AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Certainly,” says Papa.
“I just want to check I have all the facts correct.” Detective Russo consults a small black notebook and summarizes his notes. “From what we’ve been able to ascertain so far, Lombardi and Ricci orchestrated the kidnapping of a minor in order to extort money from you, Mr. DeMarco.” He directs his gaze towards Papa.
“Yes, that’s how I understand it too.”
Detective Russo address Michael. “Mr. Luciano, you intercepted the kidnapping, disabling Lombardi. As a result, Ricci—an ex-military man—became immediately violent and verbally threatened to torture your son. You defended yourself and your son against Ricci, who was armed with a knife.”
I gasp in horror as the detective recounts the events and Michael squeezes my hand. “That’s correct,” he confirms.
“We’ll need to take an official statement from you in due course, Mr. Luciano, but we don’t foresee pressing any charges against you at this time. Although you should have involved us sooner and we don’t condone vigilantism,” he says, raising his eyebrows, “we’re pleased you and your little boy came to no serious harm.” He turns his attention to Papa. “Mr. DeMarco, could you please accompany me to the station to give your official statement. We’ll also make sure the ransom money is returned to you as soon as possible.”
“Yes, of course,” Papa replies. He places his hands on my shoulders. “I’ll meet you all at the hospital as soon as I’ve given my statement, Cecelia. I’ll contact Connie on the way and update her on everything. See you soon.”
I nod. “Okay, Papa. See you soon.”
Michael and I climb up the steps into the ambulance and sit beside our son, both of us taking one of his small hands in our own. I lean my head against Michael’s shoulder as the paramedic closes the back doors and we drive away from the scene of the crime.
I wake to find Papa standing at the end of Micah’s hospital bed, in our private room. Michael is asleep in the chair beside me, one hand still holding his son’s. I don’t think he ever wants to let go. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for him in that warehouse, up against an armed, trained military fighter.
“How’s my grandson,” asks Papa.
“Doing really well,” I say, getting up to kiss my father on his cheek. “He’ll be as good as new by morning. Well, later this morning, what time is it now?”
“About five o’clock,” says Papa, putting his arm around my waist as I lean against him, yawning.
“And how’s Michael?”
At the sound of his name Michael opens his eyes. He gives a little groan as he sits forward and stretches as much as he can considering his injuries. He might be downplaying how much he hurts for my benefit, but I saw the size of Sonny Ricci and the fact that Michael’s still breathing is a miracle in my eyes. The strength of his love for Micah clearly spurred him on.
“I’m fine,” says Michael. “They’re going to cast my broken elbow in the morning, and they’ve given me something for the pain. It’s taken the edge off.” He smiles, his eyes slightly glazed.
“I’ve spoken to Connie and told her everything,” Papa reports. “She’s feeling much better but she’s still terribly guilt-ridden about not being able to stop Micah’s kidnapping in the first place. I’ve assured her it’s not her fault, but you know your sister. She wanted to come here but I told her to get some rest and that we’d all be together again soon.”
I sigh. “Poor Connie. She loves her nephew so much. I’ll make sure she stops beating herself up.”
Papa kisses my head as we gaze down at Micah.
“How did it go with Detective Russo?” I ask him.
He updates us both. “Good. Sonny Ricci is alive and stable following his emergency operation and he and Raphael will both be charged with kidnapping and extortion. Raphael’s fit enough to stand trial straight away. Your statement will strengthen the case, Michael. They said they’ll contact you tomorrow. Unfortunately for Raphael, his father has washed his hands of him and refused to appoint the family lawyer, so he’s on his own with court appointed legal counsel.” Papa looks down at me, squeezing my shoulder. “And they will also pursue an attempted rape charge once you’ve officially pressed charges against Raphael, Cecelia.”
I nod sadly. “I guess I was a bad judge of character where Raphael was concerned,” I say.
“We all were,” agrees Papa. “I was wrong about him, and I was wrong about you too, Michael,” he says, letting go of me and moving around the side of Micah’s bed to where Michael is sitting.
Michael stands as my father reaches him.
“I’ve never considered myself the kind of man—the kind of father—who would refuse to listen to reason,” he begins, “but all these years I’ve refused to hear Cecelia out whenever she tried to speak about you, about what happened to her in Naples when she was eighteen. I blindly believed that you caused her harm when I had no concrete evidence of such. I preferred to foster hate and resentment because I felt that I had failed to fulfil my fatherly duty by saving my baby girl myself.”
“No, Papa—” I start to protest but he cuts me off.
“Please, Cece, I need to say this, it’s the right time.” He looks back at Michael. “I couldn’t save her from Ricci or Raphael, but you did. The same way you saved Micah from Raphael and Sonny. Without you, I might have lost half my family, and for that I will be eternally grateful.”
He holds out his hand for Michael to shake. “Welcome to this family, Michael. You have more than earned the right to be here and you have more than earned my blessing to marry my precious daughter. I would consider it an honor to have you as my son in law.”
Michael takes his hand, and I can see that he’s struggling to contain his emotions as my father pats him paternally on the shoulder. I, however, let my emotions run free, and as I encircle my arms around my two favorite men, I sob with pure happiness.
Epilogue
