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“Actually, Lacy, I’m calling with some news.”
Blood surges through my body as my heart rate picks up speed. They never caught my father, though they did catch a few of his cronies. Agent Rose died in federal custody at the hands of one of the men he had put in there previously. Scott and I started a foundation to help girls rescued from human trafficking operations to be re-acclimated to society and receive the mental health support they desperately needed.
“Lacy, your father was found dead in Stockholm yesterday.” Agent Templeton isn’t great at the whole emotions thing, but I can hear the regret laced in her voice.
For my part, I don’t know what to feel. I haven’t seen or heard from the man that sired me in over fifteen years. When I took Scott’s last name at our insane Vegas wedding, I left behind everything attached to the Falluci name. Including any lingering hope my father and I would ever have a relationship.
“How?” This is the first update I’ve gotten on my father. I told Templeton I didn’t want to know anything until they caught him. The thought of such an evil man sharing DNA with me still makes my skin crawl.
“Are you sure you want to know? It wasn’t pretty.”
“I need to know.” Warmth and the scent of spiced cologne press into my back. Scott. Of course, he would know I needed his strength right now. Even without words. He places his hands on my hips and gives a little squeeze.
“He was shot execution-style. Twice in the heart, once in the back of the head.” The information is given dispassionately. No emotion behind the words that should rate at least a little distaste. “It happened in the apartment he kept there. We believe it was a revenge killing. There has been a rash of suspected traffickers killed over the past few months.”
Something settles inside me. A piece of my soul that I never acknowledged still felt restless at having Frank Falluci out in the world torturing young women. “Good. Thank you for letting me know.”
With no more pleasantries to exchange, Agent Templeton and I give an awkward goodbye and hang up.
“He’s gone?” Scott’s deep voice soothes my frayed nerves, and I lean back into his chest.
Nodding, I crane my head around to look into his soulful eyes. “It’s strange because I try so hard to not think about him, but I feel relieved knowing he’s not in the world anymore.”
“Not strange at all baby.” He kisses my forehead and then my lips. “Come sit with us for a little while. With your family.”
“I need to finish getting ready. The limo will be here any minute.”
“The limo can wait. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can wait.” Taking my hand, Scott leads me into the living room and sits me on his lap. He’s perfected the art of playing the guitar while I perch between his thighs.
“Mommy, promise not to sing.” Iliana gives me her serious face, which I always struggle not to laugh at because she looks so much like me.
“Is not nice to talks to mommy like that lil’ Ana.” Tucker, the oldest of our almost-four-year-old twins, scolds his sister. Then in a whisper that literally the entire block should be able to hear continues, “But you nots a good singer mama.”
“I know, baby. Don’t worry. I’ll just listen.”
And I do. I sit back, close my eyes, and listen to the beat of my soulmate’s heart while he sings with our children. And I thank Gucci once again that I ended up in an alley in need of rescuing all those years ago. Because if I hadn’t gone through all that, I wouldn’t have ended up here.
And this is where I want to be for the rest of my days.
The End
