Elsewhere...
Tommy wasn't lucky enough to find his Anchor in the studio.
Anet's Anchor, luckily, was safe on the Peters' Ranch, where the other him was about to find it.
He paused in the doorway.
Anet had told him about alternate memories —neo-memories she called them— seeping in once you stopped jumping through time long enough.
A neo-memory of him getting in that cab with Olivier... but Anet didn't die that night. They didn't even see her... they'd kept driving 'til Olivier's Anchor started beeping. He'd made it through just like before. His past self was now in 2010, before Olivier finds Anet in 1928...
"This time travel racket is driving me looney!"
He continued down the hall.
Mason and whichever of his boys still breathing won't be anywhere Vic might be. There was only one person who would promise Mason Graziella's return: Claudia Sorento. Graziella's sister. Both daughters of Carlotta Marchetti.
Waltzing into Marchetti territory wasn't a bright idea, but if any of them were to discover what that watch really did... "We'd all be in trouble."
Sorento's Italian Ristorante...
The Daisy-Chain was in neutral territory. Claudia often frequented the speakeasy, but Mason was supposed to be dead. He'd only go where the Maggios never would.
"God! That food smells good!" his stomach growled.
He adjusted his borrowed fedora. Peeked through the window. Glanced over the patrons seated inside.
"Looking for someone, Graft?"
Thomas shuffled back, hand reaching for the piece tucked at his back side.
Mason wore a watch, but not the one he needed.
"I was looking for you, actually, Mason Burke."
"Keep that piece hidden, you don't wanna fan the flames of this whole gang war." scoff. "A Maggio on Marchetti grounds. You must be insane." he lit a cig. "You keep ruining my plans for your boss Selini—or should I say, Maggio?"
Thomas' hand gripped the handle. "What're you getting at?"
"I thought I've been explaining myself pretty clearly— last night and just now. I want Vic dead so the dame I love can come out of hiding and live a normal life." Puff. Blow. "You can understand doing insane things for love. You're here."
"You tried to get Anet killed." If it hadn't been for time travel, she'd be dead again.
"I'd say that makes me and her even." Mason spat.
"Anet wouldn't try getting anyone here killed. She tried to get Vic to drop it when you wouldn't. She trusted you, but she couldn't break free of the rules of the game to help you. She would've if she could've."
"I'm not buyin'."
"Sure you do. You're just too far in now. Accepting that would mean accepting that you've become what you've fought against for years. Claudia is a Marchetti. She'll use you 'til she decides she's done with you. Graziella will always be the leverage she needs over you."
The car door beside them opened up. Two hoods stepped out. Faces carrying fresh bruises.
Mason extinguished his cig. "Take this punk for a ride, boys. Keep it under your hats that a Maggio was poking around Marchetti territory."
Tommy thought about running for it... One of the ugly mugs was wearing his Anchor on his scabby-knuckled wrist.
"Smart kid." Mason watched Thomas comply. He leaned in, hand on the door, "I doubt Vic will care much if your body turns up cold in some gutter."
"You don't know the Maggios, Burke. Much less Vic Selini."
"Maybe." SLAM!
Tommy sat relaxed beside the bruised hoods. Traffic was slow as they exited Marchetti territory.
"Nice shiner." Tommy smirked.
"Shaddup, scrawny."
"Scrawny? Me?" Tommy feigned offense. "You must not have taken a good enough look last night. I have quite the athletic form."
The hood gave a smug grin. "Guess I was too busy stripping your dame to notice." the two mugs laughed.
BAM! CRACK!
Tommy drove the hood's head hard into the window.
"You son of a—," the driver yelled.
BANG!
Blood splattered the windsheild. Tommy braced himself as the car slammed into the car ahead.
He retrieved his Anchor. Jumped out of the car.
YOU ARE READING
Through Time Again
Science Fiction((SEQUEL to Through Time She Came)) "Our family was always important to the Maggios, Anet. In your timeline, we had managed to stay well-hidden. Something changed and brought us back out into the game." 2010 is not how she left it. The Maggio and th...
