Chapter Fifteen Twist Of Fate
Romeo
“Legend and Glory are bringing Jarret to you all,” Talon said.
“Copy that,” Logan replied.
“Sniper Team, come in,” Talon spoke again.
“Bones here,” came the reply.
“Take out the snipers,” Talon ordered.
“We’ve had 'em in our sights. Copy that,” Bones replied.
“Tact Three, move in on the Metairie,” Talon said.
“Copy that,” Key's voice came in.
“Logan, connect Keys’ body cam to the feed.”
Logan tapped on his keyboard and another two squares popped up on the screen.
Peering at the new squares, we could see the sniper team moving forward as they took out the snipers with silencers, almost before we could even blink. Then their cameras went out. The other screen remained up as I assumed it was for the crypt team.
After a few minutes, Key’s team showed up in a square and they were already inside the cemetery. They rushed along a path as we all saw headstones and statues passing by. Suddenly, the moving camera feed slowed down.
Keys and his men arrived at the Neversmile Crypt. I recognized the angel at the entrance. I took a hold of Julianna’s hand as we stared at the tourist destination that we both were fascinated by.
Suddenly, men came from behind the large, stone crypt building.
“Watch your six, Keys,” Logan stated over the comm mike.
Gunfire went off. Shouts and screams rang out as men were hit.
My gut clenched as smoke blurred the area and we couldn't tell who of our team had been hit.
Just then, Talon came in on the speaker, “Keys…Any down?”
A few tense minutes went by when an answer came, “One of ours got clipped in the arm. Another has some scrapes,” Keys reported. “But no casualties for us. Three of the enemy are dead, two are injured. Not to mention three enemy snipers are dead.” Keys’ camera swung around, so we could now see one of the team lower his body down and squat walk to the crypt door. I could finally see the angel and the crypt entrance clearly. Funny thing about V choosing this spot, an angel waiting for something. I suppose Talon’s men were that something today. On the screen, it looked like the crypt was open.
“Possible trap, Keys…Move the team away,” Talon ordered as he must have seen the same thing on his video feed. “Tank and Ranger, are you almost there?”
“Affirmative,” Ranger called back. “ETA, five minutes.”
We all watched the screens and waited.
After about ten minutes, the huge man they called Tank could be seen from Key’s body-cam. Tank headed over to the crypt entrance and knelt down. He studied the ajar door for a few seconds then dug into his vest. Flipping a small kit open, he retrieved a tool.
I admired this Tank guy for just pure fucking courage, yet I wondered if he was insane. Who would ever want to dismantle bombs?
He used an odd looking pair of rubber snippers and cut a trip wire none of us saw previously. Then he tugged on it.
Julianna sucked in a huge breath at his actions as she whispered, “Is he nuts?” A small pop echoed out and she jumped as she stood next to me.
Shaking my head, I wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“Keys…There’s still a thermal signature in the crypt,” Logan said. “Though it keeps flickering.”
I wondered what that meant. Flickering as in dying?
“Could be the software,” Logan explained as if he heard my thoughts. “Or the person is injured.”
I could not think of who this could be. It wasn’t Jarret or seemingly a trap like we previously thought.
We all craned our necks to see the screen as close as room would allow us, to watch Keys move in with his body-cam running. Then it all went black. We could hear movements but we couldn’t see anything.
“Keys to Talon,” Key’s voice cut in again. “There’s a young woman in the crypt.”
Julianna gasped from next to me as her body trembled.
“What’s her condition?” Talon asked.
“Looks to be passed out and she has a needle mark on her arm.”
“Anyone else around?” Logan asked Keys.
“Negative.”
“Take her to a vehicle and bring her in,” Talon said.
“Sniper team here,” another voice cut in. “We also have a woman in custody. She was across the street with one of the snipers. She fought us and we have her secured finally.”
“Copy that, Bones. Take her to the estate,” Talon ordered.
“Affirmative,” Bones said.
“They caught V?” Stephano asked.
“We aren’t sure,” Logan replied.
“They caught two women,” Dante commented. “What’s up with that?”
Shaking her head, Julianna stepped back and then sat down on the couch. She looked totally worn out.
Concerned, I followed her and sat down next to her.
She gazed up at me and shook her head.
“You did good in this,” I told her as I took her hand in mine.
“The men there are the heroes,” she said.
“I know but you helped a lot. I never thought there would be so many bombs.”
“I just felt something in my gut when I would see whatever door they were at.” She shrugged.
“That’s exactly what I mean. No wonder they cannot beat you in court.” I grinned at her. “Great instincts. Even I would be intimidated.”
She scoffed. “Come on.”
I squeezed her hand and told her, “I know that you don’t want to hear it, but you should be a consigliere for my father.”
She stared at me. “You cannot be serious.”
“Of course, I’m serious.”
“I never planned to become part of the mob, Romeo.”
I chuckled and quipped, “Me either.”
She actually laughed.
I patted her hand. “I’m glad to see you smile again. But you need to be honest with me here.”
She stared at me with worry in her eyes.
“Whatever's been bothering you,” I said. “You need to tell me about it.”
Nodding her head, she sighed. “I know and I already decided that I need to. It happened after I arrived here, so I never meant to deceive anyone.”
I stared into her eyes and asked, “Deceive?”
“What are you saying?” a voice cut in.
We looked up to see my father standing over us.
Looking upset, Julianna said, “I found something out recently and then when I arrived here…Well, I realized my life and what you are dealing with were connected.” She turned her head to look at me. “And it doesn’t have anything to do with being with you.”
I paused and shook my head. “What?” I really didn’t understand what she just said.
She patted my hand and went on, “I know it’s confusing, but I got caught up in this awful twist of fate and I didn’t know what to do about it.”
“So explain it to me,” I urged. “And not in parables please? What does this twist have to do with?” I asked her.
“My family,” she replied.
“We vetted you thoroughly, Ms. Regatta,” my father stated. “Before hiring you as an attorney. We found no red flags or anything suspicious within your family.”
“I know. It isn’t a dangerous situation. I swear it isn’t. Also, I’m not even sure it’s true. I just don’t know yet.”
“What is it that you don’t know?” my father asked. He looked as confused as I felt.
Tears filled her eyes as she looked from him to me. She opened her mouth to reply.
“Jarret has arrived,” Logan announced from the table.
Redemption and Legend were helping a tall man through the door. Each man had one of his arms over their shoulder.
My father turned his head and motioned to the large sofa. “Set him down there.”
Glory came through the door and hurried behind the men.
Liv rushed over and stood by the sofa to help.
Jarret fussed at them, “I’m fine. I’m fine.”
“No, you're not, Dad,” Glory argued. “Legend says you were drugged up and have bruises all over you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jarret retorted. “I was kidnapped, baby girl. That stuff is bound to happen.”
Legend and Redemption carefully lowered Jarret down onto the leather sofa.
Sitting next to him, Glory grabbed his hand. “Tell me the truth here, Dad. How do you really feel?” She looked worried.
He grunted and shook his head. “They tranqed me. Then when I was almost awake, that woman had them drug me down again. I came to once and tried to escape and that’s when I got the bruises. Finally when I woke up today, I was in a fucking coffin. How do you think I feel?”
Glory laughed and shook her head.
“Yeah, he’s fine,” Redemption spoke up.
“Right?” Legend laughed. “Same old Jarret.”
“So, where are we?” Jarret asked.
“You are my guest,” my father replied. “At the Descalia Estate in New Orleans.”
“Well damn,” Jarret said. “So you are Legend’s father.”
The room went silent.
“If you mean Giovanni’s father,” my father replied. “Then si, I am. From what I know, you took him in and helped him.”
“He was more help to me than I was to him, sir,” Jarret answered. “Your son is smart, capable, honorable and just an all around great human being.”
“Amen to that,” Glory added with a smile.
My father stared at him then looked over at Legend. “He is as proud of you as I am.”
Legend stared at him. “You’re proud…of me?” he asked as he looked stunned.
“Si, of course I am.” Our father nodded at him. “At seventeen, you said you wanted to be a doctor. And after you left here, you did the schooling to get your doctorate. Then you did your time in residency. You never quit, despite possible hardships.”
Legend cocked his head at him. “How do you know of my hardships?”
I watched them closely. This could swiftly spiral into a fight if they weren’t careful. The history between them had been tumultuous at best.
“I had you watched for the last six or seven years, son,” our father openly admitted.
I was even surprised by this answer. Legend had been gone for ten years now. Our dad never mentioned that he knew anything about Gio’s whereabouts during those years.
“What?” Legend asked. “You knew where I…” He shook his head as he looked astonished.
He nodded. “You left home. I couldn’t stop you. After you were of age, I could only keep an eye on you. In case you needed me.”
The room again went silent.
I felt stunned as did Legend.
Dante even looked surprised.
Our father had known where he was for almost the whole time? Yet, he made no attempt to contact Gio at all.
“Wow,” Glory exclaimed.
Our father glanced over at her. “Then you bring a firecracker home to marry.”
Glory raised her chin up as she stared at him defiantly.
Raising his hands at her in defense, our father laughed. “I certainly mean no disrespect, mia cara. I admire you very much.” He glanced over at Jarret. “You did a wonderful job with her and Redemption. You see, we have more in common than you know, Mr. Walker. I too became a widower when my children were young. I know how difficult it had to be at times. Then you practically raised my Giovanni as well? I mean you already had five children of your own.”
Jarret slowly shook his head. “One of the best decisions I ever made was taking Legend home with me.”
“And I will be forever grateful,” our father replied in a quiet voice. “All kinds of disasters and misfortune could have befallen a young man at eighteen. You took him under your wing and protection and I thank you.”
Ok…this surprised all of us. We stared at our father as if he were a total stranger. The man had been furious when Gio had first disappeared. He sent every tracker and every thug he knew of to find him. He had argued with Zia and some of us over the whole event. Most of us agreed with Gio or Legend as he was now known as. He wanted to be a doctor, not a mafioso. Just like I wanted to be an attorney and not be part of the mafia. Same for Dante and Amadeo. Luca seemed to be the only progeny interested in being mafia.
Jarret gave him a nod. “I was fortunate to be able to watch that young man grow up.”
“Ok, ok,” Legend said as he raised his hands. “That’s enough. You both act like I’m some kind of saint.”
Jarret laughed. “Nah, I remember some of your antics. You weren't a one hundred percent angel.”
Our dad laughed too. “Maybe we can have a few drinks together, Mr. Walker. And you can share these antics he committed with me?”
Jarret looked over at him and replied, “It would be a hoot for sure. So yeah, I think I would like that.”
“Wow!” Glory chuckled. “You two finally meeting turned out better than I thought it would.”
“Right?” Legend spoke up as he grinned.
“We are men of class,” our father stated regally as he raised his head and straightened his suited shoulders. “You should have known that.”
His sons Gio, Dante and me, all laughed at this egotistical and not surprising answer.
“So allow me to introduce two of my five sons,” our father said as he ignored our chuckling. Motioning his hand at my brother, he said, “This is Dante, my number crunching son. He’s a fine accountant.”
Dante gave Jarret a nod and a smile.
“And this is Romeo.” My father motioned to me. “And… Ms. Regatta. My lead attorney.”
Jarret smiled at me and swung his gaze over to Julianna. His smile faded from his lips as he stared at her for a full suspended minute. Then he bolted up from the couch and shouted at Julianna, “What the fuck are you doing here?”
I now bolted up too and glared at Jarret. “What the hell did you just say?”
Jarret looked wobbly as he teetered a bit on his legs. “You are somehow being fooled by this bitch.” He shook his head. “She is pure evil.”
“The fuck?” I exclaimed as I angrily stalked over to the man while clenching my fists at my sides. “You need to apologize.”
“Romeo, stop!” Julianna got up and rushed over to grab my arm. “He…” She shook her head as her face had paled by at least two shades. Staring at Jarret, she asked, “You mean V, right? Are you saying she looks like me?”
Jarret narrowed his eyes at her. “That is exactly what I’m saying.” He looked over at Redemption, then at Logan and Liv. “You need to tie this bitch up. And train your weapons on her right the fuck now. She’s dangerous as all hell. I should know, she had me beaten by her men while shouting at me about her brother, Deacon. All, while she had me locked up for days.”
“That’s impossible,” my father grumbled. “Ms. Regatta has been here with us for two days, Mr. Walker. What you are insinuating is insane.”
“Oh, my God!” Julianna raised her shaking hands to her mouth as she stumbled back. “So it is true?”