Chapter 27
Betrayal that’s why I’m not with him. Although I’m spending the night. Mom needs the alone time with Dad.
Today has been hard for them. I wanted to comfort Mom, but I understood from my visions that I’m not the right person she needed. I made the calls to those she needed most.
“I’m spending the night. Mom is having a bad day.”
He releases a heavy breath and takes the seat beside me. I don’t look up because I don’t want to lose my game. Even though I’m not looking at him, I can still feel his sadness for his sister.
My uncle is very protective of Mom. Although his role in Dad’s life has changed a lot, he’s still always around because he wants to watch over Mom. No one minds; Uncle Czar is cool to have around.
“I still wish I could fix that for her. As a big brother, you’ll understand someday.”
“I wish I could have fixed it for her too,” I say.
I didn’t see as much as I do now when Lucia was born. I wish I did. I could have told Mom it was going to happen. Maybe that would have helped her acceptance.
I want to tell Mom not to give up, but this pain is something that we all will learn from, that much I can see now. Besides, I don’t want her to block the last Locatelli she and Dad will create. That’s a surprise that will come when we all least expect it.
I grin as I think of that and the surprise coming for Uncle Czar. There are more babies in all our futures. Pain and sorrow will become love and happiness. This is one of those decisions I feel is important.
I don’t have to tell everything I see. In fact, it’s better if I don’t. I have heard that voice in my head saying to keep these things a secret for now. I plan to listen.
Uncle Czar clears his throat and places a hand on the top of my head. I don’t hear his next words as a vision comes through strong and bright. I don’t even have time to pause my game.
I’m in the past; it’s the day Auntie Sim and Uncle Micheal taught me how to aim in motion. I had already had lessons from Uncle Misha on how to use a firearm, but we spent a week going through obstacles.
In the second week, we worked on my use of two guns at once. I was small, so it wasn’t easy at first, but I got the hang of it. My vision takes me through those two weeks and then I’m moved forward to the future.
I’m in the Briggs’s armory, standing in front of one of the cages that has my name on a plate attached to it.
I have never been inside the armory, but I know for sure that’s where I stand. I go to pull the cage open, and I’m pushed forward once again before I get inside.
It’s nighttime; gunfire rings out all around me. This vision has me standing outside my body. I watch as Uncle Czar and Maldonado work together to cover me as—
“Sammy, buddy, you okay? What do you need?” Uncle Czar says with concern.
I focus and realize I’m standing, bouncing on my toes while shaking my hands in front of me. I’m also blinking rapidly. I take a calming breath.
“Yes, I am fine. I am ready to tell you what I want from you as my birthday gift,” I say, then pull my phone to text Maldonado.
I need to make a trip this evening. There is a specialist I need to see. I may have exited the vision, but it’s still playing.
“What can I get for you?” Uncle Czar asks.
“You will take me to your friend’s private listings in the city. There will be seven. These need to be night visits.
“I will give you a list of what I’m looking for. He can pull the listings that have my requirements. This part is very important.
“When we go, you have to take me and I will need to see them all in the order I give, but I will tell you which one is mine at the right time. It has to be in the right order. We cannot visit one before the other.
“This must take place next week. Starting Monday. I will be killing two birds with one stone. Something is coming my way, but I also want this property.
“When I tell you which it is, then you will purchase it for me. I will pay; I just need you to purchase through my trust and be my proxy,” I say.
“Should I tell your parents about this?”
“My property is my business, but you can do what you like to get them into the city next week. I will be fine, but they might be angry with you for not saying something.
“However, they are not to interfere with my affairs. You, Maldonado, and I are to be the only ones on these visits; no one else. It has to look like it’s only the three of us. No exceptions. No one else can be spotted,” I say.
With that, I turn to leave so I can change out of my pajamas into my street clothes. I’m beginning to see the whole picture. This isn’t about Onyx. She is just a casualty of something much bigger.
As I get to the threshold to head upstairs, Uncle Czar’s voice reaches my ears. “LaSalle, listen, I know this probably isn’t a good time, but we need to talk.
“Something is about to go down. I’ll have the kid’s back, but I get the feeling this is going to be bigger than the little shit he’s been up to.”
I grin. Uncle Czar has no idea. It will be fine. It’s already done.