Affirmation (11 page)

A
jeweled crown and necklace
sat i
nside the case
with a
stamped seal of the royal family and
an
indisputable provenance.
An inscription read; ‘
My love Semira, you will always be my true Queen
.’

Is this what Alberti died to protect? Was this what the descendants of some adulteress Italian King
were
after?

Alfonzo found it humorously sad
.
“Of course this is what it’s really about.
”
He examined the
piece of jewelry
. “This is
probably priceless to
a
greedy motherfucker who
believes
they
’re the rightful heir
!”
He said out loud.

“
T
hat’s the same thing I said, kid
!”

Alfonzo spun around
to observe
Nico approaching. He had
n’t heard
the footsteps
and that didn’t sit well.
When
Nico
came into sight
, A
lfonzo’s mood
shifted from anger to annoyance. Nico had chosen the wrong moment to appear. The
Mohawk and earring
produced a sarcastic question from Alfonzo
. “What the hell
. A
re you going through a midlife crisis
or something
?”

Nico stopped and looked around. “Seems you’re having a crisis, too.”
He
quipped
when he noticed the broken bottle and the
open
chest.

Alfonzo scoffed, “My heritage comes in a box, eh, Nico?”

“Your heritage is the Giacanti blood.”

“And this?” Alfonzo replied holding the shiny head wear fit for a Queen
in front of him
.

“That’s a bauble. You
’ve
inherited a shitload
of them. The crown doesn’t belong to the royal family. The king commissioned the piece
especially for Semira
. I did some research and the artisan
was considered the Picasso of jewelry.
This
is the only headwear made by the craftsman
. H
e died after completing it
and
priceless
is an understatement. His work is so
rare;
one ring went for
one
hundred and forty million at a
Sotheby’s
auction
ten years ago. The Semira
Collection
is beyond priceless.
”

A
lfonzo dropped the
crown
on the table
and sn
eered in disgust
, “
I guess
Semira
wore it when
the King
fucked her and then
he
went home to his wife. How unromantic is that
, huh
?”

Nico’s eyes
narrowed and it’s
the only give-away that Alfonzo struck a
nerve
. “It’s history.”

“
I did well in the subject, although something’s never sat right about it.”

“
Why is that, cugino
?
”

"I never liked
history;
you never know what version of the story you're getting. Non-fiction or fiction. In my opinion they're both exaggerations of the truth."

The
ir eyes locked as Nico answered,
“
There are always different versions of history. When it comes to matters of the heart, go with the
account
which
spares
the heart
.
”

“
You know the heart’s a muscle and many people
believe
the
dick
is too
. But the dick’s an organ
and
stupid
idioms lead people to think
otherwise
.
”

“But a smart person knows the difference.”

“There are many educated fools, you and I know that.”

“Where are you going with this, kid?”

“We’re back to the kid shit again. I haven’t been a kid for a long time
, m
aybe, I never was.”

Nico remained impassive. Alfonzo was going through an inner-conflict. He chose the wrong day to visit the past.

“Did you know about Sophie and Luzo?”
Alfonzo suddenly asked.

Nico grunt, “S
ophie confided in
me
about it
after Carlo passed.”

Alfonzo’s lip curled
in derision
, “
What else do you know Nico?”

“I know there’s a woman upstairs
who’s upset
because she
thinks y
ou’ve
bailed
. Meanwhile,
you’re sitting here like a motherfucking wino dissecting the past.”

“
Then you don’t know
anything
you arrogant fuck!
”

N
ico studied
his angry cousin’s face.
Alfonzo was drunk.
“
Y
ou’re not
your father
,
but if
you sit your ass here and hurt
Selange
because of me or your
DNA
then
you’re worse.
You
two
didn’t survive hell
for you
to ditch her like this
over a history you can’t change
.
”

“Nico,” Alfonzo said
as he slowly rose
to his feet, “
my relationship with
Selange is
not open for discussion
.
I’ve revoked your
motherfucking
privilege
for disloyalty
,
in case it isn’t clear,
comprende
?”

There was a shout, “Alfonzo are you there?”

Alfonzo rolled his neck to release the tension. His eyes never faltered from Nico’s face.
He was angry at Nico, but not for the reason he thought. It wasn’t about Selange or
his
wounded pride
.
His anger stemmed from not having Nico’s counsel anymore. The Ari situation took him out of commission
. Nico’s investigative expertise got results, but he couldn’t afford to pull Nico away from a pregnant woman who didn’t have a clue about staying low until her name and face were forgotten. He shouted out, “
Yeah, Geo,
I’m
coming!”

Giuseppe bounded down the stairs to
where Nico and Alfonzo were.
He looked from Nico’s stone face to Alfonzo’s clenched jaw. They had undoubtedly exchanged harsh words
before his arrival
, but what did he care. He had an obligation to fulfill before the
lynch mob
led by his sister
pounced. “Come fratell
ino
, we have a wedding to attend. Trust
me;
if
you
miss it, we are
both
dead!”

CHAPTER
NINE

Sergio pee
re
d out the window
, breathing heavy breaths of frustration as he listen
ed
to
an
old hag
’s
incessant complaints
to her husband about everything from the complimentary nuts to the small seats
on the airplane
.

The silly woman must think she’s in first class!

The sun warmed his cheek
. It was
much nicer than the weather back home and he considered never going back to New York. Unfortunately, he had to. That bastard Chip threatened his family
and unless he paid his debt, the sucker just might go through with it.
He squinted many times from the stinging in his eye.
The pain eased considerably
and that’s saying a lot. To hide the bruise he wore tinted Ray Ban’s, but the worse injury occurred to his pride. Dudes like Chip made a living from
brawling;
Sergio on the hand wasn’t the fighting type. Hell yeah, he could hold his o
wn in a
fistfight;
however he preferred to bust a cap in a man’s ass and be done with it.

T
he plane finally landed and
Sergio was the first
passenger
on his feet. He
kneed
past the annoying woman and her husband. Getting the
hell up out of there
for some fresh air was foremost on his mind. He
tugged down the carry-on bag and hurried out of coach. After today,
he pledged if he had to take another commercial flight, first class was
the way to fly.

Set on a personal mission hadn’t stopped Sergio from hollering at the fine women he passed. There was an assortment of
chocolate
flavors
. He licked his lips imagining tasting them all. Goddamn!

Outside the terminal he hailed a cab, settled back and gave the address.

The cabbie turned in his seat, “No can do senor.
”

“What the fuck you mean, no can do?”

“You have to get out.”

Sergio stretched his neck back, “Are you serious?”

“Vete ahora!”

Sergio slid out the door, “What kind of crazy shit is this and I thought New York cabbies were psycho?” He slammed the door and the
taxi
sped away. The next
one
he flagged
attempted to do
the same thing, but
Sergio refused to get out and the driver explained.
“We are not allowed to bring passengers there. If we do, we lose our jobs.”

“So, how
do
I get there then?”

“If you know the family I suggest you call and have their car come for you
.”

“I don’t have the number.” Sergio rummaged through his wallet and counted out the cash. “Can you get me close without getting in trouble for three bills?”

The man inhaled, undoubtedly thinking it over.
Three hundred dollars was not enough
money
to risk his job
, however he could drive him
to
the halfway mark and let him walk from there. He suggested this to the passenger and they struck a deal. The driver took the cash and
stepped on the gas
.

                          
****

Alfonzo stood, hand
s
clasped in front of him, looking
back
over his shoulder when the wedding march began
.
Under the glowing light of a tropical sun,
Selange
glided
across the outdoor carpet in his direction.
He
did not see the faces of the guests. They were the background blurs in an abstract painting and the woman coming to him held center stage.

Swathed in
a
flowing cream fabric
, gliding
like the gentle waves of a calm lake was a vision. Selange’s g
aze never faltered from Alfonzo
and he swallowed, awed at her loveliness.
Sal
’s arm was
inter
locked with his mom’s
and t
railing
behind them
was
his spirited daughter
pulling a
decorated wagon
w
ith the
twins.

There were smiles and long, “Aw
’s and oh’s
,” from the guests
as they passed
.
Alfonzo shook his head at the last minute change. Selange never
failed to surprise him.
The d
amn woman was creative.

Giuseppe whispered
,
“She’s brought her
entourage
.
Y
ou’re in trouble
fratell
in
o
–ha-ha-ha!
”

Alfonzo ignored the best man, w
ondering what possessed him to
consider bailing
. Had he lost his mind or what
?
Look at the fruits of
his
love
, marching like l
ittle soldiers
to
the front line with their mom
. H
ow the hell could he exist without them?

The
miniature
infantry halt when the music ceased.
Maria
and Anita were the second line support who
hastily
fetched
the
troop of
children
to allow
the bride and groom
to
step
inside the gazebo.
Alfonzo glanced back at his children and winked. He and Selange
were
squad leaders
, ready to fight and slaughter anyone who fucked with their clan.
Geez, he grinned, I’m a lucky man. “Let’s
get started
!” He ordered the
family
priest.

The
robed cleric
began,
“The groom has asked
t
hat I speak these words on his behalf…”

Alfonzo took Selange’s hand
and i
t trembled
. H
e
gave it a reassuring squeeze
to relay his apology for making her worry
. The warmth
and pledge of protection calmed the shaking and she looked upon him with such love, his heart spasmed.
Alfonzo
bowed his head as the
clergyman
began to recite
his psalm
.

“May the
pain
and blood
of the past be cleansed away
. Let
old sins
dissolve
in rivers vast.
Unto the
Lord
, repent
ance is asked
for ancient acts and future deeds.
A sinner
beseech
es
thee
, have
mercy
for the water’s red
.
”

“Amen.” Alfonzo and Selange whispered in unison.

The priest squint
ed
at the un
orthodox
prayer
and took a deep breath, “
Amen.
The prayer is fitting for us
sinners
. We are all God’s children
,
be
it
begg
ar or thief. Our
H
eavenly Father is the sole judge
and juror of our hearts and deed
s
and not
fallible men
. With
that said, today
we bring together Alfonzo Diaz and Selange Brown in affirmation of their love through a holy union
.” He unclasped his hands and smiled at the couple and proceeded with a familiar wedding address. “
We are gathered here today
in the presence of
family and friends
…”

CHAPTER
TEN

Sergio put his hands on his waist and panted several times.
Winded and angry, h
e
curs
ed
at the distance he had yet to go
, “Aint this bitch!”

He
stared down the long road lined with foliage and sun. In the distance he could see the rooftop of Alfonzo’s estate
and it looked really far
. He trekked for miles already
.
The goddamn cabbie wasn’t kidding when he said he had a long walk. Factor in the hot sun
and the
wrong footwear and a simple hike bec
ame
a torturous ordeal.

Heck, at this rate he wouldn’
t get there
until nightfall
.
Prior to
today’s
stamina test, he considered himself in good shape. Guess, bench-pressing weights are great for muscle
tone
, but do
es
n’t
help
with endurance if you’re not accustomed to these marathon walks.
The afternoon heat baked his skin and sweat poured from his head. Today is when his Yankee baseball cap would’ve come in handy and sunscreen. Yeah
, he wore skin protectant. Brown skin didn’t mean skin cancer
isn’t a health concern
. His mom told him that. Her parents were Dominican and
Panamanian. Everybody’s blended
with some
thing
, besides it didn’t matter in America
. What he discriminated against was poverty and not people. Brokism is far worse than racism.
Everybody accepts money,
even
racists.