Desired Too

by Lessly, S. K.

  I answered them as best I could. I told them Ducci came to start a war with me for something I had nothing to do with. A few of the organized crime division of the PPD confirmed the rumors. They had managed to get a hold of Lucy, who corroborated the truth that her father was coming after me for false information he’d received.

  I also told them that Ducci killed the Don. They didn’t buy it at first. They questioned the validity of my story. They wondered why he would do that and what he had to gain in starting a war. I told them that I didn’t know. They would have to ask Ducci and of course, they couldn’t.

  I didn’t mention Eddie, Basile, the ghost man, or Agusto to anyone. I didn’t want anyone coming in between what I had planned. Their punishment belonged to me. It belonged to my family, and I intended to have retribution.

  We were in federal custody until the DA decided not to press charges on us for firing automatic weapons within city limits, gun charges and possibly manslaughter charges. However, they realized it wouldn’t stick. None of the guns we had belonged to us. I didn’t know how Lincoln pulled it off, but the weapons he used and passed to Darrell and Hugo were tied to the Ducci family. They thought they had hope to take us down when they found Lester’s body. You remember Lester? He’s the one that accused me of being with his sixteen-year-old daughter. Well, the Feds found his body in a room in the warehouse. They declared he was dead for a least a few weeks. He was killed by an overdose of some shit. That was the informal declaration. They did eventually find out that in fact he did OD, but I was sure that someone else had injected him with the lethal does. I didn’t have any information on why he ended up in my warehouse, but I had an idea, Eddie.

  I knew Eddie would kill him. That’s why I left him with his life. Well, that was the partial reason. I could have killed him, but I wanted to prove a point. I wanted him to feel what it was like to not have my protection, as I told him.

  Eddie felt like Lester ran his mouth too much , so Eddie killed him. I never knew Lester to do drugs, but apparently the cops found a lot of drugs in his bedroom at the warehouse he was staying in.

  By the time the police finally released us from custody over the shootings and bodies from this Warehouse in New Jersey, my mother had already found out what happened. She was more than devastated; she was broken. She cried for days nonstop, and I could do nothing to console her.

  I couldn’t even understand how I was still upright. However, as I stood in front of the hole that the caretakers just lowered my father’s body in, I did understand. It was Raquel. Raquel was my rock. The moment she saw me the night my father died, she wrapped herself around me. She didn’t care about the blood that was caked on me or how hollow and empty I looked; she refused to let go. She still hadn’t let go.

  She was there for me and mama every step of the way. She held my mother when she cried for hours without hesitation. In fact, she’d taken care of Grandma Bella and Georgia, who had barely been eating. This entire family was broken, and I didn’t have a clue on how to fix it. Raquel had told me countless times not to worry about any of that while at my father’s funeral. She told me that I had the right to mourn my father, and I needed to do just that. She’d taken care of everything, from the funeral arrangements, to the announcements and even the press.

  As she stood next to me with her hand in mine, I just wanted to hold her against me, hoping that the beat of her heart would jump start mine.

  For a long time, I felt I was going through this alone. When you lose a parent and you have siblings, you typically lean on each other. You come together and help to get the other through. Unfortunately, for me, that wasn’t the story of my life. My own brother killed our father and he was MIA. The hatred and rage I felt was just about to consume me. The one person that kept me from going into an unforgiving murderous rage had also never left my side.

  I turned to my left and found Lincoln standing there, being that rock I needed. Georgia’s tear stained face blew a kiss at me and smiled. I smiled back weakly and looked back in the dark hole before me. I took a few long deep breaths and remembered Pops. He would want me to be strong and take my rightful place. He would want me never to lose sight of our family, and I intended to do just that.

  I’d allowed myself the right time to grieve. Now, it was time for revenge.

  “Thanks for being there,” I said not looking at anything, just the miles and miles of tombstones in front of me.

  I did hear Lincoln sigh deeply before he spoke. “Where else would I be? That’s what family is for.”

  It was ironic that we hadn’t seen each other in months and the first time we lay eyes on each other, was over some fucked up shit Eddie created, again.

  I turned to face him. “You know I don’t blame you for any of this. I blame myself somewhat, but, mainly, I blame Eddie. So if you’re here merely out of obligation…”

  Lincoln frowned and shook his head, “Did you lose your balls in that warehouse? What the fuck is that shit?”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “I was making sure that your oversensitive ass was back with me or if you were still crying over some bullshit that happened months ago.”

  Drake and I looked at each other, then laughed a little. We both pulled out a cigar and lit up. It was a shock at first when Lincoln saw me smoking. He thought it was because of losing Pops, but when he found out I’d acquired the taste after he left, I think it boosted his ego a little.

  “Are you ready to get this shit started?” Drake asked me.

  I pulled on the cigar a few times, held the smoke in my mouth, breathing the scent and taste of this amazing Cuban, before letting it flow freely.

  I nodded “Fuck yeah.”

  ********

  “Are you going to miss me while I’m gone?” Raquel asked me as she tightened her grip around my waist.

  “Mi amore, I miss you already, and you’re not even on the boat.”

  It had been a crazy and emotional filled two months, so I figured sending the women in my life on a cruise for a few days would help a little. Mama and grandma Bella were all for getting away for a few days. Lincoln and I had to talk Georgia and Raquel into the idea before they reluctantly agreed.

  “Ti amo, Leo.”

  I leaned down and kissed her. “I love you too, baby. Please, baby, try and relax on this trip. You’ve been running yourself ragged. It’s time to take care of you. Get a few massages, facials, lay out in the sun and try to enjoy yourself.”

  She looked at me sideways. “Yeah, and while I’m out enjoying myself, what will you be doing?”

  I inhaled and kissed the top of her nose. “Counting the days until your return.”

  She gave me a skeptical look and kissed me again before she backed away. “Come on, ladies. It’s time to board,” Raquel called out.

  Georgia started tearing up and Raquel practically had to peel her away from Lincoln.

  “I love you, baby,” she called out as she rubbed her belly. “Take care of Junior for me.”

  “You know I will, baby. We’ll be right here when you come back.”

  Raquel rolled her eyes and shifted her gaze to Maxine. Raquel and Max had continued to establish a bond that started to include Georgia, my mother, and grandmother. Having those five opinionated, strong-willed, mouthy women in one room was torture every second that went by. I loved it, though. It was working for my mother. Losing my father was devastating on Mama. I saw nearly all of her die that day, and I doubted she would ever be the same again. If it wasn’t for Raquel bringing everyone together, I don’t know how my mother would be right now, which was another thing I love about my woman.

  Anyway, once Max heard the ladies were going on a cruise, she joined the team.

  Max kissed her husband. “You be good and play nice with the other boys.”

  “I won’t make any promises,” Mason replied before kissing his wife again.

  All three of us stood there, smiling like idiots and waving as they boarded the boat.

  Raquel kept l
ooking back at me, and I swear it was as if she knew something was up with me.

  She was right of course, but she would never ask. For the past month, I’d been heavily into the family business. I’d been to countless meetings, solidifying our family name, letting others know that in no way had things changed, and destroying families here and on the west coast.

  It was bittersweet for some to see that Lincoln was back, and he definitely made his name felt through our little community.

  And now, Raquel finally understood what it truly meant to be with me, and so far, she hadn’t run for the hills.

  Raquel blew a final kiss at me and waved before she was completely on board, and I waved back.

  I heard Mason say the moment the women disappeared from sight, “I never thought in a million years they would let you out of the wild and back into civilization.”

  Confused, I looked at him and wondered who in the hell he was talking to. Mason kept his eyes forward, smiled, and waved at no one in particular.

  Lincoln replied, “I thought fish couldn’t survive without water.”

  Mason and Lincoln faced each other and stayed like that for a second before they actually embraced.

  What the…

  The confusion was evident on my face as Lincoln said, smiling. “This son of a bitch and I used to work together.”

  Still confused, I asked Mason, “I thought you were in the Navy.”

  Mason smiled. “Yeah, I was a Navy Seal.” He looked over at Lincoln, then thrust a thumb in his direction. “The CIA and the Seals were on a few missions together in sand land. He and I worked countless times together.”

  Mason then grew solemn. “Yeah, I heard what the company did to you. I actually got out about the time that shit went down with you. It was fucked up, but I know you made them pay though.”

  Lincoln nodded. “You know I did. That shit was something I wasn’t expecting, but I should’ve known it was bound to happen. You know how much I was liked in the agency.”

  Mason placed a hand on Lincoln’s shoulder. “Well, if you ever get bored babysitting, I can hook you up with some action.”

  Lincoln’s eyebrows rose. “Really?”

  “Yeah, I have a buddy that’s into the Private Sector. He’s always heading overseas on a case. I’m sure he has room for a man of your skills and talents.”

  Lincoln removed his fedora and wiped a rag over his baldhead. “That sounds like something I would enjoy doing.”

  Mason then moved closer. “Yeah, just don’t tell the wife where you heard it from.”

  Lincoln moved closer to Mason. “Why? You’ll get some heat?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Oh, for fuck sake, are you two finished with the sorority homecoming? Can you two pretend like you have some balls, instead of your wives having them?”

  Mason and Lincoln both looked at me, but they didn’t reply. I asked Mason, “Did you find that prick, Eddie, or what?”

  Mason looked at Lincoln and frowned.

  Lincoln replied, shaking his head, “I deal with this shit all the time. Always questioning me like I’m new to this shit.”

  Mason stabbed his thumb in my direction. “Yeah, I got a taste of that questioning bullshit too. He acts like we aren’t professionals and know what we’re doing.”

  “Fucking really?” I exclaimed, feeling my temper starting to rise.

  “Oh, look, he’s getting pissed,” Mason cajoled.

  Lincoln laughed and warned, “You better watch it. He’s scrappy.”

  Mason’s eyebrows rose and he looked at me. “Oh, a fighter, eh? Care to step into the ring sometime?”

  I didn’t hesitate. “Anytime you want, but I swear we won’t make it to anybody’s ring. Do you have the info or not?”

  The quick banter stopped, and Mason pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket. He unfolded it and handed it to me. “Yes, I found him. He’s on some secluded island on the outskirts of Italy, and he’s not alone.”

  Both Lincoln and I looked up from the paper that Mason gave us. “Oh, yeah, he finagled some ass?” Lincoln asked.

  Mason folded his arms in front of him, “Oh, he didn’t just finagle any ass; he got some Ducci’s ass.”

  My eyes grew. “He has Lucy with him?”

  Mason nodded. “Yup, word, of course, got around that you were taking out anyone associated with the family and you’ve been true to your word. Lucy felt it would benefit her in the end to go with her best chance of survival.”

  “What about that pale-faced fucker that Angel said was with Basile?” Lincoln asked.

  “I got some news on him too. They call him The Ghost. He’s a slippery bastard. Gun for hire. He works for Basile, but he also takes contracts for anyone that is willing to meet his price. Basile didn’t know about the additional hit on Raquel that his man was working. Eddie worked that out separately, but when he saw Lincoln was hanging around, Ghost told Eddie to do the job himself.”

  “Can you find him?” I asked, remembering my promise to him.

  Mason smiled. “Of course I can. It may take some time because he’s always on a job, but I’ll locate him and let you know.

  “Please do,” I told him, then shook his hand and held up the sheet in my hand. “Thanks for this info.”

  “You’re welcome. Do you need any help bringing Eddie back into the states?”

  “I may. I’ll let you know, but right now, Lincoln and I have a plane to catch.”

  Eddie

  “Bitch, where is the sunscreen?” Eddie barked while he rummaged through the bathroom drawers. “You know I burn easily.”

  Lucy rolled her eyes, but she didn’t answer. She didn’t care if the fucker burned to death. She was in complete hell.

  She got up from the bed and crept her way out of the bedroom. When she got downstairs to the living room, she heard her cell buzzing.

  She looked at it and the caller ID read “unknown.” She started not to answer it, but she figured it was probably someone from the states calling to tell her the update on Angel.

  Angel had been on a warpath. People had been disappearing left and right, and word had it that Angel had been cleaning house. Anyone that had associated themselves with her father or Eddie was eliminated. Besides her and her father, their family only consisted of a few male cousins and uncles, and they all had disappeared at the hands of Angel.

  Angel was true to his word, so she had to stay away.

  She picked up the phone, answering, “Is there any news on Angel?”

  There was silence on the other end before she heard his voice and almost passed out.

  “Where’s Eddie?” was all that Angel said, but he might as well had said, “Put a gun in your mouth and pull the trigger.”

  “He’s …um… upstairs.” She felt she needed to add, to show that she was cooperating, “He’s looking for sunscreen.”

  There was a pause on the other line before Angel said, “You have one play in this situation, and I think you know what it is. Fuck with me and you’ll never leave this island. There're plenty of sharks in the infested waters that would love to feast on your traitorous ass.”

  Lucy started nodding her head as if he was standing right before her. “I understand, and I will do anything you ask. Just please don’t kill me.”

  “It’s simple then. Do what I say, and I’ll let you live. Don’t and you die.”

  Lucy looked up the steps as if she was waiting for Eddie to come down at any minute. She whispered in her phone, “What do I need me to do?”

  *********

  Eddie felt someone smack him in the face a few times before his eyes fluttered open.

  Where in the hell am I? he asked himself, then tried to looked around, but found he was unable to move. He could move his eyes, however. He could hear himself breathing over a thunderous roaring that seemed to be all around him. What he couldn’t move were his arms or legs. He felt paralyzed.

  But how can that be?

  He recalled the last memory he had, and it
was of him and Lucy sitting down at the table for lunch.

  I was pissed at her for hiding the sunscreen, and I hit her.

  He played that memory in his head and felt it was accurate. After that, it was a blur.

  He tried again to move his head, his legs and arms, his fingers and toes and was unsuccessful. He started to panic.

  If this bitch poisoned me…

  Suddenly, he saw movement in his peripheral and waited for the person to come into focus. When the person came into view, his eyes grew.

  The man smiled.

  “Hey there, bro,” Angel said, his smile never reaching his eyes. “I hope you’re comfortable. We are going to take a little trip, so buckle up.”

  Angel reached over his body and then Eddie heard a click.

  Angel came back into focus, saying, “There’s no beverage on this flight, but I doubt you will need it.”

  Eddie tried to speak, and Angel moved closer seemingly confused. “I’m sorry, what did you say? I can barely understand the gibberish that’s coming out of your mouth, but I bet you're wondering what in the hell is going on, right? Well, let me tell you.” Angel then leaned in further and whispered, “It’s payback time. You tried to kill me… twice. You tried to kill Lincoln… twice. And you killed my father.” Angel hovered over Eddie’s face. “Tu pezzo di merda; an eye for an eye.”

  Angel pulled back slightly and smiled a wicked smile. “You know until this moment I’ve been thinking about what I would do to you when I caught you. I thought about just shooting you in the gut or the chest, and watch you suffocate on your own blood. I thought about setting your ass on fire, or gutting you like the fucking pig you are and watching as you try to figure out how to put your guts back into your body… All types of shit. Then suddenly, bam! It hit me. I remember something that I read in a book. This guy named Carmellini, I think… Anyway, he was caught by some really bad guys, and they gave him some drug that temporarily paralyzed him. They put cement shoes on him, literally, and had plans to push him out of the plane into the ocean. Of course, with the cement shoes, he would just sink to the bottom and drown. Very simple, right?”