I put my arm around her and we head out the door with a little more faith than we came in with.
MY NURSES, MISS JANETT and Miss Sarah, are really nice. They asked me about my home in Scotland and what hobbies I have. I can’t wait for Uncle Max to get here with the blue prints so I can show them the castle I live in. Miss Sarah is showing me what everything in the room is for. Everyone comes back in and there is a man with them who looks around the room and begins to laugh. “Hi, Michael, I’m Dr. Dave and I will be taking care of you. I’m sorry to laugh; I wasn’t expecting to walk into a TARDIS. I haven’t met many Doctor Who fans; who is your favorite Doctor?”
This might not be so bad after all, “I like the eleventh, Matt Smith, but my Uncle Jax’s favorite is the tenth, David Tennant. Who is your favorite?”
“I think each one brings something unique to the role, but I’m partial toward the ninth, Christopher Eccleston. So, Michael, are you ready for me to go over what you can expect while you’re here?”
“I g-guess so, Dr. Dave.” I’m barely able to get the words out.
MY HEART IS BREAKING for Junior I know he is trying so hard to be strong. Dr. Dave takes Junior into an area of his room that has a table and chairs set up and some bookshelves. He sits down with him and begins explaining everything on Junior’s level. He’s not demanding or dictating. He tells him fear of the unknown is natural, but ALL is not unknown to him. For the first time, I feel myself relax a little. I pull Raven closer to me; her strength and faith are my rock right now. She reaches up and tugs her ear. I pull her hand away and bring it to my lips. I lean in and whisper, “Sweetheart, are you okay?”
“I’m very proud of Michael, he is such a strong boy. I wish I could shelter him from all of this, but I know Dr. Dave is right; Michael has the right to know what is going to happen. I’m just glad he is explaining it to him in a way that doesn’t scare him more. I know he will be okay, but that doesn’t make this any easier.”
Antonia begins to fuss just as Raven finishes her thoughts. She takes her from Mrs. Osla and heads into the other room to tend to her, with Bo and her guards not far behind her. After setting Michael up with an IV, his nurses begin to administer the first blood transfusion. I decide to step outside his room to check in with Max.
Max picks up on the first ring. “Jax, is everything okay? How is Junior holding up?”
“Calm down, mate, he’s doing okay. The doctor is really nice and doesn’t pull any punches. He talked to Junior directly, explaining every step of the way, what will happen without scaring him.” I inform him, then continue on to relay every bit of the conversation we had with the doctor prior. In regards to our father possibly being a closer match, I know Max, if needed, he’d probably remove the damn stem cells himself. “Max, if it comes to that, I will take care of it. What is going on with the wedding?” I look at the phone to see if the call dropped, “Max, you there?” Then I hear growling. Oh no, I hope he didn’t snap that wanker Dylan’s neck.
“Do not laugh, Jax, or I swear I will get even with you.” He then lets out a big disgruntled sigh. “I have to wear a bloody Kimono.”
I try—I mean, I really try not to laugh—but the thought of Max in a Kimono creeps into my head and I lose it. I swear I’m laughing so hard, I’m crying. It is at this very moment Raven steps out of Junior’s room to find me. Max is yelling something in my ear and she is looking at me like I have two heads. Maybe it’s the pressure that’s finally gotten to me. She walks up to me and takes my phone.
“Hello, Max, it’s Raven, please stop yelling. Is everything okay?”
“So help me, if he doesn’t stop laughing, I’m going to kick his arse!”
“Can I ask why he’s laughing so hard, he’s crying?”
“No! Please put him back on the bloody phone.”
I find some sort of composure and take the phone. “Okay, mate, I’m back, but you must promise me pictures.” All I get is a growl and a quick disconnect.
Raven is waiting for some answers, guess I better explain. “I was checking in with Max, and he has to wear a Kimono. Surely you see the humor in that?”
Her face lights up with a beautiful smile. “Oh, Jax, I can’t believe I forgot about that. I hope Jackie gave him a heads up before time.” She giggles and it’s such a wonderful sound.
“Sweetheart, I have a surprise for you. Well really, it’s for all of us. I spoke with Jeffery Gerhard today, explaining the situation here and why none of us can be there for the wedding. He has agreed to surprise Jackie and Max by letting us SKYPE the ceremony. I can still be his best man and you can be Jackie’s matron of honor. The entire family can be there for them.”
She throws her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “Jax, as if it were even possible, I love you more than I ever thought I could. Your kindness knows no bounds.” She kisses my cheek enthusiastically, and then pulls back. “When is the ceremony?”
“Jeffery said he would give us advance notice, so let’s go let everyone know what is going on, and see how Junior is doing.”
I JUST GOT WORD that my new attorney is here to see me today. That’s a surprise, since I already gave the feds what they wanted or, at least, as much as I was willing to part with. There’s more—hell—there’s always more. I’ve been moved to an underground facility in Colorado. This place is considered hell-on-earth and that’s not far off in the description. I’m being led out to a special visiting room that has been set up for attorneys visiting inmates. The feds might think they got a win, but this is only the first round. As long as I’m not dead, I can’t be stopped. I shuffle along as best I can, being led in leg irons and cuffs. Deveno is gone and so now I will have to train my new attorney. That’s okay. Unlike Deveno, maybe this one will get everything I ask for done. When we get into the room, the guards attach my restraints to a bolt in the floor and step out. There’s a knock on the door, it opens and in steps my attorney. What the fuck?!
“Hello, Mr. Giaconna, I’m Ms. Amelia Jade, I will be representing you. I know that you already have a deal in place at this time, however, I’m here to see if I can make it better.”
“Who the fuck hired you?” Damn this girl is a looker; long, red hair and tits that I wouldn’t mind burying my face in.
“Your sister, Annabelle, hired me to take a look at your case.”
“Well, Ms. Amelia Jade, what makes you think you can do anything for me? I already have a deal in place with the feds. My long-lost son, whom I only knew for three fucking months, threw me, along with the entire family, under the bus. The evidence against me was pretty black and white, so I really didn’t have a choice. Where did Anna find you?” Let’s see her work with nothing.
“Well, Mr. Giaconna, I’m not going to dispute the deal, only the evidence that was used to make the deal. I believe there was a break in the chain of evidence—the video tape to be precise. When it was obtained, copies were made. The prosecutor said it never left the chain of custody, yet, Mr. Fleming had a copy. I believe we might be able to pull the deal and have a trial. Either way this goes, you will be going to jail, I have no doubt about that. As far as Annabelle is concerned, I found her.”
“So, if it’s not going to change my conviction, then why bother? Why contact my sister?” Her jaw is tight and her emerald eyes become very dark. She looks down at her hands and then back up to me.
“Revenge, Mr. Giaconna—pure, sweet, and simple. I want it and you’re my way of getting it.”
“Wow, who pissed in your corn flakes?” I jerk my head back. “What would make you think I would even go along with any of this?”
“You want to know who pissed in my corn flakes? Joseph Adessi, when he recruited my brother, Marco, to be his spy. Cara AKA: Raven, your niece, for turning my brother into some love-sick puppy. Duke, for putting a bullet in him. I can’t get to Duke, at least not yet. Joseph is dead. So that leaves Raven. My way to her is through you, plain and simple.”
“You think I’m going to go along with this? What’s
in it for me?” Why did my sister even go along with this broad?
“Oh, there are two reasons I know you’ll go along with it. I might be able to get you something better than this hellhole and I can guarantee Jacquelyn Gerhard’s head on a proverbial silver platter.” Now this broad has my attention.
“The entire Phillips family has arrived in the States, with the exception of Maxwell Fleming and Jacquelyn Gerhard. It appears Michael Vizzano Jr. is ill and will be here for treatment for the next three years. He just happens to be staying at the hospital where a friend of mine works, which is why I was lucky enough to receive this information so quickly. Mr. Fleming and Ms. Gerhard are in Switzerland and will be arriving soon. Once they are back in the States, the target becomes more vulnerable.”
She takes out pictures of everyone arriving to a hospital and places them in front of me. I flip through them, they seem mundane until I get to the last one; I freeze. No fucking way is this possible. “Where was this picture taken and when?!”
“It was taken this morning outside the hospital in Philly. I had no idea who that was, so I had the picture enlarged. With the hat on and glasses it’s still hard to tell. Is there a problem? Do you know who that is?”
This can’t be, is this why Joseph never came after me? I stare at the picture and there is no mistaking that beautiful jaw line and those delicate features. “I will go along with your crazy plan under one condition. I need to see the girl in this picture, find her and bring her to me.” I fold the picture and put it in my pocket.
“Mr. Giaconna, if you can tell me who the lady in the picture is, that would help?”
“The lady in the picture is Gabriella Giaconna, the catalyst for all of this; the mother of my only child. Bring her to me and you have a deal.” I’ve always operated on the theory that my friends and associates are there for me to use. My enemies are there for me to destroy. Ms. Jade just became my new friend. I will use her and even destroy her if it means I can get my hands on Gabriella—again.
“First I need to get you moved out of this hell whole and back to the East coast. I will be in touch soon.”
She gathers up her stuff and walks out, leaving me with more questions than answers. I can’t get them from Joseph, but I will get them from Gabriella. The guards come in, unlock my chains and I begin the trek back to my cell. Once again, it’s a waiting game for me.
I HATE THIS PLACE and the man I came here to see. I have no choice, though. If I want revenge for my brother’s death, then I will have to deal with the devil. I’m in shock; how could this be? There was never any indication that Gabriella was alive. If Vincent is correct, then what else was Joseph hiding?
My brother ran away when I was thirteen. Joseph should have helped him come home, not make him into a babysitter for Raven. She turned him into some lovesick puppy and in the end, it cost him his life. She might not have pulled the trigger, but she was just as responsible. I need to keep my end of the bargain. If Vincent wants Gabriella, then he will get her along with Jacquelyn’s head as a bonus. I pull out my duplicate set of pictures and find the one of the woman. From this picture, it’s so hard to tell who the woman is. Maybe Vincent is seeing what he wants to see. Staring at this picture isn’t going to get me anywhere. I pull out my phone and send a quick text to my investigator in Philly.
Just left Vincent. It’s a go, but only if we deliver the lady in the attached photo. He claims it’s Gabriella Giaconna. This could be why Joseph didn’t use the tape. I’m heading to the airport now. Will contact you when I land.
I instruct my driver to go directly to Pueblo Memorial airport, while I try to make some sense of this. Joseph staged that accident in California to look like Gabriella and Cara died, but why put Cara up for adoption if her mother was alive? Why not relocate them both? Gabriella already gave Duke away. I just don’t understand what the reason could’ve been to separate mother and child? I decide to head directly to, federal prosecutor, Hage’s office in New York. I’m sure by now he got my motion for discovery. Maybe I can find something in his files. We pull up to the airport and I rush out to catch my plane. All of this will have to wait till I touch down in New York.
I SIT IN MY cell and pull out the picture, stroking my finger up and down that delicate jaw line. So fucking beautiful, but this can’t be—how? I close my eyes and remember the first day I had her. She thought she was so strong. She thought she could fight me. That was until she found out I had her precious Cara. She did whatever I asked, and when she didn’t, when she fought me, it was even better. Just the thought of it makes my blood surge all over again. I can feel the tenderness of her sweet pussy like it was yesterday. I close my eyes and slowly stroke myself. What a poor substitute my hand is for her warmth. I remember thanking Antonio with every thrust inside her delicious pussy. I need to get out of here and find her again. I close my eyes and kiss her picture. I need to have her—I will have her. Nothing and no one will stop me. The thought gives me that last push I need, forcing me to finally come. “I’m coming for you, Gabriella, you’ll never be rid of me.”
I’M GLAD JAX CHECKED in, letting me know that Junior was doing okay. And all the information I found on the doctor seems really positive. I know Jackie is nervous about today, but something else is bothering her. She was so quiet on the ride to the airport and now, on the ride to her parents’ house, she seems anxious. “Hey, babe, talk to me, this can’t just be wedding jitters.”
“Max, we haven’t seen Sammy since the day we fled the country. I spoke to my mother and she said Dylan is in a foul mood. I thought I could do this on my birthday, but now I’m not so sure.”
Fuck me, she can’t be backing out now! “Jackie, I promise you everything will be fine. I will talk to Sammy about why I chose to leave him in the dark. Your brother will deal with the fact that I’m not going away. You have a lock on my heart for life and nothing he says or does will ever change that.”
Her grip on my arm seems to lighten a little, that is, until, we pull up to the guard gate. As we drive up to the house, I finally get a sense of how she grew up and the isolation she had to endure for so many years. Things are starting to make sense. I look around and notice there are a lot of guards and dogs. “Jackie, is security always this tight?”
“No, Max, something must be up. My father never has the dogs this close to the house.”
We step out of the car and I pull her tightly into my arms. “Until I find out what is going on, I want you close to me, understand?” Before she can answer, the door opens and Jeffery Gerhard steps out.
“So happy you’re here, Jacquelyn.” He pulls her into his arms.
“Papa, this is Maxwell Fleming. Max, my dad, Jeffery Gerhard,” she goes about introducing us.
“Please, call me Jeff. Your mother is waiting for you. Maxwell and I have a lot to discuss. Don’t worry, I promise I will go easy on him.”
I pull her close and kiss her cheek, “Go, I’m fine.”
When she is out of sight, I turn towards Jeff, “You can call me Max. Why don’t we go sit down, so you can fill me in on what happened?”
“What makes you think anything happened?”
“Extra security and the dogs are close to the house.”
“Sam is in my office, waiting for us. He has some intelligence information that he wants to go over with you.” He smacks my back and leads me to his office.
“Hello, Max, I have some information to go over with you.” Sammy looks up from Jeff’s desk as we enter the room.
“First order of business, Sam: no hard feelings. I’m sure you understand why I did what I did. The less people that knew what we were doing, the safer everyone was.”
“I understand. I didn’t like it but I get it. We have more important matters to discuss. A very creditable threat has come through on Jackie’s life. I know that you have bumped up security, however, I’m not sure that going to the States is the best decision.”
I feel my heart constrict and pound in my chest. “Show me what
you’ve got.”
“I found out that Vincent has a new attorney. She filed a motion for discovery. My contact said she is trying to get the plea overturned due to tainted evidence.”
Just the mention of his name makes me lose all reason. “Why the fuck would anyone take his case and think they would win? There has to be something in it for the attorney.”
“Oh there is, Max—revenge. Her name is Amelia Jade and she is Marco Green’s sister.”
I freeze “Sister? Since when did Marco have a sister? There was nothing in his file about any siblings.”
“Amelia Jade Esq. was Amelia Green. She was thirteen when Marco left home. Soon after her father died and her mother remarried. Her name was legally changed to Jade and all her records were sealed.”
“Sealed? Who sealed them? Please don’t tell me Joseph.”
“No, Marco sealed them. He was a hacker and damn good at it. Apparently, he sealed them without telling anyone. It was his way of protecting her from anything he did.”
“Look, Sam, I get it. She is hurt that she lost her brother, but Duke shot him and he’s gone in the wind somewhere. Why try to re-open a case that she has no chance of winning?”
“She is trying to get to Raven and to get to her; she has to get to Jackie. That is probably the only way she would get Vincent to go along with this. She knows she doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning, but if she can force a trial, then you and Raven have to testify. Vincent wants revenge against you and getting Jackie is the ultimate revenge. He doesn’t give a shit about you personally, only what he can do to make you suffer. You know his MO has always been about torture, Max.”
“Raven didn’t do anything to Marco. She honestly loved him like the brother she always wanted. I knew going to the States was a risk, but we had no choice. I have tripled security on everyone. Has Jax been informed of the latest developments?”
Shattered Lies Page 16