Losing The Past

Part 20

After my shower I curled up on the comfy bed and binge watched Disney movies that I haven't seen before. My lunch was delivered by one of the kitchen staff, and there was a bag with some different kinds of chips if I wanted to snack, which really made my mouth drool.

 I was just finishing Frozen 2 when Antonio walks in, the movie isn't fully over yet so I shush him which stops him with his mouth open about to say something. He gives me a look as the credits finally start to roll, standing with his arms crossed, feet shoulder width apart and an unimpressed look on his face. Gulping, realizing that I just shushed the scary Mr Mafia man.

"First I do not appreciate being shushed little uccello (bird), and second it is supper time, let's go." he waits for me to move, I quickly throw the blankets off of me, grabbed my hair and threw it into a messy bun and tried to straighten out my clothes the best as I could as I stood beside him.

"Sorry Antonio." I stand to my full height beside him as he raises his eyebrow before turning and walking out of my room, not even waiting for me to follow. So I quickly rush out the door and find his retreating form already at the top of the stairs. I quickly jog to catch up and follow him into the dining room. Tonight it is only Viktor, the woman from his side earlier, Vincent, Antonio and myself.

Taking the seat that Vincent pulled out I sit down and focus on Viktor like everyone else, he nods to everyone and claps his hands and just like before the wait staff come out with plates, cutlery and food galore. The meal was uneventful, conversation was minimal and soon after it started it was over.

"All right my dear, lets go to my office and we will reach out to your friend." with a nod of his head I follow Viktor and Antonio to the office as Vincent goes a different direction. I had really hoped he was going to be there to, I am more comfortable when he is around.

The office door opens and they each have a desk in the room and I sit down in one of the four chairs in the middle of the room, unsure of where I should go. Viktor pulls out my cell phone and turns it back on, but plugs it into some funky machine that looks like an old school corded phone with the rotary dialer.

"You really need to learn to school your features little uccello, the machine hooked up to your cell is something that will make it impossible for Catelli to find where we are calling from." Antonio explains from his desk, I turn and look at him feeling my cheeks heat up and just nod at him.

The phone ringing on speaker phone draws my attention, they didn't tell me what I can and can't say. I internally start to panic, but try and keep myself together. I can do this, I have done this many times without a skit. Such was life when I was still in witness protection.

"Baby, are you okay? Where are you? Who took you? Please baby tell me where you are." Chuck's panicked voice comes through as soon as he answers the phone.

"Chuck." that was my brilliant response, in a quiet almost squeak.

"Yes baby its me. We have been searching for you, can you tell me where you are?" I can hear the difference in his voice when he put the call on speaker and instead of letting me answer Viktor held up his finger in a just wait gesture.

"Naomie is fine Mr Charlie, where she is well now that is none of your concern." Viktor speaks, he is sitting in his chair with his arms crossed and his working face on while Antonio is a spitting image, blank face and arms crossed. This must be what he means when he says I need to work on schooling my features.

"Ricco, I should have known Vincent was behind this. You are all going to pay if you harm Naomie in any way shape or form." the promise in his voice and the calm sureness in his tone had me shivering. I had never heard him so serious or so upset before, not even when we were kids.

"Then it is a good thing that Naomie has become someone I do truly admire, no harm will come to her but you and I need to have a conversation my boy. Meet me and Naomie at the charming diner that I own on Market Street tomorrow evening at 7pm. Come alone and without a bug or your life will belong to me and Naomie will have to learn to get over your death." with that he hung up the phone, flipped it over and removed the battery as fast as possible.

He shot me an apologetic smile before speaking, "Apologies my girl, I do promise you nothing will harm you no matter what. But he doesn't know that, and that is how I know he will meet me with those stipulations." I nodded my head understanding what he did.

"Thank you, for everything." he nodded his head and Antonio stood up with a briefcase before gesturing to me.

"I have a delivery to make, I will return you to your room." I nodded and stood up, waved at Viktor and he nods in acknowledgement as I follow Antonio out the door and back to my room. Deciding on just staying in my room I wash my face and change into a pair of comfy fuzzy PJ pants and a baggy tee shirt. I opened the balcony doors and just sat outside enjoying the early evening light.

I needed a chance to just think, will Charlie leave Catelli? He seems pretty loyal because of Marshal, I remember at the beginning he told me it was Marshal that saved him. Would I leave here to be with him? He truly thinks he will get out of the business, but Viktor has been very clear once your in you never leave.

I just sit out side thinking more and more questions, but not having any answers at all. My head is swimming by the time the sun starts to go down. I have dried tear stains down my face from crying and just letting the tears fall. When I was a kid in foster care that is what one of the other foster kids told me helps you let go of all the negative and help you gain a clear mind, let the tears fall off your face.

She said if you just let them fall free and run off your face that is more efficient to be rid of the negative, bad feelings. If you wipe your tears they just spread across your face, not ridding you of the bad but making more bad in your life. I have always done that and as silly as it sounds, I do feel better when I let the tears freely fall.

Once the sun is fully set I feel the temperature start to drop so I decide to go inside and just go to bed. It has been extremely draining today, even though I didn't do much. I crawled into bed and sleep drug me under as soon as my head hit the pillow.