Chapter Eight- Snow
Even though the cabin in the private jet was cold.
Somehow, I still managed to have small beads of sweat on my forehead.
I was panicking not because I was scared to fly; that was my brother’s thing.
I wasn’t even panicking because I was about to take part in a suicide mission.
It was because I didn't know where Angel was. Me not knowing where Angel was meant I didn’t know if my baby was safe from harm, and that was a big fucking problem.
I didn’t believe Edwardo when he said she left with Mervin; she would never do that. I’ve tried calling her so many times even though I knew her phone had been cut off. I refused to believe Edwardo would harm his own flesh and blood. Angel had to be safe. I needed to find her.
“Will you stop bouncing your fucking leg like that? I’m already fucked up enough flying in this fucking plane; that leg bouncing is making it fucking worse,” Buddha said, placing his hand on my leg, prompting me to stop. I didn’t even realize I had been shaking like that.
“How long until we land?” I asked, lifting the blind so I could look out the window. I sucked my teeth when all I saw was nothing but fucking clouds.
“Maybe another hour or less,” Buddha said, watching the time on his watch. “Why you so fucking stressed?” My brother asked, looking over at me.
“Not knowing where Angel is, is fucking with me. You think Edwardo did something to her?” I asked softly, looking at Buddha, praying he would tell me exactly what I wanted to hear, even if it was a lie.
“He didn’t hurt Catalina after he knew she was fucking me.
I highly doubt he’ll hurt Angel, even if she’s carrying your baby.
My bet, when we find Francesco and Luca, we’ll know exactly where Angel is, and we’ll make them talk.
Don’t worry, your baby will be alright fratello (brother),” Buddha said, giving me a brotherly pat on my shoulder.
I smiled, running a hand through my mohawk.
“You’re about to be an uncle again; maybe it’s time you became a father,” I suggested, knowing he would shut down what I said.
“I never saw myself as a father, but I dunno, Dior got me wanting to do things and be things I never once thought about before.” I looked at Buddha in awe, never believing I would see the day he was actually considering becoming a dad.
“The big bad Buddha thinking about being a daddy. That shit is fucking wild; you must really love Dior,” I said, already knowing the answer. I could tell she grew on him; he didn’t even have to admit it. It was a fucking trip the way they met; he wasn’t supposed to fall in love, but somehow he did.
“She keeps a nigga on his toes, I’ll tell you that much.
I’m not gonna lie, I can’t see my life without her in it.
I’m glad her lowlife pussy stepfather stole that fucking money.
” There was something about the way he said that shit, but I couldn’t help myself and started cracking the fuck up.
Before long, we both were laughing at Dior’s stepfather’s expense.
“What a fucking loser. The way he never even made an attempt to repay what he stole, he just left Dior to fend for her fucking self. He’s lucky she landed in the hands of a good, God-fearing family.
” I said, making Buddha look at me as if I’d lost my mind.
Next thing I knew, we were cracking up again.
“Mothafucka, that’s hilarious. God-fearing is correct; we feed mothafuckas to my pigs on Saturday, be in church in the front pew on a Sunday in that bitch,” Buddha said, laughing, knowing damn well he hadn’t set foot in a church for service in years.
“On a serious note. Do you think Tomasso will recover and be the same?” Since the shooting happened, Buddha and I have never really discussed it much.
We both fell silent as our minds drifted to our father.
Tomasso was strong, but we could tell what happened really did take a toll on his health.
He was still in high spirits, but his body was another story.
“Nah, his body is no longer the same, and it shows. I know he may not want to face the truth, but deep down he knows. I guess it happened at a time when he wanted to retire anyway,” I listened to my brother and nodded in agreement.
“Can I ask you something? Do you blame me for what happened…the shooting, I mean?” I turned to my brother and frowned at his question, wondering why on earth he would ask me something like that.
“Why the fuck would I blame you? You didn’t shoot us, nor did you set it up; there was no way of knowing that our father’s stepbrother would be so fucking cold-hearted.
Nobody blames you, don’t even think like that…
you good.” I reassured my brother. I was low-key worried that he even thought for a second we blamed him.
“There’s something that I can’t put my finger on, though,” Buddha said, with a thoughtful expression.
“What’s that?”
“Why the fuck did Catalina tell me about Francesco teaming up with Edwardo if she was also in on it?”
“Yeah, but she also told you that they were planning something after the black diamond deal happened,” I reminded him of what he told me. We both sat in silence in our thoughts, the wheel turning in both our heads.
“She was hoping I’d take them both out…that fucking bitch,” Buddha mumbled under his breath. I smirked as all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place one by one.
“So, Catalina teamed up with Edwardo, Francesco, and Luca. She goes behind their backs and warns you that they’re going to take out our father, but only after the diamond deal happens.
Then she’s hoping you kill both men so she’ll end up with the loot.
So, she can ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.
It’s the perfect plan, really,” I smiled at my brother, because Catalina was a devious mothafucka, I’ll give her that.
“Except…” Buddha continued, lifting his index finger up as he thought some more.
“Except what?” I asked, wondering what else could there be.
My brother turned to me, toying with the facial hair on his chin.
“Except, fucking Enzo, he called me warning me that these mothafuckas were planning to fuck with us if we fucked with them. Enzo’s hoping that we also kill Francesco and Luca, but he wanted to make sure that I didn’t hurt his mother.
” Buddha began shaking his head as though nothing made sense anymore.
“What you think? I’ll tell you what I think now that we’re sitting here saying everything out in the open. I think we’re being fucked up the ass without any lube.”
“Why you gotta be so fucking graphic? I think we’re still being played by Catalina. I swear to fucking God this shit got me so fucking stressed.” Buddha said, pinching between his eyes. I reached over and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t sweat it fratello (brother). Everybody who needs to get dealt with will be dealt with. We’re the good guys…well kinda.” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“You stupid man,” Buddha laughed. “You know I haven’t told you because I was so consumed with guilt and grief, but I’m fucking proud of you.
I see you, and I see you stopped sniffing the white stuff.
You didn’t even have to go to fucking rehab; you did that shit.
Nobody is more proud of you than your little, big brother.
After Tomasso officially retires, it’s about to be you and me.
” Buddha held his closed fist out to me.
Smiling proud and wide we fist-bumped each other.
“Please, make sure you’re seated and your seatbelts are fastened. We’ll be landing in the next ten minutes.” The pilot made his announcement over the intercom.
“You ready for this?” I asked him.
“As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s go drop some fucking bodies.” Buddha replied before closing his eyes, resting his head back as the plane began making its descent.
*****
Buddha and I walked through the airport exit doors, wheeling our carry-on. Our eyes were open as we looked around, searching for the men that our father told us would be here.
“Do you see them?” Buddha asked, as both of our heads were looking from left to right as we scanned everyone around us.
“Nope,” I answered.
“Hold up, let me make a call,” Buddha said, as he stopped walking to get his phone out. I stood and waited while he called our father. I listened as my brother got his instructions on where we needed to go.
“They’re on the third level in the parking lot, let’s go,” Buddha said, ending his call. With brisk steps, we headed to locate the men. Our steps came to a screeching halt when a black SUV suddenly pulled in front of us, blocking our path.
“What the fuck?” I said, getting ready to fight if that’s what needed to happen. Four men alighted from the vehicle, four very angry men.
“Shit,” Buddha muttered as one of the men approached him. Just by looking at the men, I already knew exactly who they were.
“Yelena sent us. She wanted to be sure you held up your end of the deal. I guess you wouldn’t mind us tagging along.” His Russian accent was thick. These were Ivan’s men, sent here by his wife.
“We got this covered; Mrs. Petrov didn’t need to send you,” Buddha explained.
“Do you prefer if I shoot you? I’d rather not; we’re here to make sure your part of the deal is fulfilled, then maybe after I can shoot you,” the fake-ass Dolph Lundgren said.
By the way, Buddha kept making a fist. I could tell my brother wasn’t very keen on the way this Russian was talking to him.
I decided I needed to quickly step in and quell the situation.
“Nah, we cool, no need to shoot anybody. We’re going over on level three to collect our weapons and our car,” I pointed in the direction.
“Good, we will follow.” Saying nothing else, he and the rest of his Russian crew hopped back in the SUV.
“Yelena gets on my mothafucking nerves sending her Russian men to stalk me. Let’s get the guns so we can get this shit over with.
” Buddha said, leading the way. I really couldn't care less about these Russians. All I wanted was to find out where the fuck Angel was, hopefully before we leave Italy, I’ll have some answers.