Nightly Confusion

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Elena was staying at a little cottage far from other houses and people, very out of sight. I paced around the living room and noticed it had a blue and white theme going, very Miami, I thought. To say it was tense between me and Joey was to say the least. I didn’t look at him, he didn’t look at me and we hadn’t uttered a word to each other since the car ride.

He and Elena say on the wicker sofa as he explained what was going on. Joey had guessed right, the family she talked about last night was connected to the Giovanni’s. I didn’t know if that was good or not, crossing a Giovanni always led to something getting cut off. But at least now we knew what we were dealing with. Now once we got mom back and the mystery was solved, well sort of but what’s a few little questions.

So now it was confirmed, Nick Giovanni faked Elena’s death and gave her to Bernard’s sister to rise as her own. The reason; no idea and how it was confirmed again o idea just that it fit together perfectly since Nick went way back with Art and my mother. Joey was also very sure of all of this and he wasn’t the type to just run with an idea.

Elena didn’t know anything about Giovanni, he never showed up when she was a kid to see Uncle Benny she explained. Joey asked how we could find Bernard, he might know something. “I haven’t seen him or Lucia in months.” Elena said.

I was growing scared and nervous which mixed into anger. I looked at Elena; there was something about the way she said it that I didn’t like. “Are you sure?”

“You think I’m lying?” Elena challenged.

“Yes I do.”

“Sam.” Joey said.

I gave him my death look. “What? She just found out about her real parents she doesn’t know us or my mother, she doesn’t owe her anything. Those people that raised her, she loves them they’re family. You know if we find Bernard it’s not to ask him if he wants milk and cookies. I don’t know about you Joey but I’d lie to protect my family from a threat staring me in the face.” I looked at Elena again. “If Giovanni has our mother he’ll kill her no ifs about it. You’re uncle might know where he is, you can help us keep her form getting killed. He’s just a pawn in the game Elena he won’t get hurt.” Did I know that? No, and I didn’t care because everyone could fucking die I just wanted my mother home. I envisioned myself killing my new found sister if she didn’t start talking.

Elena sighed as she looked away from me and rested her arms on her thighs. “Nick and Benny were like brothers, more so than Nick and Frances.” Hmm now look who was full of names of people she swore a minute ago she didn’t know. “I was at the house when Nick found out about Frances’ death, Benny said he’d come with him to Miami and help out with any business. I didn’t know the business had to do with my real parents.” She explained.

“They lied to you all your life and you still wanted to cover for them?” I had to ask.

“You don’t understand.”

I scoffed and tried to stay in the moment. There wasn’t time to analyze her or me. “I guess I don’t. So Bernard is in town with Giovanni?”

“Yeah.”

Joey stood from the sofa and headed to the door, I thought he was going to walk though it but he turned around and looked at Elena. “Nick Giovanni ordered the hit on our father and now he might kill your mother. I need to know whose side you’re on.”

I felt my heart drop when he voiced there was a good chance my mother wasn’t coming out of this alive. Elena kept her head down. “I understand that but I can’t just stop loving the family who raised me. I don’t want Linda hurt and I’m sorry I didn’t have more time with Art.”

“When you came to us with the truth you had to have known this wasn’t going to end well.” Joey pointed out. “You grew up in the life like I did, you know how this has to end.” His voice was tight and stern; there was disappointment in his eyes as he looked at me. “Stay with her.”

I didn’t argue the request because I didn’t trust myself to leave, I was still upset with him and at an edge I felt like jumping off of any second. I didn’t really want to unload on Joey again. “What did he mean?” I asked Elena. “That you grew up in the same life.” I sat in the reclining chair next to the sofa, I was stuck there might as well get comfortable.

“Art, Benny, Nick they all lead the same life and there’s a certain way of things.”

“You mean the mob?”

“Yeah and I’m not sure but I think Joey is very involved in the life. The way this has to end is with Nick’s death and whoever helped him like Benny. That’s why I didn’t want to say anything. You have to know I don’t want Linda hurt. I was just hoping there was a way to get her back and spare their lives.” Elena explained, I could see she cared a great deal for the men she considered uncles, Nick had always been around because of his connection with Benny she must’ve thought of him as family too.

“It’s ok.” I understood her reasons even if I didn’t like them, but in the end she spilled the beans and it proved whose side she was on even if Joey didn’t see it.

“There’s more.”

I looked at Elena and feared what she was going to say because her expression showed regret and fear. “What?”

“He just left so fast I didn’t get a chance to say anything.”

“What is it Elena?”

“Nick is staying at the family house during the day but he has another place he and Benny have been staying at. No one knows about it, it’s like their safe house away from everything.”

“Do you think that’s where they took her?”

“If they were going to handle any business in town it would be there.”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell phone. I tried Joey but he didn’t answer, I tried a few more times but nothing, damn it why wouldn’t he answer now of all times! I sighed and began to think. I had to do something before more time was wasted and mom’s ran out. I began to dial again. It was crazy but I had to do something.