Chapter 18
Madison stood outside her parents’ place and waited for someone to open the door.
She didn’t know why they kept this big place.
Well, she did, because her mom wanted to.
But they needed to downsize. A cute condo would work well for them and be less expensive than the four-bedroom three-level house. They didn’t even need the big yard.
“There you are, dear. We’ve been waiting ages for you to show up.”
“Mom, you know I don’t have a car. Besides it didn’t take too long.”
Her mother looked behind her. “Where is your nice young man?” Her mom slid her hands down her body-hugging dress. “I assumed he would bring you so I dressed up. Don’t want him to think everyone in this family doesn’t take pride in their appearance and wears handsewn clothes.”
“Mom, all clothes are either hand or machine sewn. Everything is handmade.”
“Yes, but it depends on the hand that makes it. One wants an important hand.”
Madison didn’t bother responding. “Where’s Dad?”
“In his study with the bills. Glad you could find time in your schedule to make it over to take care of them. I guess your young man has been keeping you busy in the bedroom. I’m sure it’s intensive, having to teach someone everything.”
“You would know.” Madison turned and walked away, ignoring her mother’s gasp. She had never spoken up for herself before and doing it felt damn good.
“And just what is that supposed to mean?”
“I know what you did with any guy who was interested in me.”
“I only showed them the ropes. How was I to know they would prefer me to you? I was trying to help you out. Two virgins together never make a good experience.”
Madison’s eyes widened at her mother’s words. “So you’re saying you were training them for me?”
“Or the next woman who came along. I’m sure they were appreciative of the lessons I taught them.”
“So you admit that you cheated on Dad.”
“He likes it. I go out and have fun and come back and tell him. It’s our thing.”
“You know, you are something else.”
“That I am and don’t you ever forget it.” Her mom slinked away.
Madison continued on to the study to find her dad at his desk.
“Let me take a look.” She sat down on the opposite side of the desk. “Dad, some of these haven’t been paid for months. Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve had helped you.”
“You weren’t working, so I didn’t want to take too much from you. I had Elanie go and get some money out from our joint account, but I guess she didn’t pay the bills like I told her to.”
“It was you? That was my savings. She took the whole thing.”
“Sorry, sweetheart.” He patted her hand. “She promised me she would just take enough to catch us up.”
“Well, she didn’t. And why would you trust her? She hasn’t paid a single bill with the money you’ve given her. In fact she has just went out and made more bills. How can you live like this? You know you need to sell the house.”
“I know, but your mother doesn’t want to.”
“But what about you? What do you want?”
“To keep your mother happy.”
“What about your happiness? You can’t tell me you’re happy living like this.”
“It suits me.”
“You know she cheats on you, right?”
“Yes.”
“But you still want to keep her happy?”
“That does keep her happy. If it hadn’t been for this stroke, we would have been fine.”
“I don’t get it.”
“It works for us.”
“Right. Ok.” That was way more than she needed to know. “Let’s pay these bills.”
****
Dante waited at Madison’s place for Zoe to bring her home, but she didn’t show.
He tried contacting Madison, but she wasn’t answering her phone or any of the texts he sent.
He called the guys he had tailing her to learn where she was.
He realized she wasn’t coming home and he left.
He needed finish things up before the sting operation.
He would have to talk to Madison later. As long as he had eyes on her and knew she was safe he was ok. For now. It wouldn’t last long.
****
Madison got dressed for the funeral. It would be at the funeral home since Henry hadn’t been part of a church. They had been able to do things fast. Madison still hadn’t had any contact from Sabrina, although she had texted her the information for Henry’s service. She wasn’t sure if she would show.
Zoe had offered to pick Madison up, but she didn’t want to burden her. The service was going to be small, because things had happened so fast, some people hadn’t been able to attend. It would just be Madison and her parents and some friends.
Madison stood beside the coffin. They had done a nice job. If she squinted, she could pretend that Henry was asleep. She still didn’t believe it. But she had no time to grieve. Her dress would show at fashion week this weekend. She still needed that job and the steady income it would bring.
Not only that, but this was her dream. The one thing that she had and loved and that she had pursued even when her mom had suggested something else for Madison.
She stayed the course. Even at eighteen she knew that doing what her mother wanted wouldn’t get her her mother’s love.
She didn’t have enough left for Madison.
The door opened, and Madison turned to see who was coming to the service late. It was Dante. Their eyes met, and there was that pull, that spark, that joy at seeing him and she broke eye contact and faced the front.
She couldn’t believe he had shown up. How had he found out?
Had Sabrina told him? And where was she?
The service was bordering on being over.
Madison could feel Dante’s eyes on her back, and her nipples hardened and she squeezed her inner thighs together.
This wasn’t the time or the place, but he had that effect on her.
The service ended, and they filed out of the building to head to the burial site.
“Oh look, your nice young man is here. Let’s ride with him.” Her mother walked over to Dante and hugged his arm to her chest.
“I have room.”
Of course he would. Zoe stood beside her. “Great, then you guys can go with Dante and I’ll go with Zoe.” She grabbed Zoe’s arm and dragged her away before anyone could say anything.
“Did you invite him?” Zoe asked.
“No. I have no idea how he found out. I didn’t tell my parents that we broke up. So many things have happened. But don’t leave me alone with him.”
“I won’t.”
They drove to the cemetery where the grave was dug. Zoe stood next to Madison. Dante stood on the other side with Madison’s parents. They watched the coffin being lowered, and they threw some dirt into the open grave. Madison tossed some flowers in.
She looked up to see men in black carrying guns and running towards them. They were coming up behind Dante
“SWAT. Hands up. Put your hands where I can see them.”
Dante turned. “What the fuck?”
Madison was confused. Why was the SWAT team at her brother’s funeral? It had to be a mistake.
“Dante Giovanni Bianchi, you’re under arrest for money laundering, tax evasion, and racketeering.”
“What? I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Tell it to the courts.”
“Dante?”
“Go home with Zoe. I’ll be out soon.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” said a member of the SWAT team who dragged Dante out.
“Madison, I—”
And then he was being dragged away.
But everyone didn’t leave. A female agent walked over to Madison. “Ms. Bryant, I need you to come with me.”
“What? Why?” Madison looked around at her parents and Zoe. They were all standing there frozen as if their minds couldn’t process what was happening
“Standard procedure. Come this way.”
“Madison, dear. What is your young man into?” Madison’s mother pushed to the front.
The agent took a firm grasp of her arm and led Madison away. She got down the hill in time to see Dante shoved into the back of a car. When he turned around, he could see Madison was coming.
“Don’t take her. She doesn’t know anything.”
“That’s for us to decide,” said the lead guy.
Madison was placed in the back of an unmarked car. The lady agent slid in next to her and closed the door.
“You’re not under arrest. We just want to bring you in for some questioning.”
Madison was scared. This was only her second time seeing a gun in real life.
“Right.”
The rest of the car ride was quiet and uncomfortable. Inside she was taken into a room and left alone. She didn’t know what to do. The room was cold, and Madison shivered and looked around the stark room.
She sat on one side of the table and on the other side were two empty chairs. She shouldn’t have trusted Dante when he said she wouldn’t get in trouble. They had broken up and she was still taken.
She didn’t know how long she sat there until the lead agent and the female agent from earlier came into the room.
“Sorry to keep you so long, Ms. Bryant. I’m Agent Bravo and this is Agent Daniels. We just have some simple questions for you.” They sat down in the other chairs.
“Ok. I’m not sure if I have the answers that you are looking for.” Madison shifted side to side.
Agent Bravo leaned in, “And why would you think that? You don’t know the questions yet.”
“Well, I don’t know anything that pertains to Dante’s… family.”
“That’s fine. How long have you known Mr. Bianchi?” He leaned back and placed his hand on a folder.
“Less than three months.”
“And how long have you known he was part of a crime family?” Agent Bravo drummed his fingers on the folder
“Less than a month, I guess.”
“Less than a month. But you work at il Signore, which is run by them.” He held his hand up in a questioning gesture.
“Yes, I worked at il Signore. Dante told me he was the owner.”
“Well, maybe that’s true. But it’s still part of the crime family’s holdings.” He cocked his head.
“I have no knowledge of that.” Madison shook her head.
“Of what exactly?”
“Anything that has to do with the crime family.”
“See that’s where I think you’re wrong. I think you know more than this little innocent act you’re putting on.” He tapped the folder with his index finger
“I don’t. Dante and I almost broke up over it.”
“But you didn’t?” He put his elbows on the table.
“Well, no.”
“Why not?” He leaned forward.
“He told me none of this would touch me, and, uh, that he’s going to do something else.”
“You can see that was a lie.”
“I see that now.”
“So, can you add anything more to the something else?”
“I don’t know. He just said he was changing things up. I know he had a meeting that had to do with it.”
“See, and you didn’t think you knew anything. I think you know plenty.”
“Agent Bravo, go easy on her. I think she’s telling the truth,” Agent Daniels said.
“I don’t think so, but I know how to make her talk. When we go to court, we will subpoena you. And if you lie, or hold back you’ll be sent to jail for contempt.”
“Jail? But I don’t know anything.”
“You didn’t hear him say anything like he was cleaning up?”
Madison stopped breathing. Was that something to do with what they wanted to know?
“See, Ms. Bryant. You know more than you let on, but a sit in jail will get it out of you.”
“Am I being arrested?”