I WANT TO CHECK on An again before I turn in for the night. I know what lies ahead for Michael, but the last thing anyone needs right now is to be overwhelmed with too much information. I need to make sure she remains calm. She is very lucky to be alive right now, and I mean to keep it like that. I knock and Mrs. Osla lets me in.
“Hi, Mrs. Osla. I wanted to check on An before I turned in for the night.”
“She is sleeping right now, but do you have a moment to chat with me?”
“Of course, what can I do for you, Mrs. Osla?”
“Well, you can start by finally calling me Rona. You saved my best friend’s life and I will always be indebted to you. I did the research for Michael’s treatment, so I know what is in store for the lad. I know it’s not your field of study, but I’m grateful you insisted the test be run. Again, I wanted to thank you and to let you know I will be traveling to the States with everyone. If you need me for anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Okay, thank you, Rona. I’m going to do a quick check on An and then try and get some rest.” I head into An’s room and she is asleep, however, I want to at least take her blood pressure and pulse. Exhaustion must have finally hit, she barely moved while I checked her. I head out and I see Rona is still here.
“Everything seems good. I will check her again in the morning. Rona, your name is very unusual, what does it mean?”
She smiles “Wise ruler, very fitting, don’t you agree?”
I laugh, “Yes, I would say so. You should get some rest; it’s a long flight tomorrow.”
“I will, thank you, Rose.”
I head out the door feeling very tired and overwhelmed with today’s events. I need to get some sleep. I only hope my mind will let me.
ANTONIA IS UP VERY early this morning, which is fine since I need to pack her stuff. It’s amazing how much one little baby needs. Knowing Mrs. Osla, she’s probably made sure the house is well stocked. I sit in front of the window, watching the sunrise probably for the last time in a long while. I’m really going to miss this place. It’s become home; my daughter was born here. I promised Michael that we will come back and I intend to keep that promise . . . no matter what. He is such a special boy. I spent most of the night, praying to God to please give him the strength he will need to get through this. It’s going to be a long road for everyone. “Good morning, Jax,” I say as I feel his presence.
“Good morning, sweetheart. Is she done eating?”
“Yeah, but she doesn’t seem tired.”
“I’ll take her while you get ready,” he offers. I hand him the baby, but I don’t get up just yet.
“It’s going to be another long emotional day for all of us. I’m glad my mom will be with us. Watching her take charge of everything, so effortlessly, was very comforting. She was able to keep the panic at a minimal.” He sits in the rocker and slowly glides back and forth as Antonia fights to keep her eyes open.
“Raven, I had Matthew look into your mum’s license, like you asked. It’s still good. Also, Matthew had her name changed and requested to have it made active, but that’s only the beginning. There is a lot of other stuff she would have to do in order to practice. I’m not sure of everything that is needed, but Matthew is going to look into it and let her know. In the meantime, I am going to bring her up to speed on what we do know.”
“Well, I wasn’t expecting it to be easy.”
“That’s just the first hurdle. If she decides to practice, then I’m sure she would be required to do continuing education classes along with training to bring her up to speed. Maybe she would rather go into some sort of research; I don’t know what that would entail. Ultimately, it’s up to her. I’m just giving her the opportunity to make her own decision.”
“Thank you. Just remember to go slow when you tell her.” I get up to leave and bend down to kiss Antonia. I love her smell; sweet and fresh. He takes my hand and brings it to his lips, tightly closing his eyes. I know something is bothering him.
“What’s wrong?”
“The letter; have you decided what you’re going to do?”
“Yes. I’m going to read it before we leave today. It won’t change anything, at least for me it won’t.”
“I’m here for you and, if you want me to be with you when you read it, let me know.”
“I love you, Jax.”
“More, sweetheart, always more.”
I LEAVE ANTONIA’S ROOM with Jax mindlessly rocking her back and forth. She’s asleep. He could put her in her crib, but this is his special time with her. While everyone is still asleep, I decide to head straight to his office and retrieve the letter. I need to get this over with and move on. I take the letter off the desk and curl up on his oversized, leather sofa. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I know nothing he can say will change what happened. Jackie has always told me that the only way to move forward is to forgive and leave the past behind. Easier said than done. “I don’t think I’m that strong.”
“You’re stronger than you think, Raven.”
My eyes fly open and find Jax standing in the doorway. “I didn’t hear you.”
“I know. I didn’t want to startle you, but I was worried. I’ll give you some privacy, however, I won’t be far away.” He steps out of the room and closes the door. I muster up my courage and open the letter.
Raven,
I know you must hate me and I can understand why. I won’t make excuses for what I did; I have to live with that for the rest of my life. When I first met you, I didn’t know what to think. The only information I had was what Erica shared with me. I only found out you were my sister when you and Michael were kidnapped. I was not involved with Marco and Erica’s plan to take you from that safe house. At that point, I was in too deep and had no idea how to get out. I thought by contacting Vincent, and telling him I was his son, that it would be a way out of that clusterfuck of a mess. When I explained to him who you and I were, and what was going on, he went ballistic. He told me not to panic, that he would help me. Little did I know the type of help he was offering would be even worse. I never killed anyone before. Hell, I’ve never even gotten into a fight! But that night, I took two lives. I will have to live with that for the rest of my life.
When we were in Italy, and you showed me our mother’s journal, I realized what Vincent really was. I walked out of your room that day, knowing I needed to come up with a plan. I figured if I kept quiet, and let him believe that I wanted to be a part of his life, that I could figure a way out of that mess. The day the doctor came to examine you, Vincent stayed outside your room the entire time, waiting to find out what was wrong with you. That gave me the opportunity to go into his office and look around. I saw the program opened on his computer, so I downloaded everything. I knew that it must’ve been important, since he kept that drive with him all the time. When Jaxson and Maxwell came to rescue you, Vincent heard them and ordered the guards to go after them. He told them not to harm you, not that any of that mattered. He ran into his office and grabbed the drive. He told me to flee, and he would meet me in the states. I hid in the wine cellar until I had a chance to leave. I knew I would never get out of the country, so I took everything I thought was important and mailed it to a friend. I went to the airport, where I was picked up by the police.
Vincent sent Annabelle to see me, to try and persuade me to take the fall for everything. I knew then—I had to make a deal. I asked Hage if you were safe; I was prepared to include you in my deal if you needed me to. That’s when he told me you and Jaxson were married. He assured me that Jaxson would make sure you were safe, and I knew this to be true.
Part of my deal is that I’m never to contact, or see you or any of the Giaconna family. I have no desire to see any of them, although, I would’ve liked to have gotten to know you better. You were always kind to me, even when I wasn’t to you. I wish you and your family only the best; you fought hard for it and you deserve it.
I’m glad you’re getting your happily ever a
fter—you deserve it!
Duke
Wow, so much that I wasn’t aware of. It doesn’t change anything for me. I told Hage that Duke snapped that day. Anyone could see how played he was by Marco and Erica. Because of his efforts to get that drive, though, Max and I didn’t have to testify. If my mom decides she wants to read this, I will let her. Maybe she can see some good in him. I take the letter and put it in the safe. I need to get ready. I want to make sure Michael is not scared. I open the door to head out and find Jax sitting on the floor.
“What are you doing?” I reach my hand down to him. He takes it, pulling himself up off the floor.
“I was worried about you and wanted to be here . . . just in case.”
“I’m okay. I put the letter in the safe. He explained how he got the information and why. It doesn’t matter, Jax; I closed that door for good. Now let’s go check on Michael and then get started.”
“Raven, you are, by far, the strongest person I know. I love you.”
“It’s the only way I know how to be.”
As we head down the hall, he pulls me close. “You really okay with everything?”
“I really am. I know that whatever happened with Duke, he has to live with it. Jackie always tells me to forgive and then put it away. If I dwell on what happened, it would make me a bitter person. The past can’t be changed, but the path we choose to move forward on can. I’m choosing only positive in my life.”
“Sometimes your strength and faith befuddles my mind.” We quietly head down the hall to Michael’s room.
I CAN’T SLEEP AND I know it’s cause I’m scared. My mum is trying not to cry but I can tell she’s scared too. Why did this have to happen to me? I won’t even have time to say goodbye to any of my friends. I wonder what the doctors are going to do to me? Vito slept with his head on my pillow all night. “Don’t you worry, Vito, you go where I go.” My door slowly opens and Aunt Raven and Uncle Jax stick their heads in. “I’m up; you can come in. You just missed Mum and Dad, they went to get ready to leave.”
Aunt Raven crawls into bed next to Vito; he likes her. “Michael, are you ready to get going?”
I’m trying to be brave but I’m worried about Vito. I wipe my eyes as Aunt Raven pulls me toward her, which is hard with Vito in the middle.
“Michael, please tell me why you’re upset. Maybe I can fix it.”
“What a-about, Vito? What will happen to him, Aunt Raven?”
Uncle Jax throws his hands up in the air. “Junior, is that what this is about? I told you no one gets left behind and that includes the beast.”
Aunt Raven and I start to laugh, “Uncle Jax, you know you love him.”
“Whatever, Junior. Do you have everything packed? If you forget something, Uncle Max can bring it. I made sure Mrs. Osla ordered all our favorite DVDs. By the way, that was a slick move last night. You made me proud.”
“Thanks, Uncle Jax, but I don’t think they liked it. Oh, and why doesn’t Uncle Max like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?”
“I don’t know; I never asked him. When you find out let me know.”
“Uncle Jax, is Grams going to be able to come with me?”
“Just try and stop her! Now come on, you need to get ready. Be downstairs and ready to go in thirty minutes.”
When they head out the door, I get up and throw on my clothes. I’m not going to some stupid hospital to get a bunch of needles. I looked it up on the Internet last night, and whatever this is that I have it doesn’t look good. I grab my backpack and I’m thankful that I snuck into the kitchen this morning, using the secret passage to get my supplies. “Vito, come on, we have to go.” He’s not moving off the bed, but his tail is thumping. “Come on, Vito, we can’t get caught.” Finally he hops off the bed, and we quietly head out the door. I press the secret panel and just like that—we are gone.
“RAVEN, WHILE YOU FINISH tending to Antonia, I want to go over a few things with Mrs. Osla. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“Ok, I shouldn’t be too much longer.”
I kiss her and head downstairs. I find Mrs. Osla and my mum having breakfast. “Good morning everyone. Mum, how are you feeling this morning?”
“I’m fine, son. Is everyone ready to leave?”
“Almost. Mrs. Osla, you got everything I asked for set up at the new house?”
“Jaxson, I assure you—all your favorite DVDs are already there. And, I even managed a surprise for young Michael. Before you ask, the answer is no; you’ll have to wait and see.”
Just then, Bella comes rushing in. “Jax, I can’t find Junior! Do you know where he is?”
“I just left him in his room with the beast. I told him he had thirty minutes to be down here.”
“I checked! He’s not there and neither is Vito.”
“Did you call his cell?”
“He left it on his nightstand. Michael went out to check the barn. I asked the guards and they said he never left the house.”
“Bella, he has to be here . . . he didn’t just disappear. It’s a big house; let’s get everyone together and start a search.”
I call Max and inform him what’s going on. We gather everyone into the kitchen and I hand out the two-way radios. “Rose, you’ve done the most exploring with Junior; is there any one of the secret passages that he likes the best?”
“He loves them all, but I know he really wanted to explore the tunnel that stretches from the backend of the house to the barn. There are so many that we haven’t checked out yet.”
Max comes racing through the door. “Hey, any sign of him yet?”
“No, Max, nothing. Why the hell would he do this?”
Max unfolds the blueprints and assigns each person a section to cover. “Maybe he’s scared, Jax. Everyone take a flashlight along with your radio. Please check in every fifteen minutes. Mum, you and Mrs. Osla wait here in case he shows up.”
Raven comes in with Antonia, ready to go. “What’s going on?”
“Junior disappeared. We are going to split up to search.” She gives Antonia to Mrs. Osla.
“Jax, give me a section and a radio.”
We each take a passageway and head out in search of Junior.
WITH BO RIGHT BY my side, I take the passage that Michael showed me. Instead of going up the staircase, I take the tunnel to the right. There are so many twist and turns. The tunnel seems to get a little wider and then suddenly, I come to a fork in the road. I stop and look in each direction. I have a gut feeling that I should go right. I go a few feet and I see Michael curled up with Vito, fast asleep. I pull out my radio to let everyone know I found him. “Jax, I’ve found Michael; he’s asleep. Go through the passage way off the kitchen. When you get to the spiral staircase, there is a tunnel on the right. Go through the tunnel until you get to the fork, and then, go right. I will wait here for you.” He assures me he’s on his way. I sit next to Michael and try not to startle him.
“Michael, it’s Aunt Raven, you need to wake up,” I whisper as I gently stroke his hair.
He slowly opens his eyes, and widens them as if he’s shocked to find me sitting next to him. “Aunt Raven, how did you find me?”
“I remembered you told me you wanted to explore this tunnel, so I thought I would look here first. Why did you run away?”
“I looked up on the internet what could happen to me and I got scared.”
I open my arms, “Michael, come here.” I hug him tightly. “You can’t believe everything you find on the internet. I get that you’re scared. It’s okay to be scared of the unknown. I promised you we would all be there with you. You will never have to go through this by yourself. I need you to fight, Michael. I need you to be that brave boy that you were when we were kidnapped. You helped me get through that and I will help you get through this.”
“How did I help you?”
“You gave me strength and you reminded me that I had a lot to live for. You also made me laugh even when I wanted to cry.”
“I will try to b
e strong. My mum is going to be really mad at me.”
“I won’t lie, Michael, everyone is out looking for you. I radioed your Uncle Jax, and he is on his way.”
“It’s okay, Aunt Raven, I will apologize to everyone.”
I hear Jax coming as he rounds the corner .Vito jumps up. “It’s okay, Vito, it’s only Jax.”
“Junior, are you okay? What the hell were you thinking?”
“I’m sorry, Uncle Jax, I really didn’t mean to make everyone worry about me.”
He crouch’s down in front of us, “Why did you run?”
He’s looking down at his hands, seemingly trying not to cry. “It’s okay, Michael, tell him.”
“Uncle Jax, I’m scared. I don’t want to do any of this.”
Michael begins to sob uncontrollably, “Shh, don’t cry, Michael, you’ll be okay.”
Jax pulls Michael into his lap. “I know you’re scared, and, I won’t lie to you—we all are. But, you are the bravest boy I know. You helped Aunt Raven when you were kidnapped. You moved out of the country; no questions asked. I know you can get through this, too.”
“How?”
“Faith. Now we really need to get back. How about you climb on my back and we race on out of here?”
Michael climbs onto Jax’s back and I gather up our stuff. We head back out the way we came in, with both dogs trailing behind us.
“Junior, how far back does this tunnel go? It’s not on Uncle Max’s blueprints.”
“I don’t know, this was the furthest I’ve ever gone. Uncle Jax, blueprints are like a map right?”
“Yeah, kind of like a very detailed map, why?”
“I wonder what else we don’t know about? Do you think Uncle Max will let me see them?”
“Well, after he calms down about you running away, I’m sure he will give them to you. Hell, you got him to watch the Doctor; I couldn’t even do that.”
He laughs and the sound warms my heart. We get to the panel and press it open. When we climb back into the kitchen, Jax puts Michael down. Bella is crying, she grabs and hugs him, then lets go. “Michael, what the hell were you thinking? Why would you do this? Do you know how worried I was?” she begins to yell.
Shattered Lies Page 13