Yeah, well, it appears we’re all tenacious sons of bitches, and even though we’re in a criminal organization, there is code amongst us, and we took care of business.
As word got to my grandfather and our friends in high places, it seems our mission isn’t done until we find Gabriella.
Micro passes behind me and whispers that Francesca went out last night and took care of Rifolfo. I nodded. It’s a fitting end for him too.
“So, what is the deal with Ignazio, Mama?” Giovi asks.
“She got pregnant, gave the baby up and disappeared. She was involved with a man that beat her and she knew he’d never let her, or the child, have a minute of peace, so she made the ultimate sacrifice, and she must have been adopted. She visited once here and there over the years, but when Don Conti died, she was home more and was close to her father.”
“You’re not kidding on that. Like father, like daughter, I guess. I heard Conti wasn’t a treat to deal with either,” Valentina said.
“He wasn’t a good person at all,” Sal says, “Dante tried to negotiate with him and found Juliet to use as a pawn. Things went south after they met, and it was dicey for a while. I’m so glad that’s behind us, but really, how much more do we have to go through to be safe?” Sal asks.
“We won’t be safe until Gabriella is dead,” Francesca murmurs in a low voice.
“Really? She’s that bad?” Valentina asks as she sits between her brother and me. It seems the two have returned to the closeness they had when they were younger.
She’s smiling and happy to be here and I wonder for a minute if she wants to stay in Sicily.
“We have to track her down, I have contacts, and Massimo has some too and we’re watching the borders. I doubt she’ll be in Switzerland. It appears that she’s fluent in so many languages it makes sense she’ll be in France or Russia,” Francesca says.
“Russia? Really?” Valentina’s mother Emilie asks.
“Oh, she’s quite accomplished. She has a few fake IDs that pass as real. She’s highly financed and she’ll probably be on the move now. She’ll be questioned for the murder of Argon and your husband. Both were killed the same way and she was at both places. We’re going to turn over all our evidence as soon as we get home,” Sal states. He’s good with numbers, logistics and putting things together like this I’ve heard.
“Yeah, one of my guys had a picture of him from the ski trip and Valentina recognized Gambino and I’m pretty sure the woman with her back to the camera is Ignazio, as we now know her,” Massimo reiterates. “I’m sure we’ll find more now that we know who we’re looking for.”
Valentina puts her hand on my leg under the table and squeezes it and she leans into my shoulder as I wrap my arm around her.
“I don’t know how to thank you all for all that you’ve done.” Giovi takes a sip of coffee.
“You’re family Giovi, don’t forget that.” I smile. A real smile. I’ve found a great family.
“We’re all family. When are you two setting the date?” Giovi asks.
“I don’t know. I got a job at the children’s hospital as a child life specialist, so we’ll be busy.”
“Really?” I ask. I never got to hear the outcome of that.
“Congratulations, Valentina,” Micro says. “I’m so sorry I lost you.”
“It’s okay. They were determined. It has a happy ending.”
“Yes, it does.” I say that because I won’t rest until Gabriella has paid for killing Valentina’s father. Her entire mission was to set Dante up to take the fall for two murders, prevented Juliet’s first attempt at her wedded bliss and sullied the Micheli name. She’ll get her due.
Champagne pops and Valentina gives a start as Sal pulls glasses from the cupboards in the kitchen and pours champagne.
“Papa always has good alcohol,” Valentina snickers, taking a glass of bubbly.
Sal hands us all a filled glass. I look across the table to Francesca who is calm, but Micro, and I have no ideas what’s going on. Giovi and his mother look on waiting for his next move. I exchange a questioning look with Valentina.
“I wish Dante and Juliet and Marchello were here for this, because I wanted to share this moment with everyone. With that being said, I can’t wait any longer.” He turns to Francesca. “Francesca, you’re my world, my life, I love you. I can’t imagine a life without so much excitement in it.”
And yes, we all snickered at that. Now that I’m in on the secret of her being quite the femme fatal.
Francesca listens, giving the calm appearance of a gentle woman as her hair cascades over her shoulders and down her back. She’s radiant. Her ears hold large diamond earrings and there’s a sparkle in her eye. She’s a far cry from the women who wore a ball cap and baggie that suffocated a man to death yesterday.
“Will you marry me?” Sal kneels, taking her hand in his.