CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A short time later, the main door opened. Cassie, Peaches and two small children were herded inside. Amos and Frankie followed.
When Timber looked up and saw the other man, he got to his feet. “Well saints preserve my soul. If it isn’t Amos Billings!” he called out.
Amos looked up and when his eyes met Timber’s then the other four men, he broke into a smile. “John Patrick Timmons, you old sonofabitch. Where the hell did you come from?” Amos stepped over to the other man and held out his hand.
“Chicago was my last port of call.” Timber chuckled. Turning to his men he said, “I’m sure you remember these guys as well?”
Amos grinned. “As well as I remember anyone.” He shook hands with all of them. Turning to Deke and the others he announced, “These men and I served together in Vietnam. Together, we were the Fifth Infantry Unit. I lost track of them when our unit was ambushed during the Evac of Saigon. I never knew they made it back to the states.”
“Those were dark times Sarge.” Timber shook his head. “Dark times indeed.”
“What brings you bozos all the way here from the streets of Chicago?” Amos asked.
Timber turned to Izzy. “Miss Izzy and her brother.”
“Oh, trouble coming?” Amos asked.
“Trouble may be here already,” one of the other men told him.
“Damn,” Amos whispered.
“I been hoping trouble wouldn’t find us for a while.” Frankie shook his head. “These are good people and they sure don’t need any more trouble.”
~* * * *~
Just as they sat down to eat lunch, Wiley came into the clubhouse and whispered something in Deke’s ear.
Deke nodded and looked at Peaches. When he found her looking back he announced, “Your granddad and dad are here.”
She frowned. “Why? Why are they here in person?”
“Do we need a reason to visit?” Leon asked from behind her.
Peaches jumped up and hugged both men. “Of course not, but we’re on lockdown for a reason no will tell us about then you guys show up? That makes me just a little bit nervous.”
“There’s nothing for you to worry about,” Calderone assured her.
Peaches watched as some of her grandfather’s men moved around the room. “That is not a reassuring sight.”
Leon turned to where Mountain sat with Deke, Sam and Gator. He nodded at Mountain.
Mountain nodded back. “Just tell us what you know. The women would find out anyway, sooner or later. This way, its sooner.”
Leon shrugged. “Dominic was grateful for the call. He didn’t know Stephan was on his way here. He had no idea what was bringing him here until I mentioned the key. Then he became very interested. He had no idea the key was missing all this time and he’s furious Stephan betrayed him. He’s on his way to confront him and settle something he thought was lost to him all this time.”
“And what would that be?” Mountain asked. His inner gut was burning like fire and he knew he wouldn’t like what was coming.
“I don’t know. I’m sure he’ll explain it all when he gets here. He said he would be here as soon as he could.”
“So Marconi is coming here?” Sam asked.
Leon nodded. “That’s why we came. He asked if we could mediate.” He swung his eyes to Mountain. “He mentioned the fact that his brotherhood was like the brotherhood of the MC.” He shrugged. “I wonder where he got that comparison from.” He raised a brow at the larger man.
Sam turned to Mountain. “Yeah me too, but you know in a way, it’s probably true.”
“I know.” Leon agreed.
“Well, I guess we’ll find out which one will get here first.” Peaches shrugged. “Stephan Rizzi or Dominic Marconi.”
“Either way, we’re here to stop any trouble,” Calderone assured her.
“I don’t think you can stop this trouble from coming,” Mountain warned. “I have a feeling someone is going to die today.”
Izzy looked to Boone. “I hope not, lord I hope not.” Reaching out, she grabbed his hand and held it tight.
~* * * *~
Two hours later, another car stopped at the gates and waited for them to be opened. A single man stepped out and was surrounded by two men wearing MC vests. They escorted him to the clubhouse and waited outside when he stepped in.
Stephan glanced around the room quickly. He paused and cocked his head as he stared at the large wall murals of tigers. He looked a little perplexed by the sight. He turned and nodded in reverence to Leon and Calderone, then moved on until he came to Izzy. He studied her for a moment then went over to her. “You must be Isabelle.”
Izzy frowned. “And what business is that of yours?”
Stephan smiled. “It might be more my business than you realize.”
“Your uncle didn’t know you were coming Stephan,” Leon warned him.
Stephan sighed. “I’m sure he knows now, though, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, he does,” Leon admitted. “He’s on his way as well.”
“Damn it, old man. Why couldn’t you just mind your own business?” Stephan swore. He’d known days ago that his involvement in this whole fucked up mess would come out but he had hoped to get the key back and into his uncle’s hands before he knew everything.
“You put innocent lives in danger, that’s why. What exactly did you hope to gain from this?” Leon asked. “It was none of your business.”
“It was my business. It involved family, and family, means something to me,” Stephan argued.
“It does to me as well,” Leon told him. “As does respect of which you have shown very little. I suggest you start. I have earned it.” He growled at the younger man.
Stephan tipped his head. “My apologies. I meant no disrespect but this is trying for me. Things have gotten so out of control and I hate lack of control.”
“I think we all do.” Leon stared hard at him. “Why don’t we just sit down and wait for your uncle to arrive, then many things will become clear to all of those involved.”
“Why can’t you just fill in the blanks Grandfather?” Peaches asked. “That way, we’ll have some idea what’s coming.”
Leon shook his head. “It is not my story to tell and no one but Dominic knows the true story. It is his story and he will tell it.”
“I was a kid when all this went down,’ Stephan interjected. “But I remember the anger and the constant worry everyone felt back then. My uncle and his associates spent some time searching the city for someone they never found. My uncle was heartbroken.”
“Yes, he was and in a sense still is but soon, everything that happened will come out,” Leon assured them. “So why don’t we just wait for him.”
~* * * *~
Less than an hour later, another car stopped at the gate. Three men stepped out of the limo and approached the gate. Wiley stood there while the gate opened and escorted the men to the clubhouse.
When Dominic Marconi stepped inside the clubhouse, he saw everything at once. The sheer number of people present made him raise his eyebrow. He saw his nephew Stephan first and frowned in his direction. Then he turned to see Leon and Calderone. He nodded his head to them to acknowledge his respect. Then he spotted Mountain. Making his way over to the other man, he held out his hand, “We meet again.”
Mountain nodded his head. He shook the other man’s hand, “This is unexpected.”
“True but your call to Leon made it necessary.” He turned to view the people at the table. He paused when he saw Boone sitting there and his eyes were drawn to Izzy. He gasped slightly and for a moment, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Mountain came to stand behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “This is the woman I was telling you about the other day. Izzy Clemends, and her brother Boone.”
Dominic nodded but still didn’t take his eyes off her. Then he heard Leon clear his throat and reluctantly he looked away. “I’m sorry but she looks so much like her mother, I couldn’t help myself.”
Izzy frowned. “You know my mother?”
Dominic nodded. “I should, since she was my wife.”
Izzy gasped and paled.
“Your wife?” Mountain questioned.
Dominic nodded. “I met Janet Zackery twenty seven years ago. I loved her when I met her and I love her yet today.”
Melora glanced quickly at Izzy and found her looking back.
“What?” Dominic asked when he noted the look passing between the two women.
Melora shrugged. “Izzy used that same last name for a number of years, that’s all.”
“As I was saying, I met Janet twenty seven years ago and we quickly fell in love. I think I married her within two weeks of meeting her. She didn’t understand what I did for a living and I was hiding the truth from her because I knew if she was aware of my job she would leave me.” He shrugged. “I hid the truth for two years, then her sister informed her of who and what I was. Janet confronted me about it and I told her the truth. She told me she couldn’t raise a child in that environment, so I lost her anyway. Her sister Roxi made sure of that.”
Boone started and swung around to stare at Dominic. “My mother was her sister?”
Dominic frowned. “You are Roxi’s child?”
He nodded.
“Do you know where your mother is? I have been looking for her for a very long time,” Dominic asked softly.
Leon cleared his throat again. “Now, is not the time for vengeance Dom.”
Dominic snapped his head around and glared at Leon. “One day, no one will stand between us and the wrath of my anger will burn her.”
“But not today,” Leon told him.
Dominic closed his eyes and when he opened them, he found Izzy again. Taking a deep breath, he continued his story, “When your mother left me she was carrying you. Roxi joined her in hiding and helped her through the pregnancy. I looked but could never find them. Then one night I received a phone call from a midwife. It seems my wife had given birth, but something had gone wrong. By the time I got there with a doctor, it was too late to save her life. She died within minutes of my arrival.”
“What happened to the baby?” Izzy wanted to know.
Dominic clenched his hands into fists. “Roxi called in the midwife when Janet went into labor. When she was in trouble, apparently you were stuck in the birth canal the midwife wanted to get both you and your mother to the hospital but Roxi wouldn’t allow it. She pulled a weapon and waited for the midwife to assist in the birth. The midwife did the best she could but it wasn’t enough. Just moments after she cut the cord separating you from your mother, Roxi hit her on the head and took you away. She told her sister you would be okay, then she took the baby and disappeared. Her sister was left unattended until the midwife gained her senses again. Janet begged her to call me and when I got there, she told me what happened. She told me I had a daughter but that the baby was gone. A few minutes later, she died in my arms.” Tears rolled down his face. “I searched the city for both you and Roxi for years but I could never find her. I buried my wife and lived for vengeance.”
“So what did she name me, my mother?” Izzy asked with tears running down her face.
“We named you Isabel Dommianna Marconi,” Dominic replied. “A very long time ago, I put my daughter’s birth certificate and your mother’s certificate of death as well as some other things that belonged to your mother away in a safe. Then I locked that safe and carried a special key with me at all times.” He stared at her, “I’ve carried this key for well over twenty years. It helped having it close, almost as if it were a small piece of you and your mother. At least I always thought it as such.”
He turned to Stephan. “I never knew it but a person I trusted with my life, exchanged the key I had for another key, then he lost it.” Dominic reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a pocket watch. On the same chain was an old brass key. “The key I had taken from me was similar to this one but not quite the same.”
~* * * *~
Izzy stared at the key on the chain and she swallowed hard. Reaching inside her shirt, she pulled out a chain. On the edge of the chain was another old brass key. She had taken it out of its hiding place earlier and put it on a chain then hid it under her shirt. Now there was no longer a need to hide it. It was similar to the one on the watch chain. Pulling on the chain hard enough to break it, Izzy handed the chain and the key over to Dominic.
Dominic’s finger closed over hers for a moment, then he let her go. He held the key up and gazed at it for a moment. Then his fingers closed around it. Bringing it to his lips, he pressed a gentle kiss on the metal.
“So you think I’m your daughter?” Izzy asked.
“You look so much like my Janet, you have to be her child. There is no doubt in my mind at all.”
Boone rolled his chair up close to Izzy and took her hand.
“Are you the young man that took a bullet defending Izzy’s life eight years ago?” Dominic asked.
“Yes, I shot my own father and when we struggled with the gun it went off and a bullet lodged near my spine.” Boone told him. “My father went to prison for his part in the shooting and I went to live with his brother.”
Dominic turned to Izzy. “And what happened to you? Where did you go?”
Izzy stared at him. “Michael Clemends blamed me for his brother getting shot and then going to prison. He told me he would take care of Boone if I just went away. I had to leave and not come around and if I did that, he would watch over my brother. So that’s what I did. I lived on the streets for a while then I met Melora. Together, we made a life but it wasn’t always easy.”
Dominic turned to Stephan. “And did you know this? Did you know that she was living on the streets, just trying to survive?”
“I didn’t realize she was your daughter. Hell, I never knew you had a child. She was born and disappeared when I was a child myself and no one ever talked about this.” Stephan tried to defend his actions. “Michael Clemends told me she ran away from home. He told me he didn’t know where she was. He lied to me.”
“Michael lied to everyone,” Boone informed them. “He told me while I was still in the hospital that Izzy didn’t want me with her anymore. The truth was he told her to leave when she would have stayed given the choice. But then Michael is more like his brother than we ever knew. My father liked to drink and gamble and neither one of those actions work very well when you have a family.” He shrugged. “Michael liked to drink as well. I don’t think he gambled but he sure as hell didn’t take very good care of me. He let me lay outside for hours once. He ignored my medical needs for his own.”
“What about your father?” Dominic needed to know. “Have you had any contact with him over the years?”
Boone shook his head. “The police placed him under arrest on the way to the hospital after the shooting. The social worker who got involved in my case didn’t think I should meet with him while we were both in the hospital and after that, I went to live with Michael. Dad went straight to jail when they released him and then he went to prison when the trial was over. He’s due to get out in a few weeks.”
“Did he ever know about the key?” Dominic asked.
“Dad was the one who took it off Stephan about a week before the shooting. He thought it was going to be his ticket out of debt. He was going to blackmail Stephan for a large amount of money.” Boone shook his head. “The only thing with dad was the money never would have lasted long. But when he realized the key was gone, he tore the house apart looking for it. I remember him waking me and Izzy up. He was screaming about losing something but I didn’t know anything about it. He’s been writing Michael from prison asking if he’s found the damn thing yet.”
Dominic turned to his daughter. “You had the key all along, why didn’t you give it back to him?”
“Because by that time I hated Sonny Clemends.” Izzy shrugged. “He was a pig and he didn’t deserve his payday. Like Boone said the money would have been gone before long and his children wouldn’t have gotten the benefits. Sonny only ever worried about Sonny.” She looked over at Boone and sadly shook her head. “If I would have realized the extent he would go to, I would have given it back to him. I never thought he would shoot his own son.”
“And the bet?” Dominic wanted to know. “What did he say about that?”
“He told me he’d lost a card game the night before and that I had to go with the winner. He told me he traded me for a hand of cards and lost. But it would only be for three days.”
Dominic turned his head slowly to glare at his nephew. “And you were the man who won the hand?”
Stephan paled and nodded. “Uncle, forgive me. I was very young and stupid eight years ago. I was also very wild.”
“You have been out of control for some time now but that stops here and now.” Dominic glared at his nephew. “I will deal with you when we get home.” He looked over at Boone. “I am sorry you we injured but I’m very happy you stepped into to protect your sister. Your father and his brother will answer to me for their part in this travesty. I will also have a meeting with Roxi.”
“What are you going to do about me?” Izzy finally asked. She reached out and took Mountain’s hand.
Dominic walked over to her. “You are my daughter and you have been lost to me all your life. I’ve missed so much. I would like the chance to know you, if that would be possible. I want to hear all your stories. He paused then motioned toward Mountain. “I know you and he are together but I just found you. You don’t realize it but I’ve been looking for you all your life and now that I found you, I don’t want to let you go.” He hesitated then suggested, “I would like you to return to Chicago with me, so we can get to know each other.”
Izzy shook her head. “I can’t leave Boone right now. He needs me and I have a wedding to plan. All my friends are here. I can’t just leave.”
“But I’m your father, your true blood and I insist that you come home with me.” Dominic glowered.
Izzy stood up and wrapped Mountain’s arms around her waist. “You may be my father, but I’m grown up now. I’ve been living on my own for a long time. You may not care but I love this man, and I hope very soon, to be carrying his child. A child I will love and care for with him by my side. You have explained what happened before I was born and while sad, I couldn’t help what happened any more than you could.”
Dominic wanted to say something but Izzy held up her hand. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but while my life had some up and downs, I lived through it. I survived everything that happened. I found a very good friend in Melora and she shared her life with me. I survived because she was smart and taught me to be smart.” She glanced over at Melora and smiled. “Her and me we’ve been through hell and we survived. Hell, we thrived and made friends with some very interesting people along the way.”
She paused and looked around the clubhouse. “Then she came here. She found a life here and a man she could love. When I came to join her, I stayed. These people are the best friends a girl could ever have. They work hard and they play hard and most of all, they love hard. You may not understand that but I do. I’m sorry Mr. Marconi but I’m not going anywhere. I finally found my home and I will not give it up.”
Dominic looked around the room. Each and every face bore the same expression. They would fight any suggestion of him taking her away from them. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
Izzy stepped forward and taking his hand she told him, “We can get to know one another but it’s going to take time and it doesn’t have to be right now. We have the rest of our lives. I hope you’ll be there for the rest of my life because it’s really only beginning. Yeah, I had a childhood from hell but that’s over now. I found a love that I hope will last forever. I hope you can be there when I get married. I have my brother back and I hope you will get to know him too. He means the world to me, always has, always will.”
Dominic reached up and wrapped his hands around her arm. Pulling her forward, he pressed his lips on her forehead. “I can do that. It’s not what I want but I can work with it. Your friend has been your guardian angel and if there is anything she desires, I’ll see she gets it but I have a feeling her man wouldn’t like that. Your brother deserves a good life and with you around I know he’ll have it. You are my daughter and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. I hope you understand that I may not always be patient but I will always be there when you need me.” He turned to Mountain. “When I first met you, you impressed me with your loyalty. You spoke of your brotherhood and mine being similar and I guess they are but they are so different as well. We both stand back to back with one another and we both fight for what we believe in, but in my brotherhood, violence is more prevalent. My wife couldn’t live that life. When she left me, she tore my heart out. My daughter is doing it too, but she’s also giving me hope that one day I will know her. And for now, that is good enough.” He stepped forward and leaned closer to the other man. “But if you hurt her or break her heart, I will hunt you down and kill you slowly. Is that understood?”
Mountain nodded. “Sir, I love her and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. I would die for her and I would kill for her. I told you that once and I meant it then, same as I mean it now.”
Dominic stepped back and nodded. Turning to Leon, he smiled. “I think I will be seeing more of you in the near future, old friend.”
“You will be more than welcome any time as long as you respect their rules.” Leon nodded. Then he chuckled. “I find myself in the same position and it blows. Our Peaches was taken away from us when she was five. We spent sixteen years searching for her when she was returned to us. I wanted to keep her safe for the rest of her life but she wanted to live her life. She found a very good man and is building a good life with him.”
“Then there is hope that I will get to know my daughter eventually.” Dominic nodded. “But first, I have some things to take care of back home.”
Izzy nodded. “The last time I saw Roxi she was working near the Pier as a stripper.” She shrugged. “That was a couple of years ago though.”
“I will find her this time.” Dominic assured her. “I can’t promise to let her go without some measure of penalty but I can promise not to kill her.”
“That’s all we can ask.” Boone nodded. “You know I almost feel sorry for her.”
“Why is that?” Izzy asked.
“She had something good and she threw it away, now she has nothing. No family, nothing. Family is the most important thing a person can have. Real family that is. People like Mike aren’t real family.”
Izzy went to her bother and hugged him close.
Dominic watched and felt something deep in his soul begin to heal. Something he thought had died when Janet died in his arms and he knew his baby was gone.
He looked over at Stephan and noted the bored look on his face. Well, he thought, he won’t be bored for long. He had a lot to make up for and Dominic was going to make it very difficult for him to earn back the trust he broke. “Come along Stephan, we have to get back to Chicago,” Dominic called out. He grabbed Izzy up in a hug. “I hope you will call me even if it’s just to talk.”
“I will and now you know where I am, please come back often. I would like to get to know you.”
“Just say when and I will be here,” he promised.
“Then you should know I plan to make this woman my wife next week.” Mountain wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
Dominic grinned. “Then you’ll need her birth certificate. I can bring it back with me.”
Izzy laughed.
Dominic turned and nodded at his men.
Two came to stand behind Stephan.
Stephan stiffened when he seemed to realize what was happening but he didn’t fight it.
One of the men reached for the weapon in the holster behind his back and Stephan was escorted to the door.
Then Dominic walked toward the door.
When the door was closed behind them, Izzy turned to Boone. “I’m sorry about your mother.”
Boone shrugged. “Maybe I would feel something if she hadn’t just thrown both of us away like we didn’t matter. Maybe I would actually care if she had shown us just a little love over the years but she couldn’t bother then, so why the hell should I bother now?”