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“At your home. We’ve been over every inch and have the warrants in our hands now for the arrests of Mario Torino, Bernardo Scolari, and Ricardo Valentino, along with several of their known associates. I’ll be serving them within the hour while other agencies around the world gather the remaining people up. Your press conference is first, then one by the DA. When this is over, you’ll make your statements to FBI,” he replied. “In a few more hours, you’ll have your life back.”
“Thank you.” I already felt like I did. Crawling out of Miceli’s bed, I went for a shower while they continued to talk.
I had to tell Kyle the news. Going back to our home would come with some ramifications and setbacks in both of our progress. He still had nightmares. I did too, even if they were infrequent now. I wasn’t sure what would happen once we stepped foot onto that property, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for it. However, if we didn’t do it now, when did we get our lives back?
We couldn’t keep hiding.
Once I was done showering, I stepped back into the room. Miceli wasn’t there, but I hadn’t figured he would be. He had to prepare for the day, as did Kyle and me. Before the sun set on the horizon, I would publicly be known as Stephanie once more.
After I got dressed, I headed down to the basement, sure that was where Kyle was at. Sure enough, he was in the ring sparing with Robbie while Miceli talked with Benny and Antonio. Sweat poured from my brother as it did from Robbie. They were both quick on their feet. Watching my brother use his left arm as he did was a sharp contrast to when he’d been shot. I never imagined he’d almost have full use of it ever again. Especially not like this.
Miceli held his hand out to me, and I readily took it. I didn’t want to say I used him as an anchor, but that’s exactly what he’d become. My lighthouse. My bastion in the darkness. I’d contemplated over the last few weeks what I’d say if I ever got my life back, but in all reality, nothing seemed appropriate. There were no words to express the range of emotions my brother and I had been through in the last year. I couldn’t properly put the fear and terror into words. Maybe I wouldn’t have to say much. That thought eased me.
“Feel better now?” Miceli asked, wrapping his arm around me.
“Still nervous,” I answered with a small grin.
“If you weren’t, we’d be worried.” Benny’s words relaxed the tension building within me. “You should be afraid of everything. You’ll stay on alert that way, but you should be happy, too.”
I think I was. Or I’d been ashamed to be. God, I needed a therapist. When I found one for Kyle, I’d go to one too. Maybe the same one. We could have group sessions or whatever. “It’s nice to know the people responsible will be caught and brought to justice.” I glanced at Miceli and wondered if Valentino was being arrested for his part in Rosalina’s murder. “Did he say if he had enough evidence to help you, too?”
Miceli nodded. “He did and Ricardo will also be tried for the murder of my wife in a separate case.”
I exhaled. “Oh, Miceli, that’s wonderful news. I am so happy for you and Rocca.” I hugged him tight, knowing today was also a day to celebrate and mourn. Both of us had lost so much in our lives. Today, we could both start picking up the pieces.
The rest of the day went by in a blur of activity. The FBI had come by to take mine and Kyle’s statements on what happened the day our parents died. They’d also already confirmed with Kyle’s school, and my college we weren’t close to home when the home invasion began, taking a serious load off my mind.
On the drive to the house, which took a little over an hour, I zoned out. I didn’t want to think about where we were going or how I’d feel once I stepped foot back on the property. Hard as I tried, though, the memories of that day and several others came flooding back. Through the agony of losing my parents, the spark of warmth of knowing I was going home spread through me. The place would be a shell of what it once was, of that I knew. I also knew we couldn’t stay there. We’d have to sell the place.
We pulled up to the house to a throng of reporters and vans sitting outside the property. The crowd ebbed and flowed as they noticed our vehicle, wanting to get a look at me and Kyle. My heart lodged in my throat. My palms were sweaty. A muffled whimper passed between my lips. This wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Thankfully, Benny pushed through the group of reporters and drove around our curved driveway toward the garage, away from the podium where the conference would be held.
Curious, I wondered if our cars were still there or if they’d been confiscated once everyone thought we were dead. Stupid question, right? Like, my mind was wandering all over the place, unable to concentrate on what was about to happen in a few brief minutes from now. I chalked it up to being home, to being me again. To wanting to return to my life. Not out of ignorance or whatever.
A man, wearing a tactical suit, complete with black gloves, a blacked out face mask and SWAT helmet, stepped out of the house first along with his team. I wasn’t sure why he’d been dressed like that, other than he didn’t want to reveal his face to the public. I couldn’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to do that either. He didn’t speak, instead stepped aside revealing a woman about five and a half feet tall wearing a power suit, black heels, and had her hair pinned back in a severe bun. She wasthatbitch. Even from where I stood, I’d never want to fuck with her. She’d eat me alive.
The woman began the press conference, explaining why they were there, and then it was my turn. Fuck my life. All eyes were on Kyle and me as we stepped up to the podium together. It was then I noticed we were covered in all directions. Men in tactical uniforms like those behind us sat in trees or on the peaks of roofs. We were safe, or as safe as we could be.
“Good afternoon, everyone,” I muttered, clearing my throat. “Thank you for coming. Boy, it’s great to be alive.”
Later, when I sat with Miceli, watching the news as our story broke, I smacked myself on the forehead for being so damn lame. “Boy, it’s great to be alive?” That’s what I came up with? I shook my head, though feeling ten times lighter than I had since the day I revealed everything to Miceli.
“You were adorable,” Miceli whispered. “You spoke from the heart and reintroduced yourself to the world. Now, you can have your life back. How does it feel?”
“Scary,” I said. “Really scary. Although, I’m ready for it. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
“As am I.” He kissed my temple. “Have you thought about how you’ll invest all of that money you’ll be getting soon?”
I nearly died the minute the lawyers—I didn’t know daddy had on retainer—blew up Miceli’s phone. Kyle and I would inherit the house, almost forty million dollars in cash, plus our trusts, a beach home in the Keys, a house in Aspen, and three of the vehicle’s daddy had bought over the years, held in a secure garage for us. I still couldn’t believe this was mine—our life now.
“I was hoping you could help me invest my portion of our funds and then help me put the house on the market when it’s been properly cleaned and readied for sale?” It was too much. I was sure Kyle would want to keep both the Aspen house and the Keys house for some place to go when we wanted to get away, and trust me, I needed a vacation after this. As for the trust money, if I wanted it, I had to go to college and finish my degree, same for Kyle. So, that was first.
“Of course,” he agreed. “I might know of some people who might give the place life again. As for investments, I might know of some things.”
I’d like that more than anything. After all the death that surrounded our family, someone should be able to be happy there and make that house a home. “Perfect.” I snuggled beside him; grateful this chapter of my life was over. Sure, we had trials and litigation and crap to go through before it was truly over, but I didn’t have to be afraid anymore and that was the best feeling ever.
“I was thinking,” Miceli murmured, turning off the television. “A vacation sounds good right about now.
I hummed in approval. “You know, you’re absolutely right. I know a place in the Keys that would be great for us.”
Miceli laughed. “Then it’s settled. We’ll leave in the morning.” He kissed me. His lips coaxing me to open in a sensual way. “You are my everything, Stephanie.”
“I love you too, Miceli.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You make me the happiest woman in the world.”
