Out of Bondage

by Jamila Jasper

  * * *

  Any sweetness that had once existed within Luca had been squelched out. Now, he was just a ghoul, and a murderer, and a mad man on the loose with the desire to kill pulsing through his veins.

  6

  Water of the Womb

  It had become clear that they needed to confront Domenico and Daniella. Eve wasn’t looking forward to it and neither of them were looking forward to the possibility that Luca might be there. And if he wasn’t there, Domenico might call for him and then they’d all really be screwed.

  * * *

  One of Edoardo’s friends came to drive them over there. They slipped through the streets of London incognito, all piled into the nondescript silver Volkswagen that Edoardo’s friend had owned. The man was a Pakistani immigrant who owed Edoardo a debt from years back. For the slow, trafficked drive, he told stories of Edoardo as a younger man and then stories about his youth as a young immigrant in London.

  * * *

  Eve found his stories soothing. The man’s tales pulled her out of her own worries. It felt good to just listen to a normal person for once — a normal person with a normal life. If this man knew what he was mixed up in, he’d probably be shocked (or simply not believe them.)

  * * *

  Edoardo believed it was best if the man was kept in the dark, so he knew nothing of the nature of this trip. He also had no idea that everyone in his car was armed with at least three weapons. As far as he knew, he was giving some tourists a ride around the city of London.

  * * *

  Eve had forgotten the man’s name as soon as he’d said it, but she liked his charming personality, his heavy London accent and the way his sentences were peppered with unique phrases like “bollocks” and “bloody hell”. Bostonians were a much different breed.

  * * *

  When the man dropped them off two blocks from Domenico’s place, he made them promise to come out for a pint with him. As Eve waved goodbye, she wondered if she’d be alive to go out for a pint with anyone after this. She put her hands on the gun that was tucked away in her jacket. The cold metal repelled her hand. Weapons continued to make Eve feel uneasy.

  * * *

  They walked up to the door of Daniella’s apartment.

  * * *

  “I’ll knock,” Eve volunteered in a rare moment of bravery.

  * * *

  She held onto the ornate knocker and pounded it against the heavy wooden door. Eve pressed her ear to the door while Nico and Edoardo stood a couple feet back, hands on their weapons, ready to draw them if necessary.

  * * *

  “I can hear people inside talking… but no footsteps,” Eve said.

  * * *

  “Knock again,” Edoardo suggested.

  * * *

  Eve obliged and pounded on the door again. This time she heard footsteps and she pulled her ear away from the door. The door opened and Eve came face to face with Daniella.

  * * *

  “Eve,” Daniella said.

  * * *

  Her tone was flat, but her eyebrows were raised.

  * * *

  “May we come in?”

  * * *

  Daniella’s caramel colored skin was unusually sallow. Dark circles and puffiness under her eyes revealed her current state. Daniella’s eyes darted anxiously to Edoardo and Nico before she stuttered her response.

  * * *

  “I-I-I don’t think this is a good idea,” Daniella replied, “Things are busy ‘round here… It’s good to see you though.”

  * * *

  Daniella knew her attempts to chase them away were weak. Nico and Edoardo took a step forward and Daniella’s hands started to shake. She thrust them into the pockets of her dress. Eve tried again.

  * * *

  “Daniella, please let us come in.”

  * * *

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  * * *

  Nico took a step forward, “I’m sorry Daniella, but we’re entering this house.”

  * * *

  She stepped aside defeated, and allowed them to walk into her home. Daniella closed the door behind her. While Nico and Edoardo walked into the house, searching for Luca or Domenico, Eve stayed behind and touched Daniella on the shoulder.

  * * *

  “Daniella,” She said, “What the hell is going on? Is Luca here?”

  * * *

  Daniella shook her head. When she heard Luca’s name she started to cry. Eve pulled Daniella into her arms and held her tight.

  * * *

  “I don’t know what mess you’ve gotten into young lady,” Eve whispered, “But I sure hope we can get you out of it.”

  * * *

  Daniella began sobbing loudly and she clutched Eve as if Eve were her own mother, or as Eve had put it, as if Eve were her much older sister. Edoardo and Nico swept the house for Luca, and didn’t find him. They did find Domenico, who was quiet as Nico and Edoardo urged him into the living room. He didn’t give his position away, but he didn’t reach for a weapon or do anything to indicate he was going to become violent.

  * * *

  Eve led Daniella to the living room and joined the men.

  * * *

  “We need to talk,” Nico said.

  * * *

  Domenico shot a glare at Daniella and she pursed her lips shut, apparently joining his bid for silence.

  * * *

  “We know that Luca has been here,” Edoardo added.

  * * *

  “And we know that you two have been helping him.”

  * * *

  Tears welled up in Daniella’s eyes again. Edoardo, Eve and Nico exchanged glances with each other. Whatever Domenico wouldn’t tell them, they could likely get from Daniella with ease.

  * * *

  “This is serious you two,” Nico said.

  * * *

  Eve nodded, “People have died.”

  * * *

  Daniella whimpered.

  * * *

  “And Luca plans to kill again. If you didn’t know that when you started helping him, you certainly know now.”

  * * *

  Daniella started sobbing quietly, ignoring glares from Domenico across the room.

  * * *

  “Someone needs to speak up,” Edoardo said.

  * * *

  He reached for his gun and pulled it out. It was Nico’s turn to glare at Edoardo. This wasn’t part of the plan. Daniella and Domenico were still family. Until malicious intent was proven, he didn’t want to threaten violence. But Edoardo’s plan seemed to work.

  * * *

  Daniella blubbered through her tears, “Domenico! Just tell them! Just tell them!”

  * * *

  Edoardo thrust the gun back into his jacket. Sometimes it was better to cut straight to the point.

  * * *

  Domenico shook his head, “I have to protect her. I know they won’t harm me.”

  * * *

  Nico took a step forward, “Don’t underestimate me, cousin. I am still Giuseppe’s son. And I’m here to get answers. Why are you aiding my brother? He’s a killer. He destroyed my wedding. Answer me, or I promise you will regret it.”

  * * *

  Eve had never seen her husband like this. When he started speaking to Domenico, his voice had taken on an icy tone unlike anything she’d heard from him before. Domenico’s bravery had started to evaporate when he realized that Nico wasn’t here to joke.

  * * *

  “Just tell them!” Daniella shrieked.

  * * *

  Domenico folded his arms, “If I talk to you, I’m putting everyone I love in danger, including Daniella.”

  * * *

  “You have nothing to be afraid of unless you refuse to cooperate,” Edoardo replied.

  * * *

  Domenico nodded, “This is difficult for me.”

  * * *

  “Take your time,” Eve reassured him.

  * * *

  “Yes, Nico, I a
m the one who has betrayed you. But I am deeply sorry.”

  * * *

  Domenico looked away in shame and he was no longer holding his voice steady.

  * * *

  “Describe what you have done cousin, so I can inform you of whether it is possible to atone.”

  * * *

  “I told Luca about the wedding. I was unaware of the full extent of your tumultuous history with Luca. It all happened before I was born, and Giuseppe kept it from me. When Luca first came to me, I had a sense that this was all wrong, but I was ignorant. On your wedding day, I realized the depth of my mistake.”

  * * *

  Domenico’s eyes looked distance. Eve could see the guilt he carried over the lives that were lost on their wedding day. A mafia wedding was sometimes a bloody affair, but it was hard to be so cavalier about it when the bloodshed happened right in front of you.

  * * *

  “Then what happened. Why didn’t you come to me then?” Nico questioned.

  * * *

  Daniella began sobbing again.

  * * *

  “We tried to flee,” Domenico replied, “I was terrified that you would find out that it was I who ruined that day. I was terrified that Luca would find us again and kill us. We came to London just as you instructed, and we thought that we were safe.”

  * * *

  “Luca found you again,” Eve guessed.

  * * *

  Daniella nodded, then Domenico.

  * * *

  “Yes, he found us again,” Domenico muttered.

  * * *

  “Take your time boy,” Edoardo reminded him.

  * * *

  Domenico’s face had turned tomato red; Nico could tell he was holding back tears. He struggled to continue.

  * * *

  “He found Daniella on the streets. He held a knife to her throat and forced her to lead him here. When he brought her here, I refused to help him. He held Daniella down and he…” Domenico trailed off.

  * * *

  Eve felt a lump of disgust rise in her throat.

  * * *

  Domenico continued, “He took his knife and he cut her body. She bled everywhere and he made me stand there, watching her bleed as he threatened us. He refused to allow me to take her to the hospital unless I agreed to inform on you.”

  * * *

  “So you agreed,” Nico replied.

  * * *

  Domenico nodded, this time with tears in his eyes.

  * * *

  “He also hurt my mother. He sliced her cheek and sent me the pictures. He told me he would kill her and assured me that he could at any minute.”

  * * *

  “Why didn’t you come to us?” Eve asked.

  * * *

  Domenico shook his head, “Too afraid. I’m afraid now.”

  * * *

  “What are you to do if you know where we are?”

  * * *

  “I am to call Luca immediately.”

  * * *

  “Very well,” Edoardo replied.

  * * *

  Domenico wasn’t done talking. Now that he’d started his confession, he didn’t want it to end until he’d spilled every last detail of his involvement.

  * * *

  “I had no idea that he wanted to kill you until now. I promise Nico and I beg for mercy… At least if I cannot have mercy, if you must kill me, please take care of Daniella.”

  * * *

  Domenico bowed his head shamefully. Nico understood that his cousin was playing by mafia rules. Betrayal had one consequence: death. Nico knew that if his father were in his shoes, his father would have shot Domenico in the heart without a second thought. Nico might have been his father’s son, but he wasn’t the same man as his father.

  * * *

  He didn’t wish to harm Domenico.

  * * *

  “I extend you mercy Domenico. I am not Giuseppe.”

  * * *

  “Giuseppe is free,” Domenico added, realizing he’d forgotten a piece of the puzzle, “He’s in Italy again.”

  * * *

  Nico shook his head, “He’s dead.”

  * * *

  “Dead?”

  * * *

  Daniella’s ears perked up. She remembered Giuseppe from her days back in Boston. That man had terrorized her fiancé and made Boston into a terrifying place.

  * * *

  “Yes, he’s dead,” Edoardo added emphatically.

  * * *

  He preferred not to rehash the night he’d killed Giuseppe. While it had felt good to avenge his mother, Edoardo wasn’t proud of the fact that he’d taken a man’s life.

  * * *

  “So Boston is safe again?” Daniella asked.

  * * *

  Nico answered, “Boston won’t be safe until Luca meets the same fate as my father. He will inherit the title as leader of the Riccardi syndicate if he returns. The Riccardi syndicate is loyal to anyone who claims the title. I’m sure we’d all prefer they pledge their loyalty to a man other than my twin brother.”

  * * *

  They all nodded and murmured in agreement.

  * * *

  The living room grew quiet. While they were relieved that Domenico and Daniella’s betrayal wasn’t malicious, there was still tension in the room. Luca was still out there and they’d still have to figure out what to do with him. He was still dangerous. He had still hurt everyone in the room. And they’d have to dispose of him tonight, right here in London.

  * * *

  “We need to move fast,” Nico said, “Domenico, I think it’s time you called my brother in secret and told him that you have his victims right in your lap.”

  * * *

  Domenico looked hesitant. Eve tried to nod at him in encouragement. Domenico still couldn’t bring himself to pick up the phone and call Luca.

  * * *

  Edoardo tried to encourage him, “Listen, Luca probably has men watching this house. What do you think they’ll tell him if they find out that you allowed Nico in here and didn’t call him.”

  * * *

  Domenico sat up and looked around at everyone in the room, “If I call him, he’ll come ready to die.”

  * * *

  “Let’s hope so.”

  * * *

  “Nico,” Domenico urged, “Luca is dangerous. He’s more dangerous than any of us realize.”

  * * *

  Edoardo gave Domenico another pat on the back.

  * * *

  “We know young man. And we are prepared for a fight when he brings it.”

  * * *

  “We need to leave Daniella and Eve out of this,” Nico warned.

  * * *

  Before Eve could say anything, Daniella stood to her feet and folded her arms.

  * * *

  “I won’t be left out of anything. I’m involved in this just as much as any of you. Why should I be left out? Because I’m a woman?”

  * * *

  Nico paused, unable to come up with a suitable response. Eve smiled proudly at Daniella. Nico raised his hands in defeat.

  * * *

  “Fine then. The two of you stay.”

  * * *

  Domenico held the phone in his hand, “I’m not sure I can go through with this.”

  * * *