Armored (12 page)

“What are you a lawyer?” Uncle Willy asked.

“In fact I am.”

“Well damn Tony, you got lawyers and whatnot up in here. I hope you aint told them nothing about when I used to buy cartons of cigarettes from the south and then sell them to those stores on the east coast. Made me a good profit when I did too,” Uncle Willy boasted, unaware he ratted on himself.

Ari laughed at the small time criminal. “I’m sure you’re Public Enemy Number One.”

Nico chuckled. His wife was a sarcastic ass. He loved it. He hadn’t had this much fun in a long time.

An hour or so later, they nursed drinks after an impressive meal as Nicole entertained the guests with Chopin’s, The Bees, Étude No. 2 in F Minor. Nico was in love with the music and Ari smiled when Nicole transitioned to Beethoven’s, ‘Tempest’ Sonata in D minor. Ari enjoyed watching Nico’s face. He was having sex with music. If Nicole played Liszt or Scriabin, her husband might have an orgasmic fit.

Everyone applauded
when she finished and Uncle Willy who’d drank more than he should stood and nearly tripped just putting his hands together. “I don’t know what the hell kinda’ music that was but girl you looked hot strokin’ those keys!”

“Uncle Willy,” Tony said, “Cool it!”

“Oh you know how your Uncle gets. Don’t go actin’ high-and-mighty around your friends,” Tony’s mama interjected.

Ari sipped her wine, enjoying the theatre. The
pleasure of being around folks acting the fool had her missing her relatives in the states. She’d gotten the letter and soon she’d be free of the slew of caveats attached to deception. You can’t hit up friends, visit familiar places or be there when a cousin gives birth. Yeah, sitting among the group, she longed to see her Uncle Richard. The army vet with a penchant for raunchy stories was the equivalent of her family’s Uncle Willy.

Soon she’d tell Nico what she’d done.

Tiffany thanked every saint she could name that her parents were unable to attend due to her dad’s cataract surgery, but they were coming for the wedding in three weeks. Too bad, Uncle Willy hadn’t missed his flight; if by good fortune he had he would’ve arrived tomorrow instead of this afternoon. Tiffany frowned, when Uncle Willy decided he had a profound statement to share.

He stumbled to the center of the floor, lifted his hand and a bullet ripped through his palm. Nico bellowed for everyone to get down, making sure he snatched his wife off the seat to the floor and covered her with his body.

His hand felt for the weapon secreted at the base of his spine and unclipped the holster to grip the steel. “Stay down and crawl over there in the corner sweetheart,” he instructed in Ari’s ear as he pointed to a sturdy breakfront, peering from the dining room where they’d recently eaten.

He watched as she made it safely to the next room and then behind the wall with the bulky furnishings. Nico took charge, telling everyone to stay low and go to the next room.

“And stay away from the windows!” he added. But he didn’t follow the advice, because he needed to take a look at where the shot may have originated. By the bullet’s trajectory he suspected the patch of trees is where the shooter lie concealed.

“Help me…I’m shot. Man, Tony I didn’t come all the way here to get killed!” Uncle Willy exclaimed
. Similar to a beached whale he wiggled on the floor in agony from the minor wound.

Nico shouted for Tony to hit the lights and to check the exits. More bullets blew the windows out just as he did and the women shrieked.

Nicole stayed beneath the piano. She’d left her cell in the bedroom. She remained prone as Nico returned fire and a volley of shots toppled pictures and lamps. She wished she had her cell to call Giuseppe, damn, damn, damn, she reflected, he stayed strapped and right now the burly mobster is what she needed. Why after a wonderful day did the music end on the wrong key?

Tony glanced at Tiffany; she was unharmed and comforting his mama who shook like a leaf as she summoned her heavenly Father, making false promises she knew good and well she couldn't keep. His mama called on spiritual aid for everything, even when she squandered the rent. He strained to listen. His mama’s wailing and Uncle Willy’s punk ass made the task difficult. The crybaby scrambled on his beer gut to the others and Tiffany’s friend Diane tended to his
hand. Diane and her husband assured him the injury wasn’t life threatening. The guest improvised by tearing his shirt to make a bandage to tamponade the bleeding. Diane was a nurse; a useful person to have around during times like this, Tony opined.

Then Nico joined him near the kitchen door. “Stay here and keep your eyes and ears alert. I’m going out.”

“You don’t know how many shooters there are.”

“I won’t know unless I look.”

“Exit from the basement. The door isn’t visible. The brick wall there and shrubs are natural camouflage.”

“Thanks, but I know the lay-out of the house.” Nico reminded Tony. It was his brother’s place. “Keep those women safe,” he warned. He glanced quickly at Ari, who blew him a kiss. He had a lot to live for, ironic how under other circumstances he
wouldn’t have thought about the future, but happiness makes a person want more and he’d become a greedy sonovabitch.

He winked, and then disappeared. 

C
hapter Fifteen

“Turn here!” Aaron shouted when Darren nearly missed the exit
.

Sigonella was
the United States Naval Air Station near Catania. They had passed the military base, the last in Sicily. The land leased from the Italian Republic cost tons of money annually, which indicated the island's strategic importance to America.

Many foreigners weren’t aware the
United States government was the largest employer in Sicily. Military bases are not usually indicated on commercial maps, but the inhabitants of Italy were familiar with Sigonella’s location. That’s how Aaron knew they were about to take a wrong turn. Anna said Yosef lived past the base, further inland near the farms. She said Yosef’s secluded place had lots of foliage. The broken wooden sign with the word, RALLENTARE, which meant reduce speed to exit the roadway, was the marker that told Darren they were close. In this area the stradas were unpaved, more dirt and pebbles, motorists were cautioned to drive carefully due to the uneven terrain.

“Shut up, I got it,” Darren replied because he did. The GPS system had been on point so far and Aaron needed to be quiet.

Darren paid attention when Anna talked about Yosef. In a way he was jealous of the old geezer, especially when Anna said the farmhouse had pretty wildflowers and a picturesque view of the surrounding landscape. He cared about Anna. One day he planned to afford beautiful things. However, there was college on the horizon and with a baby coming; he wasn’t sure when that’ll be. His mom couldn’t hide her disappointment; she cut into him and Anna about their irresponsibility. He didn’t have a defense; any debate with his mom better make sense or she’d tear apart an argument, quick fast.

When she asked what they planned to do next
and he replied, “I don’t know.”

That wasn’t the right answer.

“Well, Darren Augusto Serano, you and Anna better start figuring that out.  The only married adults in this house are your dad and me. Any hollering infants that didn’t come out of my vagina better have a place to sleep when Nana needs peace, capisce?”

“Yes mom,” he responded; embarrassed
. A man with a family shouldn’t depend on his parents for financial support or housing.

His dad later eased his angst when he said, “Darren, you have a college fund, you also have a savings account that will help you take care of your responsibilities if you budget right. You don’t have to forego your dream of attending the university, what you have to do is begin incorporating your family into the reality. Life’s going to throw you a lot of curve balls son, be ready to swing that bat.” His dad
had said and then squeezed his shoulder and exited the bedroom, leaving Darren to contemplate the future.

He watched the dark with somber vision, wanting to be a man, and needing to begin in defense of the girl carrying his kid. He didn’t want Anna afraid anymore, a man should protect the person he cares about and that was his purpose tonight.

Yosef took long strolls in the evening they were told. He had trouble sleeping; caged beasts have to stretch their legs. Anna suggested Yosef had a sleep disorder which stemmed from war because she heard him talking in his sleep telling somebody there’s another bombing at the synagogue and then he’d awaken in a cold sweat.

What made Darren angry were the old man’s threats. He didn’t care about a wicked man’s insomnia; only that Anna was petrified of her ex-husband. Darren saw the marks on her body, the masochist’s bruises bespoke of a sickness.

Who but a sicko uses his teeth to leave Jewish crosses on someone?

Well, Darren wasn’t afraid of the asshole. The background check on Yosef Glavovitz proved he was nothing but a douchebag. A former high ranking officer in the Israeli military, he received an honorable discharge in the height of his career. There were numerous news articles with the intimidating officer in his crisp uniform
and snarl. Later, a promising officer plummeted to dishonor. Yosef had multiple arrests, mainly assault charges and then he faded into the bowels of society for a few years. Darren scoffed. He must have been real busy evading the police because it wasn’t until a major bust when Yosef’s name reappeared in the media. Arms dealer, human trafficking, heroin, prostitution, and many of the dirtiest crimes were intimately connected to the Israeli.

He used Anna; took advantage of her innocence and tossed her into a world of cruelty. But, Darren wouldn’t allow her to become a victim of its harshness, he’d save her, yes dammit he’d do everything in his power to help her start again. First, he wanted the old bastard to feel the punches of payback on his evil skin.

“Turn off the lights before someone sees the car!” Aaron exclaimed when they entered the road leading to the private property.

Darren found an area of shrubbery where he parked. Then they traveled by foot across the fields where farmers once toiled from sun-up to sundown, staying close to the ground as they ran in unison to a low lying brick gate which stretched around the property.

“There he is.”

Darren had pointed to a figure walking just as Anna stated.

The man was bold in Darren’s opinion to live alone out in the countryside when he was so hated. Perhaps he thought his sordid reputation would deter anyone from a confrontation. The old geezer stuck Anna in Cefalú alone in a dowdy place, meanwhile by the looks of his renovated property, he basked in splendor.

Yosef was engaged in a heated conversation. That is how he was caught unaware.
The attackers had come in stealth. Bulky figures pounced on a lone homeowner feet from his gate where guards did not exist because he had no need of security. Cocky sonovabitch that he was realized the errors of his ways, too late. Payback is twin fists of karma and when they hit deadly intent is the force behind the strike.

Yosef’s cell was dropped.

It shattered.

In the onslaught of punches to the rib and lumbar, he caught sight of his attackers. They were the youth; Sophie had warned were coming to his home. These were Nico’s sons. He didn’t get the entire story, but he supposed he would after he showed the brave kids what seniority
meant.

He flipped Darren over his shoulder, caught Aaron’s leg and sent him crashing on his ass atop his already damaged phone
and it went to a metal grave. When Darren stood, he received closed fists punches, not to break bones but to sting. Hands seized the youth’s shirt and like a sack of wheat shoved him aside to grip the other twin in a secure headlock.

“Step back boy or I’ll snap his neck!” he said to Darren before he advanced after drawing a weapon from his boot.

“Hurt my brother and I’ll put a bullet between your eyes.”

“Shoot the fucker!” Aaron urged.

“I’m not the good of a shot stupid,” Darren replied. “I might hit you too.”

“Then why pull out a gun child, if you can’t use it?” Yosef challenged. “Both hands, firm stance, line me up and bam I’m dust.”

Aaron swallowed the lump in his throat. If Darren missed, oh crap, he croaked. “Darren don’t do it.”

Darren had the weapon lined with his chest, arms outstretched, one eye closed, and a finger on the trigger. “You leave Anna alone old man. Do you hear me?”

Ah, the mystery motivation was revealed. He loosened his arms from around Aaron’s neck so the dumb kid could breathe. “Anna is free to do whatever she pleases boy. She is no longer my concern.”

“Then why were you threatening to hurt her?”

“To keep her in line during our marriage. Youngsters require firmness.”

“I want your word you’ll leave her alone.”

“Do you like Anna?” Yosef asked twisting Aaron from side to side like string and his feet dragged on the ground. Nico should beat these two, he thought as he saw love in the gunman’s eyes for the girl he relinquished for a woman.