AWAKENING (23 page)

“Alright, but the guest room’s there if you change your mind.”

“
Si
,
gracias
.
”

The second Selange
departed,
Maria carried
Vincent
to the
window seat, rummaged thr
o
ugh her purse for Alfonzo’s baby picture then held it near Vincent’s cheek.

“
Aye
,
Madre
de
Dios
!” S
he exclaimed.

This could not be. She was looking at a replica of
baby Alfonzo
. She needed to get proof.
DNA.
Yes, she’d get the proof then confront the
young
woman
with it
.

                                  
     *
***

Alfonzo read
Selange’s te
xt message as he exited the
U.S. District
courthouse
in
Hato
Rey
flanked by his attorney’s.
The
sun struck the screen and he
donned his shades then returned to his ex-wife’s notification
alert about his mom’s arrival.
He frowned,
great, just what he needed. It’s only a matter
of time before she popped
over
to
give him a stern lecture about his lifestyle. He could hear her sanctimonious speech, “Pray hijo. It’s never too late to find salvation.”

He’d heard this and similar
statements for years
. E
versince h
is divorce from Selange her sermons were on the topic of
forgiveness and family
. The latter no longer applied. In a way, it’s good she came. Selange could use another set of hands. Allie required someone to dote on her and curb those temper-tantrums
.

The attorney took the lead when he saw the reporters rushing forward
.
Alfonzo quickly
messaged Selange. The judge released him on a fifty k bail until trial. Alfonzo
omitted the real cost of his freedom was around
one million dollars. The cash sat in the trunk of the judge’s car at this very moment, awaiting the fat bastard’s pudgy hands!

Yeah, Vincent taught him a lot. Leave no stones unturned.

He listened to the attorney’s answer the reporters’ questions, as his eyes focused
on a
tinted car rolling to the curb. Alfonzo’s attention flicked to his driver. Lou
must’ve
noticed the car, too and emerged from
his
vehicle
and took
a curbside p
osition in preparation. There were uniformed officers nearby
and
anyone stupid enough to take a shot at
Alfonzo
wouldn’t get far.

A man exited
from the driver’s side
of the mystery vehicle
and Alfonzo recognized Alberti’s chauffeur.
Wax.

‘What the fuck did Alberti want now?’

Wax stepped on the sidewalk, crossed his arms in an X and waited. Lou went over, the men exchanged words then Lou got back in Alfonzo’s bulletproof car. Shit, Alberti’s presence signaled trouble, it always did.

After the answer-question session ended, Alfonzo strolled casually to the black tinted vehicle and Wax held open the back door then it closed with a thud. Alberti turned to him, “We must talk.”

The car rolled
down the street.
Alfonzo unbuttoned his suit
jacket and stretched out his legs,
“Then talk, I have things to take care of.”

“The Washington job, was it your order?”

“Maybe, maybe not.”

Alberti took this as confirmation, “And Gregorio?”

“He’s picking roses.”

Alberti noticed Alfonzo’s demeanor changed. The anger did not exist. The man had grown into a formidable leader. “
Rescind the order, there’s someone on it
.”

“
Can’t, no refunds.
”

“
You’ve contracted outside?
”

Alfonzo’s anger
suddenly
appeared
and he
growled,
“There are
capable people
other
than Nico.
”

“Perhaps, but we use our own.”

“I use who the hell I want.”

Alberti did not like the man’s tone, “Be wise when you speak. Rudeness is a weakness.”

Alfonzo scoffed. He tired of Alberti’s advice. It’s obvious he sought to protect Nico, but why is the question? He waved his hand dismissively,
he didn’t care.
“Just tell me why you’re here so I can
leave. I don’t need to be chastised like a kid.
”

“How
are
the children?”

Was Alberti deaf, or intentionally annoying, Alfonzo wondered?

He shook his head and snicker
ed
, “Hell, you’re insufferable.”

This brought a smile to the older man’s lips, “
Yet, you endure
.”
He considered
telling his nephew about Nico, then decided against it. Alfonzo was not ready to hear such news. The anger, told him this. Instead, Alberti got to the core of his visit. “You must lay low for a while. Do not engage in any illegal business. The authorities have you under a microscope. No travels, except locally. Give nothing to the American government to hang you, capisci?”

“
Comprendo
, that’s my intention.”

Alberti couldn’t see the blue eyes through the darkly tinted sunglasses, but the
prominent cheekbones, square jawline and mannerisms were identical to Luzo. Luzo inherited the
blue
eyes
,
from their father, which seemed fitting. He was the first born and fate chose him to carry the gene.
Neither Nico nor
Vincent
had such
an
eye color but Carlos’ son Giu
seppe had. None of it mattered
. In
ancient times, the first born son of the eldest succeeded. Alfonzo would soon know the entire legacy but before he did, this feud between him and Nico must cool
.
Giuseppe and his wild ways were enough to deal with and now this, ah,
adultery
madness!

Nico’s position in the family was vital.
He was after-all a Giacanti.
“Ah,” Alberti sighed, from fatigue. He wanted to pass Nico the reins and retire
.
Live
quietly and observe unless urgency required an assembly of the council.

Alfonzo frowned,
when he heard the usually even-tempered man display such a sign of frustration. “You okay, uncle?”

This man’s acknowledgment of their familial ties provided hope, “The flight has tired me, that’s all.”

“You’re welcome in my home, you know?”

The statement
elicited a
smile, “
Now you’re feeling sorry for the elderly, eh?”

“Sorry for you? Hell no, just being hospitable to a weary traveler.”

“Who is your
uncle, no?
”

“And a pain in the ass
, yes
.”

“I think you’ve grown fond of me, young man.”

“I guess a person can get accustomed to
a
wart on their ass
after a while
.”

Alberti chuckled, “I guess so.” His voice was serious when he said, “Nico stays on the job.”

Alfonzo nodded. There’s no point arguing with Alberti, besides, two
contractors
were better than one
,
and although he hated to admit it, he felt more confident knowing Nico
was
there, too.

“Oh, and another thing, stay out of the news with your
companions
,
i
t
’s not a good
image.”

Alfonzo’s mischievous smirk was because
Alberti didn’t know that phase of his life was over. His relationship with Selange was permanently on again.
“I’ll try.”

Alberti tapped on the
petition
and the luxury car slid to the curb. “I
will take you up on your offer another day
.
I
’ll
keep
in touch nephew.
Until your troubles are over,
I will ensure
any other matters are handled without your intervention. You do not need any further scrutiny, capisci?”

“Don’t worry yourself to the grave
.
Go smoke a cigar on me.” Alfonzo replied and exited the car.

Alberti shook his head, he was trying to quit. The wife and daughters had begun to pester him.

Alfonzo climbed beside Lou
who’d been tailgating the whole time
.

“Hey, everything okay?” Lou asked, “Anything you need me to do?”

“Yeah,
speed home. I need to take a wicked piss.”

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN

Maria
held Allie’s hand as they hurried
ly
shopped, conscious of the bodyguard trailing their steps. The other hand clutched her purse, its contents more valuable than the
Centurion credit card from American Express or what the youngsters termed the ‘black card’.  Alfonzo had given it to her and she had no idea there was such a thing as an exclusive credit card. Every time she used it, the cashier’s gaped in amazement. Apparently, it was quite a big deal. Maria frowned, such adoration of money and material items were examples of false idolatry
and a barren soul. She fingered her rosary
beads;
she worshipped only one God and received an abundance of spiritual wealth.

Unfortunately, today she committed a sin.
She told Selange she wanted to take her granddaughter to the mall as a ruse.
She hated deceiving the young woman but she had to get to the truth.
She quietly recited several Hail Mary’s,
did an air cross then hurried the child along. Perhaps she should have brought the stroller as Selange suggested.

She’d
found a lab adjacent to
the mall, the only problem, shaking the
guard in
order
to deliver the DNA samples
secreted in her purse
. Maria pondered
for an hour and hadn’t devised a plan. She wasn’t good at subterfuge, it frazzled her nerves. Finally, she decided perhaps a direct approach w
orked
best. Afterall, the name of the company didn’t scream DNA testing. It was rather ambiguous and the guard would be none the wiser.

“Come on Allie Nana needs to make one more stop then we go home, k?”
She said as she carried the child
o
n her hip.

Allie nodded and Maria walked briskly through the mall doors and headed for the row of businesses in the shopping center. She read the sign; GABAYA DIAGNOSTICS. This was it.

She entered and the receptionist smiled, “Buenos dias, may I help you?”

Maria checked over her shoulder for the bodyguard. He
came through the glass doors and waited, his eyes roaming without shifting his head.

Maria leaned over the low counter and
whispered, “Si, I called earlier about paternity testing.”

The
receptionist
nodded, “Did you bring the samples?”

Maria’s back was to the guard as she handed over the plastic baggies which she labeled as instructed. Inside we
re Q-tip swabs labeled A through
C
and strands of hair.  Except in the zip-lock bag for
A
there wasn’t a swab, but an adult toothbrush. She’d swiped it from Alfonzo’s place during an impromptu visit before coming to the mall.

The woman discreetly took the items and placed them in a large sterile ba
g
which waited with an alias Maria had given over the phone.