Revengeful Deceptions

by Ursula Dukes

  News cameras lined the courthouse steps and as Adam and his father stepped forward with his client to make a statement, several shots rang out and as the crowd screamed, scattered and ducked for cover Adam felt a sharp pain in shoulder.

  There was so much chaos going on that only his father and Adam's client had seen him get hit. Jonathan began shouting for help as he held his hand over Adam's bleeding wound. The paramedics rushed over and while they were attending to Adam, Jonathan made the call to Muriel and Dominique. Molly told him that they had already heard about the shooting and were on their way to the hospital. After reassuring Molly that her fiancée was alright, Jonathan hung up the phone and he and Neal followed the ambulance to the hospital.

  Dominique became hysterical when she heard the news that Adam had been shot. Muriel had to drive them to the hospital. The chaos from the courthouse seemed to carry into the hospital as Adam wasn’t the only one who had been shot, there was at least one more victim, a court officer who had been standing near Adam had been hit as well. And because of all the pushing and shoving that had ensued on the courthouse steps, there were also several people who had been brought in for minor injuries such as scrapes and sprains.

  By the time Dominique and Muriel were able to locate Adam he had already been brought from the OR into his room and a nurse was hooking up his IV when Dominique and Muriel rushed into the room.

  “Excuse me you can't be in here,” shouted the nurse who was already on edge due to the hectic onset of patients. Dominique paid no attention to the nurse as she rushed to her husband’s side.

  “Nurse it's alright that's my wife and mother.”

  “Alright Mr. Caruso, but they can't stay long, the doctor still needs to come in and check on you and you need your rest.”

  “Of course nurse, thank you.”

  “Oh my god Adam are you alright honey?” Dominique was relived and confused as she kissed her husband, touching him to make sure he was alive and well.

  “Baby, I’m fine the bullet only grazed my shoulder, it looks worse than it is I promise.”

  “Adam, what happened out there?” His mother asked as they were now joined by Jonathan and Neal.”

  “It was total chaos Muriel, you would have thought there was a celebrity who was found not guilty instead of some street thug,” said Jonathan as he hugged his wife close.

  “Well thank god no body was seriously hurt,” sighed Dominique kissing her husband again.

  “Neal we better get you back to Molly, she must be worried sick.”

  “I think your right Jonathan, thanks.”

  “No problem, I’ve got to get back to the office anyway, do some reconnaissance, come on Muriel, Adam's in good hands let's leave these two alone.”

  Once the family had left them alone, Dominique and Adam stared into each other’s eyes as she gently ran her fingers through his hair.

  “Mmmmm, you keep doing that Dominique you’re going to make me fall asleep,” he said softly.

  “That's okay baby, you need your rest. Adam I don’t know what I would have done if ...” her voice trailed off.

  “I'm fine Dominique really.”

  “Adam I was so scared, I love you so much Adam Caruso. Don’t you ever get shot again do you hear me?” Dominique had tears in her eyes.

  Adam reached for his wife with his free arm and pulled her close.

  “I love you too and I promise I won't go getting myself shot anymore,” he grinned and held her tight.

  Brandon was anxious to get back to his apartment; he had just been given several ounces of cocaine from a rival gang as payment for wounding the attorney of the man who was just found not guilty. They had bigger plans for the client, for now all they wanted was for Brandon to send a message and that's exactly what he did.

  They were in fact so grateful; they had offered him a large amount of cocaine to bring with him on his drug run to New Hampshire next month, which he gladly accepted. This time Joey would be traveling with him to make the deal. Once they had returned from the deal, Brandon had planned on leaving the country again.

  Old man Caruso isn’t the only one with ties to Italy, thought Brandon. The trip he had made three years ago had made him anxious, but he found that it wasn’t so bad after all and he had made some good connections over there. He knew that it was just a matter of time before the police figured out who was responsible for the shooting and he had no intention of sticking around. There's nothing to do around here anyway, he told himself, besides, I need to get the hell away from Adam and his bitch wife.

  The upcoming drug deal was something he was looking forward to, it gave him a sense of control. Ever since his little fiasco with Nick three years back, DiNunzio had chosen to send someone else to do the monthly drop. But now it was time, his father had told him. It was time for him to get back in the swing of things.

  He was sure that things were safe now and since DiNunzio was the main supplier, he wanted to keep it that way and he felt more comfortable sending Brandon. The dealers were beginning to wonder where he was and why in the past few years, he hadn’t done the drops himself. “I'm more than ready.” He told his father after he set up the time and place for the drop. That’s still a month away, he told himself as he sat in front of the pile rubbing his hands together as if he was preparing to eat a small feast. He smiled to himself as he thought, for now, there ain’t nothing wrong with hitting a line or two or three.

  “Baby are you sure you’re ready to go home?” Dominique asked. It was the following morning and she brought Adam a steaming cup of gourmet coffee.

  “Thanks baby and yes I told you honey, I’m fine. It was just a flesh wound like I said and I’ll be good as new in a few weeks.”

  “Well at least this allows me to take care of you for once,” she whispered in his ear as she helped him get dressed.

  Even though he was still in a bit of pain, Adam couldn’t help but feel the twinge of desire growing inside of him.

  “Dominique,” he said as he took his wife's hand in his, “You’re in trouble when we get home.”

  Dominique couldn’t help but giggle, “Adam, you need your rest, no fooling around until your better,” she teased.

  “Oh I’ll feel much better if you were to do that thing you do with your tongue,” he said with a sexy smirk.

  “Well my hunky husband, I suppose it is my duty as your loving wife to make you feel better now isn’t it?” she said with a seductive smile. “So I guess we better get you home.”

  “Yes, the sooner the better baby.”

  Chapter Thirty Six

  With all that had gone on during the month of October, Adam and Dominique thought it best to skip the annual Halloween party at the penthouse this year. Adam was still healing and although Dominique liked taking care of him it wasn’t shortly after he was discharged from the hospital that he returned to work. He wasn’t one to sit around and do nothing; he told Dominique when she objected to his hasty return to work.

  Before long, things returned to normal yet again, as Adam resumed his job at the firm. Both he and his father had been waiting to hear from the police to tell them who was responsible for the courthouse shooting. They were still investigating, a detective told Jonathan. “But if this leads where we think its leading, you won't believe who is responsible,” he told him in confidence.

  “You’re going to have to give me a little bit more than that detective,” Jonathan replied.

  “Look, that’s all I can tell you for now, I’ll know more in a week or so, and then hopefully we can wrap this up. Until then, tell your son to be careful. I'll be in touch counselor.”

  “What do you mean he said be careful dad? And who the hell else could be responsible if not the rival gang?”

  “Son, I think maybe that detective was trying to tell us that maybe the victim, this George Neto was responsible, or someone from his family.”

  “You think so dad? I mean that's a little farfetched don’t you think?”

  “I don
’t think that at all son, you and I both know that nothing is farfetched in our line of work and don’t forget that he was out of the hospital son and in the courtroom that day. Someone outside could have slipped him a gun so anything is possible. In the meantime I just want you to be extra cautious alright? And that goes for Dominique too. You never know what these people are capable of.”

  “Great this is just great, you know something dad, I’ll be glad when this year is over, I really will.”

  “You and me both son, you and me both.”

  It was the Friday before Thanksgiving and Dominique was finishing up some paperwork before she went home. Adam had spent the entire day in court, he called Dominique to tell her that he would meet her at home and from there they would go to Mistral's for dinner with Molly and Neal.

  “Sounds good baby, but are you sure you're up for it honey? I've got no problem staying in,” she said, keeping in mind her husband’s heavy work load.

  “I'm actually looking forward to spending some quality time with you and our friend’s baby, I’ll see you soon.”

  While finishing up, Dominique was called to the front office by Molly.

  “Hey, what's up Molly?”

  “Excuse me, are you Dominique Caruso? Adam's wife?”

  Dominique recognized the detective immediately. “Yes I am, is there something wrong detective?” She asked now worried about her husband. “Is Adam alright?'

  “Yes ma'am, everything is fine, I just stopped by to speak with your husband but they told me he is still down at the courthouse. I've left him a voice mail, but just in case he doesn't listen to it right away I wonder if maybe you might have a moment for me?” Dominique sensed the urgency in his voice.

  “Absolutely detective, come back into my office, we can talk there.”

  As Dominique walked him to her office she wondered what he had to tell her that couldn’t wait.

  Once they arrived at her office and she shut the door, the detective proceeded to tell Dominique that they had finally found out who they thought was responsible for the courthouse shooting. After bringing in and questioning several suspects, one member of the rival gang gave up Brandon Caruso as the shooter.

  Dominique didn’t seem at all surprised to find out that Brandon was responsible. But kept up her facade and put on quite a show.

  “Oh my god, this is news to me detective, have you caught him, do they know where he is?” She asked appearing to the detective to be genuinely surprised.

  “No ma'am but we've got a pretty good lead and we're going to try and pick him up first thing Monday morning, we're just waiting on a warrant.

  I just wanted to let you and your husband know that we may need him to come down to the station and fill out some paperwork but I’m sure your husband knows all about that ma'am, if you could just relay the message to him, I’d greatly appreciate it.”

  “Of course detective, I’ll let him know as soon as possible, but may I ask why you’re waiting until Monday to pick him up?”

  “All I can tell you Mrs. Caruso is that we're having a hard time getting a judge to sign a warrant, for some reason, there’s a lot of red tape we have to go through with the FBI and so far it’s looking like Monday is the earliest we can get it done. In the meantime you and your husband take care, I’ll be speaking with you both soon Mrs. Caruso.”

  “Of course detective, thank you for stopping by.”

  Dominique watched as the detective strolled down the office hallway and got into the elevator. There is no way Brandon is getting away with this too, she thought to herself. She was sure that with his connections, he would find out that the police were coming for him. He'll disappear, just like he did after he killed my boys, she thought to herself. And now that he's tried to kill Adam, his own half-brother, he thinks he can get away with it? I don’t think so Brandon, I don’t think so at all. You’re done taking away everything I love Brandon DiNunzio.

  Dominique came up with a plan, it was time she did something, she knew that if she didn’t, Brandon would go one hurting and ruining their lives, no, it was time to put a stop to it all. One way or another Brandon DiNunzio was going to leave my family alone for good. “I'm done leaving it to the police,” she whispered as she packed up to go home.

  She planned to go home, quickly change her clothes, and retrieve the glock that Rob had given her three years ago, the same glock that she used to shoot Nick with. Then she was going to head over to Mikey's bar in search of Brandon.

  Adam had once told her that Mikey's bar was Brandon's second home and it was also DiNunzio's social club, she hoped that Adam was right. Because if he was and she found Brandon, she'd simply wait until he was alone and kill him.

  No one will suspect me, she thought to herself, Brandon is the son of a dangerous crime lord, the list of suspects will be long and neither Adam nor I will be on it. Of that she was sure. Enough is enough, she told herself. She knew things could get ugly real fast but she also knew that she had to protect herself and Adam. There is no way he's going to take another thing from me, no way in hell.

  Dominique sat in her Volvo as she made a call to Molly. She told her that she would be late for dinner and that if she wasn’t there within an hour to go ahead and start without her, there was something she had to take care of and it couldn’t wait. Before Molly could ask any questions, Dominique quickly hung up the phone. She texted the same thing to Adam, and when he called her cell phone, she let it go to voice mail. I know he'll be angry with me, but he'll understand once I explain everything later on, she told herself.

  Mikey's bar was located on a one way Street in downtown Boston, Dominique parked close enough where she could see the occupants inside the bar. It was early still and lucky for her, this bar didn’t host happy hour like most of the downtown bars did. After she parked, she thought it best if she got out and took a better look inside, just to make sure he's in there, she said to herself as she smacked a magazine into the glock and slid it in the glove box of the Volvo.

  Paul sat inside his SUV outside Mikey's bar. Ever since he'd been told by Jonathan to follow Brandon, that's exactly what he's been doing and it was beginning to get boring, very boring. But tonight was different, tonight he recognized the Volvo and its occupant, it was Jonathan Caruso's daughter in law and she was alone. Something is up, he told himself as he dialed Jonathan's number.

  Adam had just finished changing into something casual for dinner out with his wife and friends when he received Dominique's text message, he wondered why she was being so mysterious and why she wasn’t answering her cell. I'm sure she'll explain over dinner, he thought, as he left to go to Mistral's.

  “Mr. Caruso, it's Paul, yeah you told me to call if there was anything unusual going on with Brandon sir.”

  “Yes I did Paul, what’s he gone and done now?”

  “Well it’s not so much him that’s the problem; it’s your daughter in law sir.”

  Paul had gotten Jonathan's full attention now.

  “What do you mean Paul? What's going on?”

  “Well sir, I just saw her park outside the bar and it looks like she's looking for someone sir, what do you want me to do?”

  Jonathan sat perplexed, why in god's name would she be looking for someone at Mikey's bar? There had to be a good explanation, Brandon was up to something and he wasn’t about to let his son or daughter in law get in the middle of it.

  “Paul, I want you to keep an eye on both of them, if he even so much as looks at her funny I want you to do what we discussed you got that?”

  “I understand sir.”

  “Good and keep me posted, the second either of them make a move you call me.”

  “Hang on sir, she's getting back into the car and it looks like Brandon is coming out.”

  While Paul put Jonathan on hold he noticed that Brandon along with Joey had exited the bar and that Brandon was carrying a large duffel bag. As he threw the bag into the back seat and got into the driver’s side and drove off, he knew what w
as happening, he knew that Dominique was following Brandon but he had no idea of where they were going and he hoped that Brandon wouldn’t notice her following him.

  “Mr. Caruso, it looks like she's following them.”

  “Them? Who is them?”

  “I'm sorry sir, Brandon and Joey Costa sir; they just got into Brandon's vehicle and took off towards the highway with your daughter in law not too far behind.”

  “Alright Paul, follow them, see where they are going while I try to get to the bottom of this and remember what I told you, no harm is to come to her do I make myself clear?”

  “Crystal sir, I’ll keep in touch.”

  “See that you do Paul and be careful.”

  Jonathan tried to think of why Dominique would go after Brandon, it all seemed so sudden. She must have found something out about him or he's leading her on a wild goose chase and he's planning on killing her, either way, “I've got to tell Adam.” he murmured to himself. “No more secrets.”

  Molly waved Adam over to the table that she and Neal had secured earlier when they arrived. “Hey guys, Dominique isn’t here yet?” Adam asked, he was now getting a bit worried.

  “No, she called earlier and said if she wasn’t here within the hour to go ahead and start without her, but let’s wait a little longer okay Adam, I’m sure she's on her way. I wonder if her being late has something to do with that detective that came into the office wanting to talk to her,” said Molly.

  “Wait, a detective? Are you sure?”

  “Yes Adam, a detective came in and told her that he needed to speak to her in private, she took him to her office and that's all I know.”

  “Okay, I think I know what this is about, I’m going to try calling her again just to be sure though,” said Adam excusing himself from the table and stepping outside to make his calls. After leaving another message on Dominique's cell phone, Adam was finally able to listen to the message the detective left him hours earlier. While he was listening to the message, a call from his father chimed through.