Bittersweet

~~ It's A Dirty Business ~~

~ ~ Gabriele ~ ~

It took a two-hour drive to reach our family estate.  Thankfully, having my Ma's keys would make this a lot easier.

As the automatic gates opened, I headed up the long driveway past the orchards. I passed a few of the locals landscaping; they raised their hands to offer a hello; I waved back, not having the time to catch up today, and I was thankful that no one would be up at the house. 

I hadn't been here—well, since Tony and Jenna's wedding day. In some ways it had been the worst and best day of my life, I'd met Jenna and then lost her within hours. 

Being here also brought back other memories from childhood.  Our summers were spent here, with extended family travelling to visit or vacation, some even came as far as Sicily to stay. 

My smile widened as I passed some of the oldest trees on the grounds estate. As a youngster I'd spend hours climbing their sprawling branches, playing with my brother and sisters—even Tony when he wasn't being a pain in the ass which wasn't very often.

Arriving at the house, I grabbed my Ma's keys and parked up. Opening up the front entrance, the warm, stale air hung heavy. No one had been in here since Christmas. And it would be another month before it would be full of life again. I guess I should be thankful this had happened now, when the place was empty—this way I could take my time looking for something, anything to free Jenna from the clutches of my brother and his threats. 

I headed straight for my dad's study.  Entering the code, it clicked green signaling my entry.

Thanks, Ma.

I'd been ten years old when I witnessed my dad reveal his secret in the wall... I'd hidden under his desk whilst playing Marco Polo with my sister, Angie and my youngest brother Lucas. I'd crept out and peeped inside to see him sat at a desk rummaging through paperwork, cursing in Italian. I'd kept quiet and backed out—knowing that if he caught me in his study, I'd be in for a world of trouble. His office was strictly off limits. It was after he'd found Angie in here and installed a lock to keep us all out... now upgraded to a keypad entry.   

As I stood before it now, I couldn't help but smile, it was genius. On the wall my dad had an oversized poster for a vintage magic act signaling a secret entrance encased with an antique frame. To look at it, you would never know a hidden room existed. Stepping up, I ran my hand along the frame, looking for what I assumed would be a latch of some sort. Fuck, just about to give up my hand ran across an indent and I pressed to hear a click.

Yes!

Stepping back, I pulled it open.

The light came on automatically as I cast my eyes around.  A row of cabinets stood before me, eleven to be exact—shit, this was going to take longer than I thought, sure there was only one, maybe two cabinets when I'd found this room as a kid.