"WE SHOULD GET out of bed," Jon said lazily but made no move to stand up. Nicole nodded and cuddled closer. They had spent the night in each other's arms. Exploring each other's bodies. "You should call your Dad," Jon muttered into her hair. He was only just realizing how thick the hair was. "You don't mean that," Nicole said. Jon propped himself on an elbow and looked down at her, "There were some moments that I wanted nothing more than to stay out of my father's life. Especially the time he didn't want to tell me about what happened with my mother. I wanted to yell and scream in frustration at him. I iced him out. But now, I want nothing more than to talk with him." He said sadly. Nicole propped up too, "What would you want to talk about with him?" Jon sighed, "You." He said, "He was wrong about you." "So wait. Let me get this straight. You just want to talk to your father, just to rub how wrong he was, his face?" Nicole asked. Jon chuckled, "When you put it like that, it
VITTORIO HAD NO idea that his life was numbered as he smiled and went about his regular routine of his day. No, cancel that. He knew his life was numbered. He knew that he had a number of old age illnesses that threatened to take him anytime, but his mind was put somewhat at rest, knowing that his grandson, Leonardo, was there to take up his legacy when he was gone. He knew that he did not have more than 2 years to live due to one of the illnesses that a doctor abroad had told him about. He did not care for the name or what particular doctor had diagnosed it. He was still strong, he did not need help to stand or clothe himself, and he was not bedridden. He considered himself to be in pretty good shape for a man of almost one hundred years old. He stopped a bit as he stood up from his chair near the fireplace and went to the wine tray to pour himself a glass of scotch. "Should you be drinking that?" Leonardo asked gruffly walking into the room. Vittorio scoffed and sat down heavil
LEONARDO HELD THE door open as Vittorio was assisted in the back seat. When his grandfather was settled in the car seat, he went around the car and sat in the driver's seat. "Are you ready?" He asked.Vittorio grunted a reply that Leonardo took as a positive and then he started the car and drove out of the estate carefully. His eyes frequently darted to his grandfather through the rearview mirror. "Are you alright, Papi?" He asked. Vittorio nodded. "I got reports that a Russian flew into New Jersey today," Leonardo said. Vittorio scoffed and said, "Thousands, if not millions of Russians fly into New Jersey every day, Leonardo." Leonardo did not say anything to reply to that, instead, he said, "His name is Boris Shmanov. I got word out for him on the street already." Vittorio sighed, he was inwardly glad that Leonardo had an Instinct and was smart enough to follow it. He unrolled an Egyptian premium cigar and put it on his lip without lighting it. Leonardo noted the cigar on his
NICOLE NODDED AND helped Jon make flight arrangements as he called his parents for an impromptu goodbye. After spending almost 5 minutes on the call with promises to come to visit again (with the nice, beautiful lady), he ended the call and began packing his things as Nicole finished booking his flight. They showered and she offered to drop him at the airport, he nodded absently and followed her downstairs to check out and got into her Ford SUV."Who do you think is responsible?" Nicole asked. They were doing 60 miles per hour on the I-60 highway. Jon shrugged and rubbed his eye sockets, "I have no idea," He said. "But you know that eyes will be on you. You will be the primary suspect," Nicole said. She expertly overtook a car before continuing, "The hate between the Orsattis and your family was not secret. Everyone knew about it and you happen happen be the one person to gain from their death." Jon sighed and said, "I have a solid alibi. I was with you during the period. I was no
MAYBE IT WAS just his imagination or his mind was trying to play games with him but as soon as the plane entered New Jersey's airspace, Jon felt a queasy feeling in his abdomen. He stilled the feeling that made his tummy swirl and asked an air hostess for a bottle of champagne. He used the drink to calm his nerves. But when the plane landed and he got out, he immediately felt something like electric tension in the air. It made the hair on the back of his neck and his arms stand. Ignoring the feeling that he was being watched, he put on his dark sunshades and walked down the stairs, accompanied by the other few people who flew first class. Luke, his driver, drove to his front with a black SUV and stopped. He jumped out and held the door open for Jon to get it. "How's it going, Luke?" Jon asked as it got in. Luke bowed and gently closed the door before going around to the driver's seat. As he started the car, Jon asked, "How are things over there at home?" Luke put the car into g
"ARE YOU GOING to accept it?" Rick asked. Jon shrugged and asked himself the same question. He looked up at his friends and saw that they were all looking at him, waiting for an answer. He sighed and said, "Of course. I have to.""What?"Jon ran his hand through his hair, making the back end stand on end, "I don't have much choice now, do I?" He dropped the letter on the table in front of Rick who reached forward and read through. Jon poured himself another glass of scotch and took a drink before saying, "If I don't respect the invite, It will look like I have something to hide. The police would pounce on that." Lucas, who had been quiet nodded and grunted, "I don't like it one bit, but I'm afraid that Jonathan is right. He has to accept the invitation." Paxton and Rick scoffed. Rick tossed the letter on the table and gulped down his drink. "Bullshit." "And you can't go there alone…" Lucas continued, "That's why I am coming with you." "No no, that would draw too much attention,"
THE FUNERAL SERVICE of a billionaire of any state is not a small matter. The funeral service of Vittorio Orsatti – the man who lived through 3 generations, orchestrating chaos and taking out any rival or enemy he might have – was even bigger than an average billionaire. There was a slight drizzle on that day. It was a lazy rain that blew in from New York. It was more like dew, blowing around in chilly air but the sun still shone through It did not bring any heat, just light. It was the type of weather that you would during mid-July, where it was like rain and sun were deciding on who would take the day, but didn't come to any conclusion so they just took the day together. There was a long entourage of black, shiny cars. Over 10 SUVS and two limousines. One of the cars was equipped with a siren and lights, so it blasted the siren horn, making heads turn as hundreds of cars followed the entourage through the streets of New Jersey. They converged outside the cemetery and only the fami
ANTONIO SPOTTED AND recognized them from the moment they got in too, almost at the same time as Maxim. He turned to look at Maxim, who nodded and gave a wry smile. He turned his gaze to the two men whom he believed to be behind the murders in his family, he gave them a long stare before walking in the opposite direction. Maxim dropped his glass of champagne and replaced it with sparking water before walking forward to the two brothers. Jon had felt uneasy from the moment that they stopped in front of the Iron wrought gate and stepped out of their limousine. He rubbed his hands together and turned to Lucas, who had insisted on coming with him, and said, "This doesn't feel good," Lucas folded himself out of the limo and smiled at the mansion before them. He reached into his breast pocket and retrieved dark sunshades. He flicked it over his face and said, "Things that are worth it, hardly ever feel good. Come on." He walked abruptly towards the mansion."What does that even mean?" Jon