The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set (81 page)

“Again Gio, she was still young, in over her head I think, thinking she could negotiate with sharks. They played her and used her, and the Rasmussens found a punching bag for their son so he wouldn’t do it publicly. May they rot in hell!” She spat. “But she was scared she’d lose Johnny, so she was keeping a lot to herself. He is everything to her, but I questioned it too. We were swimming. I’d just started dating my husband. He was a life guard that summer, and I wanted her to meet him. She wouldn’t go in the water at first, but eventually I got her to go in. I saw the marks on her thighs. Burns, and her arms. I was sick to my stomach. He liked to chain her up, suspend her, and beat her. He got off on it. Seeing her squirm, he’d come on her while jerking off, or fuck her while she was trussed up. Sorry, I hate that word, but I can’t call it anything else.”

Gio’s hands slammed the wheels. “Stop it, Mare. I can’t hear anymore.”

Mary was silent as he drove, but she didn’t regret telling him. He needed to know it all, and maybe hearing it from her would help him to understand why her sister had been too scared in the beginning to get out.

Trying to get those images out of his mind was not working for Gio. He ached for Lisa. “Why? Fuck, why?” He cursed.

“I know, Gio.” Mary reached a hand over to pat his arm that gripped the steering wheel like iron. “And you don’t know how many times I wanted to call you. I really did. But she was scared they would take Johnny. Eventually she got up the courage to hire a detective, and she started having him followed then. She even videotaped him torturing her once too, so she could have that just in case it ever came to a custody dispute. He beat her up so badly when she confronted him the following year with that piece of evidence, but when I went to get her out of the hospital, she was smiling. She had him on tape. She was going to show it to his parents. She was going to get out, she vowed. I was terrified seeing her that way, but she smiled through her split lip, and black eyes.”

“She did that?”

Mary nodded. “Yes, that is when she renegotiated the deal. They agreed to let her get the divorce. But wanted five more years. They gave her a hefty allowance so she could move. Allowed her to get the apartment in near Brownsville, and send Johnny to this school. She only had to come to public events with Albert once or twice a week, smile and look pretty. That deadline is six months away, and the house goes to my parents when they die, or when the five years is over, whichever comes first.”

“Lisa says Albert senior is checking out.”

“That’s what I hear. Lisa jumped the gun with Albert though. These years have been hard on her.”

Again, Gio’s mind was a whirl with all she had been through. His throat was closed with emotion.

“Right there on the left, Gio. That’s our turn.” Gio felt his heart stop. Then start.

Fathers & Sons

G
io followed Mary
into the reception building. A young blond woman was working behind the counter and was typing away furiously on her computer screen. She glanced up when she heard the door open, and smiled graciously at Mary when she recognized her.

“Hi, Mary. Johnny is waiting for you. He seems especially excited today. It’s nice to see him that way, considering,” she added with a sad smile. “We all miss Lisa here,” she added.

“Yes, it has been hard on him not having his mom around.” Mary paused before continuing. “Any news on if I can get pick him up this Friday. I know I have visitation privileges, but you were supposed to check . . .?”

“We haven’t heard anything yet. The restraining order is just for Lisa. But, we do need Mr. Rasmussen’s consent for you to take him out of the facility. Sorry. As soon as I know anything, I’ll be sure to let you know.” The young blond turned a clipboard her way, and Mary immediately picked up a pen to sign in scribbling hastily. Then she slid the clipboard over to Gio.

“I’ll need to see your guest’s ID, and run it through the system.” The young blonde eyed the handsome stranger wondering how he was related to the family.

Gio pulled out his Florida Driver’s License and handed it to the younger woman who blushed as she took the ID from him. Gio smiled. He was used to this reaction. Mary elbowed him gently as the young woman turned and scanned his ID into a machine.

“It should only take a second. But, I’m glad you came, um, Mr. Marino. Johnny has been quite sullen, and he was sure happy to hear he had another guest coming.”

“You told him I was coming?” he asked Mary.

“Yes, I called earlier, and spoke with him.” Then lower, so the receptionist whose name tag read Marlene, didn’t hear. “I wanted to prepare him, and not give him a shock. He is looking forward to it. He knows of you. But, I told him not to speak of your being his dad to the staff. I didn’t want Albert to be alerted if he started talking, and try to put up some road blocks.”

“Good idea.”

“All set,” Marlene replied coming back to the reception desk. She handed Gio his identification card. “Johnny will be in the guest waiting room, I’m sure. I saw him there ten minutes ago. He seems excited. It’s a shame though, about Lisa. We all hope she is doing well.”

“Thanks, Marlene. She just made bail and is working on the restraining order. So, as you can expect, she is as best as can be expected. Hopefully the attorneys will have the restraining order lifted soon. I am worried about Friday.”

“Why don’t you just come to get him,” Marlene stated. “You are on the release, so if Mr. Rasmussen does not come, we can release him to you.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea. At least he won’t have to be handed over to strangers.”

Gio listened to the exchange and his stomach lurched at the thought of imagining his son waiting for someone to pick him up, and no one being there. “I’ll come too, Mary. If that’s okay?”

Mary nodded. Having Gio by her side was a comforting thought if Albert did show up, although she didn’t think he would. If he even gave a thought to Johnny he would send someone to pick him up and just dump him someplace else. Mary waved goodbye to Marlene as they set off to find Johnny.

Gio followed Mary down the hall and they turned into a longer narrower hallway. Mary was speaking and Gio had to focus to hear her. He felt his heart beating in his throat. His palms were sweaty, and he rubbed them on his pants. He was meeting his son in a matter of moments.

“I think we should head outside. There might be other guests, and I don’t know how he will react. Some may know Albert. I’m not sure. But privacy, I think would be best.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” he muttered nervously.

Mary turned and gave him a soft smile. “You’ll be fine. He is an awesome kid.”

Mary paused before a door, and Gio almost stepped into her. He saw the plaque beside the door and scanned it quickly. It read, ‘Guest waiting room.’

Gio swallowed, and Mary winked before opening the door. At first Gio didn’t see him. He just saw sofas, and tables, and a large screen TV in the far corner. The room was empty. Then coming out from under the alcove carrying a bottle of water was a tall young boy with dark hair, and ice blue eyes. And Gio’s heart melted. He was five feet tall at nine years old, the Marino eyes staring across the room at him. It was his smile. The same crooked grin.

“Hey Johnny!” Mary called as Johnny’s pace picked up.

“Hi Aunt Mare.” His son’s voice was stronger than he thought it would be. It wasn’t childlike as he imagined. He spoke clearly enunciating each word. His son tossed the bottle into his other hand, then absently rubbed his hip with the one hand that just released the bottle. Gio did that too.

His son was almost within arm’s reach and Gio still had not found his voice. He felt the pressure behind his eyes. His son was holding out his hand to him. “Sir.”

Gio reached out and took his son’s hand. He felt strength in the small grasp, and calluses on the fingers from playing guitar. Like his mother. Gio shook and then pulled the young man into his arms, hugging him tight. He pressed his head down on top of his son’s. “Son,” he whispered into the boy’s hair. “I’m your father.”

“I know.” He heard his son’s voice break in his grasp. “I’m so happy to finally meet you, sir.”

Gio felt the boy’s hold on him tighten too. “Me too. Me too.”

Mary just watched the scene, and felt tears spring to her eyes. She saw Gio hunched over his son, and knew Lisa would have loved to be here to see this. She knew she would never be able to forget it.

“Johnny,” Gio whispered still holding his son. “Oh, Johnny. I wished I would have known you, watched you grow up.”

Johnny pulled back to look up into this man’s eyes, and spoke from his heart. “It’s not your fault, sir. But you are here now, and that is all that matters.” He saw the wetness in his son’s eyes and it almost broke him.

Gio shook his head to clear it, and again swallowed past the lump in his throat. What an amazing kid. It was all he could think as he pulled back from the embrace. He didn’t want to let his son go, but he also knew the kid would be nervous, want to talk, and he didn’t know how much time they had. He wanted to answer all his questions, he wanted to ask his own. He wanted to get to know his son.
His son!

“Johnny, I . . .” Gio stumbled over the next words he wanted to say.

Johnny watched this man, he was huge, and found it strange the man was lost for words. “Sir?” he prodded.

Gio smiled and ruffled his son’s ebony hair. The little man was trying to give him courage. He cleared his throat, and gave his son a grin, the same one his son wore although he could see his bottom lip trembling. “About this sir business?”

“Um, oh, well, what would you like me to call you?” the boy asked. He too had been hoping his dad would want him to call him something more familiar. His heart was beating a mile a minute. His dad had finally come.

“Dad will do. That is if you don’t mind?” Gio asked.

His son nodded. “I’d really like that, sir. I mean, Dad.” Crooked grin smiled at crooked grin and his son threw himself at his father for yet another embrace.

Hearing that word, spoken from Johnny’s lips allowed something to break free in his heart, and again, he held Johnny close. He felt his son’s arms go around him once more, squeezing just as hard. Nothing had ever felt so good in his life.

At that moment, Mary interrupted them. “Hey boys. Hate to interrupt the love fest. I really do,” she teased, and Gio knew she did it to lighten the mood. “But, why don’t we go outside. It’s a nice night. We have about an hour.”

“Okay,” Gio and Johnny said in unison, and they both smirked at each other. Johnny slipped his hand inside his father’s not wanting to break the contact, and again Gio’s heart swelled.

“Can you take a picture first?” Gio asked handing Mary his phone.

“Absolutely.” Mary took the phone and snapped a couple of shots. Gio had his arm around his son’s shoulder, and Johnny’s arm held on tight around Gio’s back.

She snapped a few with her own phone, and then Johnny asked for a few with his. They all laughed as they headed outside. Mary led them to an area where there was a covered alcove. Gio took a seat across from his son at a table, and Mary joined them and they spoke for a while about Lisa and the case. Gio was surprised at how mature Johnny was. They told him as much as they thought he could handle. Gio watched the play of emotions across his son’s face reaching for his hand several times to pat it, and give him reassurance. Johnny was scared, but expressed confidence in his mother’s ability to prove her innocence.

Gio cleared his throat. “Son, I want you to know, that I’m going to help her. She will get her name cleared. I swear. Believe in that.”

“I believe you, Dad. Mom said you were the best. I can see that now.” His mom had always spoke so well of his real dad. Having him here now, he hoped would bring him the family he had always imagined he could have.

Again, Gio felt choked up. “And I don’t want you to worry. I’m in your life now. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here for you too.” Gio meant every word and wanted to convey that message to his son.

His son’s eyes shone. He heard his son clear his throat. “I’ve wanted you here for a long time . . . Dad.” Johnny choked back the tears that were threatening to come once more.

Gio reached his hand out and ruffled Johnny’s hair. “Count on it, son.”

Again Mary felt the need to lighten the mood as it had turned serious once more. “Hey guys, I’m going to give you some time for yourselves. I’m going to sit over there. But, I just wanted to let you know, Johnny, that I’ll be here Friday to pick you up. Your Dad will come too.”

“That sounds great, Aunt Mary.” Johnny beamed at her as he got up to hug his aunt.

“You are a doll. Johnny-cakes.”

Johnny nodded, and gave his aunt another affectionate hug, and then returned to Gio at the table. This time he sat beside his father instead of across from him.

“Okay, boys. Get to know each other. Ask your Dad some questions? Okay.” Mary encouraged before walking off a dozen yards to a private bench. She busied herself on her phone, texted Lisa, and sent her the pictures she had taken inside and a few more she took candidly while Gio and Johnny spoke.

She eavesdropped while waiting for her sister’s reply. She heard Gio telling Johnny about the time he had pranked her and her sister, Bridget, and had taken the seat off of their bicycles at school making them walk all the way home. Johnny was a miniature version of his father. Same laugh, same crooked smile, same tilt of the head, same gestures. They talked for a good while, the two feeling each other out, and ever so slowly Johnny inched closer to his father. Gio, noticing, instinctively reached out to his son knowing what he needed and slung his arm around his small shoulders. The smile he received from Johnny brought tears to Mary’s eyes. She had to look away.

“Dad, I know we’ve just met but I have a favor to ask you . . . well two favors actually.”

Gio saw the tears beginning to well up in his son’s eyes as he reached on to the table and grasped his father’s much larger hand. “Anything, I’ll do anything for you, just ask.”

“Please don’t let that man hurt my mother anymore,” his son choked out, “and Dad, please don’t go away. I’ve really missed having you around.”