by Box Set
“Very funny. I happened upon you. Seriously.” She shifted from foot to foot.
“Sure you did.” He laughed as he twisted a bunch of rope and put it in a compartment at the bottom of the truck. “And what exactly were you doing to bring you to me?”
“I was looking into my birth parents.” A sour rumble tumbled through her gut.
“Find anything interesting?”
“I ruled some people out.” She pushed air through her nose.
“That’s good at least.”
He bustled to the other side of the truck and cranked the awning. It rolled up tight against the truck roof. “Before Vinny, I thought I understood the importance of family, but in truth, he’s taught me so much. Family first. Always. Maybe I can help you search.” He collected the chairs and tables and put them with the rope in the bottom compartment. He scanned the area for any last items and shut and locked the compartment.
“Maybe I’m destined never to know.”
He let the metal flap to the concession window down and bolted it in place. “Sometimes you have to find someone besides your biological parents to be your family. Someone that will always be there for you. Someone you will always be there for, too. Maybe you have everything you need with your adoptive parents, like I do.”
“You could be right.” Her parents had been so great. Yeah, they’d kept a colossal secret from her, but it was for a good reason, right? Perhaps she should just be happy with what she had.
“You ready to get going?” His smile shot a jolt of electricity through her. He was amazing.
She followed him to the front of the truck. He opened the passenger side door, and she climbed in. When he climbed in the driver side, he said, “I learned a long time ago that sometimes we can’t choose our circumstances, but we certainly can choose our attitude about them.” He backed up and headed out onto the main street.
“Such wise words coming from a Jersey boy. Who knew?”
“There aren’t many truly bad people in the world. Most are doing their best and sometimes their best leads them down paths not normally accepted.”
“I’d love to meet your family. I’m assuming they’re here on vacation with you.” Sincerity oozed off him. He was definitely the knight in shining armor type.
“Actually, I’m here with Ellie’s family. Mine’s back home.” And they had no idea where she was and what she was doing. A sharp ache settled in her chest. “You’d like them, though.”
“I’m sure I would. There’s one thing I know for sure, family should come first and if there’s a problem, most of the time it can be solved.” He looked up at the sky. “Looks like rain later today.” Dark storm clouds hung over the ocean, rolling over the beach. They drove in companionable silence for several blocks while Kate stewed over what he’d said.
“Your family life sounds perfect.”
“It is pretty great, but nothing is perfect. I love my family. The Bellinis are amazing.”
“Does it make you sad to think Vinny never adopted you?”
“No. Not at all. He calls me his son. He loves me, and that’s all I need. They’re not perfect, and sure, they do things I don’t like, but still, I would do anything for them, and they would do anything for me.”
Kate could feel his resolve and thought about her family in Texas. If she were honest with herself, she would have to admit that she felt the same way about them. She thought about Vinny and seeing him at Marconi’s yesterday. He seemed so different from them. Kind and loving even. “I still don’t understand how the Bellinis and the Marconis are related.” She didn’t want to accept that he felt the same way about the Marconis as he did about the Bellinis after what she’d witnessed.
He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “They aren’t family by blood. It’s confusing, but the Marconis and the Bellinis are bound through friendship, not blood.” He wound his fingers together. “They have been bonded since their ancestors came over from Italy. The friendships are unbreakable. It might be stronger than a blood bond.”
They pulled the truck into an alley, and he parked. This alley was a bit wider, but shorter than the one at Marconi Bagels. She shivered, thinking about how similar it was. She stared at the metal door that read, Bellini Bagels. “We’re here. Maybe I should take you around front so that you can enter through there instead of the back.”
“No. It’s okay. No biggie.” Thunder clapped somewhere in the distance.
He hopped out of the truck and was by Kate’s side fast enough that he was able to close the truck door for her. They walked the few steps to the door. He swiped a keycard across a pad and the metal door clicked open. “Ever been in the guts of a bagel shop before?”
“No.”
“Great. It’ll be fun showing you something new.” His eyes sparkled with excitement. He loved it here. They walked into the building, past a few shut doors and also some that were open, revealing storage rooms of one type or another. The hallway opened up to a large work area set up with oversized mixers, ovens, racks, and refrigerators. The clean and sterile feel of the room told her the work for that section of the business ended earlier in the day.
“This is where all the magic happens. The crew comes in at two in the morning to start the bagels so that they’re ready by six when the shop opens.”
“That’s so early.” Kate yawned. “Oh, sorry. I don’t feel tired. I wonder why I yawned.”
“It’s your body’s normal reaction to thinking of getting up at two A.M. I hate it when I’m on morning duty. Luckily, I mostly work late morning duty, which starts at six thirty.”
They passed some other rooms. A quick peek told her they were offices. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a painting in one of them that made her stop. It was of a woman who looked eerily familiar. She stepped closer to the open door to get a better look. It was the woman from the locket, only in oil paints. She stared, zooming in on a title plate at the bottom which read, “My Carmela.” Kate’s mouth went dry.
“Kate?”
“Who is that?” She pointed at the picture feeling unsteady on her feet.
“It’s a stunning painting, isn’t it?”
She nodded and turned to him. “The plate says Carmela. Do you know her?” Maybe he’d met her mom.
“No. She was gone before I came here, but whoever she is, she definitely left a big impression on Vincenzo.”
“Your boss?”
“Yeah. Remember? You saw him at my Uncle Rinaldo’s. He mostly goes by Vinny, but I think he likes it when I call him by his full name.” His chest puffed out a bit.
“You mean that isn’t his wife?” She stared at the painting again.
“I doubt it. I’ve never known him to have a girlfriend, let alone a wife. I asked him about the painting one time, and he said his greatest sorrows were connected with that woman.” Kate could see herself in that painting. She recognized the shape of her face and her tiny ears in the woman on the wall. Her heart thudded in her chest. She was looking at her mother. She knew it. Her mind, body, and soul told her it was true at that very moment. She clutched at the locket.
“We better get out front. Vincenzo is a bit funny about his space and people getting in it.” He shifted on his feet.
She took one last look before following Duran to the front of the store. Her body buzzed. Was she about to meet her dad? Really meet him? If Vincenzo, Vinny, was there, the answer had to be yes. She clasped her hands together to stop the trembling. The room opened up to a bright sales counter with a display of bagels and a space full of small round tables and lots of chairs. The decor was modern and welcoming, such a contrast to Marconi’s shop. She wanted to tell Duran how much she liked this place, but instead, she looked about the room, hoping to meet her dad.
“Hey, Duran,” a girl behind the counter said. “Who’s your friend?”
“Lunetta, this is Kate. Kate this is Lunetta, my cousin. And that funny looking guy down there on the end, that’s Peter. Another cousin. Both awesome.” The
y beamed at the compliment. “What’s the flavor of the day today?”
“Coconut and caramel.” Lunetta walked toward him with two bagels in hand. He took them and led Kate to an empty table. After taking a seat, he lay one bagel in front of him and another in front of her. “Let’s see if this one’s any good.”
Kate nibbled at it. Her stomach churned.
“You have to take a bigger bite or you won’t get the full effect.” He took a big bite of the chewy bagel.
Kate looked around again.
“You looking for someone?” Duran asked after swallowing.
“Sorry. I’m a little distracted.” She swung her arms out to the side and then smacked her hands on her legs.
“Your family?” It was about her family, but little did he know what was going on in her mind.
She nodded. “Is your boss going to show up?”
“He doesn’t mind us eating a bagel or two during the day. Trust me.” He thought she wasn’t eating because she didn’t want to steal. One point for Duran.
“Oh, good,” she responded. “I like things to be on the up and up. I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble.”
“My boss is great. Laid back for the most part. I live with one of his brothers, Marcel. They’re both great.” The front bell rang, indicating there was a new customer. “Speak of the devil.” Duran stood up and met the man. Her father. Today he wore a red button down, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, tan pants with a dark leather belt, with pointy, shiny dress shoes. He wore three necklaces. Two like a surfer might wear made out of tiny brown shells, one slightly longer than the other, and a thin gold chain that was being pulled to a v shape by something hidden behind his shirt. She wondered what dangled there. He was handsome and his smile was warm, soothing, and he seemed to be a cool guy considering his choice of clothing. She stood too and tapped her foot against the floor while twisting her hands in anticipation. They moved toward her. She thought her head might explode with the pressure building up in it. Everything seemed quiet and yet loud at the same time.
“Kate,” Duran said, “This is Vincenzo, my boss.”
16
Vincenzo’s eyes sparkled with delight as he held out his hand for her to shake, a stark contrast to the darkness outside. The storm was gathering for sure. When their eyes met, he squinted slightly and cocked his head slightly to the side. “Have we met before?”
“No,” she croaked and then cleared her throat. “Sorry.”
“Well, you saw her from a distance the other night at Marconi’s,” Duran said.
“Ah, got it. You’re visiting? And where are you from?”
“Texas.”
“Huh,” he said, his chin raised slightly. It gave him the appearance of an important person looking down on her. But, behind it all, she could see nervous energy working in him. “Well, it was nice to meet you, but I have to go. Enjoy your tour.”
As he walked away, she thought she heard him sigh loudly. A huge thunderstorm hit outside at almost the same moment, the heavens sent huge drops of rain down on the streets. It didn’t take long for puddles of water to form as unprepared pedestrians entered the shop. Duran watched, and his agitation grew as he did. He looked at Kate and grimaced.
“Don’t worry about me, Duran,” she said absentmindedly. She had talked to her dad. Her birth dad. “I don’t mind if you go help out. I know you have to work in a few anyway.”
He grabbed her hands and squeezed them. She barely felt the pressure. She stared down the hallway Vincenzo had gone down. “Thank you. I’ll only be gone a few seconds. Just long enough to get that water up and put some caution cones down. I’d hate to see someone slip and fall.”
Like a magnet being pulled to its opposite, Kate’s eyes stuck to the hallway Vinny had gone down. Vinny had obviously recognized something in her. Something that threw him off. Did she dare tell him she was his daughter? She had to be. Nothing else would explain the locket and the painting. He was nice, but connected to Andre and the other Marconis. He could be a gangster. A rare mix of fear and hope filled her.
She licked her lips. There was the chance that he could have ordered her killed. It was a Marconi that had signed that note to Cremashci, the note she believed was given to him as a permission slip to adopt her out. What did that tell her about Vincenzo? He could have been the one who wanted to hurt her. He could have been the one that killed her mom. He had told Duran that the girl in the oil painting caused him pain, but it didn’t feel right to think that he’d hurt her. Maybe the pain came from her mom’s death. Her limbs tingled, and her breath seemed to be bottled up in her chest. She had to risk it. She had to. She’d come this far. As she passed the sales counter, a strong whiff of garlic and onion filled her nose. Her stomach churned. She pushed on. If she made a fool of herself, so be it.
His door was open, and he stood staring at the painting on his wall. She took a quick glance and then moved inside. He stood up with a jerk and faced her, his hand behind his back. Kate opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
“Is there something you need, Kate?”
She moved her tongue around her mouth to produce much needed moisture. She took in a shaky breath. His nose flared and he raised his eyebrows. “Well?”
Her nerves ran away with her. What proof did she really have that he was her father? She had undeniable proof that the woman in the picture was her mom, but maybe her dad was someone else entirely. She needed more information.
She licked her lips. “Your wife?”
He gave no indication.
“She’s lovely.”
“She was lovely.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” So her mom was dead.
“Some things are better kept in memory.”
“When did she die?”
“I didn’t say she was dead.” He flicked his eyes from the painting to her.
She noticed there was a date on the title plate. Fifteen years previous.
“Did she have children?” Her heart raced like never before and crickets filled her belly. She had to know one way or the other. She had to.
“No.” His voice turned cold, hard in an instant, and he turned from her. His words echoed through her as false. He was lying to her. He knew something. She threw caution to the wind. This was it. Now or never. “Vincenzo. I am Constanzie, Carmela’s daughter—and I believe yours also.”
His face paled. “No. I have no daughters.”
“But you do, and having a painting made that removes me from the picture won’t erase that fact.” She took the locket off, and his eyes showed a spark of recognition that was gone in an instant.
He huffed now and spit his words at Kate. “I do not have a daughter and never will.”
“I believe you gave me up to keep me safe. From what, I have no idea.” She moved toward him.
He jerked toward her, and she pulled back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Red splotches crept up his neck.
“It’s okay. I understand. I’m not mad. You saved me.” She licked her lips with cautious hope as an excited flutter found root in her belly. “Look at this picture.” She clicked the locket open.
“I’m going to say this one last time. You are not my child. I have no children, and I want you to leave and never come back. If you show up here again, you won’t like the consequences.” His lips pinched together in disgust, and his hands clasped the top of his desk, his knuckles white.
She backed up into the door, closing the locket and shoving it into her pocket. She felt behind her for the knob. Heat rushed across her cheeks. She twisted the knob, yanked it forward, blinking fast to clear her burning eyes. She wanted to crumple onto the floor, but she knew it was not an option. He turned from her, exposing a gun shoved in his waistband. She ran to the seating area and grabbed her purse before running past Duran and out into the humid air.
She ran blindly, not caring who saw. She’d been rejected by her father. Somewhere in the back of her mind she could hear Duran calling h
er name. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a cab drop off a fare, and she ran across the street to get to it before it could drive away. She had to slap her hand on a window to get him to stop as he pulled out into the street. He did stop and waited for her to climb in. She gave him the address of the resort, and he took off. Duran stood across the street, hands out, palms up in question. She wanted to feel bad about leaving him, but couldn’t find room for anything but her own hurt and disgust.
She needed to distract herself from her pity party. She grabbed her phone. No texts from anyone. Not Ellie. Not Colby. Not Jace. None. She closed her eyes. She’d been so stupid to listen to Ellie. She never should have let the likes of Jace McCollum into her life. He had targeted her and she’d fallen right into his trap. She was such a stupid girl. What else could go wrong? First Jace, then Andre, and now Vincenzo.
Once back at the hotel, she used her keycard to go in a back door. She hurried into the elevator. As the doors shut, she found herself alone and looking at her phone. As she stared at the screen a text popped up from Ellie. Word is out that Jace is on the beach somewhere. We’ve been scouring it for hours and nothing. Going to keep looking. I hope everything is going well with your search. Let me know what’s happening.
She grabbed her hair near her forehead and screamed out. Was there no one she could count on? Finding no one in the hotel suite, she leaned against the wall, slouched down it, and bawled.
At some point, she’d gotten her wits about her and had texted Ellie.
Any luck? she typed, blinking the tears from her eyes.
None. If he’s here, he’s well hidden. What about you?
Long story. Fresh tears welled up in Kate’s eyes as she typed. Tell you when I see you next, which will be?
Not sure. Come join us on the beach. We’re only about a half a mile from the hotel. Head North. We’ll find each other.
I need a nap first. I’ll call you when I leave.
She jumped into a hot bath, hoping it would soothe her. What she really needed was her piano. And she wasn’t about to go downstairs and risk being heard by anyone. Besides, her memories of Jace were tied up with that blasted piano. She lay back and let the jets pound her body. She was about to get out when the jets stopped of their own accord. A light knock came from the other room. She grabbed a plush white robe to investigate. The last thing she wanted was to have housekeeping come in while she was naked in the tub. When she opened the door, Jace fell in. He’d been sitting on the floor, leaning against the door. “Whoa!” he hollered, unnaturally loud, as he looked up at Kate. “It’s about time.” He grinned, a definite slur in his voice. “I’ve been knocking and knocking and knocking.” His head lolled slightly side to side as he talked.