Arcane Sequence: 1994: Never Stop Running... (WLW)

Part Two: Chapter Seventeen: Miami International Airport, Florida, January 1999

This chapter contains mature themes.

After spending a day or two resting in a private chateau Berry rented in case she and her party may need an escape, she along with Kirah and Tuck had booked a flight to the one destination she recalled both mentioning to her in the past. Ireland. There awaited a new life for them with new identities and new promise of what the morrow could bring. Unable to part with her family after finally getting them back, Berry sat near a food station as Tuck and Kirah ordered something to snack on just prior to boarding their flight.

Spending some of her escape on along the shores of Ireland as she made her way further into Europe, Berry knew the country well and couldn't wait to show her family all it had to offer. Although she couldn't help but notice the suits in the large lobby wherein she waited. She kept her eyes on her family as she spotted several of the men in tailored clothing circling closer to her, but her attention was drawn to one in particular who approached and sat down beside her. With a gulp, she turned her gaze toward the man and found him looking at Tuck and Kirah.

"I see things turned out well for you, detective." Fredo Senior looked at her, meeting her gaze with tranquil resolve. "Relax. Our deal still stands and after receiving your message on where you hid her body, we have recovered Nadia. She will be buried with the family in Sicilia." Fredo gestured toward Berry's family with a relaxed smile, fixing his eyes on Tuck as he took a big ice cream cone that Kirah handed down to him. She peeked back over her shoulder at Berry with a gentle expression, then back toward the cashier as she held out another ice cream cone. "You were right. You have a beautiful family. It would appear my information panned out quite well."

"Yes. We were able to assault the compound successfully because of it." Mustering up all the determination that she could in a single glance, Berry met his eyes and found the same admiration she'd seen at each of their meetings, though it was somehow even thicker now. It was something she'd never been able to explain to herself or any others who'd seen it, but sent a wave of an odd understanding between them. "Thank you."

"I told you, this simply benefited us both. And thank you for making sure my son was unharmed." Fredo tilted his head back and Berry followed he motioned toward a young man sitting in the next row of chairs behind them. "Nadia would have killed him if given the chance. If it meant taking charge of the family, she wouldn't have stopped with only eliminating him. I couldn't let my family come under more risk all due to her beginning a war with your family whom I personally liked."

"If you liked them, why did you ever try hurting them at all?"

"You must have wondered that for years..." Fredo shifted rather uneasily in his seat, and then met her gaze. "You grew up well with them. If you ever wish to know more about your family and their ties to mine, you need only ask. I never ordered their death. I would not have allowed it and since their unfortunate demise, I have been faced with cleaning up my niece's mess. I'm sure you can gather how hard that is to achieve from prison, but I went nonetheless. I could have gotten out of the simple charges, but felt the need to go through the punishment for what my niece did to your parents. For that, I am truly sorry."

Fredo rose to his feet and fixed the buttons of his tailored blazer as Berry did the same, noticing Kirah and Tuck turning their way. "Why didn't you stop her?"

"There are rules within our family, detective, and even I must adhere to them." He held out his hand and his son came over to their side of the row of chairs, placing his gloves into them. He began settling his father's scarf around his neck as Fredo added, "The Costa Family no longer bears ties to you and your kin. You are no longer under threat and can live the life you choose. Though, I do have one inquiry."