Seven Days: A young black woman makes a deal with a mob boss. (38 page)

Victoria nodded her head, knowing full well her mother couldn't see it, but she was still too shocked to speak.
Finally when she found her voice, she whispered, "Okay," and hung up. Victoria wasn't sure how long she sat there, but she couldn't move. She couldn't think. Her father was dead...and the last thing she ever said to him was throwing in his face that he had no one.
When Nic arrived back home, he knew immediately that something was amiss with Victoria. At first he thought the house was empty, because several lights were off. He called her name and walked upstairs to find her sitting on the floor in the baby's room trying to put together the expensive convertible baby crib his mom had bought weeks ago.
"Hey baby," Nic said, eyeing his wife suspiciously. "I told you I was going to do that."
She didn't look up. "I know, but I thought I could get a start on it." Victoria really didn't know what the hell she was doing. And for some reason the directions didn't make any sense to her. But she needed something, anything to keep her mind occupied.
"Are you alright?" Nic asked, kneeling down beside her.
"Yes," she answered, as she picked up a metal bar. "Well actually, I guess I should tell you that my father died this morning."
Nic was taken aback. "What?"
"He's dead," she said, smashing one end of the metal bar into the wooden crib. It wouldn't fit, so she kept on banging it against the tan wood, trying to make it fit.
"Hey, hey," Nic said, grabbing the bar from her. "Stop, okay. Just stop. Talk to me."
Victoria snatched the piece back. "I'm fine. I wasn't even close to him." She started pushing the metal bar into the wood again. "Shit, why won't this fit?!"
"Because it's the wrong piece. Now put the fucking bar down and look at me," Nic commanded. He knew she was hurting. His wife was extremely sensitive, especially in her condition. 
Victoria threw the bar down and stared at her husband. She knew it was coming. Those tears that were bubbling underneath the surface. Her bottom lip started to shake and she erupted into tears.
Nic immediately reached out to grab his wife. "It's okay, baby," Nic whispered, wrapping her in his arms. He could feel her tears soaking the collar of his shirt.
"I—I was so me—mean to him the last time I sa—saw him," Victoria whimpered. She couldn't feel lower if she tried. In the back of her mind, she had expected her father to recover. Not to die alone in a cold hospital room.
"You didn't have the best relationship with him, and that's not your fault. He pushed away many opportunities to know the most beautiful, interesting and kind woman in the world. You reached out to him that last time, and you didn't have to. He rejected your plan to mend your relationship and there wasn't anything else you could do, baby. Trust me, you did more than most people would have done."
Victoria tried to calm her breaths, which were suddenly infused with hiccups. She closed her eyes and Nic slowly pushed her onto her back. He laid on his side, rubbing his hand over her full tummy.
"I probably shouldn't go to the funeral. But then again, if I don't show up, I'm not sure who else would, other than my mom. He didn't really have any friends, and didn't really want any."
Nic leaned over and kissed her. "It's entirely up to you. I'll be by your side either way."
Victoria smiled for the first time since her mother had delivered the devastating news. "Didn't I use to not like you at one point?"
Nic laughed. "Oh, I heard 'I hate you, you bastard' a few times."
Olivia called back the next day to give Victoria some details regarding the funeral. It would be in two days and they were just having a small private service at her mom's old church. A church Victoria hadn't been to since she was five and they had an Easter egg hunt. Her father didn't like church people. He always used to argue with her mother that those women were always in their business.
"They don't do anything except gossip. Too busy gossiping to pay attention to what's going on in their own homes," he argued. Her mom would just shake her head, and every now and then go to church without him.
But before they could fly back, Nic and Victoria visited her physician and got a second opinion on her flying so late in the pregnancy. Both were fine with it, but she had to get up and walk around every few hours, and it would be better if they broke up the flights into two separate connections.
When Nic had their first class tickets, he called his mom and Jimmy to let them know he'd be coming into town for a few days because of Victoria's dad. Of course, Marianna was happy, but it was bittersweet, due to Victoria having to go through such a hard time.
After the longest travel day in Nic's life, they finally made it back to the city. It only took two connection flights, plus a four hour nap for Victoria at a hotel, before they boarded their third plane, and finally near the end of a sleepless day for Nic. 
Once they arrived in town, they stayed at Victoria's mom's apartment. Nic had wanted to just stay at a hotel, but her mother insisted they stay with her. But before Nic argued, he figured Olivia didn't want to be alone during this difficult time, so he relented.
Victoria embraced her mom and the two cried for a bit, before Victoria said she was tired and headed to her mom's room to sleep. After Nic had tucked her in and kissed her, he went back out and sat down at the kitchen table. Olivia was sitting with a warm cup of tea in her hand. This was the first time they had ever been alone together. She turned to look at him.
"You know, I was scared when my husband got involved with your father," she said, finally taking a sip. "I thought it was dangerous getting involved with the mob."
Nic slowly nodded but didn't say anything. He took in her appearance. She could definitely be a beautiful lady, but she looked as though she had lived a hard life. There was no fire behind her eyes, no energy in her words.

"And then years later, my daughter getting involved with the mo—well, with you, frightened me even more. I was so scared that night she didn't come back from visiting your restaurant. And she refused to tell me what was going on...but a few weeks later, we started hearing some stuff. And it wasn't too nice," Olivia said, setting her cup aside.
Nic leaned back in his chair. "I realize that how we met isn't the ideal story. But aside from not being as gentle and kind as I could have been, I don't regret doing what I did. It brought Victoria and me together, and I am forever changed because of that. And I love her more than anything in this world."
Olivia stared at her handsome son in-law. "Well, with that I have to agree. I'm getting a grandson, so that should say something." And after a second pause, she spoke again. "I—I never told James about the baby. I regret that. I mean, who knows...that could have been the changing factor in how he saw Victoria. I mean, who can hate a baby, you know?"
Nic nodded again. "That might make Victoria sad, so I think we should keep that to ourselves," he suggested.
"I agree," Olivia said, as she sipped the rest of her drink.
The next day, Victoria and her mom got dressed, while Nic made a few business calls. His company was expanding, but he hadn't expected it to expand so fast. Not that he was complaining...but fuck, they had several projects that he needed to review and construction sites he needed to visit. To try to keep up he had his team emailing him different files, with pictures that he would approve or disapprove. 
"Are you sure this dress isn't too tight on me? It's a little more snug than I had hoped," Victoria asked, wobbling out of the back room and into the kitchen.
"You look beautiful, as always," Nic said, placing his phone on the table.
"You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
Victoria stood there looking at him. "Nic, I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I want to remember him like that. I mean, not that I really have any better memories, but I...I don't know if I can go in there," she whispered.
Nic walked over to her and hugged her. "Yes you can, and I'll be by your side every step of the way."
Victoria nodded into his chest and the two walked out together.
Olivia had gone to the church earlier that day, to make sure everything was set up. Nic held onto his wife's hand, as he drove them from the apartment to their destination. When they finally arrived, Nic parked the rental car on the busy street in front of the church. 
"I doubt anyone even showed up," Victoria sighed. 
"Well, you and your mom did, and wouldn't that be all that mattered to him?" Nic asked, as he turned to his wife, about to give her a kiss. But he stopped when something caught his eye in the passenger side mirror.
Nic immediately straightened up and glanced in the rear view mirror. No, he wasn't seeing things. He noticed a gardener who had been lightly digging in the same spot, while he pressed a finger to his ear. And from his passenger window, he noticed a man in an ill fitted suit sitting on a bench reading a newspaper. The guy on the bench glanced at the gardener and then went back to his paper. A paper that he hadn't bothered to turn the page. 
Fuck, it was finally happening. And of all the days. In the back of Nic's mind, he knew he shouldn't have returned to the city. He knew it was the wrong choice, but he wanted to be there for Victoria. He saw a car slowly pull past him and park in an empty spot about two cars in front of him.
He turned to Victoria.
"Baby, I need you to listen to me closely. In about thirty seconds, I'm going to be arrested. Call Jimmy and tell him to call my attorney, Reuben, okay?"
Victoria's heart started racing. "What?!" she said, as she quickly glanced around. She didn't see anyone. "What are you talking about?!"
"Listen, in my office at our house, there's an old dark blue design book from my college days. You'll see it. There's an address taped to the back of the book. It's to a specific bank, where I have a security deposit box. The combination is the day we buried my brother. Ask my mom. If for some reason you need to make a quick getaway, everything you'll ever need to disappear is in that box. New identities, contacts, money...everything, and I--"
"What?! Nic, you're scaring me. I--," Victoria said, shaking.
"Victoria, listen! I only have a few seconds. Did you remember what I said?"
Victoria was trembling as tears started pouring over the brim of her eyes. "Ye—yes."
"Repeat it. Quickly," Nic said, looking around again. They were closing in on him.
"Call Ji—Jimmy, tell him to call Reuben. Look at the back of the dark blue book, the combination is Bobby's funeral day," Victoria repeated, still shaking. She started to notice different people approaching them. She cried even harder.
"I love you," Nic said softly, turning her head toward him and staring into her tear streaked face.
"I love you, too," Victoria whispered, before a loud thunderous voice caused her to jump.
"Nicolas Andretti, put your hands up where we can see them and step out of the vehicle now!!" 
Nic knew that voice. Marsh. He hated Victoria was being dragged into this messy situation.
"Put your hands up, baby," Nic told Victoria, as he did the same. A young guy dressed in a cop uniform quickly opened his door. Nic noticed Marsh approaching. He slowly got out when several men rushed him.
Marsh grabbed him, turned him around and pushed him toward the hood of the car.
"Try telling me I don't have jurisdiction now, motherfucker," Marsh whispered to him, while practically cutting off Nic's circulation with handcuffs, and pressing his face into the cold metal of the car. 
"Don't you hurt him!" Nic heard Victoria scream as she got out of the car. She tried to rush over to him, but a large cop grabbed her arm, almost causing her to lose her balance. Victoria tried to push the cop away until he pulled out handcuffs. As the cop roughly jerked his nine month pregnant wife back toward him...Nic saw red.
"Get your fucking hands off her!" Nic yelled, pushing back from the car, as the back of his head accidentally went flying into Marsh's face, smashing his nose. Marsh immediately released him to grab his face, which was now bleeding. Three more cops instantly jumped on Nic, causing all of them to hit the pavement. The other officers approached the struggle, drawing their weapons on him.
Marsh tilted his head back to stop the bleeding, while his men struggled with Nic. "Just keep racking them up asshole. Assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest," Marsh said, as he walked over and knelt down beside Nic. "Nicolas Andretti, you're under arrest for the murder of Donald Jenkins. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say, can and will be used against you in the court of law."
Nic looked over at Victoria. She was shaking and crying, as a female police officer was now talking to her, obviously due to her delicate condition. Several people had stopped on the streets to stare at the spectacle. 
"You have the right to an attorney during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you—but we all know you can, you fucking prick. Do you understand these rights?"
Victoria couldn't speak, she couldn't move and she could barely think. Everything had happened so fast. One minute she was preparing herself to see her father for the last time, the next, guns were being drawn on her husband and he was being arrested for murder.
As soon as they finished reading Nic his rights, she watched as they roughly pulled him up from the ground and placed him the back of a police cruiser. Victoria watched the car carrying her husband all the way until it made a turnout of her sight.
She quickly pulled out her cell phone and dialed Jimmy. In a rush of tears and jumbled words, she tried to explain to Jimmy what happened and for him to call Reuben. Jimmy said he'd call Reuben and he was coming to pick her up.
"Okay," Victoria whispered, as she shakily shut her phone and waited, scared out of her mind. Marsh stepped into the interrogation room holding a cloth to his nose. He threw a few files down onto the table and stared at Nic.
"Nicolas Andretti...I finally got you, you fucker. And don't worry, I fucking own this precinct. There are no cameras rolling behind those mirrors. Just you and me. Together at last."
Nic's wrists were raw from the tight handcuffs, but he refused to complain about it. First, it wouldn't do any good, and second, he wouldn't give that asshole the satisfaction. He stared back at Marsh with a bored expression.
"So Nic, this is how we're going to do this. Believe it or not, I have an amazing proposition for you. How about you walk out of here today--no questions asked. You leave, go see your wife and fly back to California. How does that sound?"
Nic didn't blink.
"Well, the powers that be don't think you're important anymore. After all, you've gone legit, so there's really no reason to harass you. Although I personally think it's fun. I've made it no secret that I despise you and everything you stand for."
Marsh dabbed his nose again, to make sure there was no more blood leaking out.
"But, the way this works is...you are free to go. After all you're only one man, and the amount of money and manpower we've put behind you...well, some don't think is justified. BUT...if we could bring in a few more people, well, then we will be doing pretty damn well."
Nic continued to stare blankly at Marsh.
"So, I'll let you walk out of here today...if you roll over on a few people."
"Who?" Nic asked, finally speaking.
"Glad you asked. Paul and Sonny Marconi, Jimmy, Raymond and Antonio. Eddie was on that list, but we can't seem to find him," Marsh said, narrowing his eyes at Nic. "But those five, and you are free to go. Clean slate."
Nic leaned back in his chair. "Sorry about your nose," he said, then smiled.
Marsh shook his head incredulously. "You fucking asshole, don't you realize what I'm offering? The moment that prick lawyer of yours shows up, this offer is off the table, you understand."
Nic sat in silence again.
"This isn't noble Nic, this is stupid. What the hell do you owe those other men, huh? You'll be easily convicted and go to prison, my friend. Where they rape and eat men like you for breakfast. Fuck, half of them are probably your friends, now that I think about it. Maybe you would be better off in there with that scum."
Nic yawned.
Marsh slammed his fist down on the table. "Are you really going to take a chance on going to prison and giving another man the ability to raise your child and fuck your wife? All because you didn't want to snitch on your friends? Because, trust me...a hot little number like Victoria, she's not going to stay single forever."
Nic didn't budge. 
Marsh hated this bastard. More than any other criminal he had ever tracked. Nic seemed to get the goods in life, while men like Marsh were left with a bitchy ex-wife, two mortgages, ungrateful kids and an ulcer. Yes, he definitely hated Nic. So right now, he was going to fuck with him.
Marsh smiled at Nic. "Too bad I didn't get a chance to put that sexy wife of yours in handcuffs. I would have enjoyed it. And who knows, I might even move in on Victoria. Make her promises that I'm doing all I can to get you out. When they are vulnerable like that, you never know what they might do. I can definitely think of a few things I would do with her."
Nic knew what Marsh was trying to do. Anything to get a rise out of him...to make him crack. But he had forgotten just how much of a calculating man Nic could be. He'd let Marsh have his fun for now...but he would definitely get that motherfucker back.
"You know, you shocked our whole department when you married her. I mean, come on man...not many men marry their charity case whore...who does that?" Marsh laughed out loud. He pretended to wipe a tear away. "Fuck her? Absolutely! Marry her? Absolutely not! Didn't your old man teach you any better?"
Nic's face never changed, but inside he was boiling. He squeezed his hands together, trying to concentrate on the pain of the handcuffs. Anything to distract himself.
"Oh, that's right...your old man passed away years ago. And your loser brother. What was his name, Bobby?"
Nic kept digging the handcuffs further and further into his skin. He knew they were probably bleeding by now.
"Yeah, I saw the pictures of what they did to him. Fuck, they made a mess, didn't they? But, you know what I say...serves the fucker right. He was nothing but a drug addict anyway, so who gives a shit if you only had half of his body to bury," Marsh laughed.
Nic continued to stare, but gave nothing away.
Marsh sighed. "I'm trying to help you, Nic. Trust me, I don't like giving you this offer, but it can save your sorry ass. Just take it. Give me some info on those five and we'll call it a day, okay?"
Suddenly the door flew open and Reuben rushed through. "My client doesn't have to say a word to you, and anything you've said, either show me the tapes, and if they weren't rolling, then that will be brought up if this goes to trial." He walked over to Nic, and sat his briefcase on the table.
Marsh stood up. "He's all yours, counselor," he said before he walked out and slammed the door.
Victoria was lying on Jimmy and Isabelle's bed. Marianna had been pacing back and forth in front of the bedroom door, asking her every few minutes if she was okay. 
When Victoria and Jimmy had first arrived at his house, she had screamed at him for not taking her to the police station. She wanted to see Nic, and see if he was okay. Isabelle and Jimmy had to physically hold her, to keep her from walking to the nearest bus station. Finally, Jimmy saying that Nic would be pissed at her for putting their child in jeopardy, worked. Victoria eased up and finally agreed to go into their house.