Adversary (19 page)

The guards smiled but they remained mobile, eyes glancing often around the landscape which was unfamiliar. The heat did not detract from the festive mood. Not even the flittering insects as large as Allie’s palm dulled their spirits.

Song after song they danced as Kefilwe interpreted the Shona words aloud to her guests. After the welcome celebration, Kefilwe took the visitors on a tour of the facility. The place was cleaned and smelled of disinfectant. The rooms were small and crowded. Pantry stocked with canned and bagged foods with the large bold stamps of relief organizations. Large bowls, larger than anything Selange had seen held rice and other food items she couldn’t identify, but is the lack of fresh paint, the small things that homes have that brought Selange the most sadness. Where were the photos of childish things, like swings or outings? No certificates of any kind highlighted a child’s individual accomplishments.

Small things her eyes noticed.

Small things are what mattered.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Why did you not tell me about our bambini?”

Shanda lay in Giuseppe’s former room on a much larger bed. She was comfy, about to sleep until he walked in with a myriad of questions. Thank goodness she received the heads up that mouthy Allie spilled the beans. Damn kid.

She wasn’t mad at Selange, heck she didn’t care if Giuseppe found out. It’s just she wasn’t telling him squat. In time he would’ve learned he was going to be a papa again, except he’d see the evidence. He lost the right to know things when he didn’t disclose he’d continue screwing around even after he proposed. He couldn’t have it his way. This wasn’t a fast food commercial.

“Giuseppe, I’m tired. Whoopee-doo I’m pregnant and unfortunately you’re the father.”

He had a broad smile. “I am very happy.”

“I bet you are. You fucked me and I’m pregnant.”

“Shanda, I am here for you. Prometo.”

“Good. All right, talk’s over, arriverderci,” she said with boredom and held tightly to the pillow and closed her eyes. She didn’t expect silence or that he’d undress and climb in bed or he’d hold her as she drifted to sleep. Not once did he attempt to hump her ass.

Hold her tight, nuzzle close to the mother of his child and smile she carried another. Elation and misery were joined. He’d longed for this, deliberately sought to get her pregnant and now that she was, it seemed he lost her love.

His hand caressed her bare arm as she slept, such a pity she was so stubborn. No gifts of apology worked. Every flowery attempt to reconcile was tossed in the garbage.

A joy.

Another bambini.

Yet, sadness.

His donna was unhappy.

Then Giuseppe heard his cell buzzing and he sat forward. Where had he put the thing? Oh, he chuckled, it was in his jacket. Oh cazzo, that Allie again. “Sí Allie I will tell Auntie Shanda about the rainbow cookies. She is asleep.”

Allie was crying. “Uncle Giuseppe…I can’t reach my dad and I want to go home.”

“Oh, mio nipote,” he said affectionately, “tell Uncle why you cry.”

He envisioned his niece sulking and pretty little face shedding tears after being reprimanded for doing something bad. That one had naughty ways unlike her brother Sal. She confessed but made it sound so sweet he almost took her side. “I was showing the deaf children mommy’s bracelet and she saw it and took it. She was mad and yelled at me for nothing.”

“No, she yelled. Ah that is not good. Bad to yell, no?”

“Yeah and she said I am not listening and when we get home I’m going on punishment.”

“Ah, the punishment does not fit the crime.”

A hiccupping cry like the yeller mother pulled at his heart strings. “I want daddy. I don’t like mommy anymore.”

“But you love tua madre, no?”

“No, she’s mean like Estefan now.”

Giuseppe did not like these words from the child. “Did you ask permission to show her jewelry?”

“No,” she sheepishly. The sobs subsided. “I borrowed it, but I was going to give it back.”

“Ah, so you are a thief. You took something from someone else, sí?”

“Agh…aghhhh. I want to go home…I want to go home,” she moaned in sorrow but did not admit her actions were bad.

“I am sure your mama will forgive you, but do not do such things again little bracelet stealer that I love. It is bad, capisce?”

“Okay…I…”

Then Giuseppe heard gunfire erupt. Allie shrieked and voices were in the background. Someone was shouting to keep the children inside. He heard Allie asking, “Where’s my mommy?” And a woman’s voice, “Stay, go with Genala. Follow her girl, stay quiet and do not come out.”

Giuseppe’s chest heaved. His feet were moving, he quickly donned his trousers. “Allie…nipote…what is happening?”

She must have stopped and peeked to see something because she cried. “Mommy…mommy. Uncle a man is pulling on mommy…leave her alone…leave my mommy alone!”

Another voice a woman. Not the same voice, this must be staff. “Come…move from the window…come girl…come.”

“Uncle Geo the man is taking mommy’s bracelet…he’s stealing…oh he hit my mommy…call daddy!”

Giuseppe’s chest heaved at her pitiful voice wailing for him to hurry and get there. The other voice cautioned for her to be silent. “Stay hidden in here and do not come out…please…little girl…please.”

Low, muffled and frightened as if she were hiding her tiny voice trembled as she whispered. “I’m scared.”

“Do not be afraid. Are you safe?”

“I think so.”

Giuseppe nudged Shanda awake. “Use your cell and call mio fratello. Quickly, do it ora!” he urged and returned to his niece who whimpered like a frightened kitten. “Tell me, this bad man who stole mama’s bracelet, describe him.”

“I took a picture.”

Surprised, he asked. “You did?”

“Yes, I sent it to daddy because it’s interesting. Daddy will see him and shoot him for hitting mommy!”

“Send it to me also and then remain quiet. I will come. I will contact your papa. We will both shoot this bad man, capisce mio nipote?”

“Good…because he did something to biscuit stomach and Estefan. I saw them sleeping on the ground.”

***

Nico carried Semira to the kitchen. She was wide awake at two in the morning. After he secured his daughter in the high-chair and was sticking his head in the fridge he heard at his back her say, “Da.”

Nico smirked.

“Da-da,” she said again and Nico laughed with excitement.

He ran to get his cell and called Ari excited. “Sweetheart, our daughter’s talking she said da…hot damn…hoot…hoot…she said my name.”

“She said da. Okay wow…call me when she says I can go to the bathroom and wipe my own ass,” Ari joked.

Nico laughed and took some applesauce and sautéed greens from the fridge in the containers that everybody knew was Semira’s nasty mush. “Maybe I did get a bit over-excited but hey this is all new. I wasn’t around much with the twins. I missed a lot of firsts.”

Ari soothed his guilt. “You were with me in spirit. No dredging up the past. You’re here now and you’re a fantastic father and you should feel excited. Don’t mind me, I just have my head in some figures and…” she paused.

“And?”

“Nico…holy shit…there’s shooting.”

Nico rushed in the boy’s room and slapped their asses awake. “Okay love hit that damn button at the bottom of your cell,” he instructed and then rushed to pull his laptop out of hiding. On the kitchen counter with Semira staring at him, wondering where her food is, he punched keys. Bam, location.

The boys were hovering over him with sleepy eyes and he pointed to their sister. “Where are Allie and Selange?”

“I don’t know.”

“All right honey, are you in a safe place?”

“I’m in the office of the orphanage.”

Then he heard shouting. A male voice ordered her to stand, then static or was it fabric. He watched the screen. Nothing yet…then movement from the location…kilometers.

“Is there any others Kefilwe?” He heard the voice ask someone.

“No Gamba…no others.”

A pause.

A woman shrieking.

A gunshot sounded and the boys spun around as their father stood. The twin’s expression was one of bewilderment. Shock. Bereft was Darren. “Dad…dad…was that mom. Did somebody shoot our mom?”

Nico put the laptop in his backpack and then walked to the boys who stood near their baby sister. Shaky hands gripped their shoulders. His head bowed under the blackness which engulfed him. A jerk of nerves occurred, then equalized as his fingers squeezed hard the muscular arms that were on boys not yet men. His heart galloped several times before it smashed right through his chest. The emotional reaction to the possibility Ari may have died soon settled and he was able to think. His voice came, it’d gotten lost somewhere but he found he could now speak. He gave instructions to the youths who’d eventually realize death is often extemporaneous. No one can prepare for its coming, nobody knows the victim’s hour, and only the reaper sees whose next. “You two, take care of your sister. In the morning go to Sophie’s and stay there. Stay there…do that for me. I have to…” he couldn’t finish his sentence. The words were getting choked in his throat. He couldn’t think beyond this sad feeling as he wondered was this his fault.

Gamba.

Kefilwe.

He was expected to receive word tomorrow from Bianca’s brother about Pasqual and this Gamba. Unfortunately, tomorrow was too late.

The twins swiped at their wet faces.

He had the backpack slung over his arm when he heard voices. Women. Ari talking. His sons perked up. She was asking Selange in Spanish was she okay. Somebody must be around he surmised. “Your lip is bleeding, did that sonovabitch hit you?”

A tearful voice. “He took the bracelet Allie brought without permission. The one Alberti left me. That bastard said it was a gift to an undeserving whore!”

“Fuck him, where’s Allie?”

“She’s hiding inside. Thank heavens she didn’t see what happened,” Selange hiccupped. “That sonovabitch executed Estefan right in front of me!”

Nico’s thoughts were, hot damn they’re alive!

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Alfonzo was barking at the GC, the foreman and every damn body in his vicinity deemed management on the construction site. Thank goodness no one was injured when the crane boom malfunctioned. The operator was a bit shaken but his bigger problem was damage control in the form of money.

The worse thing about the accident was the incident could’ve been avoided. Improper cribbing. An elementary safeguard hadn’t been employed. How damn difficult was it to check the blocking, which takes a few minutes to do? Had the operator and foreman stabilized the boom with supports for stabilization when the loads were lifted, the damn crane wouldn’t have swung when the crane shifted and he wouldn’t be out assessing damage and with his son back at the office.

Another reason he was pissed as hell is because from the preliminary report and visual observation he gauged the load being picked up was too large. Cranes have weight limits and the crane operator is supposed to know that!

Man, dumb shit like this made Alfonzo wonder if all the training in the world can’t teach common sense. Retraining my ass, the operator wasn’t going on anymore of his equipment. Fuck up once and do this type of major damage, next time he might cause a death.

He heard Sergio before he saw him with his cell outstretched in his hand. “Giuseppe says he’s tried calling and this is urgent.”

Alfonzo took the phone. “Yeah what’s up?”

“I am flying to Zimbabwe, there is an emergency.”

Alfonzo’s feet were in motion. He shouted over his shoulder to Matt to take charge of the mess and gestured for Tony to come along. “What happened?”

“Allie called me. There’s been a shooting.”

Alfonzo stumbled to a halt. His feet were cinderblocks. The car waiting at the curb seemed far. He held erect as a board to absorb the words. Sergio and Tony were on his flank. His Capo stood in the distance near the car. For some reason his feet felt like weights. His immediate thought was of his little girl. “What…que…where is my daughter?”

“She is safe. I have been talking to her. She is safe fratellino.”

“Bueno…bueno.” Alfonzo glanced at Sergio who wore a worried expression. He never liked asking about Selange when things went down. He just didn’t. The fear was always he’d receive confirmation of his worst nightmare. But, he always asked, always wanted to know if this would be the last day he breathed. “And Selange...what about Ari?”

“Fratellino…I do not know…Allie said a bad man took them.” Giuseppe omitted the hitting part. For his brother he would exact revenge.

Alfonzo reached the vehicle; he'd given orders along the way. He handed Sergio his cell and instructed him to get Sal and stay at the house until he called. Tony was coming along. The Capo he told to gather eight of their best and weapons. They would have to take the corporate plane; his private aircraft was on African soil. He was inside the vehicle, searching through the pockets of his suit jacket that he’d left in the car. He found his cell and saw loads of messages, mainly from Allie. He opened an attachment and bless his daughter…oh his niña was a quick thinker. Clear as the sun was a photo of a man with his hands on Selange’s wrist. In the background weregrass and two bodies he didn’t have to guess to know who they were. At the side in elementary scribble was Allie’s title:Interesting.

He hadn’t had time to study the man’s face when a call came in from Nico. “You get my messages?”

“I’m just getting them.”

“You’re in motion?”

“Fucking A!”

“I’ll keep in contact and I’ll see you in the Motherland.”

“Damn straight.”

Another call and his chest became a tornado. Selange. His babe was calling. But, it wasn’t her voice on the other end. A baritone, leisure talker is who greeted him. “Good day Mr. Diaz. Wonderful to finally speak with you.”

Alfonzo had a tornado of emotions that he suppressed. His tone did not reflect the anger or panic he was certain the man expected. Never give a motherfucker what he wants, he checkmates your ass the minute you do. “Likewise. Before you start, put my wife on for a sec hombre and then we can talk all day.”