   

   

  ****

   

   

  Sophie spotted Giuseppe’s vehicle parked in the circular drive of the estate when she arrived home. Nervous tension arose as she wondered the nature of
this visit. Had he learned about Geovonna? No….no…that would be too soon.

  Curious, she entered the house and heard his laughter and smelled the food. Of course, he had come to visit the cook and her heart sank. She walked through the sitting area to the kitchen and there he sat, eating and being pampered by Lisette.

  He turned in his chair at her entry and stood. “Hello mama.”

  “Giuseppe,” she answered curtly.

  He had the look of a recalcitrant boy, “Mama, I am sorry for the things I said.”

  Lisette pat the tall man’s back fondly then hurried from the kitchen.

  “I am sorry, too Giuseppe. I should have told you long ago about Luzo.”

  He took a step forward. One stride brought him close to the woman who bore him. She was the giver of his life and his sorrow was deep. The words said in anger bled him like a cut each day he woke and would not let him sleep. 

  Giuseppe cupped her soft hands and peered wistfully at them, remembering the caresses upon his fevered scalp as a child and the hugs to her breasts when he’d fallen from the tree in the backyard and fractured his wrist. Many…many…many warm memories of his childhood surfaced. And in those times were Carlo, not as a stepfather but a dad who taught him to ride his bike and yes, even how to fight. He saw only love in their eyes and it is that affection which sobered him. He could not punish his mama any longer. He missed her and the meals. He almost starved out there. Without her he would die. Who else cared enough to ensure he’d eat?

  The long masculine lashes of his father, a gift to both sons along with eyes the color of a clear sky ascended to her mature face in remorse. He inhaled and his chest expanded, but he said nothing. Instead, he drew the loving woman against the hard shield protecting his heart and in an instant she sobbed.

  He bowed his head under the weight of her anguish and also wept, “Mamaforgive me…mi dispiace…mama…mi dispiace…I love you and papa. Carlo is myfather…I am his son mama…I am his Geo!”

  For Sophie the days of uncertainty of her son’s love was swept away. The arms closing about her in a tight embrace bespoke forgiveness and healed the anguish of a mother’s pain. Her tears subsided and she stroked the nape of Giuseppe’s neck as his body heaved up and down in distress. She had not heard Giuseppe cry this way since he was nine, and as a mother she comforted him as parents’ must do for their unhappy child. “Ssssssshhhh, do not weep…my son.”

   

   

   

   

   

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

   

   

   

   

  “You received more flowers, I see,” Carmen commented after entering through the door and spying the large floral centerpiece on her sister Maria’s dining table.

  Maria sat on the new sofa, a peace offering from her son, folding clothes and placing them in neat piles in a large wicker basket on the floor. She stopped, taking her attention away from her favorite novella on Ciudad Televisión and addressed Carmen. “It’s too much!”

  Carmen smiled. She hadn’t seen her sister flustered like this since forever. The charming Bruno DeMarco was certainly going all out to win her affection and frankly, Carmen hoped he did.  Maria could use some romance in her life. The children and church were her primary focus since she’d sold the salon and fun was long overdue.

  “When’s your next date ?”

  “He wants to take me out Sabado.”

  Carmen smiled, “Really, where to this time?”

  On Maria’s first ‘date’ with Bruno, they’d gone to dinner at a restaurant on the waterfront. There’s something romantic about the night, soft lights and a view of the Hudson River with an attractive self-assured man for a dinner companion. She was so nervous the fork shook in her hand each time she put it to her mouth to eat. The embarrassment almost caused her to take flight until he recognized her discomfort and put her at ease. He broached a common topic, children and she relaxed almost immediately as she spoke about her grandchildren. After that, the night went well and she found his company refreshingly pleasant and not overly flirtatious. Bruno possessed charm and wit. Eventually, when he escorted her home, she hated the night came to an end.

  That was a week ago and he was back in town, business, he claimed once again. Although, she liked Bruno she had trepidations about him. She didn’t want to appear rude and pry into his business but what exactly is a shipping magnate, anyway and was he involved in anything illegal because the latter was a definite deal breaker?

  Carmen waved a hand in front of her face, “Hóla, Maria…where you go?”

  Maria shrugged, “I was thinking, that’s all.”

  “You like him, I see it.”

  “Yes, but Carmen you know as well as I do, I have a tendency to fall for the bad men.”

  “You’re too hard on yourself. Every man is not Luzo and this Bruno has no wife. Besides, you’re a grown woman. Live a little and have fun!”

  Maria heard the running of feet overhead and shook her head. Carmen babysat her granddaughters. Their mother had a medical appointment. Maria couldn’t believe the amount of days the children missed from school, not from parental neglect but school closings. Every year there were new holidays, as well as Staff Development Days, Brooklyn, Queens Day…yet the children resided in the borough of Manhattan…aye…the public school system was falling to pieces. The Board of Education blamed poor student performance on a lack of parent involvement, when the truth is it’s the result of awful teachers and testing oriented curriculum making the children rote fools. Add the shortened school year and there’s the cause of the children’s failure, not the parents.

  Parents send their children to school to be taught by so-called professionals, otherwise why not make the parents the teachers, pay them the salary, give parents summers and holidays off since they’re expected to have the degrees in teaching and the children would learn…yes indeed!

    Carmen waved ‘bye’ then hurried out the door. Maria heard her climb the stairs and slam the door and the running stopped. The poor girls were in for trouble.

  Maria went back to folding laundry, sorting socks and folding fine linens with mechanical precision into neat piles atop the coffee table. She was an expert in domestication as most mothers with children, regardless of whether they worked outside the home or not.

  She scoffed, Alfonzo offered to hire a housekeeper and Maria found the suggestion ridiculous. There was nothing wrong with her hands, she enjoyed doing things for herself, besides, she could afford to hire someone if she wanted to and did not need his help. Her son was trying to make amends, she’d give him that, but after their squabble, she realized he was right. Sophie made her so upset, she wasn’t thinking straight when she took the kids out of the house without Selange’s permission. It’s just she didn’t want them around the wicked woman, they might become contaminated.

  To think, she’d been played for a fool and led to believe Sophie had her best interest at heart when what she wanted was Luzo in her bed.

  She neatly placed the final garment atop the others. Suddenly she gasped, “Oh no!”  The handsome doctor Paolo confessed to his girlfriend, he was in love with her mother.

  Shocking!

   

   

  ****

   

   

  “Nico, come on…this is a bad time…thanks Cecily,” Ariana paused to say when the legal assistant emerged from her little office and handed her a folder and then Ariana continued walking. Nico charmed his way past the receptionist once again. He was taking advantage of their verbal agreement big-time.

  She had to admit, coming home and having dinner on the table and seeing the boys with their father and having their homework done was pretty nice.

  It was more than nice. Except, he did go on mysterious jaunts late at night and last weekend took a trip out of town, which gave her a few days repri
eve, but shit, she was getting accustomed to having him around and in the back of her mind she wondered how long it’ll last.

  “Anytime and any where’s the deal.”

  Ariana looked back over her shoulder at him and Nico and that damn sexy mouth was smiling from ear to ear. Oh, he liked putting the pressure on didn’t he? Her heels click-clacked their way to the conference room where the attorney for the respondent awaited to discuss a settlement offer and Nico followed.

  Ariana halted at the closed door, “Nico this is as far as you go, this is money honey and I can’t blow this for my client.”

  Nico reached for the doorknob turned and gestured for her to enter, “Ladies first,” and the look she gave him could’ve blown off the roof, but she pulled it together when the attorney rose from his seat at their entry.

  “Ms. Mattheson, nice to see you again.” The spectacled man said with the stiff formality of a mortician.

  “Thank you Mr. Levy. How is the family?”

  “They’re doing well,” his eyes were on the tall dark man with the five o’clock shadow and the expensive suit. No tie, an intimidating glare in his eyes and the physique of man who preferred boxing over golf.

  Nico saw the inquisitive glance and stepped forward, extended his hand, “Good morning Mr. Levy, I’m Anthony Giordano, Ms. Mattheson’s new partner. I’ll be sitting in during the settlement negotiations I’m sure you don’t mind.”

  “No…that’s fine Mr. Giordano.” He then took a seat and Nico followed Ariana to the opposing side of the table where they sat side by side.

  Ariana kicked him under the table and he kicked her back.

  The door opened and the legal assistant entered and passed Ariana a legal pad and pen then disappeared again. “So, let’s get started.” Ariana began the moment the door clicked shut. She tapped her pen with a thumb, opened the file and the negotiations began.

  Nico loved observing Ariana at work.  Here, she was take charge, no-nonsense and in her element. He leaned back in the black leather seat, discreetly watching the Levy fellow fidget with his the edge of his eyeglasses and he vomited the legal lingo and it made Nico sick.