Vendetta (3 page)

    
Sarge came back toward the bed. He was rubbing his bald head from front to back.

    
“Vin, I need to tell you what happened after you blacked out,” Sarge sat down at the foot of my bed. He fumbled with his watch again, turning it round and round.

    
“So tell me, then.” That sick feeling returned to my gut.

    
“I don’t know how to start this.” He put his head down into his hands, and steadied his feet on the hard hospital floor. “I’m real sorry, Vinny.” He took a deep breath...

     “Alice and Joey… didn’t make it,” he exhaled.

    
I stared at his blurred shape sitting on my bed. They didn’t make it? What did that mean exactly?

     “Didn’t make it where?” I asked.

    
Sarge continued.

   “We received a 911 call from the neighbor. When we heard that it was next to your house, all officers responded that were in the area. We found you first, damn near bleeding to death with the gun at your side. They found Alice and Joey down at the end of the alley…. they were both shot in the back. Leo did a bad job of framing you though. His prints were all over the gun, not to mention all of your blood on his clothes when we found him. He still had the bloody knife folded up in his pocket,” he leaned back staring at the ceiling… with tears in his eyes.

    
I kept listening, hoping that he would say they had made a mistake and that Alice and Joey were fine and recovering in the hospital as well. I tried to make sense out of my own thoughts, but the reality of it had begun set in.

    
“Leo killed them?” I said. My tears stung at my swollen eyes.

    
“Yeah, there gone, Vinny. I’m so sorry for your loss,” Sarge added. “I didn’t know Alice was… with child. That’s going to make a difference in court for sure.”

    “You said you got him?” I asked. My mind was reeling.

    
“Yeah, we got him. I handled the bastard myself,” Sarge cleared his throat.

    
“We’re really going to need you to testify in court as to the events of that night. The neighbor won’t do it, what with Leo’s reputation and all. Leo’s family is still connected to the mob and the Vanzetti’s might retaliate. We’ll protect you and Lily though, don’t you worry about any of that. It’s going to be a witness protection type of deal and you’ll definitely need to relocate after you testify; change your names and all that. Don’t worry about what’s going to happen to Leo, he’s going away for a very, long time….” his words trailed off. “I’m so sorry, brother,” Sarge lowered his head once again, and sat in silence. I felt his hand squeeze the calf muscle of my leg.

    
My body went numb. It felt paralyzed. I tried to move my legs. I kicked out and brought them up to my chest. I started to rock back and forth in my bed. I knew my body was physically moving, but I still couldn’t feel it. I tried to speak and couldn’t make a sound.

    
A sharp pain shot through my chest. Was it my broken ribs? A roaring, deafening sound filled my ears. I grabbed both sides of my head and leaned back. The sharp pain worsened as my head began to pound. I then realized that the loud groaning sounds were coming from me. A sudden, heavy weight was pushing me down. Sarge had pinned my shoulders down to the bed.

    
A nurse suddenly appeared at my side with a needle injecting something into my I.V.

    
My sorrow and sadness had quickly turned into anger and physical pain. It created a rage so white hot with hate… that it was all I could see. It was all I could feel. My mind used that rage to desperately fill the empty hole in my heart, that Alice’s death had created. I lay in the hospital bed weeping, heavily sedated and unable to grasp my own reality. I incoherently spoke of revenge and dreamed of redemption in the most brutal and merciless of ways. Leo, in my mind, would forever be a killer of innocence and a coward.

    
Over the next couple of weeks, I would heal physically and endure a mental battle of good versus evil. My only solace was Lily. She was my peace of mind; my “Lily of the Valley” in a land of sadness and despair.

    My only glimmer of hope in this sadistic world is my daughter. She was now my only reason to live. With my Mother and sister Alice both gone now, I knew I had to do whatever it took to protect what I had left. Sarge knew I would testify, even if we had to start a new life somewhere else. That was the best thing for us anyway. He knew I would do whatever it took to bring down Leo and to create a semblance of justice for my sister and her baby. Even for Joey. I would testify against the world.

    
Some say that time and time alone can heal all wounds. For mine and Lily’s sake, I hope it’s at least a little bit true.

                                     CHAPTER 1

                              13 YEARS LATER

    “Bye, Dad!” Allie rushed past Mark and grabbed her heavy back pack off the kitchen counter. She grunted as she heaped the strap up over her shoulder. It amazed him that her string bean, ballerina frame, could lug that thing around like it was nothing.

     “Will you be coming home right after school to get ready for your birthday dinner?” He asked, peering over the rim of his coffee cup.

     She suddenly stopped fussing with her bag and spun around to face him. She grimaced in hesitation, like she had something to tell him, and didn’t know how to start.

     He raised his eyebrows. “Inquiring minds want to know.”

     Her sweet dimpled smile was a bit crooked as she stammered out the details.

     “Well, Jen wanted to show me this little coffee shop down town,” she smiled her dad’s same goofy grin.

     “Do all teenage girls smile when they talk?” He thought to himself.

    “So, you think that because you’re eighteen now, you can just “ditch out” on your dad any time you want,” he said sarcastically.

     “It was really a spur of the moment invite and I forgot to tell you about it last night. I’ll be home in time for dinner, I promise. I won’t be late. Is it alright?” She waited in anticipation.

      Mark tried to look serious. “I don’t know. Do you have your pepper spray?” He was stalling now.

     “Dad,” she cocked her head to one side and rolled her eyes. “Nothing’s going to happen to me in a coffee shop, in Idaho, in broad day light,” she scoffed.

     Mark could hear Jens stereo as she pulled into the driveway. Jen was Allie’s best friend. “Nearest and dearest,” she would say.

     “You would be surprised what could happen in broad day light. It‘s a simple question darling, do you have your pepper spray?” he asked again.

     “Yes, Dad, there are two canisters in my backpack and don’t forget the stash in my locker at school,” she gently grasped her chin and pretended to think really hard. “I’m pretty sure Jen still has an arsenal in her glove compartment,” she smiled.

      He stood up from the table and walked over to the back door, where she stood. “Alright, be careful and I’ll see you sometime after school,” he smiled at her as he opened the door.

     “Oh, you’re so awesome! Thanks for understanding, Dad,” she hugged him quickly. “I’ve got to get going now okay, Jen’s waiting,” she nodded towards the back lot.

     “Have a great day at school! Enjoy your coffee for me, huh?” Mark winked at her.

      “Oh, school will be a blast, don’t you worry,” she said sarcastically.

     She stopped just short of the door and turned to look up at him through her thick, hooded lashes. She flashed her dimpled smile, and with those big hazel eyes, Mark thought that she looked just like her Aunt Alice.

     She hugged him tight, wrapping her arms around his chest to squeeze. He kissed the top of her head.

     “Have a great day, Allie-Cat, I love you!” He raised his hand and waved to Jen.

     “I love you too, Dad, thanks!” He walked with her out onto the porch and watched as she ran to her friend’s car, or whatever you call that thing. It looked like a Jeep, but Jen insisted it was a Samurai.

     The girls squealed and giggled in their seats for an excited moment before buckling in. Jen pretended to adjust her mirrors and look extra cautious.

     “Silly girls,” Mark mumbled to himself.

     And that was that. Allie was off to school. Senior year was going to be an exciting time for her.

     Mark slowly walked up the creaky, golden stained, wood porch and bent down to pick up the morning paper. Mark went inside and closed the door behind him. He sauntered into the sunlit kitchen and refilled his coffee cup before settling down at the breakfast bar to read. He loved these sunny autumn mornings. “Indian Summer”, as Allie calls it.

      Mark didn’t have to work at the restaurant he managed today. This is very unusual for a dedicated, single father like himself, but even he had to admit… it felt pretty good to just sit and relax, without having anything pressing to deal with. He had every intention of getting ready for the day; just not yet.

     You see, today wasn’t just any ordinary day. It was Allie’s eighteenth birthday party. Angelo’s Restaurant was closed today in preparation for it. No catering, deliveries or dining at all to the public. They had been secretly advertising the closure for a week, mostly to the regulars, by word of mouth. Mark didn’t think closing the restaurant was necessary, but Dom Angelo, the owner, thought so.

     “Allie is my Goddaughter and it’s very important to have a big, surprise party for her. Closing the restaurant for it is common sense. Don‘t you worry so much, Marko” Dom had said.

     Mark was Dom’s new partner and longtime friend. Dom’s wife Lucy, who occasionally worked in the kitchen and as a hostess, was planning and coordinating this special event. She was definitely going to go all out for our princess. Mark was fully aware of her capabilities and never doubted Lucy’s party planning abilities for a second. He was blown away by the attention to detail that Lucy was obviously displaying in the decorations. He wouldn’t have done a very good job, if left to his own devices.

     Allies birthday, technically had passed, but was during a very busy week. All though, they had a small celebration, they had planned to surprise her with this all along.

     Silver twinkling lights draped over the ceiling and cascaded down the walls. Garlands of white roses and lilies were arranged nicely and hung over the arched doorways. The sweet fragrance from the fresh, delicate flowers was thick in the air. Rows of rectangular tables were covered with dark purple cloths, and adorned with polished silverware.

      Sparkling crystal bowls filled with water had purple and silver floating candles inside them. At the base of each bowl, were a mixture of beautifully arranged white roses and vibrant green ivy. The center pieces were being carefully prepared by many helpers. Mark wasn’t recognizing a lot of the extra help that was hired specifically for today. They hadn’t hired the usual “extras” from the temp-agency they used occasionally. The flowers, color schemes, and over all style was perfect. It was all Allies favorite colors and flowers. Lucy knows Allie very well, and it shows. That just makes it all the more special for Allie.

     “Well, Marko, what do you think so far? Everything’s alright?” Lucy asked. She must have seen him gawking. Mark could hear her heels clicking behind him, and her Italian accent was unmistakable.

      “Oh, yes Lucy, everything is so beautiful! She‘s going to love it,” Mark said sincerely.

     Lucy smiled wide and clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! You must come this way, quickly; I want to show you the cake!” She was already off, clicking away towards the back of the hall.