part0031

“THIS PLACE IS SO BEAUTIFUL ,” Jilly said. She was giddy with excitement. The courts had all but sealed the deal. When they returned to America there would be one final hearing in family court and then the adoption will be official. Jilly had blossomed under the special treatment and loving care Shae offered her. Gone was the dark eyeliner she wore, and piercings. Her hair was now curly in its natural state without all the highlights. She didn’t cut her clothes up to reveal her navel or to make the hemlines shorter on her skirts. She looked like a girl of twelve and she was soon to be fourteen.

“It is beautiful,” Shae agreed.

They were dining in a very nice cliffside hotel in Sorrento. Their breakfast was delivered to their room and they ate on the terrace. From the white linen table where they were seated they could see the ocean and sail boats. The Battaglias had spared no expense.

A highchair was brought inside for Jewel. Her daughter kept reaching for Jilly’s food while sucking her pacifier. Jewel hadn’t transitioned to table food. Shae had a suspicion that Jilly gave her tiny morsels to enjoy when she wasn’t looking.

“Can I give her some of my eggs?” Jilly asked. “A little tiny bit?”

“You can try to see if she will taste it.”

Jilly took out Jewels pacifier. Her baby girl smacked her lips and hit her hands on the top of the feeding tray of the chair. Shae and Jilly both laughed. Jilly then put a small piece of egg into Jewels mouth. Jewel frowned and spit it up immediately. There went Shae’s theory that he daughter had sampled solids before. Both she and Jilly shared a laugh.

“Aww, she doesn’t like it,” said Jilly.

“Not yet, but maybe soon,” Shae said.

There was a knock at the door. Shae tossed her napkin to her plate and pushed back her chair. “You finish breakfast.” Shae said as she checked the time on her watch. It was time for her first visit. The attorneys said from this point on she would be met with a personal escort that would help arrange the meeting with Arielle and Carlo.

The nerves in her hands and belly tingled once she approached the door. Her heart raced too. She stopped to look at her reflection in the mirror. She’d lost a few pounds and her makeup was near perfection. However, she didn’t look as sexy and vibrant as Carlo would remember her. She had changed.

“Hello?” Shae said as she answered the door.

A woman in a dark pantsuit with her hair smoothed back into a tight bun greeted her. She wore a pressed white collar shirt with cuffs that flipped over the at the wrist. Her makeup was natural and so was her beauty, but she didn’t smile to make the greeting pleasant. In fact, she looked as serious and dangerous as the two men accompanying her. Tall men in dark suits that were equal to Carlo’s stature with dark sunglasses that covered their eyes.

“You are Signorina Shannon Dennis. No?”

“Yes, I am her.”

“Who is it, Ms. Shae?” Jilly asked. Her daughter had picked up Jewel and came off the terrace to meet their visitor.

The woman gaze switched to the children. It was the first time she smiled. “I’m Candase Tornelli. I’m an employee of Don Giovanni. And you must be Signorina Jilly. Welcome to Italy.”

“Thank you,” Jilly said with a bright smile.

The woman took a step forward. Her focus narrowed to the baby. It made Shae so uneasy she walked over to Jilly and took her daughter into her arms. “Are you here to take us to the Battaglias so we can meet Arielle and Carlo?”

The woman remained transfixed on Jewel. Her baby girl put her pacifier back in her mouth and watched the stranger. Candase Tornelli gaze finally lifted to Shae before she answered.

“There has been a change in plans.”

“The Battaglias. We have suffered a great tragedy. A personal family tragedy.”

“Oh? The death of Adara, his wife?”

Signora Tornelli head cocked to the side. “No. Another tragedy. There was a fire and the oldest daughter Eve was hurt. It’s quite tragic but I’m not at liberty to speak anymore on the matter. The good news, if there is any to share at all, is that Carlo remains here. However, he has refused to let anyone on his land. We have not been in contact with him in the past weeks, since the death of his wife. He hasn’t even held his son, or inquired about his health.” The woman took another step forward. “Is she Carlo’s daughter?”

“Yes!” Jilly spoke up. “Her name is Jewel. I named her.”

“Jilly, be quiet,” Shae said.

The woman smiled. “I can see him in her. He will be pleased to see you both.”

“Is that what Giovanni Battaglia hopes? That if Carlo sees me and his child everything will change between them.”

“My boss has other priorities right now. My Donna is concerned about this reunion and insists it happens no matter her personal losses. It is not to further any selfish purpose. This is the respect that Carlo is owed. I’m going to have to ask you to come with me. But please, finish your breakfast and we will wait downstairs for you.” The woman turned on her heel to leave.

The lady paused. She glanced back over her shoulder.

“I think I should see him alone. First.”

“Oh, we agree. For your safety, you will be escorted there. But the meeting, Ms. Dennis, is yours and Carlos to have. I will introduce you to someone who can watch the children while you meet with him.”

“It’s okay, Ms. Shae. I will protect Jewel. I can take care of us.”

Shannon nodded. The woman smirked. “What a brave girl you are.” Candase gave Jilly a wink and turned and left. Shae let go the deep breath she held. Again her doubts surfaced. Was she doing the right thing, or would her return cause him nothing but more pain?

“You have to change.”

“And I need to do your makeup.” Jilly went to their luggage.

“You saw that woman. She was fierce! You need to be just as bad ass—ah I mean more pretty when you see him. Right?”

Shae smiled. “I don’t think it will matter.”

“It will! Let’s hurry. I’m so excited.” Jilly grinned.

THE DRIVE WAS SHORT . The woman who escorted them didn’t share any information on their intended destination. Behind her sat Shae, with Jilly and her baby girl. They didn’t ask any questions. Jilly seem to understand and respect the silence Shae commanded of her. All the while Shae scrambled to pull together all that she had learned. A fire? The Battaglias had moved back to Naples and Carlo stayed behind? What did it all mean?

When they arrived at a villa and parked before it Shae didn’t recall the place. Nothing about it looked familiar.

“What do we do?” Jilly whispered.

“You keep your eye on Jewel.”

“I won’t let anyone touch her.” Jilly said. Jewel looked up at Jilly and then up at her mother. Shae smiled at her daughter. She couldn’t wait for Carlo to meet her.

They were escorted from the car to the door of the villa, and greeted by a very pretty woman with auburn hair. She looked tired only around the eyes, but had a pleasant smile.

“I’ve been waiting,” she said.

Shae entered first but kept her hand on Jilly to make sure she stayed close. They followed the woman to where she would receive them. They sat together on a sofa and stared at the lady as she paced. She and their escort spoke in Italian. The woman with the auburn hair kept giving Shae distrustful looks. The two women came to an agreement and Shae’s escort left.

“Salve , I’m Arielle. I’m a friend of the Battaglias. I spoke to you on the phone.”

“We finally meet,” Shae said.

“Adara was my daughter.” The woman’s polite smile was gone. She glared at Shae as if she expected an apology. Shae wasn’t certain for what. Adara had married Carlo. She had given him the son he always wanted. From Shae’s perspective Adara had the charmed life until her death.

“She told me about you and Carlo. About the relationship you shared. I know everything.”

“I’m at a disadvantage because I know nothing.”

“Oh, you know who Adara is, who she was.” Arielle insisted.

“I didn’t know her. I’m sorry she’s dead. I’m only here because you called me and the Battaglias invited me to come.”

“Have you spoken to Carlo? Since she died?”

“No,” Shae said.

“He hasn’t called you? Not once!”

Jewel began to play with Shae’s bracelet and the tinkle of the bangles drew Arielle’s attention to the child. “Her name?”

“Her name is Jewel Carlotta,” Shae said.

“She’s precious,” Arielle admitted. “She looks like... baby Carmine.”

“Who?” Jilly asked.

Shae shook her head no to Jilly.

Arielle took a seat and decided to answer Jilly’s question. “I have Carlo’s son. His name is Carmine. We call him Baby Carmine. He’s sleeping now.”

“Oh?” Jilly looked at Jewel. “Then that means they are brother and sister?”

“Yes, it does mean that,” Arielle said.

“Jewel will love him. A neighbor back home has a baby and Jewel just smiles every time I take her over there. You hear that Jewel? You have a brother.”

“And Carlo? How is he?” Shae asked.

“I don’t know. He hasn’t come to see his boy since the funeral. No one has seen him or spoken to him. When you see him today I want you to let him know that Carmine is fine with me. That I will take care of him. It’s what I do,” Arielle wiped away her tears. “I take care of the children.”

Shae frowned. “Are there more children?”

Arielle didn’t answer. Shae shifted Jewel on her lap and her daughter reached for Jilly. Shae handed the baby over to Jilly.

“You can leave them with me. While you see Carlo. It’s best and safest this way. Things are tense for the Camorra now.”

“I don’t want to stay here,” Jilly objected. “We can go with you, Ms. Shae.”

“No. She’s right Jilly. That’s the plan, for me to see Carlo alone. And then I’ll come back and introduce you and Jewel to him.”

Arielle gave a bitter chuckle. “Is that what you think? That one look at you and he’ll want to be the man you rejected in America?” Arielle clucked her tongue and crossed her arms. “Good luck!” she muttered.

“Excuse me?” Shae said.

“He loved my Adara! This is wrong. He needs time to grieve her, not toss her memory aside as if she never mattered.”

“That’s it! We’re leaving.” Shae got up. “C’mon, Jilly!”

“No! Wait. Wait. No. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I’m just—it’s been really hard.”

Shae glared at the woman and tried to keep her anger in check. She knew Jilly was watching her. “I don’t know what it must be like to lose a child,” Shae began. “It must be hard on you. And trust me I have no delusions around some perfect reunion for me and Carlo. But you invited me back into his life. So I assume that’s because his love for your daughter and her death has broken him. I understand a broken Carlo. The same way he understands a broken me.”

Arielle dropped her head and began to cry. “She never got a chance. Not a single chance!” Arielle banged her fists against the table. “Her life was never hers. She wanted one thing, a family. Her own family. And God took it from her.”

Shae reached for a box of tissues. Shae wanted to comfort Arielle but didn’t. She let her collect herself. Arielle did. She looked up at Shae and then at the children. “Your children are safe here. I swear to you. But please leave. Seeing you is painful to my daughter’s memory.”

“Ms. Shae? Don’t trust her. We shouldn’t stay here,” Jilly said.

“Can you do this for me, Jilly? Can you take care of Jewel and let me see Carlo?”

“But Ms. Shae we don’t know her.”

“I will be back. I can’t leave you at that hotel. Not yet. This is the safest place. Trust me.”

Jilly glanced to Arielle. Shae understood her hesitation. She had to question her own sanity over this visit and what they were proposing she do. But she didn’t feel that Arielle would harm them. In fact, she felt Arielle’s protective grief made her a safe ally in this horror show.

“Okay. I know how to deal with danger,” Jilly said with a threatening glance at Arielle. “We’ll be fine.”

Shae kissed Jewel and her baby girl grinned behind her pacifier. She kissed Jilly and whispered in her ear. “Call the number I gave you if anything happens. You find a way.”

Jilly nodded. “I remember. I will.”

Shae let her go and touched her cheek. She may not have given birth to Jilly but she could not deny that Jilly’s strength and smarts were forged through her short life of adversary just like her own. She had no doubt that Jilly would keep Jewel safe and do as they agreed if anything happen to her. Arielle watched the exchange but didn’t seem to notice the conversation, or simply didn’t care. Shae picked up her purse and walked out.

The woman escort waited for her by the car.

CARLO PREFERRED THE isolated proposition of his property and land. There was only one way to his villa by car. It kept visitors at bay. It also meant that she was very vulnerable out in the isolated location.

“Signorina Shae . We will not be able to drive you to the door.”

Shae looked outside of her window and saw the tents erected and many boys gathered. The approach of the car must have alarmed them. They started appearing from everywhere. In their hands were machetes, or bats with nails and chains, they looked very hostile.

“I understand. I can make the walk.”

“We will not leave. My instructions are to make sure you are safe. If anything goes wrong, please make it to the door. We will be watching. If you can make it to the door let us do the rest.”

“He won’t hurt me.”

“I’m fine.” She opened her door and got out. Thanks to Jilly she had changed from her jeans and simple top to a summer dress that was backless with four-inch gold wrap around sandals that tied up above her ankles. It proved a big mistake. The wind blew at her dress and her sandals were terrible to walk in over the soil. The boys watched her curiously. The escorts that brought her watched as well. She was now between them on the single lane road. Shae stopped to remove her shoes. She didn’t care how her skirt blew around her thighs as she did. Freed from them she continued on. Her hair was straight but longer because of the addition of extensions. The pink strips of hair became strikingly bright in the sunlight. It was like a siren announcing her presence. And even the boys who watched her walk to Carlo’s villa that hadn’t met her in the past knew who she was.

A few gave her a nod of respect, while others looked distrustful. The most accusing stare fixed on her was a young man on the front steps of the villa. He held a long barrel shotgun and aimed it directly at her.

“He doesn’t want to see you!” the boy said.

“Does he know I’m here?”

“I told him,” the boy said.

“You told him? You sure?”

“I’m Rolando. It’s what I do. I get information. And I knew the Battaglias were sending for you. I told him.”

“He said he didn’t want to see me?”

“You’re close to him.”

“Go!” the boy said. He looked fatigued. All the kids did. They were diligent in protecting Carlo but they were also scared of losing him. Shae understood. She was scared too.

“How is he Rolando?”

The boy remained silent.

“I didn’t come here because of the Battaglias. I came here because of his daughter. You remember me? Don’t you? You saw me, didn’t you?”

“Months ago. Over there,” she pointed to the woods. “You saw me before all of this happened. You saw me come here in the night with men who had guns on me. I didn’t care then; do you really think I’m going to leave him because you have that gun on me now?”

Rolando lowered the gun. “I did. I was scared to tell him that it was me who saw you. Not Ernesto. I knew it would make him crazy. I should have never told him. Maybe if I hadn’t he wouldn’t have killed... he wouldn’t have moved to Napoli and taken her there, for that man to kill her. He’s not good lady. It’s not good for you to be here.”

“I know,” she said. “I know he’s bad, and I know I did it to him. Me, the Battaglias, Lorenzo, even Adara. All of us.”

The boy nodded in agreement.

“I let them scare me away before. I’m not doing it again. I’m going to help him. I’m willing to risk everything to try.”

Rolando looked to the boys who had all wandered in closer. Everyone waited for him to lead them and make a decision. That was a heavy responsibility for someone so young. Shae tried to unburden him.

“Tell your boys to keep their eyes and weapons trained on the car that brought me in. They can’t be trusted. Give me thirty minutes. Then come in and get answers. If Carlo wants me to leave you make sure I do. Only thirty-minutes. Agree?”

Rolando nodded. He spoke to the others in Italian and they all nodded in agreement. He then stepped back and opened the door. She let go a deep breath for bravery and stepped inside. The first to greet her was the rancid stench of the place. Spoiled food in half eaten take out cartons was strewn everywhere. As was empty bottles and other trash. Shae put her hand to her mouth and nose. There were no lights on inside and the windows were drawn shut with shutters closed. She walked over to the lamp and tried to turn on the switch but found that it did not work. Shae tried the switch on the wall and discovered there was no electricity in his place. She cautiously avoided trash as she walked from the front door and through the kitchen. The fridge was wide open. This too allowed the food to spoil. It must have been that way for days. And the garbage cans were not emptied. She suppressed the urge to puke.

How long had she romanticized their reunion? Her Italian tough-guy would be waiting for her in his expensive tailored suit smelling like wealth and danger. He’d take her into his arms and tell her he forgave her. That would not be the man she found today. Shae glanced to the bedroom door. It was closed. She feared what waited behind that door. She couldn’t stop herself from thinking the very worse.

“Enough of this.”

Shae went to the door.

Shae put her ear to the door and listened for movement. There was none. She feared the door would be locked as well but it wasn’t. Shae cautiously pushed it open. The darkness was deeper inside. Her vision had to adjust before she entered. At first she didn’t see anything or anyone. She swept the scene twice. She pushed the door open wider. The bedsheets were ripped from the edges of the bed and pillows were on the floor. She went inside and again tried the light switch to discover it wasn’t working.

“Carlo?” she said softly.

She went to the bathroom. She half expected to find the worst. The bathroom was a horror. The mirror was smashed and shards of glass (some of it stained in blood) filled the sink. The tub had standing water in it and clothes in it. That made no sense. The toilet hadn’t been flushed. Shae covered her nose and flushed it.

When she did she heard groaning. She looked back to the room. Where had it come from? Shae walked into the room and saw the same thing she saw when she arrived. She tried the closet and found he wasn’t in it. Confused Shae walked around the bed. The mystery was solved. On the floor in nothing but his boxers lay Carlo flat to his face.

Shae went to her knees and checked him for signs of life. He was definitely breathing. There was a pipe next to him and many cast aside beer bottles. Shae reached for the pipe and sniffed it. It smelled like marijuana. She’d heard from the lawyers that it was suspected Carlo was using narcotics. Though this wasn’t a hundred percent proof against the accusation, it gave her hope. She ran her hand up his calf to his thigh. He didn’t move. He did respond with a loud snore.

“What happened here?”

“It’s okay sweetheart. Rest. I’ll figure it out.”

Shae pushed up from the floor. It would take her more than an hour to get the place in order. She needed help. The door to the front of the villa opened and she knew it was Rolando. She walked out of the bedroom to find him looking around in concern. It was apparent he hadn’t entered the villa in days.

“I need to speak to the lady in the car outside.”

“Is he... okay?” Rolando asked.

“He will be. But I might need your help. Bring her to me and get me four of your best boys.” Shae put her hands to her hips. “This place... is terrible. I can’t bring my baby here, not to see him like this.”

“No. No he’s not. He’s drunk, but he’ll wake and I need to be ready for him when he does.”

Rolando smiled. “He calls you his pink lady. I’m glad you came back to help him.”

Shae almost let her tears go as well. “I am too.”

Rolando went and fetched the woman who brought her there. Shae found garbage bags and began collecting trash. When her Battaglia escort walked in she stopped and faced her. The woman didn’t seem shocked by the state of things. Therefore, Shae didn’t feel compelled to explain.

“I need you to collect my children and take them back to the hotel. I want a guard outside of their door and a person to provide anything Jilly needs.”

“Arielle is a good host,” the woman said.

“I don’t care. I don’t know her and I was okay with that, until I saw this. I can’t bring the children here now. I don’t want them to stay the night with her. Can you do this. My daughter will need to call me and tell me that she is safe before I give you any updates on Carlo.”

The woman nodded. “Should she call here?”

“In the morning, around ten, I want you to bring them here. Both of them.”

The woman’s brow arched. “Is Carlo in agreement?”

“He will be. Do you understand my request?”

“I am told to make this happen without incident. But you’re asking me to leave you here for the night. I don’t recommend that we do that. I can’t guarantee your safety. These children he keep on his land are dangerous.”

“You have no choice. Please see to it.”

The woman gave her a curt nod. “I will see to it. Good luck, signorina .”

“I won’t need it.” Shae assured her. The woman left as the boys arrived. Rolando translated for her. They had to be quick and they had to be quiet. The kids went straight to work.