The Vincinti’s #1

Vincinti Stories

From Sin's Bastards Christmas

“I know about Evelyn!” Siobhan shouted.

Leon held very still and stared at the desperate woman who’d pretended to be his friend for months. “What about her?”

“I-if I tell you the truth, all of it. C-can you make him go away?”

Leon stared at her for a long moment as he crossed his arms over his chest. A moment where he knew she was dying a thousand deaths inside. “Maybe? Depends on the information you give.”

She gulped. “She has been, um, a guest of my people for some time.”

Leon’s hands dropped to his sides as he thought his heart just stopped in his chest. “What?”

She looked afraid now as she watched Cutter. “Our group took her thirty years ago.”

Leon blinked. His mind couldn’t fathom what she just said.

She went on, “And that isn’t all...” She stared at Cutter then at Leon.

Leon nearly growled as he walked over and grasped her around the neck with one hand. “You took my woman and kept her for all this time?”

She nodded. “D-don’t kill me. I... You have a daugh—”

He squeezed her neck for a few seconds then forced himself to let go. “TALK!” he shouted as rage shook him.

“...Y-you h-have a daughter.”

He gasped and took a step back. “Evelyn was pregnant?”

She nodded. “She had the baby. We did leave the child with her until she was seventeen.”

W hen Leon rejoined the party, he came up to stand by his son.

Calderone asked, “Did you learn anything interesting tonight?”

Leon smiled. “Yes, I did. I found out Evelyn was kidnapped all those years ago and she is still alive. All this time she’s been waiting for me to come and free her.”

Calderone stared at his father in shock. “She’s alive? After all these years?”

Leon nodded. “Yes. I want to go back to Boston tonight.” He paused, then said, “I hope you understand.”

“Of course, I understand Dad.” Calderone shook his head. “This is unbelievable.”

“There’s more. Evelyn gave me a child all those years ago.”

“What?” Calderone was stunned. He had to sit down quickly. “You have another child? How is that possible?”

Leon raised an eyebrow at him. “I think we had the birds and the bees talk a long time ago, son. Surely, you know how babies are born?”

Calderone flushed. “I’m not talking about that. Geez Dad, grow up will you?” He just stared at Leon in shock. “I’m stunned by the fact you have a child you didn’t know about until now.”

“So am I,” Leon admitted. “I had no idea back then. You have a sister, and her name is Dominica. Evelyn named her after your grandmother. ”

Calderone grinned. “But that’s wonderful news.”

“Well, it is and it isn’t. The girl ran away about twelve years ago and Siobhan didn’t know where she is, or if she’s even still alive.

Or so she said but I have a feeling she took that information with her out of spite.

As she’d kept Evelyn hidden all these years, it’s doubtful she knows where our daughter is either.

I’m not willing to take her word for anything.

I just felt she knew more than she was saying.

Even toward the end. She took some of the information to her grave. ”

Calderone stood and grabbed his dad’s arm. “Well, we’ll just have to find her then, won’t we?”

“This is going to change both our lives, son,” Leon reminded him. “Are you committed to this?”

Calderone nodded. “Dad, if anyone knows the pain of losing a child it’s me.

I lost my daughter for sixteen years. I never expected to get her back after that long, but she was returned to both of us.

You were there for me every day she was gone.

You held my hand when the pain I went through got to be too much.

You stayed up with me all night when the pictures in my head got the better of me.

You prayed with me when the thought of her out there all alone scared the hell out of me.

Now we find out you have another child out there somewhere?

Of course, I would welcome your daughter into our family any day of the week.

I would welcome Evelyn back as well. I know you still care about her.

I can see it in your eyes every time you look at the picture of the two of you on your dresser.

” He paused, then added, “I think she would be good for you.”

Leon shrugged. “Maybe all those years ago, but now? She’s been held a prisoner for a very long time.”

“Let me ask you this...” Calderone stared at his father. “Do you still care for her?”

Leon paused then nodded. “Yes, I still have feelings for her.” He shrugged. “According to what Siobhan said, she’s still waiting for me to rescue her, so I would say yes. She does still love me.”

“Then what are you waiting for Dad?” Calderone asked. “Let’s go find and rescue your woman and hunt down my sister.”

Just then, Cassie and Peaches joined them.

“What are you two up to?” Peaches asked. “I haven’t seen much of you tonight grandpa and now, I find you getting rather intense with Dad. What’s going on?”

Leon turned to his granddaughter and held her hands as he explained, “My dear, I recently got some unexpected news that has given me hope for the future. You see, long after I lost Calderone’s mother, I fell in love with another woman.

She was my entire world for a while. Then something happened and I lost her without warning.

She just disappeared from my world and I couldn’t understand why she would just walk away. ”

Calderone smiled. “We found out tonight that she didn’t go willingly and that Siobhan had her taken. We also found out that I have a sister neither of us knew about.”

Peaches gasped and raised a hand to her mouth. Looking over at Leon she asked, “Are you going to find them and bring them home?”

Cassie grabbed Peaches’ arm and just held onto her. They both waited for Leon’s answer.

“I’m hoping to.” He looked away briefly then looked back at her. “You know Siobhan better than I do, would she lie about something like this? Is it possible Evelyn is still alive? It’s been a very long time.”

Cassie smiled and leaned forward. Taking his hand, she told him, “If you feel it in your heart then the only way you’ll know is if you look for her.

You have to try and find her. You never give up on someone you love or could love.

You go find your woman and daughter. You have to try. They are both waiting for you.”

“But my dear, this is your party, we can’t just leave,” Leon argued.

“There will be more parties,” Cassie told him. “But if you don’t find your woman, you might end up alone and there is nothing sadder or more heartbreaking than being alone when you don’t have to be.”

“Then you don’t mind if we leave early?” Leon looked at her steadily.

Cassie smiled with tears in her eyes. “Go find your woman and your daughter. And when you find them, bring them here. I’d very much like to meet them.

” She hugged the older man and said, “This is getting to be the best Christmas ever!” She leaned closer and brushed her lips against his cheek.

“Best of luck in your quest.” She backed away.

Then Peaches stepped up. Throwing her arms around her grandfather’s neck, she whispered loudly, “Good luck grandpa. Bring them both home.”

Leon gathered both women in his arms and hugged them tightly. “You two girls are the best.”

Calderone just stood back and smiled.

From the Novel Leon...

Leon ran his hands through his hair and walked back to the bar to pour himself a shot of whiskey. He tipped the liquor down his throat and then threw the glass against the wall. The shattering glass echoed in the silent room.

Calderone turned to study his father for a moment then he began clapping his hands.

Leon snapped his head over and glared at his son. “What do you find so damn amusing?” he snarled.

“I finally lived long enough to see the great Leon Vincinti so worked up that he can be ruffled.” He smirked. “It’s good to finally see you’re a human being, Dad.”

Leon shook his head. “I’ve always been human, son.”

“I’ve been wondering about that for years. Nothing ever seemed to upset you until now.”

Leon tipped his head back and admitted. “When I lost Evelyn all those years ago, I closed most people out. I never wanted to feel that loss again. First your mother, then Evelyn, it was just too much. I’ve really only ever loved those two women in my time on this earth.

And while a man has certain needs, most of my lovers were there with no feelings to get in the way.

It was just a release a man needs from time to time.

They knew where I stood every time, but that didn’t mean I didn’t miss the closeness between a man and a woman.

” He shrugged. “I loved your mother dearly and deeply, so please don’t get me wrong.

But when I met Evelyn, I finally found someone I could just be myself with. She accepted me warts and all.”

“Did she know what you do for a living?” Calderone asked curiously.

Leon nodded. “That’s what I meant by saying warts and all.

She was shocked at first if I must tell the truth of the matter.

In fact, she almost broke it off right then and there, then after several days, she accepted it and me.

She told me she only wanted to love one man and I was that one man.

She’d said she couldn’t help it... that she couldn’t give up what we had.

She also told me if I ever cheated on her and killed the feelings I had for her that she would walk out of my life forever. ”

Calderone shook his head slowly. “From what I can remember of her, she would have too.”

Leon smiled softly. “Yes, she would have and I would have been left with nothing worth living for. I’m not a stupid man, son, so that was why when she disappeared.

..I just couldn’t understand what I’d done wrong.

Now I find out her disappearance wasn’t her idea and I want to hurt Siobhan all over again. ”

“You could never hurt a woman, Dad and we both know that,” Calderone chided him.