Dante's Redemption

by Jaime Whitley

  Ava looks away for the briefest of minutes and I can tell she is torn over something. Looking back at me she takes a deep breath before she begins. “I’ve been where you are right now Dante. I could lie and say it gets easier, but it doesn’t. It will always be there in the back of your head but you can’t look at yourself that way. You’re doing your job. If he had the gun, he wouldn’t hesitate to shoot you. Hell, he tried! He was going to blow your cover and expose you to the family.”

  Completely shocked with her revelation I can’t help but ask, “What happened with you?” As soon as the words come out of my mouth, she retracts her hand and folds them together. I can see the walls we’ve torn down beginning to rebuild. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “No, It’s fine. I had just started this gig and everything was going well. I was still nervous, always waiting for the other shoe to drop, and one day it did.” Getting up, she walks to the window and looks out it. “I was meeting Angelo at a warehouse to set up an order when I saw someone I knew walking out of the warehouse. It was an agent that had just retired, not even two months prior. He was putting a wad of cash into an envelope and it didn’t take long to understand what was going on. He immediately grabbed me by my arm and pulled me around the corner of the building and threatened me. He said if I didn’t keep my mouth shut, he would tell them who I really was and that would be the end for me.” She turns around and looks me in the eyes. I can see the intensity in them. “I told him I don’t make deals with dirty cops, and as I reached for my gun, he lunged at me to try to grab it. I didn’t even think twice as I shot one of my own. I even made it look like he attacked me. I ripped my clothes real fast, messed my hair up, and called it self-defense when Angelo came around the corner.” She walks over to me extending her hand. “Come on, you need to call Riggs and tell him what happened and then we’re going to go eat. You’re not going to sit around and feel sorry for yourself for doing the right thing. I won’t allow it.”

  Placing my hand in hers, she wraps hers around mine. “It will get easier, Dante. Just not today.”

  The compassion that Ava showed me last night just makes me wish that I had gotten to know her a lot sooner. She really is a beautiful woman inside and out and to think I’ve missed out on so much more with her because I refused to have any connection with her, was a dumb ass move on my part. Ava is slowly chipping away at my exterior and breaking down my walls that keep everyone out. Apparently, she’s made such a huge impact on me that even Riggs sees a difference. He told me to hold on to her and not to fuck it up. Gotta love Riggs, always giving the fatherly advice.

  Angelo called me early this morning, wanting to meet for drinks. Although I would have loved to tell him to go fuck himself, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious to know what he wanted to discuss. I know it’s not an order, since all that is taken care of already.

  I’m meeting him at some rundown bar downtown. He said he knows the owner and likes the privacy that you get with the place. Since I’ve never been there before, I’m leaving early so I can scope out the place and get a feel for it. I already had one surprise sprung on me, I’m not looking for another.

  After arriving, I park around back. I always choose that option if it’s available. I like to be able to make a quick getaway if need be. Everyone will always expect you to make a break for the front entrance. I walk in and grab a seat next to the kitchen door. I order a beer and wait for Angelo. Under any other circumstances, I would feel a bit uneasy sitting here, not knowing what he wants. But after what happened the other day, I think I’m starting to make headway with him and it leaves me feeling okay.

  After thirty minutes of waiting, I check my phone to see if I have any messages from him. Angelo is usually late and I decide to give him ten more minutes before I waste anymore of my day.

  Just as I’m about to leave, the bell rings above the door and I see Angelo hurrying through the door. This instantly surprises me because he never seems to care about making someone wait on him.

  “Sorry I’m late.” He sits next to me. “I’ll have whatever he’s having.” He says to the bartender.

  I shrug my shoulders at him “Eh, I’m used to it. You’re just lucky I didn’t have anything to do today or else I wouldn’t still be here. But I will say, this is the first time I’ve ever heard you apologize for being late. So what’s up? Why the urgency in wanting to meet?” I cut straight to the point.

  Picking up his beer, he takes a sip and places it back down on the table. “There has been suspicions that we have a mole in our midst. I thought for a while that it was you, but after the other day, I laid that one to rest.”

  “Good to know I’m off your radar.” I laugh to try and ease any tension he may have.

  “I’ve been trying to figure out who it could be, but have been coming up short. Right now, all signs are pointing to me with all the weird shit that’s been happening.”

  “Is it you?” I ask, even though I know what his answer will be.

  “Fuck no! I’ve worked hard to get where I am today and I’m not going to sell out the first chance I get. I wouldn’t sell out at all, in fact. But I have to be honest, things aren’t looking good for me lately.”

  “So what makes you think I can help?” I bring my beer to my lips and take a swig.

  “You’re new and you seem to be on the up and up with everyone. No one would suspect you doing a little digging into them. If you can help me figure out who the mole is, I can get the heat off me and earn you points with Mr. Onorato at the same time.”

  “I don’t need his points. I don’t work for him, remember?”

  “Well, what do you need?” The desperation in his voice does not go unnoticed.

  “I don’t need anything.”

  “Then what do you want? I’ll give you anything as long as you agree to help me.” I’m surprised at how desperate he actually sounds.

  Tapping my finger against my chin, I think about what he could possibly give me that I would even want when suddenly I come up with something. “Alright, I got something.”

  “Let’s hear it.” He perks up.

  “Ava.”

  “What about her?”

  “Leave the poor girl alone. She clearly wants nothing to do with you, but you keep bugging the shit out of her.”

  Looking a mix between pissed off and offended, “What’s it to you? Do you have a thing for her or something?”

  “No, it’s just making you look like a damn fool and I’m tired of having to hear the constant bickering between you two.” He’s silent for a moment and I can tell the dumb fuck is thinking with his dick again. “Look, if you don’t want my help, that’s fine. But if you do, those are my conditions.” I act as though I’m about to stand up to get him moving with his decision.

  “Fine, you have yourself a deal.” We shake on it and finish our drinks.

  “Do you have any idea who it could be?” I ask him, this time actually getting up.

  “If I did, I wouldn’t be coming to you for help.”

  “I don’t know much about everyone. I need you to gather me whatever information on them that you think will help. Who they are and why they would want to rat. What they would gain from it. Once you get me that, I can start helping you narrow it down. If I start asking all those questions, prying, then it will only raise questions on why I’m digging into their lives and I’ll be no use to you.”

  “Got it. I’ll get as much together as I can and I’ll be in touch.” He says, getting ready to walk out the door.

  “And, Angelo?” He turns to face me.

  “Yeah?”

  “I mean it. Leave that poor girl alone. The minute I see you bug her, I stop helping.”

  “Right, got it.” He waves his hand in the air and leaves the bar out the front and I exit through the rear.

  Today Ava and I are getting out of town for a while. The Onorato gang went to Connecticut, so I decided to do something nice for just the two of us. She’s got a little bi
t of an attitude because I wouldn’t tell her where we’re going. I just said to pack a bag and be sure to bring enough clothes for the weekend. When she refused to pack until she knew more, I told her we were going to head to Jersey for the weekend. She had no problem packing after that. As we leave the city and get on the highway, she rests her seat back and kicks her feet up on the dashboard, getting comfortable.

  It’s a beautiful day and Ava has the window down and her hair begins to blow with the wind exposing her sexy neck. She tilts her head at the open window, closing her eyes and letting the sun soak on her face. It doesn’t take more than a minute that a smile stretches across her face as she hums along with the music in the car. She looks so freeing in this moment, I pick up my phone and take a picture of it.

  “Could you put your shoes back on?” She looks over at me with her head tilted.

  “Why?”

  “Because your feet stink!” I snicker at her offended face.

  “My feet do not stink! You know, if you keep insulting me, I just might have to find someone else to keep my bed warm at night.”

  “Go ahead, Pop Tart. I’ll be sure to let Angelo know it’s okay to start pursuing you again.” Wiggling my eyebrows suggestively at her, she pouts her lips and it’s the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen. I suddenly want to see her pout more often.

  “Don’t you dare! That deal you made with the devil is the best thing that’s happened since sliced bread. It’s so nice to go to these ‘gatherings’ and not have to worry about his ridiculous advances. If you ruin this for me, I’ll make you pay big time, buddy.” She points her finger at me.

  Holding my hands up in defeat I say, “You got it, Pop Tart.” I shoot her a wink and get my eyes back on the road.

  About an hour later, we are pulling into the town of Bridgewater, and Ava sits up in her seat, curiously looking around to try to figure out where we are heading. We drive past a couple parks and some churches until we pull up to Fran’s house. I pull my car into the driveway and park it in the garage. As I turn the car off and step out, the door in the garage swings open and Fran comes running out of the house. Her five-foot petite figure is dressed to the T. She’s wearing a pink blouse with a butterfly pin on it with a pair of black slacks. Her grey hair is sporting her usual curls, each neatly placed away from her face. Her soft brown eyes hide behind her glasses that she wears.

  “Dante! It’s so good to see you! Come here and give your Mema a hug!” Her little five-foot frame pulls me into a hug and she starts kissing my cheek. “It’s been way too long since you visited, young man!” She pulls back looking at me. “You look good. You’ve been taking care of yourself, I’m glad to see that. I worry so much about you.”

  The sound of the car door closing behind us turns Fran’s attention to Ava. “You must be Ava.” Ava holds her hand out, but it gets swatted away as she gets pulled into my grandma’s arms. “It’s so good to finally meet you. I’ve heard such great things about you. Please come in. I have lunch ready and on the table.”

  Ava follows Fran into the house a little reluctantly, looking over her shoulders at me. Her face looks strained. I hang back and grab the bags out of the car, Ava’s look has me worried and I’m wondering how Mema heard a lot about Ava because I haven’t mentioned her before the other day. When I called her, I told her I would be coming to visit and bringing a friend with me. This was the first I’ve told her of Ava and all I’ve told her was that she was a friend. I still wasn’t feeling great about what had happened and like Ava said, it’s going to take time to make peace with what happened. I knew a visit with my grandma would help clear my head and help lift my spirits.

  Slamming the trunk closed, I go into the house and drop the bags by the door. “I’ll move these after were done eating, Mema, so don’t trip over them.” Sitting down at the table, I grab a plate and start to pile some food on it.

  There’s a huge spread of meats, cheeses, and salads and I fill my plate up with some antipasto and a salad as well. I’m smiling so big right now because they are all my favorites. The first time I came here, I didn’t really know what to expect. I was meeting her for the first time and didn’t really know much about her. She basically tackled me with a hug before I was fully through the door. Immediately, I knew I was going to like this woman. When we sat down to eat, she had an antipasto platter out and I had never tried it before. When I told her I would pass, she was not having it. I explained to her I didn’t know what it was and don’t like to try new things. She said well how do you know what you like to eat? I told her I know because I’ve tried it. She went on to lecture me on how I need to learn to try new things and if I don’t like it, just spit it out. So I did, I tried it, and as I put it in my mouth, it tasted like a piece of heaven. If this is just lunch, I can’t wait to see what’s for dinner.

  “Fran, I have to say I’m at a disadvantage here.” Ava says.

  “Why’s that, hun? And call me Mema, everyone else does.” She smiles warmly at me.

  “Well, you said you’ve heard a lot about me. I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t know much about you. In fact, I didn’t even know we were coming here today.” Her eyes cut to me.

  “My Joe tells me everything, honey.”

  “Joe?” Ava looks a little confused so I fill her in.

  “Fran is Joe’s mother-in-law. When Joe took me in, I was lucky enough to gain this lovely woman as a grandmother.”

  “After my daughter passed, Joe and Ali were all I had left. Then one day, I got a call saying that I gained a grandson and I couldn’t be happier. I may have lost my daughter, but God sent me this angel right here.” She places her hand on top of mine.

  Two knocks on the front door break our conversation, and a female voice carries out through the foyer. “Hello? Where is everyone?”

  “At the table, honey.” Fran shouts.

  I’m surprised when I see Ali and Joe round the corner and join us at the table. Ali has on her usual weekend attire, which consists of jeans and a hooded sweatshirt. She has to wear suits all day, seeing as she’s a district attorney and is usually in a courtroom all day. Her long auburn hair has been cut into a short bob and her brown eyes look tired, like she’s overworked, which she probably is. Joe, on the other hand, looks well-rested and has on a pair of sweats. I had no idea they knew I was coming here this weekend. The only person I told was Fran. As Joe goes around the table saying hello, I introduce Ali to Ava. Once we’re all seated, I wait for them to make their plates before I go back to my meal.

  “Joe, I didn’t know you were going to be here this weekend.”

  “Well when Fran called me and told me her favorite grandson was coming to visit, I figured I’d see if Ali wanted to take a trip with me and visit as well. Since she’s off doing her own thing, she never visits her old man anymore.” Ali swats Joe on his arm.

  “That’s not true and you know it. If I had more time off I would spend it with you.” She kisses her dad on the cheek.

  “Not to be the Debbie downer here, but isn’t all of this a little unsafe?” Ava interrupts the little bonding time we have. She looks as though she ate something bad and is ready to bolt at any minute.

  I grab her hand and squeeze it, “Relax, Pop Tart. There’s absolutely no connection to me when it comes to Fran. There’s no possible way they can connect the two of us. Even though she’s my family, she’s not. Does that make any sense?”

  “Perfect sense, actually.” Ava looks down bashfully. I’m suddenly feeling grateful that Joe and Ali are here. Not only will it will feel good to be able to be me again, it feels fantastic that Ava gets to be with the real me, even if it’s for a weekend.

  After we finish lunch we clean up and gather in the living room. I always loved my Mema’s living room. It’s spacious enough to fit a sofa, love seat and two recliners and you never feel too crammed. She still has the same oak coffee table she’s had since I met her. Her husband made it for her when she couldn’t find one she loved. I never had the pleasure of m
eeting him since he passed away before I came along. Everything I’ve heard about him, though, inspired me to be a great man. The sun shining in the room reflects off the picture frames she has spread around the room. They are fun to look back at and make fun of how we dressed. Ali and I do this every time we come over and Fran always pulls them out of our hands tell us to keep our paws off her memories. The radio is on talk radio news. Some things never change, not that I’d expect it to.

  I catch Ava looking at a few of the pictures and I sneak up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. Kissing her cheek, she looks at me sideways like I have a screw loose. I lean to her ear, “Get used to it, Pop Tart.”

  She grumbles, but allows me to cuddle her. This feels right. I tell her about some of the pictures before Mema announces it’s time to play games. Ali claps like a school girl while Joe huffs. I take a seat on the floor next to the coffee table and ease Ava down to sit on my lap. Joe catches my eye and gives me a raised eyebrow. I shrug, kissing Ava’s shoulder.

  We play a couple board games, Catch Phrase, and then we decided to try Pictionary. I thought pairing with Ava would be a good way to work on our teamwork. Boy was I wrong. That girl cannot draw to save her life, then she gets mad at me for not knowing what a bouquet was. It looked like a fucking peacock, for crying out loud. When I pointed to the ‘head’ of the peacock and asked what the hell it was, she said it was a leaf. Needless to say, the whole room was in tears laughing. It was such a nice day and I was already feeling the pressures lifting off my shoulders and knew this weekend is just what I needed.

  When we decided to head out and go to the hotel, Fran was not having it. She insisted on all of us staying with her since she has a five-bedroom house. Her argument being she wouldn’t know when she would have all of us under the same roof again. One thing you learn with Fran is she doesn’t take no for an answer, so we all quickly gave in and made our way to our rooms. When Ava tried to take the room next to me, Fran basically pushed her into my arms with an exaggerated wink and an embarrassing comment on how she would like great-grandkids before she dies. I laughed my ass off as I ushered Ava into our room. Ava, on the other hand, smacked me so hard on the chest I probably still have a handprint. Unfortunately, that only made me laugh harder before I tackled her to the bed to worship her body.