Act like my wife

19. Rose🌹

Don Federico opened his eyes and focused them on me.  "Listen to me Patrizio, I called you here because I am tired of trying to find my daughter's killer all by myself. I am an old man, my past sins are beginning to catch up with me. It is only a matter of time before I die from this cancer that is eating me up. I need you to promise me that you will find who killed my daughter and make sure they suffer ten times as much."

At that moment, I felt somewhat sorry for Federico, the pain of losing his only daughter, and to top it off, not knowing his grandchild's whereabouts... It must be awful.  "I will do my best."

"Thank you." He gave a half smile. "Now if you don't mind, I must return to bed"

"Before I go, can you tell me the hospital where Gina gave birth?"

"Her mother's clinic, Figlia di Rosa, it is not too far from here. For any information you may need, you can call me".  He handed me a piece of paper with a phone number written on it. "I will be happy to help as much as I can"

"Thank you, Federico." I left the house and returned to my car. "Leo, take me to Figlia di Rosa"

"Yes, boss". He brought the car's engine to life and drove me to the clinic.

I walked into the reception area. About seven people were seated there probably waiting for their turn. On the wall opposite them was a flat screen tv that was showing some kind of soap opera. I walked up to the receptionist, a blonde woman in scrubs. Her eyes lit up when she looked up and saw me. "Don Patrizio! Welcome. My name is Felicia". She dipped her hand inside her top and pulled out a tiger-head pendant, and showed it to me. The pendant is owned by special members of my parents' mafioso, It must have been passed down to her because the design is extremely rare. I don't even own one and don't intend to.

I nod my head as a sign of acceptance, then I moved closer and whispered to her. "Tell no one that I came here."

"Yes boss" she whispered back.

"Thank you. Now, I'd like to see your records from a particular day."

"What day is that?"

"The day Federico's daughter gave birth."

She signaled to another lady to take her spot, then she walked out from behind the counter and gestured with her hand for me to follow her. I walked behind her as she went further into the clinic. She stopped at a door next to the janitor's closet and unlocked it with her key card. She pushed the door open and we both entered.

We found ourselves in another hallway, an empty hallway to be concise. She halted in her tracks and turned to me. "I must apologize, Don, but there is no record from that night because someone had it wiped off. The CCTV camera has nothing." The sides of her eyes dropped.

"Oh"

"But I'll help you with the little I can."

A part of me came back to life. "I'd appreciate that, Felicia."

She opened a door and turned on its light. The room had numerous files stacked up on each other in piles, on the shelves. "Hold on". She walked up to a desktop and plugged it in. The dusty device came to life a few minutes later and she punched in the password, followed by a set of commands, until the monitor screen showed a rose bush.

"Where is this?"  I concentrated on the poor-quality video.

"The backyard of this hospital. This was captured by the CCTV back there on the night Miss Gina lost her life". She answered without turning to me.

A blurred image of a moving figure came into view. Felicia paused the video and zoomed in on the image. She enhanced the video until it became a little bit clearer. "Now, watch". She played it again, but this time, the images were sharper.
The moving figure was a man in a lab coat, he had just left the clinic through the back door, holding what seemed to be a bundle of white blanket in his arms. The way his arms were positioned suggested that he was carrying a baby. "This is all I could savage". Felicia said in defeat.

"It is a lot, Thank You." I patted her shoulder. "Can I get a copy of this video?"

"Sure, boss."  She found a flash drive and copied it, and handed it to me.

"Thank you, Felicia. Your kindness will not be forgotten."

She smiled. "It is my job to help out our heir."

Heir? "Th-Thank you." We exited the room and I left the clinic.

***

I got home and found Gio playing with my parents. They were sitting on the couch in the living room, the tv was on with an old Italian movie playing on the screen.

Mia Madre looked up and saw me. She frowned upon seeing me. On the other hand, the smile on Gio's face widened when he sighted me. "Pappa!" He ran to me and I carried him in my arms. "Where have you been, pappa?"

Mio Padre stood up from the couch. "Ask him again, Gio. Your pappa seems to enjoy going against me, his own father!!."

"Gio, go play upstairs." I handed him over to Leo who led him upstairs. Then I faced my parents. "You must have heard of my visit to Federico"

"Why would you go behind my back like that? Dimmi?!"

"Don't yell at me! I am not a child!"

"Well you're acting like one! How can you be so stupid to enter Federico's den? No son of mine should be this foolish! Antonio would never-".  He paused mid-sentence.

"Go on, Padre. 'Antonio would never' what, Go to Federico's house? You and I know the truth. I am not in the mood for your nagging". I turned toward the stairs.

Madre's voice reverberated from behind me. "The initiation is tonight, son. You must become a true member and leader of la cosa nostra tonight."

"Give me time."

"Oh nonsense! Your family needs you. If you don't follow your promise, I too will forget my side of our deal."

I turned to her abruptly.  "Madre, I just need time."

"Veronica will have to suffer the consequences of your actions."  Her eyes were cold as ice.

"Enough with the threats! Give me until next week, that's all I ask."  I could feel my blood going beyond its boiling point.

"Fine. Next weekend, you will succeed your father."  She stated, leaving no room for objection.

"Great". I walked off and went upstairs to my bedroom.

I opened my laptop and watched the video with Leo whilst Gio was busy sleeping on the bed.

"Who could this guy be? His face isn't very clear, but he seems familiar".  I remarked after replaying the clip over and over.

"I think so too, boss. His sleek hair reminds me of someone, but I honestly cannot put my finger on it."

Gio turned on the mattress and sat up.

"Can't you sleep, son?"

"I miss Mommy". He got down and walked up to me.

I kissed his forehead. "Me too, figlio."

Suddenly, he pointed at the screen with a bright smile on his face. "Uncle Geraldo!"

Translation:
Figlia di Rosa: Daughter of Rose