Chapter 9: Hanging On

"I'm hanging on today

And nothings gonna stop me anyway

I'm holding on, I'm Strong

I'm the only one who can make it change

I don't wanna fight

I got live my life

I'm gonna make it alright"

Cheyenne Kimball- Hanging On

Fayaville, Forty minutes west of Bridgeport

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"Well here it is. It has everything you wanted plus more. Plus it's under your budget which is always a great thing to. It's close to great schools and the new hospital you will be working at so tell me do we have a deal?" The real estate agent beamed brightly at Mora as she showcased what she called the trophy property. Mora did a once over of the place before making decision.

"Well I do like it a lot. It has all the things I need plus it will work well for my family." She motioned towards Jordan and Ava. "After much consideration I think I will take it."

"Great !" screeched the real estate agent. I will have your paperwork by one. Can you come pick it up?

"Not a good time!" said Ava pulling her Galaxy away from her ear. "Williamson University just called. My interview has been scheduled for today at two!" Ava nibbled on her bottom lip nervously as the shock finally set in. " Oh my god I am not prepared! Why didn't they call me earlier? I'll never make it! I have to reschedule!"

"Ava... Ava calm down! I will get you there I promise. You won't be late."

"You don't understand Mora!" Ava let out a loud heavy sigh, twiching her fingers frantically with one hand while running the other through her hair. "I'm not prepared. I'm not dressed properly, my hair is mess, and I don't have my portfolio! You can't walk into a prestigious school like Williamson without a portfolio." Ava sighed feeling Mora's eyes roll on the back of her neck. It was true. Mora didn't understand.  This was the first time in a year that Ava would be going back to school. The first University she attended, Capulette School of the Arts, she dropped out of upsetting her parents greatly and practically making them disown her. She had already basically thrown her whole life away over one little incident. This caused the lose of her scholarship, reputation, and respect . She wasn't going to ruin it once again. There was to much at stack. 

"Ok Ava relax. We'll leave now and I'll run you back to the apartment to get a change of clothes and your profolio. It's really not big of a deal. 

Ava shook her head leaving out the house and heading towards the car. "Mora really doesn't understand.

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Twinbrook Falls, eleven years ago

 "No Mr. Sammy please stop! I promise I won't do it again. I promise!" The tiny frail girl coward into the corner of the small dilapidated shack, her large expressive gray eyes feeling with tears as she pressed her malnourished body against the cold cracking salmon colored wall. The large bulky man towered over her small body. His cold green eyes filled with hate.

 "Shut up you little bitch and take your punishment like a good girl!" Sam yelled to the top of his lungs raising a huge hand above the child.

  "No Mr. Sammy please. I promise I will be good. I won't do it anymore."

"No Sammy I won't do it anymore I'm sorry." Sam laughed mocking the girl. "Little bitches are so fucking stupid!" His drug filled, hazy gaze peered at the girl as if he were a wolf ready to pounce on an innocent lamb. " This time is gonna feel so much bett....."

 

"Stop!" Both Sam and the little girl turned around.

The thirteen year old boy stood in the middle of the room. His body contained tiny fragments of fear, hatred, and determination as he stared down the man who had antagonised him and his kid sister for the last four years. His worst enemy. You couldn't cut the thick, almost sickening, animosity in the air if you tried as the two geared up for the final battle. The boy though young and weak, had a burning passion to protect his sister and that was what kept him going.

 

"Leave Genny alone. She's not your damn punching bag!"

 

Sam couldn't help but laugh. "Really boy you think you could fight me? Your more of a bigger damn fool than I thought you were."

 

The thought of winning the fight was never addressed. The boy knew the odds of winning were scarce and he would probably die if he tried to use fists to win this fight. But he had that determination. That will to  survive.

 From there on the two faced off into the night. Clearly this was a battle of wills and it could be any one's game. War raged on persistantily until they woke up the sleeping beauty.

"What the fuck is going on in here?" The kids' mother slung her limp malnourished body over the side of the bed. Her sunking in eyes from heavy drug use darted at the guys who fighting in the kitchen area. Sam immediatly took his revenge out on her.

"What the fuck Nancy! Do you see what your little punk ass son is doing! He practically tried to kill me!" Sam raised his hand slapping Nancy clean across the face. The impact of the slap flung her across the room hitting her back hard against the wall."

"I'm sick of this shit NancyI'm leaving."

Nancy tried pleading don't go with her eyes but the man had already walked out the door.

 "It's okay Genny you don't have to cry anymore. The big scary man is gone." The boy cradled his sister in his arms racking his fingers through her mess of matted tangled hair. His mom was not amused.

 "You mother fucking little asshole. I wan't you out of my house right now! Look at the fucking shit you cause! I regret ever having your worthless ass!" Grabbing him by his arm she tossed him out he door and slammed it telling him to never to come back or she would shoot him with her shot gun. Looking back at the shack as he walked away he shead a tear as he saw Genny crying.

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 



Chapter 8: Family Affair

It's a family affair

Ooh it's a family affair

Westchester Falls, an hour away from northern Bridgeport

Carlotta Accardi sat quietly on the bench of her stoop, her eyes watchfully staring down the perfectly paved roads of her quiet meticulous street. Valentino had another thing coming if he didn't show up today. Especially after early this morning when the detectives came looking for him. They said they wanted to ask him a few questions and to their dismay he was no longer living with her. Even now she sat elegantly waiting, her face a simply smile. The quiet before the storm. That's what her mother had always taught her to be. And to this day that's what she was.

Staring down the quiet pristine streets with lavish expansive homes, manicured lawns, and shiny expensive cars you would never guess what kind of corruption went on in this town. Behind all the neighbors with their smiling clear faces with gleaming white teeth, and well groomed ways there are dark secrets that you would never want to know and would possibly never think of. Carlotta knew this when she married Valentino but she married for love not fear or status.

Carlotta quickly lost her train of thought as a high-end vehicle stopped in her driveway. From the car two bodies emerged. One was Valentino, her soon to be ex-husband and the other Eugenia, her only daughter. The fresh faced twenty one year old ran to the front porch steps, her bright tan face gleaming." Mom!"

Carlotta engulfed the girl in a giant embrace. Though she didn't let it show secret curses ran in circles around her head. So this was his plan bringing Eugenia along hoping that the sentimental value of not seeing her child in a long time would put this conversion on hold, He was sadly mistaken.

Valentino stood off to the side careful not to look into Carlotta's eyes. His plan had not worked and now he would have to face her wrath.

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The kitchen was dead silent as the boys gathered around the table, wild thoughts running through their minds. None of them could describe the fear they had endured early that morning when the cops barging through the door. They had never seen anything like what they had witnesses except for TV and movies.

Little Jioni was the first to break the silence. "Is daddy going to jail?" The two older brothers gave the eight year old a puzzled look. "Is he. Is he?" Jioni looked nervous.

 

"Nonsense!" fifthteen year old Vincent said, the bass in his voice scaring Jioni. "Our father is a good man. He would never go to prison. Right Andreas?" Out of all the children Vince was most like his father. His was highly intelligent, cunning, business savvy. The son most likely to be the heir of his father's company and even he was a little worried.

Andreas hardly uttered a word. Even at nineteen, the oldest out of the boys he still could not find the words to speak. He who had the worst relationship with their father. The father who told him he would never be good enough. How was he going to able to comfort Jioni, the baby of the family who would easy break at the thought of something bad happening. And Vince the one who adored their father and considered him to be his role model. Andreas just sat back in his seat and uttered everything will be all right.

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Carlotta and Valentino sat in the living room, their eyes tense, hands placed tightly against their laps. The animosity in the room was sickening as they both kept their mouths clenched not wanting to say anything too horrible to the other. Carlotta was the first to speak.

 "What is going on Valentino?" Carlotta looked of to the side to avoid staring him in his eyes." Why were the police here? What did they want with you?" A small tear rolled out of one eye.

Valentino kept his face hard like he would if it was a police interrogation. "I don't understand what your talking about my sweet. I know nothing about the police. May I ask why you are asking me?"

Carlotta almost broke down. "Please don't lie Valentino please." She squeezed her eyes to keep the tears from pouring out.  With that Valentino got up saying he would be in the garden with Eugenia if the boys needed him before kissing Carlotta on the cheek and leaving her to weep in silence.

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Eugenia followed her father outside to the garden of the place she had called home for nineteen years of her life. A lot had changed in the past two years. She had gone to University, moved out of her home into her father's, and started to pursue a career in fashion. Still she couldn't help but fill the tension between  her parents.

Valentino and Eugenia sat on the bench. Valentino then turned to her and said "I have to tell you something."