AWAKENING (24 page)

“You said
three days
,
si
?”

“
Si
,
tres
dias
.”

Maria conspiratorial voice barely reached the clerk, “Can you have the results delivered as soon as they’re back.”

“Si, we can do that.”

Maria scribbled down the address, passed it to the woman. Paid in cash and returned to the island breeze. Aye,
seventy-two
hours was an eternity.

                                             
*
***

Alberti had the driver detour. He wanted to see his grandchildren. When they arrived at the estate, the guard immediately let the vehicle onto the grounds. Selange could not hide her surprise when she saw the
intimidating
man
on her door step
.

“Buongiorno Selange, may I come in?”

Selange stepped aside. Usually, the man visited when Alfonzo was present.
She voiced this by saying,
“Yes, but Alfonzo’s not here.”

“I have come to see you and the bambini. I hope this is okay?”

He was in the foyer, his posture erect and eyes scanning the lovely home.
It was a
beautiful place for a
large
family. Toys, comfortable seating, wide open space for children to grow and play. The unreadable expression did not belie his curiosity at how this young woman absorbed men, making them slaves to their passions. Then he inwardly smiled, there was another such woman who possessed equal power, the beautiful
Pharaoh
Cleopatra. In ancient times, she brought men to war for her.
H
e could not have war between
families
.
Perhaps, she was nothing at all like the ruthless Pharaoh but loyal as the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti
.
Later, he would speak candidly with the woman and discover her true heart.

Selange led the way to the nursery and hovered nearby as he ogled the infants. Making silly faces, ones he’d made long ago when his sons were born. His heart was heavy. Oh Vincent, how I do miss you, he thought lifting one then the other
out of their prisons
. He rocked them, feeling young again through their touch. He smiled and his face took on the appearance of a man half his age, “They’re bellissimo!”

Their mother laughed and he saw the heavens in her eyes, he also saw
another woman
; o
ne in more modern times who died before his birth
, s
he too, toppled men. Alfonzo’s
and Nico’s
attraction
to Selange
was very
clear
.
She personified heaven or fulfillment.
Semira.

Had he not believed such inclinations survived generations, he believed it now. The men were unaware of
it;
of course they did not know the
ir full
history. His smile thinned, he must share with his son many things,
there’s
no other way. As soon as Nico returned to Italy, he would take him
on a journey through the past and then he’d understand why the war raging in his heart he
must end.

He carefully placed the babies in their cribs and waved at each one. When he spoke to Selange, it was soft, “Can we walk in the garden before I go?”

“Sure.” She turned on the child monitor and they left the room. They passed Anita in the hall, “I’m just in the garden, listen out for the babies, please.”

Anita nodded
. T
he man beside Selange with the dark hair sprinkled with gray
she’d seen before. This was the first time, he’d come inside and she wondered what changed
.

Selange moved gracefully at Alberti’s side, the long curly hair blanketing her shoulders. He had to admit, the woman’s exotic dark features and those feline hazel eyes were distracting to a man.
Although, she wore a plain white halter dress, she walked with the regality of a Queen. This was a special woman, the only one who managed to tame Alfonzo and break him like a wild horse. Such power over a man, all women held but only few knew when to use.

“You do well in the garden.” He complimented.

“Thanks but lately
I’ve had to hire gardeners for their care.”

“Um.”
His tall frame gave her shade. “Is there anything you need?”

“I’m okay. Thanks
, though
.”

“
I’ve watched you over the years and see the love you have for your children. I do wonder –and forgive me young lady if I pry but I must ask, what caused the lapse in such devotion to your husband, did he mistreat you?”

Selange halted. “It is prying and whatever happened between me and Alfonzo is personal. But to set your mind to rest, no Alfonzo has never abused me.”

This did not deter Alberti, “Then you stopped loving him?”

“No, I didn’t.
”

He noticed the pain creeping
across her face and guilt. He received his answers and tested further, “Then Nico was a dalliance of a bored woman, is that it?”

“For your information, Nico is my friend and a good one. I know everyone blames him for what happened but if you want the truth so bad
,
I’ll tell you.
Nico isn’t the bad guy. I am. I seduced him with my neediness. She blinked trying to hold it together and not slap the nosy old man, but
s
he
’d satisfy his
curio
sity and put the matter to rest, permanently.
Maybe, he’d tell the men to stop treating Nico like a piranha when his only crime was caring about her. “
He’s suffering because of me and so is Alfonzo. I made a terrible mistake Mr. Luca. Vincent’s dead because of it. I feel horrible…is that what you need to hear…then okay…I feel sick about hurting the people I love. I lost my husband
, a friend and someone Sal adored. I can’t do it over, I wish life allowed it
,
but it doesn’t. I didn’t want any of this to happen…” she stared at the ground, “I’m
guilt-stricken
over it…I am.”

“In loss we can learn many things. What did you learn?”

Her
rose defiantly,
“I learned
the self-righteous have a slow descent and when they land it’s on sharp blades of hypocrisy.”

Alberti found her intriguing. Ah, Nico and the men had no chance. They were smitten like boys. To hear her speak in such a way, displayed the sharpness of her mind. Selange was a woman wiser beyond her years whose trek through tragedy and personal crisis gave her an iron will. She was Semira, the High Tower, the woman Alfonzo needed. She’d come into his life for a reason and Nico’s for a short time, but her place was with
only one man.
Alfonzo.
“You speak like a poet. Let me put your mind at ease young lady,” he stepped close, looking her in the eye, “Vincent died honorably. We all miss him, yet just like a
policeman;
he ha
d
a dangerous job
and was aware of the risks before he took it
. He died protecting Alfonzo and you. What greater death is there?”

“But he wouldn’t have died if…”

He cut her off
, “
Sadly, Vincent
died when he was meant to. Your c
ontrition shows
you have
a conscience, which is good, but wallowing in guilt is counter-productive.
”

“Humph.”

“Alfonzo loves you, it’s obvious.
If you love him as I believe you do. Release Nico…sometimes true repentance requires
we must let go of bad habits to find healthier ones.
”

Selange nodded, “Nico will always be my friend
,
but
I know we’re not meant for each other.
Being with him cost
s
too much.
Alfonzo’s the man I want
and love
.
He’s
also what my heart
need
s
.
”

Alberti
smirked, “Good.” T
he woman had come to her senses.
In time the family would be stronger from this
. Patience was the cure.

They
began walking to the house. Their little talk was done. He said god-bye to her at the door then took a moment to gaze around at the huge lawn.
Soon, there would be more children running around, playing happily. He re
called
fragmented pieces
from
long ago. He was a small boy, perhaps Allie’s age surrounded by family. This
image is only one of the few memories
which remained of the
Giacanti’s
before the tragedy
.
“
Ah,” t
here was hope for
Alfonzo’s
family.
B
roken relationships
were
mendable. His feet flattened the dark-green grass as he strolled toward the car.

A vehicle approached, it’s shiny grill and luxury insignia identif
ied the make proudly.
He
didn’t wait long to find out who sat inside. The driver held the door aloft and
Maria
Diaz emerged with Allie in her arms.
Their eyes met and he
observed
fear there. He became amused. Why did she fear him? He was curious to know.

He intercepted her
,
“Buongiorno Maria. It is nice to see you again.”

“I
won’t lie and
say the same,” she replied and went to walk around him. But
,
Alberti blocked her passage
.
The action caused her eyes to widen, “Move
…get out of my way.”

“We must talk.” Alberti said, simultaneously gesturing the guard over. “Take the child in the house.”

“Yessir
,
Mr. Luca.”

The
sleeping child
was removed from Maria’s arms and she glared at Alberti. “You have no right.”

“I
disagree.” He said sternly and held open the door to his car. “Come, let’s talk.”

She considered going inside
then knew he’d only follow. Reluctantly, she bent and entered
the car
. Alberti’s driver immediately stood outside as they talked.

“What’s this about Alberti?” She asked impatiently.

“Such hostility.
There was a time I received a warmer greeting.”

“That’s before I knew what you were about.”

“
And did Gina tell you
what I am about
, too?” His eyes raked over her face. The
sexy
remnants of the young woman his brother Luzo fell in love with hidden beneath the surface
, suppressed by time and
a
devotion to her Faith.

“
Gina?”

Alberti assumed it was Gina who frightened the woman, yet Maria
’s
expression told him it was not.
He sat forward inquisitively, “Who came to see you, if not
Luzo’s
wife?”

“
You and your family are despicable. The woman Sophie
is the only honest one among you. She told me about
Luzo’s
wife and warned me to go before the woman found out.”

A
lberti froze
, S
ophie
, his brother’s
wife?

This news shocked him.
He had to return i
mmediately to Italy, Sophie required a visit!

CHAP
T
ER
FOUR
T
E
EN

The boat Captain waved at his passenger as she embarked in the Port of
North Carolina
several hours later. She wasn’t the talkative kind and he liked that. He was also glad to be rid of his passenger to sail north again. He had a dinner date
in a few days w
ith a nice woman he met on-line. He’d take her out on the town
since he’d scored a
large amount of spending cash and maybe…just maybe he’d get lucky.