The Seventh Family

21499

It was a few minutes pass 12:00 AM when Jayden parked the in the hummocks. It was dark and the chorus of insects would be heard.

They got out of the car and he stretched his body. The two hours’ drive to Philadelphia had been smooth. He carried his bag and asked her to carry hers too.

“Why are we here?” Jane asked.

“We have to get rid of the car.” He said and got the gasoline he got along the way and began to pour on it. He pushed the car to the edge of the cliff and set fire to the hood. He pushed it down and as the car went down the valley, it exploded and gave the hummock a momentary illumination.

“We have to walk about two kilometers.” He said. “We need a place to rest.”

“Philadelphia? Is that were you were coming?”

“Yes.”

“I thought we were going far. Philadelphia is just 80 miles from New-York.”

“why do we have to go far?”

“Joe is just 80 miles away.”

“Listen, I had a plan before that happened and I was coming to Philadelphia. I am not running away from Joe. I got bigger problems to solve. The  people of Philadelphia need me and I can’t let them down.”

The heard another explosion form the car and it now burnt profusely down the valley.”

“They need you? Why would anyone need you?”

“There is a big problem here and only a mayor can solve it so they asked me to come take the position of a mayor. I don’t like politics but when the people mandate you, you have to make that sacrifice.”

“Hmmm…from a billionaire to Captain America and now a mayor. You are a dreamer.”

“Now let us get the hell out of here.” He said. “My kids are missing me.”

He began to walk away.

“You got kids?”

“Okay, I live in the caravan because I was not based there. My real home is here and yes, I have two kids. Two lovely kids. Kimberly and Jayden Jnr.”

She walked after him.

‘You were never told me you were married.|”

“What part of biology says you need to get married before you can have a child?”

“That is the most proper way.”

“That was the reason I did not want you to come with me. Tatiana is a jealous lady and she would roast me if she sees you with me.”

Jane looked at him and saw the seriousness in his face. She had never seen him look this way.

“She called a few hours ago and asked me to come back home. That is the reason I had to leave.”

“So where are we going right now? Probably not your house?’

“Why?”

“What are you going to tell her about me?”

“I am smart, Jane. I can pop up convincing lies at any damn second.”

“I am not going to your house.”

“Listen, I am going to introduce you as my friend’s nephew’s cousin sister’s friend who is here to seek for a job.”

“Friend’s nephew’s cousin sister’s friend? Can you hear yourself. God! You are the daftest person on earth.”

“No! When I was in high school, we were twenty five in the class and I used to have better grades than one guy called James Den. He was the daftest and not me.”

“Out of twenty five students, you could only beat one guy and you are proud of it.”

“That is an achievement. I was not the worse.”

“Jayden you need a psychiatrist.”

“What I need is a pot seller. Who treats more than a drug dealer? Your boyfriend Joe said that.” He said and laughed. “That is one guy who is definitely dafter than me. He was seriously feeling like an important person in the society because he sells things that intoxicate. I use, I know but I know that s**t affects my health.’

“Then stop using.”

“Damn! I am not perfect and can’t have a perfect health so I need some cannabis to spoil my health a little.”

They kept walking until they got to the main road. They ahd a long walk before they got a hotel.

“You said you don’t want to go my house. I will lodge you in here and go home.”

She said nothing.

What was wrong with her? Why did she always feel bad each time he said he was leaving? She had the two thousand dollars she stole from Polosky and the five hundred she got from Jayden.

That was enough to keep her rolling. If she wired three hundred dollars to them weekly, she could sustain them for five weeks and still have one thousand dollars to take care of herself.

Jayden went to the receptionist and paid for a room. They went into the room and he looked on the bed after keeping his bag on the table.

“I am hungry.” He said.

“Tell me about your wife.”

“Oh, Tatiana and I met in college. I was coming out of the class with my books and she was passing by and we bumped unto each other and my books fell to the ground and she was like she is sorry. I said I am sorry too. We looked into each other’s eyes and smiled and she left. the next day, I was at the coffee shop and as I came out to go back to my office, we bumped into each other and she spilled coffee on my white shirt and she was like oh my God! I am sorry and I was like no, it’s okay and we looked at each other and she was like, have we met before and I am like your face looks familiar and she was like oh we attended the same college and I was like I remember so do you work here ? And she was like, yeah I work here and I am like I also work here too and we talked about our days in college…’

“Wait.” Jane cut in. “You said you bumped into each other in college and the next day, you bump into each other on your way to office and you talked about college days. Did you graduate the next day and started work the same day? Oh my god! You don’t have a wife.” She giggled. “It’s official, you are crazy. The bumping couple.”

“It is real. Don’t you read romantic novels? The couple mostly meet after bumping into each unto each other and spill drink one another of throw papers on the floor. We were so romantic we had two different bumping sessions.”

Jane had to laugh.

“You don’t have a wife and you got no kids, do you even have a home here?”

“I got a mansion with so many workers and boys who work for me. I won a software company…”

“Shut up! You talked about food and I am hungry. It’s late though.’

“Damn medical ethics. I am ordering for tea and snacks, mind for some?”

“You know I won’t say no. We had a rough night.”

They ordered for food and ate.

“I need to wire money first thing in the morning.” She said.

She looked at him and smiled.

“I have two siblings.” She said. “Tate and Kate.” Why was she telling him this? It was not like he cared or ever asked. Plus she was a very secretive person and hardly spoke about herself.

“Twins?” he asked.

“Yes. They are sixteen.”

“So you wire money to them.”

She nodded.

“I want them to go to college. I never had the chance. I dropped out of school because I had no support. What do you except from a father who was a drunk and a mother who drugs addict? They never cared about us.” She was looking at the ceiling. “I was only three when they would leave me all by myself at home. When they were threatened by a neighbor that they would report to the social welfare, they got me a babysitter. She was abusive. She would yell at me and beat me. My parents never cared. My father died and      mom moved on. She got married again and it became worse. Her husband hated me so much he put me through hell. He tried to rape me and I left the house and got on the street. I knew my mom would not believe me even if I told her.”

“Is she alive?”

“They are both alive.” She said. “I have not seen her in five years.”

“You have been away for long, I guess.”

“I left home when I was thirteen.” She shook her head in self pity.

“But you are in contact with your siblings.”

“Yeah, that was after they went to jail.”

“Who?”

“My parents. My mom and her husband have been in jail for five years. But the kids never forgot me. They were only seven when I left so when my parents were jailed for burglary and the kids were only eleven and left in the care of their aunty. She was like her brother, my mother’s husband. Why is everyone around me so fuc*ked up? I never met anyone who I could trust. Remember when you said there are no good people in the world? I used to feel the same way until..I met you.”

“Me?” He chuckled. “Don’t trust me.”

“That is left for me to decide. I know you are crazy and from the way you handled gun and fought, there is something about you that I can’t figure out but whatever it is, you are not the bad guy you think you are. You are the first person to make me believe that there are good people about there.”

“Do men blush? I am feeling something right now.”

She smiled.

“You are the first person who ever did something good for me without asking for something in return. The first man who had the chance to sleep with me or take advantage of me but resisted.”

“I feel honored. Truth is I never thought of it that way.”

“That is because you are Captain America.’

They laughed.

“I went back home and the kids were glad to see me. The aunt treated them bad and the kids began to steal too. And  stopped going to school. I did not want them to end like me so I re-enrolled them into school and made sure I got them money. She went to the prison and told her brother that I was back in the house. When I went to visit them, he asked me to leave. I had to leave Illinois and moved to New-York. That is the reason I do whatever I can to keep them sustained and never run out of money to do something crazy. They are in grade twelve now. I am scared right now because I do not have a steady source of income.” She paused. “For the first time, I am so scared of the future. I don’t have anywhere to go or anyone to turn to. I have always been alone…” She burst into tears.

Jayden moved to the bed and sat close to her, drew her into his arms and she laid her head on his shoulders and cried.

What?

She had never done this. She had never allowed self pity made her cry. She never even opened up to anyone about her life. She had met girls on the street and had a few friends but she never told them about herself.

“That is the reason I felt so scared when you said you were leaving me in the caravan. I also felt confused when you said you had a wife and kids and would leave me. I have never felt relaxed with anyone like you but I don’t want to be a burden. I would leave and go far away. I will go wherever the wind takes me to…”

He used both hands to hold her face and then wiped off her tears.

“I am not leaving you Jane.” He said and for the first time, she felt something soft in his voice. “The very moment I saw you in the pub, I felt arrested and intuition told me that you were in trouble. You were curt and rude but your eyes told a different thing about you. I could see beyond your acts, or hear beyond your voice. I saw something deeper and after we got to my place, I got to know you better. Even when you tried to steal from me, I knew you were pressed and confused.

I want to be there for you if you let me be. I do not have a wife or any kid. You are right, I am cagey and slippery. I am slo paranoid and have trust issues,. I am far from being perfect and I have a history but we have things in common. I know what it takes to take care of siblings. I have two siblings too and my story is dark. I would leave that for another day.” He looked directly into her eyes. “I was invited here by a big shot that needs my services. I will be meeting him tomorrow. I think I have a job to do here.”

“Thank you.” She whispered.

“Thank you too.’

“Why are you thanking me?”

“For trusting me and …coming into my life.”

They paused and stared at each other.

“Living with you in the caravan for one week was one of my greatest challenges in life. Each time you spoke, I felt like grabbing you and kissing you but I did not want to take advantage of you. I noticed that you hated men and felt you will only let me kiss you because you had no choice.”

She nodded.

“Yes, I hated men because of the things I had gone through with them. I never had the slightest idea that you…you wanted to kiss me.”

“Do not use past tense. I still want to kiss you if let me.”

She said nothing but sent her lips to his.

For the first time, she felt something different and was in a state of total submission. This was not lust but love.

******

A few hours ago, Vito Fabio celebrated his 93rd birthday in midst of his children, grandchildren, associates and friends. The party was hosted in his big mansion in Chicago. He felt glad not only to have made a lot of money in his life time but have his family all around him.

One of his associates was Diego Santana , a very rich business mogul based in Chicago too. The party had been fun and fulfilling with lots to eat and drink.

The security system was tight with armed men seen at strategic places.

“Thank you very much.” He said as he stood with a bottle of wine. He looked strong for a man of his age. Even though he was a bit curved now, with wrinkling skin and deep set eyes, it was obvious that he had been a sturdy hunk of a beef in his prime days. “I have values for so many things but nothing comes before family and friends. I am filled with uttermost joy as I celebrate this day with you today. My only regret is Dan, my grandson was too scared to have a wrestling match with me today...”

The audience laughed.

“He says I am too old to fight him….”

The lights went off at once.

What happened?

Some workers quickly checked and put on the lights again. Who put off the lights?

The reason was obvious when Vito was seen lying on the floor after the lights was restored. He lay with a hole in his head and a paper was stuck to his mouth.

Screams, yells filled the big hall. Some of the aids and family members ran to him. He was dead.

“Lock the building!” A security man said into mouth piece. “I repeat lock the building. Nobody leaves! The killer must still be around.”

Who would kill an old man of that age on his birthday? One of sons removed the paper from his mouth and sprawled it open. He read:

Buon compleanno. Didi.

Arrosto all'inferno- Giorno dell'amore

Carlos, the forty seven year old frowned. He looked at  Diego, his father’s friend and walked to him. He showed him the note.

“Giorno Dell’amoure?”  Diego said. “Did anyone ever call your father Didi?”

“No.” Carlos said. “I never saw or heard anything connecting with him the name. It was grandfather's acronym. What do we do?”

“I am sorry to ask, do any of your brothers have a problem with him?”

“What do you mean? No but you can’t always have it smoothly with Papa. He was a man of stance and you know that better.”

“That is the reason I asked.”

“He had one or two arguments with us and that is usual. We have been like that since he retired actively.”

“I want to be sure it is not a family thing before we inform the police.”

“The police have to know because it happened in a crowd. Papa can’t get killed and it would not make news.”

“Whoever did it was close by.” Diego said.

“This is happening after you guys did not meet in person for five years.” Carlos said.

“What are you talking about?”

“You only reconciled a month ago and he invited you here tonight and then this.”

“I am ninety-three and    in retirement. Are you insinuating that I killed your father?”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Listen to me Carlos, even though we had our difference due to family differences and supremacy, I would never do such a thing. If you are trying to pin it on someone, check your brothers. You are next in line. You have a lot to gain from his death and me, what? We resolved to have division of trade line and we do not compete. Unlike our parents who were all bootleggers and had to compete for customers..”;

“Watch your mouth old man.”

“What is going on here?” Leonardo, Diego's fifty year old son came up.

“My father is killed.” Carlos said.

“Who does not know here?” Leonardo said.

“I swear to God, I will find the killer and he will pay dearly for it.” Carlos said.

“Just the way I will find who hijacked our goods and get them on their knees.”

About forty minutes later, a convoy of three cars with armed men guarding Diego were on the road back ot his home. He received a call.

“Carlos?” The old man said. Leonardo was sitting by him in the limousine.

“Three hundred million dollars have been stolen from Papa’s account just a few minutes after his death.”

“What? How? Did the leave his money in the conventional bank?”  Diego asked.

“Yes.”

“s**t!  I lost two hundred and fifty million too before we turned to Ditcoin.”

“The police are here. I will get to the root of this.”

“I wish you the best of luck. Do notify me about the burial arrangements.”

“I hope you will live to see that day.’

“Amen. It seems you want to resurface the battle line, son.”

“I will do anything to protect the Didi Family.”

The phone dropped from Diego's hand and he began to cough. Within a few seconds, he began to puke and there was a lot of blood in it.”

“Papa! Papa!”  Leonardo cried. “Fuc*! I swear Carlos you will pay for this. I know you can hear me. Drive to the hospital!

Even though  Diego was weak and he knew he was dying, he remembered the girl who had served him drink and she said, “Giorno Dell’amoure,Papa.

Now it added up but was it possible. The same phrase was in the note which was stuck to Vito’s mouth. She did it and she poisoned him too. This was not from the Didi family. It was from a family he did not want to believe still existed.

He remembered that night vividly. They were all cleared but did they all die? Then his money that got missing went to a frist fuax account called Giorno Dell’amoure 21499 Ventures. s**t! How could he have missed all of that?

21499!

All of these could not just be mere coincidence.

He had to warn his son. It was not all about the six families but there was a seventh family.

He could not talk, all he saw was the fading image of his son.

“Papa! Papa! Please stay with me…”

Diego  took a last breath and his eyes closed.

“Noooo!” Leonardo shouted.

*******