Shamrocks and Secrets (32 page)

Finally, after reaching the last step, I threw open the door and ran to my car, Caleb and Shamus hot on my heels.

“
Shamus, get all the men to my parent
’
s house. Tell them not to stop for anything, just get the fuck over there.
”

How could I have been so stupid? My eagerness to make Christi safe had clouded my judgment once again. I began to pray that I wasn
’
t too late. I should have taken his words with an ounce of warning. Anthony had not been man enough to pull off something like this alone. He would have had to have had help, like in everything else he did. Velenci didn
’
t need Chicago. He had New York and Miami, not to mention Italy, so why was he doing this?

My speedometer read ninety as I rounded the ramp to get onto the highway. Traffic was heavy as I began to wind around vehicles and then drove on the shoulder when I noticed traffic had stopped.

Hitting the speed dial on my phone, I had to get someone over to the house
.
I could just feel it in my bones that something was very wrong.

“
Patrick,
”
my father
’
s voice filled my car.

“
Da!
”
I shouted into the microphone above my head.

“
What
’
s wrong, Patrick?
”
He asked his voice full of concern.

“
Where are you right now?
”

“
I
’
m having lunch with Sherman, why?
”

I pounded my fist into my steering wheel, as I again changed lanes onto the shoulder.

“
Excuse yourself, I need your help and I need it now, but you can
’
t let Sherman know something
’
s up. I don
’
t know if he can be trusted right now.
”

I glanced over to Caleb, who was holding on for dear life as I increased my speed.

“
Well, I think that
’
s a nice thank-you gift.
”

God, I loved my da. He was quick on his feet when he needed to be.

“
I don
’
t have all the facts yet, but I think Anthony was acting for someone and I think it was Velenci.
”

Traffic seemed to clear suddenly, and I pushed my foot further to the floor, my speed now at one hundred thirty.

“
Your Mother is always telling me the latest gossip she
’
s heard and I think you may be right.
”

“
Da, I have all my men headed there now, I can
’
t get Ma or Christi to pick up the phone.
”

“
I
’
ll drop by Matthew
’
s house and see if he has any we can borrow.
”

I watched as Shamus picked up his cell and began dialing what I knew to be Matthew
’
s number. Seconds later, it was confirmed when I heard him speaking in Gaelic, telling Matthew what we already knew and what we were doing.

“
Da, if this is true you know what I
’
ll have to do.
”

“
Patrick, I thought that horse was dead. Quit beating it.
”

“
I
’
m nearly there, Da, hurry and get here.
”

I didn
’
t wait for a response, I knew my da would make up an excuse and Sherman would be none the wiser.

I began to pound on the gate remote as soon as it came into sight. I didn
’
t care if it wasn
’
t open enough for my car, I would crash it. The gate was open, but not quite enough as I heard my side mirrors being ripped off. Slamming on the brakes, I could hear my tires protesting the sudden demand. Shamus was a little faster, he didn
’
t wait for the car to stop or bother trying the door knob. His body seemed to go through the door like a cartoon character. The house was too quiet as I entered, shouting for Christi. When I received no response, I began taking the stairs two at a time.

I was nearly to the top when I heard the distinct sound of a gunshot.

“
S
o, what flavor will it be this morning?
”

Since I had been home from the hospital, Nora had served me ice cream with nearly every meal. She was trying everything to help me gain my weight back.

“
Surprise me,
”
I chuckled.

Nora had placed a tray of hot tea on the side table when she first came in the room. I had begged her to show me how to make a proper cup of tea. She told me to get back to my previous weight and she would show me her secret.

“
I do have a confession.
”

I looked to Nora as she poured the tea,
“
Okay?
”

“
Makenna phoned me this morning. She
’
s having an issue with some paperwork a client has given her and since it
’
s entirely in Gaelic, she
’
s asked for my help.
”

I sighed slightly.
“
Don
’
t worry about it, Nora. She
’
s still a friend of yours.
”

“
No, she
’
s not, but the client she
’
s working for is...
”
Before she could say anything more, the doorbell sounded.
“
Speak of the devil.
”

Nora gently patted my knee, turned, and left the room. Grasping the handle of the cup, I slowly brought it to my lips. I closed my eyes as I allowed the warm, sweet goodness to flow down my throat. Lord, she could make a good cup of tea.

I could faintly hear the front door opening and I had to snicker as I thought of Makenna walking through the massive foyer. She had to have been desperate and swallowed a lot of crow to pluck up the courage to face Nora again. Grateful, I wouldn
’
t have to deal with her for my wedding.

Maggie was due to join us later. She hadn
’
t been feeling very well lately. Nora came right out and asked if she could be pregnant. Maggie denied the possibility. She swore up and down that she would be going to her wedding bed as a virgin, but the way she and Angus were around each other had me skeptical. She was going to the doctor today at the insistence of Angus.

I had just poured my second cup of tea when I heard the doorbell again. It must have been later than I thought as I was certain that was Maggie. Taking in the warmth of the tea, I continued to relax into the chair.

“
Christi?
”
Nora
’
s voice sounded from the hall and I looked to the doorway as she entered the room, with a look of disgust on her face,
“
I
’
m sorry to do this to you, Lass,
”
her voice was low yet emotionless
.
“
Eileen is here to see you. She heard what happened and she
says
she wants to make certain you
’
re al
l right.
”

I smiled at Nora,
“
It
’
s al
l right. She
’
s technically family and we do have to treat her as such.
”

Nora again placed her warm hand on my knee,
“
You have the heart of a lion and the touch of a lamb.
”

“
Oh, Nora, hasn
’
t there been enough fighting and hating? I just want some happiness.
”
Nora return my smile as she turned back to the hallway.

I could smell her before she ever made it into the room, the overwhelming cloud of Eileen
’
s signature Chanel perfume preceding her into the room. I had never been a fan of that particular scent, but to each their own I believed.

“
Christi, I just could not believe it when I heard the terrible news.
”

She moved across the room and began to pour herself a cup of tea, all the while continuing to tell me how she
’
s been in an area of Italy and that she couldn
’
t get good cell coverage.

I looked to Nora who was standing in the doorway, arms crossed against her chest and eyes rolling.
“
Yes, well, as you can clearly see, our Christi is doing just fine.
”

Did I mention how much I loved Nora?

“
Oh,
”
Eileen stopped stirring the tea in her cup.
“
Dare I ask, is the wedding postponed?
”

I couldn
’
t help but laugh. The woman standing before me was not the Eileen I had been used to seeing. This one was acting as if we had been best friends for years.

“
No, we
’
re actually just finishing up the plans today.
”

The look on her face was of surprise, maybe a little shock.

“
Yes, and speaking of planning, I have to leave you two alone for a few minutes,
”
Nora
’
s voice sounded reluctant, as if she would rather have a root canal than to help Makenna who was still waiting downstairs.

“
Oh, Nora, don
’
t worry about us, I
’
ll be more than happy to keep Christi company,
”
Eileen smiled brightly.

The look on Nora
’
s face was of apology, but it wasn
’
t her fault. I smiled and gave her a loving wink.

“
I
‘
ll make this as quick as possible,
”
Nora began, only to be quickly interrupted by Eileen.

“
Take your time, Christi and I will be right here when you
’
re finished.
”

Nora shot me a look that said she was sorry and she would hurry as she left the room.

My tea was lukewarm and Eileen was quick to offer to warm it up for me. I closed my eyes and let my head rest against the back of the chaise. I still wasn
’
t a hundred percent and it frustrated me that I tired so easily. I had nearly fallen asleep when I heard Eileen stirring my fresh cup of tea before handing it to me with a smile.

“
So tell me, Christi, what are your colors?
”

I took a quick sip of my tea, the last thing I wanted to do was share my plans for my wedding with her.

“
I
’
m going with the Malloy family colors.
”

There, truthful answer, yet completely avoided. She wouldn
’
t question as to what that would mean. I knew she hadn
’
t done her homework enough to know such an important detail about her daughter-in-law
’
s family.

“
That
’
s very admirable of you.
”
Eileen turned to gaze out the window as she continued to sip her tea.
“
You know, Christi, I was a lot like you when I was your age,
”
she rested her cup on her saucer as she continued to look into the garden. Lost in her thoughts, she began to smile just a hint.

The tea was doing its usual job of relaxing me, perhaps a little too much.

“
I was once in love with a man who I thought the sun rose and set in.
”

My body was so placid at this point, I felt so warm and relaxed from my toes to my eyebrows.

“
How long have you and Sherman been together?
”
I asked. My words were becoming slurred and my arms suddenly felt heavy.

Eileen quickly turned toward me again, a look of pure hatred crossing her face.
“
Who said I was talking about Sherman?
”
Her voice was sharp and laced with sarcasm. I tried to respond, but my voice wouldn't come.
“
How are you feeling now, Christi?
”
she smirked. She moved directly in front of me, kneeling to place her face even with mine.
“
I
’
ve watched you Christi.
”
She ran her index finger along my new bracelet,
“
I heard Sophia took your original, such as stupid girl that one.
”
I couldn
’
t feel my legs at this point; Eileen must have drugged my tea.
“
Hardly her fault. Her mother was a whore, so she came by it naturally.
”

I looked at her questioningly.

“
Well, well, I take it by that look you know about the Porchelli family. So do I, and all too well.
”
She rose to her feet and then took a seat in the chair across from me.
“
Well, let me tell you a few things you may not know about them.
”
She crossed her legs and picked up her cup of tea, delicately bringing it up to her lips. Her memories played across her face, making her look deceptively pleasant and happy.

“
It was the summer of my eighteenth birthday and my parents took me to Italy to celebrate. My sister and I had been shopping and stopped by this little caf
é
to have lunch. She and I had been talking and we were ready to head back to our hotel when we asked for our check. The waiter told us that the gentlemen across the way had taken care of it.

“
Velenci Porchelli, as I later learned, was the most handsome man I had ever seen. He kissed mine and my sister
’
s hands and said all the right words at the right time. He made me feel special, needed, and for the first time...sexy.
”

Her free hand went loosely around her neck and she smiled at me almost shyly, before looking out the window again.
“
He was so gentle with me and after only three days, he told me he was in love with me. I returned the sentiment. He was going to be my forever.
”

Suddenly she looked my way again, the memory gone from her mind, her face vacant of emotion.

“
I returned home and wrote to him every day. He would send me gifts almost daily. He swore he would come to Ireland to visit me and ask my father for permission to court me properly. Two months later, I found out I was pregnant. I was so excited and I couldn
’
t wait to tell him.
”

The look on her face changed again as she continued to sip her tea, her eyes never meeting mine.
“
That
’
s when he told me he was already married.
”

She slowly set her tea on the table as she, again, rose from her chair.
“
He told me we would have to wait to be together. That if his wife found out, she would take all of his money and he would have nothing. I believed him and he paid my way and sent me to America.
”

I could just make out the sound of my cell phone vibrating on the table across the room. I prayed it was Patrick, knowing if I didn
’
t answer he would send one of his men or even come himself to check on me.

“
I was pregnant, alone, and needed help in a strange country. I only brokenly spoke the language and I had no support here. I was in the states less than twenty-four hours when I met Sherman Montgomery. He was a nice enough man, young and easy to fool, and so eager to please. I knew what I had to do. So I seduced him and he fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
”

My phone began to vibrate again.
Dear God, please let it be Patrick.

“
He came back a few days later and professed his love for me and we married immediately. When the appropriate amount of time had elapsed, I told him we were pregnant. He was thrilled, and then went and spoke with his family. Turns out he
’
d been on the fence as to whether or not he wanted to run his family
’
s business. I had gone from one crime family to another, it was perfect.
”

The house phone began to ring. It continued several more times and I began to worry about Nora, why wasn
’
t she picking it up?

“
Velenci kept telling me he loved me and that soon we would be together.
”
The house phone began to ring again.
“
I named the baby Mia after his Mother. Sherman never questioned me. Never once did he question anything I ever did, the fool. We only ended up pregnant with Caleb after a night of heavy drinking on my part, out of loneliness and missing Velenci. Sherman always thought me a bit frigid, but he wasn
’
t who I wanted touching me. He was always so...ignorant.
”