Vincenzo was laying on his bed. He was deep in thought. He had a baseball in his hand that he juggled from one hand to another or threw to the ceiling and back. He sighed as he stared at the door. Sometimes his father used to come in telling him to go to sleep when he threw the baseball around. Back in the day he was sent to bed early as punishment a lot when he was younger. He used to sleep closer to his parents room. Now he had a more private space . A room in the north wing of the mansion with more privacy and isolation that he welcomed. But he missed the past.
Vincenzo wished he could turn back time and rewind it all. He wished he could start all over and make different choices. He had not been considerate that day and he could see clearly he had made some mistakes. He had no idea about his father's past, he did not have a clue and yet he had rushed to teach his grandfather a lesson when it was his father's right to be in control. He should not have done this without consulting with his father? He just had to learn and move on.
He heard a knock on the door. It was Viggo's voice. Of course he knocked. Vincenzo didn't welcome intruders. He wasn't going to electrocute his brother if he walked in without knocking but he would have thrown a bucket of water on him most likely. Not many people disturbed him at night.
He called out "Access granted. I don't want visitors tonight Viggo but come in. See you in the morning if it can wait."
Viggo opened the door to his disappointment.
Vincenzo sighed "What do you want?" He then threw the ball at his younger brother who easily caught the ball.
Viggo said "Vitale won't stop calling."
Vincenzo was still wearing his suit in bed. He started fiddling with his tie "Tell him to call tomorrow."
Viggo walked towards Vincenzo and put the baseball on a bedside table "You have to talk to him."
Vincenzo said "He must get used to handling the affairs when I am not around as my representative. I won't be there full time when I go college. I can only be there once a month. He needs to make some decisions by himself and then face the repercussions."
Viggo sighed as he sat on a chair facing his brother who was still lying on his bed. "He can make decisions. He wants you to go back tonight with him on his plane. The old Don is in bad shape. You must be there in case... You have to go."
Vincenzo asked "I made it clear to Vitale. I will only go back to pay my respects to the old don who is spending his final weeks, if father also goes to Sicily."
Viggo said "Father may go. I think he will go... The old don may not die anytime soon but you must be there because there is a possibility. You should not have accepted the calling to take over from him if you dont even want to be there when he could be passing away... I can't believe I am even discussing this with you. But you must go. This is some action you must take as the young don."
Vincenzo said "You can go. You can take Angelia with you."
Viggo said "No. Are you mad? Letizia near my girl? I don't like that. Vitale's girl hates my girl. I don't want to take Angelia there. Her condition will worsen."
Vincenzo said "Letizia knows to watch herself around you."
Viggo said "She may watch it around me ... But she won't watch herself around Angelia. In Sicily you know how they separate men and women in gatherings at times..."
Vincenzo said "I think abit of bad blood is healthy. Don't you think? I think Angelia is fully capable of a good face off."
Viggo said "You do have a point. But I don't want Letizia near her either way if I can avoid it... So. What should I tell Vitale? I should tell him to leave at once without you to destination Palermo?"
Vincenzo said "Yes. He better be on his way to Sicily right now before my father changes his mind. My father could keep him here if he got mad enough at uncle Pietro. If there is evidence found that Vitale and grandpa are co-operating, Vitale won't be going anywhere. He won't see day light until my father's interrogations are done... Father still has grandpa's men all locked up and it will stay that way..."
Viggo nodded "Alright. But ... about that... Have you heard anything about grandma Maria? Is she going with Vitale? I didn't want to ask Vitale because I knew he can't disclose it if she is."
Vincenzo went silent for a few seconds and then said "She won't leave without her husband. She won't do anything without his permission. She is here to secure his release."
Viggo said "His ship has sailed already. Well. If the party with that cargo is gone, grandma is on it too. Am I to assume she is gone without even seeing us?"
Viggo said "I am keeping out of it. I don't want to get involved in father's affairs. He made it clear he doesn't want me involved and I frankly want to leave it for now. As much as I don't like father keeping me out of the loop the private nature of his family affairs is what I am taking seriously."
Viggo said "So what are you saying? Is she gone?"
Vincenzo said "I don't know. I don't wish to know."
Viggo said "You have changed? What has brought the change?"
Vincenzo said "Terza."
Viggo asked "How?"
Vincenzo said "She wrote me a long letter. She knows everything. O'Neil tells his wife everything and auntie Sancia tells everything to Terza. Her letter made me snap out of my quest to interfere in father's private affairs for now. I can't even explain it."
Viggo said "I am surprised she even talks to you... You could give her a call to inform her you are alive and well. She was worried you know."
Vincenzo said "Mind your own affairs Viggo."
Viggo said " Your affairs become mine when you choose to ignore them."
Vincenzo said "I will call Vitale. Now leave."
Viggo said "Who are you sending out? You know. You cant avoid your Terza... She will come knocking if you keep excluding her from your life."
Vincenzo said "I said leave."
Viggo said "You will miss me in college... I am studying law and economics Vincenzo. You are studying law and engineering. You wont be seeing much of me. You wont be asking me to leave then."
Vincenzo had enough.
Viggo suddenly felt the ground shake and he saw it as his warning to leave. He found himself outside the room as the tiles had moved quick to send him out. He then heard the door shut behind him. Vincenzo had altered the building so much. By pressing a button he could send people out. He wondered what Vincenzo could be doing to the house next after his engineering degree.
***
Viggo entered the room where Terza Clarisa was having a mug of coffee with Angelia. He looked up at his girl who was perfection in every way. Her eyes looked livelier now. She was coming off her medication slowly and it was taking its toll. She was meant to be physically weaker but in spirit she was stronger. She had more hope because she was living on. She was crying less and having nightmares less often. But those nightmares could be permanent. She saw the faces of killers who came in to shoot her family. Even though she wasn't at that doomed party where her entire family and relatives were slaughtered she saw nightmares. She whispered at breakfast the next day, words that hurt Viggo but he knew she had no control over it "It should have been me... I should have died too... Why am I alive." That was how he knew she had nightmares. Otherwise she wouldn't complain. She wished she died because those she loved died that night too. He every time held her in his arms whispering comforting words to her. That was all he could do.
When Angelia saw him, she smiled "Viggo."
Clarisa turned "Did you tell him I am here?"
Viggo said "No. He likes surprises. What time is your brother bringing back Vienna?"
Clarisa looked at her watch "Not long left. Give it fifteen minutes."
Viggo nodded "Are you going home with them?"
Clarisa said "Of course. I am not staying the night here. Besides Amethyst is our guest. I need to go back to her."
Viggo said " Vienna will come visit tomorrow. She likes to talk to you about college."
Angelia said "Clarisa brought some college brochures."
Viggo walked over and had a look "She did." He looked up at Clarisa "This is not for courses she wants to do."
Clarisa said "These are courses she can do. There is still time. She will be great at it. Dont you think."
Viggo chuckled and turned to Angelia "A rocket scientist? Definitely. You are out of this world... my girl." He then winked at her. Angelia's cheeks felt heated up and it warmed Viggo's heart that she showed some emotion."
Viggo then looked at clarisa "I think becoming a mathematician is different to hospital work that she was thinking of applying to but her grades matches mathematics courses too."
Clarisa said "Like I said "There is time to decide."
Viggo said " What are you studying?"
Clarisa said "English Literature like my mother and law."
Viggo said "I guess someone needs to remind Vincenzo of the law and rules of the society..."
Clarisa said "He only has one law and thats his own. He makes his own laws... Laws are bound to be broken... all the time..." She grabbed Angelia's empty mug and her own mug. She took the mugs to the open kitchen's sink to wash them. There was no point for Angelia to tell her not to do it. She didnt listen to anyone.
Viggo pulled Angelia to himself as he gently wrapped his arms around her waist "You look lively today... Perfection." He then kissed the side of her forehead.
Angelia leaned into Viggo as she watched Clarisa. She didnt have many friends but the ones she had were lovely.
Clarisa dried her hands and turned to Viggo. "Where is he now?"
Viggo said "I think when I was outside talking to my men, I saw him going to the direction of the woods in the west wing."
Clarisa said "Oh. He is one of those moods. is he?"
Viggo nodded "Yes. Thank you for enduring him."
Clarisa said "This is what girls are for... They endure men who cant be endured."
Viggo smiled "Give him hell and kick his backside for not calling you to give you updates... Tristan certainly was in touch with Vienna."
Clarisa said "That wont phase him. Hell is heaven to him." She then walked to Angelia "You can come to our house any time. How about tomorrow? We can study and talk about college."
Angelia said "I dont think Tristan would like that. You know after what happened..."
Clarisa said " He hasn't mentioned it to me. Besides, he wont make rules for my father's house."
Angelia said "I dont think its a good idea."
Clarisa sighed. She knew the problem was the way Tristan intimidated her. The look Tristan gave anyone made them think about whether they had done something wrong. She didnt blame Angelia for avoiding her house. She said " Well. Considering you will come with Vienna, I dont think he will complain much."
****
Clarisa walked to through the woods carrying a box. She had walked for a while and now she could see a clearing. It was dark. All she could hear was the barking of dogs. Then she saw a lit area where she could tell Vincenzo was lying on the ground and a dozen of his dogs were barking around him. It was bizzare. As she approached they suddenly went quiet and stood in line. Or rather Vincenzo whistled and made them so. There was no sound from them now.
Vincenzo didnt move and remained silent as Terza approached him "Terza...What a surprise? You came to join me sleep under the stars?"
Terza said "I came to say sweet dreams."
Vincenzo said "Thats my girl."
Terza said "Your girl didn't like the way you have been treating her."
Vincenzo watched as Terza picked up a box that she had put down seconds ago.
Vincenzo said "Terza... Whats in the box?"
Terza didn't respond. She then emptied the contents of the box on Vincenzo. There were flowers in there. Plenty of flowers. Jasmines, roses, orchids, lilies ..."
She then threw the box to the side "I am not a flower girl. Stop sending me flowers. Flowers don't translate into words."
Vincenzo looked up calmly at Terza ignoring the flowers scattered on him and around him on the ground "Isn't it past your bed time Terza. It's abit late for a fight... or are you done?"
Terza put her hands on her hips looking at Vincenzo with contempt. "I am done almost. Next time don't send me flowers. Phone me. Do you have any idea how long I had to wait to hear about you and what had happened. I was genuinely worried."
Vincenzo smiled "You we're worried about me. Ah. That's so nice of you."
Terza gave him a look of disapproval. "Goodbye Vincenzo." She then walked away and his voice stopped her "Now its my turn Terza." He sat up.
Terza said "Save it. I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses. You can't give me flowers instead of talking to me..." Before she took a step, she found herself facing Vincenzo Who was now standing and had a serious expression on his face.
Vincenzo asked "Not so fast Terza. Does your father know you are visiting me in the middle of the west wing woods all alone at night? Tsk Tsk. I am pretty sure your father has warned you not to ever come here alone at night especially."
Terza said "I came to see you to give back your flowers... It's not my problem you sleep too early. Goodbye and goodnight wolf. Sleep tight at night lonewolf." As she turned, she felt his breath on her neck "You left your flowers Terza. They are yours. You can't leave until you take them back with you."
Terza said "No. Sweet dreams with your flowers. That's the closest you will get to me tonight. Sleep with the flowers you sent me."
Vincenzo said " Sweet dreams and no good night kiss? You are my girlfriend."
Terza said "Earn it."
Vincenzo asked "What do you want? An apology?"
Terza sighed to herself "Men. My endurance has limits." She then looked up "You are not sorry. No need for an apology unless you mean it."
Vincenzo said "I am sorry I made you return the flowers. I mean it. I do."
Terza sighed.