46. Matilde
Matilde
April sunshine and wildflowers make the cascades spilling over their rocks sound merrier than they did on that snowy February day when Nico claimed me here. That heated memory is tinged with the cold of our enforced separation.
But today, he’s coming to visit us, and he says he has a surprise.
So I decided to surprise him, too.
“Good ground for the tent there,” Yana declares. Her green eyes sparkle as she takes in the area. The rescued Latvian girl knows all about camping, and she helped me dig through Leone’s garage earlier for the green camouflage, domed tent and other supplies. In no time, she’s got it set up.
“It’s perfect, Yana.”
“The house is safer for reunions,” Leone grumbles, pacing around us with his rifle.
“We will not sleep out here.” I keep my face as neutral as possible, but they both smirk. My husband might not mind, but with all the guards and family around, the house won't offer the privacy I prefer.
“We should head back to the house.”
Reluctantly, I agree, but Leone wanders toward the water where Primo and Maddalena are. The stream is still too chilly for wading, so I focus my attention on the children, and Yana drifts toward the others.
“What do you think? Should we sleep out under the evergreens and stars this summer with your papa?” I ask the twins in Italian after plopping them down on the quilted, padded mat inside the tent.
They smile at my cheerful tone.
They’re ten months old now, and Nico comments on their growth every visit.
Amadeo loves walking as long as he has furniture or hands to hold onto for extra balance.
Lucia is content with crawling, but she surpasses her brother when it comes to language.
It’s mostly babble, but she knows a few words, and Maddalena is convinced she said ‘Mad’ the other day.
She could have meant her aunt, but she could just have easily been referring to her brother’s quick temper.
When Frankie kindly invited me and the children to visit her in New York over the phone last week – “Until things are more settled there” – I’d assured her my husband has his city in hand, and that we were safe staying with Nico’s uncle.
I grimaced as soon as the words were out of my mouth. “I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone that.”
“It’s okay. I won’t share it, not even with Carlo. Nico has lots of uncles so I wouldn’t know which one.”
I’d still been upset with myself for blabbing after the phone call. Weeks of distance takes its toll.
I'd cried on Maddalena's shoulder late last night.
Even Nico's sexy voice hadn't been able to soothe the growing feeling of abandonment exacerbated by one of the guards taking off to see his lady.
I know Nico hates being separated from us, but I wish I could convince myself he hates it as much as I do.
Still, life here is pleasant, and I’m well aware how much worse things could be.
As if to prove the point, there’s a sudden crackling noise in the distance… followed by more of the same.
My instincts know what my brain would rather ignore, and fear chills me to the bone when I stare at the two innocent faces in front of me. So sweet and vulnerable and with no bulletproof glass to protect us out here.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see I’m not the only one who heard the gunfire. “That’s not a welcoming party for our Capo. We’ve got trouble. Primo, be ready,” Leone urges.
Primo’s eyes are wide, but he pulls the two handguns from his chest holster, ready to defend us. “Into the tent,” he orders. Yana doesn’t argue, but Maddalena is grasping his arm. “Go, now,” he barks, but he kisses her forehead before pushing her in at last.
“Do you have a weapon?” Yana asks me, holding the small mallet she used on the tent stakes. The poor woman probably wonders if she’s about to be abducted again.
Slipping my hand into my jeans pocket, I’m relieved that I brought the stiletto switchblade with me out of habit. I nod with grim determination. “Yes, I do.”
“Keep quiet,” Leone snaps at us from outside the tent.
“I brought my phone,” Maddalena whispers, glancing worriedly at the twins.
I hear Leone and Primo moving closer to the water to make their hasty plans. The guard dogs are barking in the distance, and there’s more gunfire.
Who’s here? And why come after women and children? We don’t control the Trio. Did that guard betray us? I told Frankie something I shouldn’t have last week which could narrow down our location. But I can’t believe her husband has any reason to hurt us.
Swiping Maddalena’s phone from her hand, I hurriedly call my husband. The signal is spotty a dozen yards past the house and barn and probably horrible out here, but I have to try. If he’s already on his way, he needs to be ready. If he’s not… I don’t want to think about that.
“Eager for your surprise?” Nico answers, sounding much more at ease than I’ve heard him in months. I hate to ruin that mood.
“Someone is here, Nico,” I whisper. “There is gunfire.”
One quiet in-drawn breath, and then his words are steel. “How many? Where are you? Are the children with you?”
I hug the babies, struggling not to let panic overwhelm me. “Yes, they are here. I don’t know. We are…” I hesitate, afraid of giving too much away in case someone has a way of listening to our calls. “Sorrow’s Cascade. Find us.”
The words are barely out before the call drops.
I wish I’d asked him where he is. The phone buzzes in my palm.
He’s calling back, but the sound of gunfire draws closer.
Peeking out, I see Leone heading that way, risking his life for ours.
Primo ducks his head into the tent again.
“Here.” He raises his trouser leg and hands me a gun that was strapped to his ankle. “Take it. I’m going to help Leone.”
“No, stay here,” Maddalena pleads.
“I fight for my Capo's family and for you, la mia bella,” he argues, rushing off.
Maddalena cries quietly while Yana offers what comfort she can. “The men are fighters. The tent blends in with the surroundings. Unless they’re looking for it, we shouldn’t be seen.”
I’m glad for my children’s sake, but I don’t like feeling powerless again, waiting and wondering when and if we’ll be saved. The children need you, I remind myself.
Just then, there’s a barrage of gunfire not very far away. A man gives an agonized shout. “Primo!” Maddalena gasps, loudly. Too loudly.
The three of us freeze, staring at each other, wondering if she was heard and by who. Then, Maddalena caresses the babies’ cheeks, choking out the words, “I’m sorry. I’ll lead them away from you.”
Before I can stop my sister, she dashes from the tent. My children need me, but I can't just sit here frantically worrying over Maddalena. “Stay hidden. Protect them. Promise me,” I beg Yana, and she nods, hugging my children.
Stepping outside, I'm determined to bring my sister back to relative safety when I nearly run right into an armed man I’ve never seen. His eyes crawl all over me, the slow perusal of a man confident he can overpower me, an underestimation that will cost him his life.
Remembering my training, I raise Primo’s gun without a second's hesitation and fire. Struck right in the heart, he crumples to the ground. Shock, disbelief and relief. I never wanted to kill anyone but for my family…
“Smith?” another stranger grunts as he emerges from the trees behind me. Oh no. He wasn't alone. By the time I turn, the man has me in his sights. “Lower it. Slowly, honey.”
I am not your honey.
But I do what he says, relieved he hasn't spotted the camouflaged tent nestled between the fallen tree and the water.
With his weapon still trained on me, he lifts a handheld, two-way radio. “I’ve caught the Capo’s wife. Or her twin. Can’t tell. She killed Smith.”
“Bring her to me,” a woman replies – Cosima.