Chapter 31: Chapter 31

I’m sitting in my room crying when Chrissy and Conrad get home from work.

“Nessa!” I hear Chrissy call my name out in a panic.

I quickly wipe my face and take in a few deep breathes before I walk out of the living room.

“Hey, didn’t expect you guy’s home till later” I sigh.

“Yeah, Luca called us and told us what happened.” She looks at me sympathetically.

“So... He told you that his so-called sister is our niece? Celeste’s baby.” I sneer, wiping the tears running down my face.

“Ummmmm…”

She looks at Conrad and he looks at her then looks at me before looking back at Chrissy.

“Yeah, no I didn’t think so.” I drop to the floor covering my face with my hands. Crying hysterically.

“How could he keep this from me? How could my parents keep this from me?” I rock back and forth, hugging myself looking up at Chrissy and Conrad through watery eyes.

“This whole time I thought my parents had no clue why she took her life. But… they are the reason. This whole time I thought I had lost her completely.  But.. she lives! Her blood is running through Rosalia’s veins and her heart still beats in Rosalia.” I sob out.

“I don’t know what to say, Nessa. This is all mind-shattering even to me.” Chrissy whispers crouching down beside me and wraps me in a tight hug.

“Whatever it is that you need babe.. I’ve got you.” Chrissy cries with me.

“I’ll be right back.” Conrad looks at Chrissy through narrowed eyes and his mouth thinning.

“Where are you going?” Chrissy looks up and asks.

“I need to get to the bottom of this shit.” His voice is clipped and cold.

“NO!” I look up at him. “No, this is not your fight Conrad. I can’t and won't allow you to do this.” I wipe my nose with the back of my hand.

“He's dragged me into this fight whether you like it or not. You upset, Chrissy’s upset, and now I’m pissed the fuck off. No man has the right to make my lady upset!” He stands there cracking his knuckles.

“I’m going to warn you both now, there will be less talking and more arm swinging coming from my end of the conversation. Nessa, no man should treat a lady the way you have been treated. You women were put on this earth for us men to worship and breed our future with. Not for us to use at our disposal.” He says through gritted teeth

“You won’t find him, I heard him talking in the cafeteria with some of his security team. They were getting ready to fly out to Italy in twelve hours for change over. That was around eleven this morning, so.. he’s probably already at the airport getting ready to board a plane. He drops a bombshell on me and leaves the country” I stand on shaky limbs, my body going into a shivering mess.

Conrad picks me up and takes me to my room gently laying me on my bed with Chrissy close behind.

“You better wifey him up Chrissy or I will” I joke sadly.

“You bet your sorry little ass.  I intend to one day.” She laughs climbing into the bed with me. Her loving eyes never leaving his.

“It’s I who should be tying you down.” Conrad bends down and kisses Chrissy on the tip of her nose.

“And if you keep playing your cards right…..” He walks out of the room before he finishes his sentence.

“Tease...” Chrissy smiles adoringly at the door where Conrad had been standing.

“What are you going to do hon?” She asks me after snapping out of her love bubble.

“I think I might go and visit my parents. I think they owe me some answers.”

“Yeah, babe they do. They royally fucked up here.”

“They fucking ruined my life, Chrissy. How am I meant to move forward after finding all this out?”

“I suppose you can only try and hope for the best babe. I can come with you if you need me to.” She grabs my hand holding on to it and squeezing it lightly.

“I think I need to do this on my own. I need to confront them both. How can they live their lives knowing they lost their daughter and their grandchild?”

“They haven’t really been living if they have destroyed those they cherished most. Your parents are alive, but they aren’t exactly living babe.”

“They shouldn’t have the privilege of breathing." I angrily.

I don't mean any of it though. I'm not that spiteful.

"They took my sister and my niece from me. They warned the Venturi’s to never breathe a word to me too. So they took Rosalia back to Italy with them and raised her there where her father became a criminal lawyer and now their lives are in danger. My life could be in danger.” I sneer madly.

“You're safe babe, I know you don’t want to admit it. But Giovanni and Luca wouldn’t let anything happen to you. They've kept you safe this long. I really doubt any things gonna change on their behalf.”

“I’m not their responsibility. Luca couldn’t have cared about me that much if he had to get involved with me. He knew the risks if the mob finds out. But here we are Chrissy."

Possibly up the duff. How could I have been so naive to let him enter my core again!

"Do you think your dad can get me a decent rental car to drive to wellington?”

“You’re going to drive? It will be quicker to fly out.” She asks astounded.

“I know, but I really need to clear my head and have my shit in order before I face my parents.”

“Okay babe, But I think you should ask dad yourself. I told him we had to leave due to an emergency regarding you. He looked worried and he’s been texting like crazy since we left the building.”

She hands me her phone and walks out of the room giving me some privacy. I look at the phone in my hands wondering what on earth I am going to say to convince Mr Johnston into using his contacts to help get me a decent rental car. Then the damn thing blares to life ringing. And the words

BOSSMAN(DAD) show up on caller ID.

Sighing deeply, I answer the call.

“Hello Mr Johnston, it's Vanessa,” I answer with a shaky voice.

“Vanessa, Are you alright, what is going on?” He screams over the phone.

“I..uh... I ..” A sob escapes me

“Vanessa honey, Take a deep breath and tell me what’s happened. Chrissy told me there was an emergency and they had to leave.” His voice calms but laced with concern.

“The man I've been kind of seeing… his Ummm... His brother is the father of Celeste’s baby. I just found out hours ago that my sister committed suicide because my parent wanted to lock her boyfriend up for statutory rape. They were going to put the baby through the system like she was nothing.” I break down crying.

“I need to go and see my parents. They lied to me…He lied to me.” I sniffle.

“Oh honey, I don’t know what to say. This is all very fucked up! You have been through your fair share of crap to last anyone a lifetime. Chrissy mentioned to me you were seeing Luca Venturi, is that correct?”

“I was, but I ended it weeks ago. He randomly appeared at the hospital where I and the other female teachers were getting check-ups. He convinced me to go back to his penthouse because he had something important to tell me relating to the security tail he’s had on me for the past couple of years. It turns out that not only had I lost my sister years ago, I had also lost a niece who lives in Italy. He explained everything to me and... And he’s left to board a plane to go back to Italy for security change over.”

“That selfish son-of-a-bitch! If I had known he had approached you or you two were seeing each other I would've put a stop to it. His family name is spread all over the Italian paper, his brother Giovanni is certainly making a name for himself. You should stay away from Luca do you hear me, Do not get yourself involved with that family. You will be a walking target.” He says protectively.

“I know and I intend to. I just wanna go and see my parents. I think they owe me an explanation for why they kept me in the dark. I'm needing to rent a car to do so, would you be able to help me? I will cover everything I just need your connections.” I beg him.

“I can do one better. How about you take my BMW? It’s just been fully serviced and you can use the company credit card to fill the tank and to stay in a motel.” He generously offers.

“I can’t accept that offer, Mr Johnston, it’s just too much.” I feel my throat slowly closing up by his generosity.

“I won’t take no for an answer Vanessa. I want you to be safe and it's a horrendous journey to make on your own. I'd like it if you would not make the whole trip in a day. It's not safe when travelling alone.”

“I really don’t know what to say.” I start to cry.

“Just say yes Roman, thank you Roman.” He replies sarcastically.

“Ummm… Yeah, Thank-you, Thank-you so much!”