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I started the car, turned around and drove home to the sanctuary of my cliff-top home.
Chapter Four
It was some months later I discovered Revenge had finally left her father’s clutches and found a trust fund her mother had set up for her that her father had hidden. It appeared that Revenge had set up a centre for children that were being bullied.
“Did you see this?” I asked Carlo, holding up a local newspaper.
He took it from me and read. “Well, maybe her experience did her some good,” he said, verbalising my thoughts.
“I hope so.”
I took the paper back and re-read the story. There was a photograph of her surrounded by young children. She was smiling and it changed her appearance. She wasn’t sour looking, in fact, my stomach knotted at the sight. She looked happy, genuinely. I folded the paper and placed it to one side.
“There are a couple of contracts in discussion,” he said.
I shook my head. “I think I need a holiday for a couple of weeks.”
Carlo laughed and nodded. “Okay, Boss,” he said, and then left the office.
I picked up the paper again and stared at her. Her long dark hair hung in curls around her shoulders, her face was free of makeup, and her clothes weren’t the tailored and designer brands she had favoured in the past. The Revenge I was looking at seemed the kind of woman I’d like to know. Pure, innocent, and kind.
Except I knew she wasn’t that. Or at least she hadn’t been.
A pang of loneliness hit me. I lived a very solitary life, for good reason, but I wasn’t sure it was what I wanted anymore. I had my legitimate business that I called into, but it practically ran itself and Carlo generally dealt with any issues. Enrico, my nephew, came and went with abandon and right at that time, it was more ‘went’ than ‘came.’ That suited me. When he had returned after dumping Revenge he had been full of remorse and then anger when he realised she had used him. He had wanted to confront her until I told him that her father would likely assume him her kidnapper and kill him. I’d packed him off to the warehouse to sweep the floor or some such activity he couldn’t fuck up.
I decided on a stroll to clear my thoughts. I wasn’t a depressed person normally, I didn’t reflect on what I didn’t have. I only ever celebrated what I did and I hoped a tour around my grounds might remind me of my fortunate life. At the end of the garden was a bench. I sat and stared out to sea. The salty air comforted me and I breathed in deep. I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of waves breaking against the rocks below, to the occasional bird calling, and was then disturbed by the sound of a motorboat. I opened my eyes and shielded them. My security team were slowly patrolling the cove.
Perhaps a walk along the small beach, feeling the sand beneath my toes, might help settle my mind.
I walked into the coolness of the cave and past in the inner chamber that had held Revenge. The sight of it brought her back to my mind. I thought I could still smell her scent in the air. To the right of those inner chambers was another and a set of ancient steps carved into the rock. Legend had it they had been carved by priests as a means to escape. Or perhaps, and more likely, they used the steps to smuggle contraband up to the monastery that had once stood where my house did.
When I reached the bottom the bright light blinded me for a moment. I waited until my vision adjusted and stepped onto the sand. I kicked off my shoes and walked barefoot to the water’s edge. The hem of my jeans soaked up the warm water and held the sand as I stepped back to remove them. I pulled my t-shirt over my head and stood naked for a moment, allowing the sun to soak into my skin. I waded into the sea, diving under the waves when the depth allowed me to.
Swimming naked felt liberating and was something that I often did. I’d also cliff dive from great heights. The adrenalin rush was welcomed. That day, however, I wanted to submerge myself in the clear water that was chilled enough to invigorate. I swam underwater, unable to focus clearly but enough to follow the cliff line. When I could hold my breath no more, I emerged. I was some way off the coast and the speedboat, that appeared to have been following me, was to one side.
“Need a lift, boss?” I heard a voice say. I looked up to see Donny hung over the side of the boat with a cigarette in his mouth.
I trod water for a while. “I think I’ll make it back,” I replied, giving him a wave. I swam slowly, knowing full well I’d reach the shore without becoming out of breath.
Donny was head of my security team, he was also a good friend. Carlo, Donny, and I would often sit and drink coffee or wine in the evenings. He lived on the estate in a small cottage with his wife, my housekeeper, Eleanor. It occurred to me in that moment that my friends were my employees and I struggled to remember which came first. I suspected the employee status.
By the time I had showered and dressed, I’d made a decision. I grabbed my car keys, waved off the offer of company from Carlo and headed into the village. I parked near the cemetery, and decided to visit my mother, something I hadn’t done in a while. I was busy asking her forgiveness for not cleaning her plaque or laying flowers when I heard my name.
“I thought that was you. I’m sorry, I’m interrupting,” Revenge said. She carried a small posy of flowers in her hand. “I was…well, I come here to lay flowers for my mum since she doesn’t have an official resting place.” I forgave the bitterness to her tone.
“Maybe you could erect something?” I offered as I stood.
Revenge shrugged her shoulders. “My nonna is here, and I like to think my mother’s spirit knows I’m thinking of her.” Revenge kissed her fingertips and transferred that kiss to a head stone.
“Do you want to get a coffee?” I asked. “I hear you’ve been doing some great work with the local kids.”
She also stood and although she had her back to me, she nodded. “What you did, said, brought me up short, Angelo. I should have thanked you a while ago, and I’ve never told anyone it was you.” She turned to face me. “I know it was you in the cave. You have a distinctive voice.”
I didn’t respond initially. When I’d gathered my thoughts, I repeated my offer of coffee. Revenge nodded again, and together we walked to the nearest coffee shop. I placed an order and we sat facing the square.
“Yes, it was me. Everything I told you then was the truth. Enrico dumped you in the cave, unconscious, he thought he’d killed you, and then he disappeared. In the meantime, I had been approached to find you. I won’t apologise for deceiving you, although my motive was more to punish your father than you so, for that, I guess I ought to.”
Revenge laughed. “That was about the most brilliant non-apology I think I’ve ever heard. I can’t say I enjoyed my time with you, but I am thankful because it gave me the courage I needed.”
