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As I back the bike into a space and turn the engine off, I see two figures approaching my side. It’s Sam and his guy. He quickly goes over the plan once again, step-by-detailed-step. His guy, along with some others, will stay out in the van doing surveillance while we go in.
It is literally game time. We walk through the first security check depositing all weapons and cell phones in individual steel lock boxes. Proceeding down a dimly lit hallway, we enter into to a large bar area. Green velvet walls and mirrors on the ceiling make up the décor, along with naked woman displayed in large silver cages. I take it all in as does Sam, who while never moving his head, surveys everything effortlessly. I can feel rage radiating off of him. He’s as anxious as I am to avenge Mateo and Josephine.
We walk around the bar until we reach a massive, gold, metal door. A giant of a man, who contends the gold door and looks to weigh in at close to three hundred pounds, stands guard before it. I notice he sports a tattooed spiderweb that covers his bald head and reaches down one side of his face. He gives us a curt nod before he does his rough pat down. Once he is satisfied, he opens the door to let us through.
Immediately, bright lights bounce off the large, white-walled room. Men and women surround a large boxing ring in the center of the room, their voices yelling out bets to place. There are men laying plastic down on the entire ring floor. Other men carry a large table, placing it and two chairs on opposite sides. Approaching is a familiar face. It’s the stocky, bald Spaniard who had mistaken me for Angelo in Florence. The only differences were the location and the fact that he has changed his bright red silk shirt for a blinding blue one. The bastard is once again dripping in gold necklaces hanging down his chest.
He points at me with his manicured fat fingers. “You are a sneaky devil playing the dumb twin game on me. I should have known.”
Before I could respond, Sam uncharacteristically steps up. “Quit the jokes, jackass. Where is Casas?”
“Oh Sam, you have found your voice. My condolences to the both of you. Your losses are really such a tragedy.” He says with a sneering smile. I clench my fist, and while reeling in my rage, I manage to keep it together.
“You’re a dead man.” Sam quietly says to the Spaniard.
Suddenly a loud whistle from the ring puts a stop to everything. Standing in the ring is a short but powerfully built man in a black suit. He wears his wavy, salt and pepper hair slicked back with gel from a large face with a hooked nose and the coldest black eyes I have ever seen. He had a definite air of authority as he looks at the crowd with a disdainful look. He is around the same age as my father and definitely has his same aura of power.
This must be Casas himself finally. I start my approach towards him, and the crowd parts way. As I get closer to the ring itself, the noisy room I walked into is now as quiet as a church.
“Santos Ferrari, I assume. Welcome to my ring. So honored that you would choose to join me,” booms out Casas for all to hear. His jovial manner reminds me of the circus ringleader. His arms are wide open, and he wears a cold-blooded smile as he stares at me. He’s only missing a top hat.
Sam grabs my arm as I am about to step up into the ring and whispers to me. “As planned, do not improvise, under any circumstance. I promise on my brother’s dead body that I will take care of the rest.” He backs a bit away, then repeats slowly yet again, still holding me, “Sonny, no improvising, no matter what occurs. Trust me, understand?”
I have never seen this commanding presence in Sam. I trust him completely, no question about it. “Understood.” I finally agree, moving between the ropes and entering the ring.
“You read the email?” Casas asks. I shake my head affirmatively. “Good, so you understand the rules of my game. Do you need the little boy’s room? Being a first timer, I wouldn’t want you to piss yourself.” He asks in a loud showmanship style. Laughing, he gestures with his hand for the crowd to join him in his humor. I never thought I had killer instincts other than in a protective way. For the past few minutes, I envisioned killing him in a hundred different ways. This man, Casas. is not only my father’s enemy, but he is also known as the Spanish Roulette Luck King. He’s started this sick game over twenty years ago. People think he has come upon some kind of superpower, dodging losing his life many times.
I’m as confident as possible given my situation. My insides clench with adrenaline as I keep telling myself that I’m doing this to honor my best friends. Not a complete lie because I am also doing this for selfish reasons. He’s tampered and caused havoc with my family for too long. I finally hear myself demanding to see the paperwork. “I see you have certainly inherited your mother’s looks. Always heard you were the smart son, but maybe you aren’t so smart after all. Maybe you are dumb like your father. We’ll see.” He sneers, attempting to bait and goad me into losing my temper.
Finally, he points to an old man holding a slim briefcase. Two beefy attendants help him into the ring, and he shuffles over to the table. Opening the briefcase, he takes out two documents. Deferentially, he places one in front of Casas and the other in front of me. I pick it up and read over everything that had been agreed upon. Looks like everything was inputted as requested. I sign, as does Casas.
The old man does the same and stamps in a few areas. I tell him to give my copy to Sam who is standing outside the ring. Sam stands ramrod straight, his face not giving anything away.
“Now that we are done with the formalities, shall we begin?” I hear Casas ask.
I don’t answer him with words, I just stare at him and give a nod.
“First, where are my good luck charms?” He asks loudly, looking around. Two very scantily clad females, one brunette, the other a blonde, approach him. “Do they look familiar, Santos? You were screwing my good luck charms on my yacht five years ago. The stories matched up when I heard you won the bike race so many years later. You realize the only reason you are not dead already is because of your mother Dafne. You look so much like her.” He says to me like he’s been spellbound. “However, someone had to pay a price. Nobody touches what’s mine without my permission. I waited, baited your asshole father, and finally thought I had killed him. Too bad it was only your man. His wife was just collateral; you know that happens in this business that we are in. Today, I will finish what should have been done years ago. You are just the beginning of the end of the Ferrari men.”
I finally break from his hypnotic stare and look at the two females. I barely remember them from our crazed time on the yacht. The only thing that looks familiar is their brown and blonde long hair. I am willing to bet their hair still smells of cigarette and cigar smoke. The brunette kisses each of Casas’s cheeks, as does the blonde. Then both stand next to him with their hands on his shoulders staring at me.
“Are we going to cut the introductions and start?” I’m getting fed up with his BS.
“Ah, he speaks. I was beginning to think you were mute like your friend down there.” He says, pointing to Sam whose jaw is clenched tight. “Very well, let’s start the show, shall we? Girls, distribute the guns.”
“Rodrigo! You son of a bitch!” In bursts my father with Tony next to him. My father enters the ring, rage blazing from his eyes. “Santos, son, please get up from the chair. This vendetta is between me and him.” He gestures between him and Casas.
I look at them both, two old bulls who have one last fight left in them. I stand up and look at Sam, who almost imperceptibly bows his head at me. So, this was part of the plan I wasn’t aware of. I might have gone head-to-head with my father the other day, but he is still the boss, and Casas is his great nemesis. He still makes the final decisions of all plans. Besides, the night will go forward as planned.
“So predictable, Anthony, you showing up here without an invitation. I don’t know who allowed you to sneak in, but I will take care of that later,” Casas says menacingly looking toward his men. “But I’m going to be a gentleman tonight in respect to the beautiful Dafne.” My father is like a stone, not reacting to Casas’s goading. Casas now looks cunningly at me. “Did you know Santos that I knew your mother first? Yeah, we all went to school together. We were all friends. I comforted her when your father was not around.” He looks at me deviously, waiting to be asked for more information. So, this is definitely personal between him and my father, and this moment confirms my friends were killed over this psycho’s infatuation with my mother.
“You are delusional, Rodrigo. Your sick obsession with my wife has caused enough heartache, especially to Dafne. We end it now.” My father spits out the words.
Casas falters a little of the sound of my mother’s name from my father’s lips. Casas drinks down two vodka shots in a row. Clearly, he had not expected this, and he must be questioning how my father and brother were able to get into the place. “Your son liked his time with my lucky charms many years ago. I gave him a free pass because of Dafne. He’s smart and will learn quickly, unlike your other sons. I will shoot him again and break him when you are dead. I look forward being a father to your daughter.” Casas spits out his vitriol words, spirals of spittle running down his chin. He is having a hard time reigning in his hatred for my father and realizes he has perhaps lost his edge. The crowd remains completely silent as the final scene plays out. Motioning the blonde over to my father’s side, she carries the gun with the bullet over to him. Her part in tonight’s festivities would be loading and spinning the cylinder during each round.
The lights in the arena dim slightly, a bright spotlight shining on the ring. “Anthony, as the guest and first timer, you go first, yeah?” says Casas with bitterness.
“Rodrigo!” A clear and resonant voice calls out his name. The familiar voice echoed throughout the underground arena. Again, people shuffle around making way for the person moving toward the arena. What was just dead silence seconds ago is now filled with the hum of murmuring voices. Looking over, to my astonishment and fear I see Dafne Ferrari, my mother, being assisted into the ring by Sam.
She is dressed in an elegant yet snug, white outfit. Her hair, usually casually left down, is in a tight bun on top of her head. She is beautiful, stunning actually. Casas, my father, and I are looking at her in astonishment.
My wits coming together, I finally move to go protect her. Sam reaches up to me, holding me back, his face tightly controlled. As his eyes bore into mine, and I’m reminded that he asked me to trust him. Perplexed because the plan has gone sideways a couple of times already, I look at him questioningly. Instinct tells me to protect my mother, but I decide I will trust Sam as his stake in this is even bigger that mine. Looking over at my father, I see him frozen in his stance. I decide to hold myself back but remain ready to spring into action if needed to defend my mother.
“Dafne, what are you doing here? You shouldn’t be in a place like this.” Bellows Casas, still looking at her in shock. He is mesmerized by her. It is obvious he has forgotten the reason we are here. The strong, arrogant man just minutes ago is now replaced by a lovestruck, infatuated man. A couple of Casas’s men move in ready to remove her from the ring. Raising his arm, he bellows at them to back down.
“I’m here for you, Rodrigo, and to put a stop to this ridiculous vendetta that you and Anthony have been playing for years.” She walks past me, not even giving me a glance. Looking at my father, she demands he sit down. Then she walks directly over to Casas. The brunette female who had been standing next to Casas slowly makes her way to stand next to the blonde who is still by my side. I glance at Sam, who once again is standing completely still, hands down by his side, completely zoned in on the event taking place. Glancing at my father, he still looks stunned, his face etched in defeat. Putting her hands lovingly on Casas’s arm, Mother nudges him to sit down.
Compelled by her, he silently complies with her request, never taking his eyes from her. My mother grazes her finger along his arm, making her way up his arm to his shoulder. She sensually moves behind him and places both hands on his shoulders, lightly massaging him. Casas closes his eyes as he receives the caress he has been longing after for years.
“After all these years, the decision is very clear to me. I always knew who I truly belonged to.” She says huskily, staring directly into my father’s hooded brown eyes.
“I’ve been waiting almost thirty years for you to say that, my gorgeous Dafne. You are the only true love I have ever had. I’ve been waiting for my queen!” He says triumphantly, glancing at my father.
“I’m not the same girl you use to know, Rodrigo. I’m very different; I hope you will understand.” She declares.
“You are the same stunning young woman I have always loved. I told you I could give you the world, and I will, mi amor,” states Casas with passion.
My mother slowly brushes against his hair, until her bright red lips are against his ear.
His eyes close again as he can feel her breath against him. “Rodrigo, I’m older, wiser, harder, and colder now. I am already the queen to a king and a mother who will do anything to save her children.”
Casas’s eyes fly open, with the realization of her words penetrating his mind. However, it was too late. Red blood slowly starts seeping from his neck, as Mother, who is holding a sharp Japanese hair pin knife, had used a swift and ruthless movement slitting his neck. Her hair is now rippling down her shoulders, and her hands covered in Casas’s blood. Slowly, she drops the knife dangling in her hand. Eyes glazed, she now stands as the trojan horse.
The moments immediately following are acted out as planned. Hearing a loud shot coming from Sam’s direction startles me. I see him standing over the Spaniard pimp, who is laying in his own blood. Part of the plan had included the giant with the spiderweb tattoo guarding the door.
Thanks to Maria’s intel we were able to collect a favor. Come to find out the Ferraris had paid for his mother’s house a while ago. I do not know the reason behind it, but it gave us the leverage we needed. The giant bodyguard had covertly handed Sam a small gun after his pat down.
Chaos ensues almost immediately. The shocked crowd tries to disperse while Tony and Sam are both shooting at Casas’s men. More of my father’s men come barging through the doors taking care the remaining Casas allies as well as dispersing the crowds who were wildly trying to flee. I run over to my mother, attempting to shield her from stray bullets. Pulling her down behind the overturned table, my father swiftly joins us taking out his gun and protecting us.
In only a matter of minutes, the bedlam dies down with Casas’s men littering the floor covered in their own blood. It’s finally over. Slowly gathering up my mother in my arms, I feel her shaking hand reach up touching my cheek. “My dear son, a parent will do anything for their child, remember that my sweet, sweet boy.” She says in a soft voice, her eyes having taken on a dazed look.
When she sways slightly, Father reaches over to grab her. “I’ll take it from here, son.” He says, looking at me pleadingly. I give her over to him as he gently takes her in his arms and leads her off from the ring.
Smokey hair brushes up against me, the smell wafting to my nose. The brunette wraps her arms around me tightly. “Thank you for freeing us from Mr. Casas. We will forever be indebted to the Ferrari organization.” She lets go and walks over to the blonde comforting her with a hug. Both had been part of the plan from the beginning, and we ensured their freedom if they did as asked. They had loaded Casas’s gun with the real bullet, while mine had been loaded with the blank he usually reserved for himself. That is how he had always won over his opponents. He never played the game too often to place suspicion on his luck. Just enough to make him a hero underground and spread the legend of his luck.
Walking over to Sam, we all quickly leave the room before the police arrive. Our men will protect Father and Mother, bringing them out of harm’s way. My mother was never part of the plan that I was aware of. Sam had reluctantly left that important part of the plan out. I just witnessed my mother in less than five minutes take down a man who had a vendetta against my family for years.
Looking at Sam, he sees all the questions registered in my face. Quietly, he asks me to please wait for later and tells me that he would then give me the answers to my questions. I look at Sam again, and we lock our eyes in silent affirmation. It’s over. While I still have huge questions for him, we have avenged Mateo and Josephine. As we walk to a car left for us, I notice Tony holding his arm.
“We need to get you to Doc,” I say in concern as he is covered in quite a bit of blood.
“Aw, this is nothing, I’ll be fine. Nothing a tat can’t cover up.” He says nonchalantly, trying to act like it’s not a big deal getting shot. His eyes are filled with pain and anguish that he can’t hide from me. He breaks the silence. “I had to follow Father. Actually, I was glad to do it, if only to ensure your safety. I’m really sorry, Sonny, for everything! There is so much I wanted to tell you! But, with the rule about not being able to tell you things. He wasn’t making a whole lot of sense these past few months. I’m glad it’s finally over.”
“It’s not your fault.” I hold his good arm in assurance and to help keep him in an upright position. “This changes nothing, Tony. The Las Vegas property is still yours. This world is not for me.” I state, knowing that I had made up my mind.
“I love you, brother, you know that, and you better remember it.” He says pointing to the tattoo that us three brothers had gotten together. Blood is thicker than water. I won’t forget.
We embrace, and then I break away from him. “Go on now, get that shoulder looked at before you need a blood transfusion. Angelo will probably call you a vampire or something. He’ll have a field day if you end up in the hospital and need a transfusion.” I joke, trying to make light of the situation. I give him one last pat and walk away.
I can still taste the liquor on my lips. My head is pounding, my heart heavy. I am laying on the floor against the wall in the completed renovated barn at Lion Whiskey Distillery. The silence is comforting.
I play over the events of a few nights ago. Sam reluctantly shared that my mother had approached him. She had overheard Tony and Angelo discussing what we had planned. She was overwrought with fear for me as she knew how ruthless Casas could be. She had come up with a plan of her own to keep me safe. At first, he had been totally unwilling to even hear about it, but she threatened to carry it out with or without his help. He just couldn’t let her go it alone. So, he went along with it all, putting many safety measures in place. In the end, Casas had made it easy for her to carry out the deed as he was so besotted with her. Dafne Ferrari had sworn him to secrecy on the life of his newborn nephew.
Sitting here, I thought it would be one of the only places where I couldn’t feel my beauty. Yet I feel her disapproval slowly starting to overwhelm me. I can see her disappointment splashed over her forced smile because I haven’t been at the hospital to see our daughter. She tells me she loves me, but it’s written all over her face that I need to take responsibility, not exact revenge. Somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to enter that hospital. The chills and sour smells of the place haunts me.
I’m such a coward. Footsteps slowly approach me and wake me up from my drunken state.
“Santos, I saw your bike in the driveway. What are you doing here? It’s two in the morning,” Lia says with concern. She walks toward me wearing her racing gear. Looks like she is up to her racing tricks again. If I wasn’t still half blitzed, I would join her in one of those wild races, loosing myself in an adrenaline rush.
“Oh, Santos, there are no words.” Her voice trails off. “Stay here as long as you need.” She sits down on the floor across from me, and both of us sit in silence. Her presence, without placating words, is oddly comforting.
Finally, the next day, I force myself to go to the hospital where my daughter is staying. Slowing the bike down as I reach the hospital parking entrance, I purposely pick a spot furthest from the front doors. After silent hours sitting in the barn, I sobered up enough to ride to the hospital. Lia invited herself to follow behind to make sure I arrived safely. “I’ll wait here, Santos. Remember you can and need to do this.”
I look at her with a half-smile. “Thank you.” The words come out in a murmur. She nods for me to get off the bike and go.
My spirit and soul have left my body since my wife died. She is the only woman I’ve ever loved, my bright star who fulfilled my whole being. A new tenant has taken occupancy: darkness crawling through my body extinguishing the light.
I’m not sure how long it took me to walk through the parking lot, but I somehow made it to the main entrance of the sliding doors. I stand now paralyzed and cannot go any further. The last time I stepped foot in the building, they told me I had lost my wife and both of my best friends. I despise this place; the smell, the memories, everything attacking what’s left of me. Vaguely, I comprehend hearing my name a couple of times.
“Sonny, hey bud. Lia just texted that you had arrived.” Angelo says walking hesitantly towards me.
The bright white hospital lights obscure my vision. Angelo guides me through mazes of hallways until we get to a door. Two men I remember meeting are standing guard.
“This is her room. I made sure she had a private room with only two vetted nurses. The doctors are on rotating shifts. We have been taking turns holding her. Being a month early, she was in this weird incubator for a while. The nurses told me that contact is important, so we all took turns rubbing her tiny hands and feet. Two weeks ago, she graduated to a normal little holding tank, and now we get to hold her all the time. She is so strong and beautiful.” He says hurriedly, urging me into the room. He points to the middle of the room. I see a clear medical bed with a tiny bundle wrapped in a pink blanket inside it. “She’s taken to the bottle effortlessly, a little milk machine.” Angelo nerves are making him talk faster than usual. He feels the distance between me and the baby, and he doesn’t know how to react.
Finally, he reaches in, picking up the tiny bundle, and cradles her in his tattooed arms. Somehow even with his rock star persona, he looks natural holding her. “Hey, sunshine. Guess who is here?” He coos looking down at her. “Your dad. That’s right, my ugly twin brother. He will grow on you as his bark is bigger than his bite.” He has a huge smile as he tenderly gazes at my little girl, my daughter. He walks towards me, still whispering soft and comforting words to her.
“Sofia,” I whisper, as he places the delicate bundle in my arms. She smells like sugar and baby. Closing my eyes, I inhale the scent. Memories of a conversation with Katarina roll through my mind, right after Florence and Lia’s accident.
I had shared my fear with her. “I’m afraid of what I’m turning into.”
“Well, my husband, that’s why I’m here to remind you of the amazing man you are. To remind you every day.” My wife always had the right comforting words to say.
The suffocating feeling overwhelms my head. I can’t be a father without Katarina. All the confidence that I once assumed coming here has vanished. Turning around, I hand her back to Angelo and proceed walking out the door.
Halfway down hallway, I hear Angelo yell my name. He grabs me with a hard shake. “Hey! I know this is hard, but that little girl needs you right now. You can’t just leave her.” He says angrily, pointing towards Sofia’s room.
I look at him with dread, already feeling myself drifting further away. “Katarina’s parents will take her back to the estate when she’s discharged. They can live there and care for her along with Nicholas. I will make sure they want for nothing, having all the help they need. I can’t be her father to her at this moment. It would do more harm than anything.”
Walking away I almost make it to the sliding doors, before I get twirled around by Angelo. “I’m not letting you go! Grow the hell up, Santos! I’m sorry that you lost your soulmate, but she left you the most precious gift she could ever give you! You’re not the only one who was left hurting!” He’s breathing hard and gripping my arm tightly.
“You called me, Santos; you never call me by my given name.” I state knowing he must be really pissed.
“I’m pissed at you! I feel what you are feeling; every god damn feeling. But try and be half the man you used to be. Go back in there and hold your precious daughter.” He is reeling in his anger, and I push him off me trying to regain my composure. Too many irrational emotions are swirling between us. He’s right; I know I am supposed to suck it up. I’m not the first to lose a wife and be left figuring out how to be a parent alone.
“Santos, Angelo, is everything okay?” I hear Lia’s voice behind me.
“No,” answers Angelo, “everything is not okay. My dear brother here is being a self-centered son of a bitch. He thinks he’s the only one hurting, and he can’t or won’t admit that there is a little baby waiting for him to acknowledge her.” He kicks a trash can out of sheer frustration.
“Santos, I know you are hurting and feel lost. But that little girl will help you heal. I promise it will help a little.” Lia pleads with me to see reason.
I’ve had enough of being told how I should feel or what I need to do. “Maybe I don’t want to feel! I hate the fact that she left me and I have to figure it out without her! She was my light!” I shout my words.
“I think your daughter will continue giving you the light in your life,” says Lia in a quiet, soothing voice. She leans in with a hug, defrosting part of my dark chilled wall away.
“God damn you, Santos! I’ve had it! I’m going to go pop your tires, so you can’t leave.” Angelo storms out of the hospital.
Lia starts to laugh. “Is he being serious about popping your tires?”
I break the embrace and feel a tight smile forming on my face. “Hell yes, he’s for real. He is trying to anchor us.” I say.
“He’s what?” She asks in confusion.
Looking down at her, I let out a breath. “Thanks for being a friend to the both of us. I really appreciate it, Lia. Please, can you go out there and make sure he doesn’t do anything to my bike?” I plead.
She nods her head still with a puzzled look. “Sure, I’ll try my best. What are you going to do?”
“I’m going back upstairs to introduce myself properly to my daughter.”
THE END