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."

Chapter 7: When Worlds Collide

What is it really

That motivates you

You can't decide

So I'll be your guide

Who is the light and who is the devil

Now this is what it's like when worlds collide

10:30 p.m. The Funhouse Tower Room, Mr. Clav's office, Bridgeport

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"A shame. Such an ugly shame."  Mr. Gambino stared at the front entrance of the gaudy red room carefully debating if this was really what he wanted. How did this look? Him, a prominent business man, well polished, poised,  groomed, and clean, having come from old money seen with...with this. Clav a tacky, flashy, sleazy nouveau riche who obviously had no taste or class what so ever and had been breed by ill mannered twits! Or at least that was what his circle would say. And you know how that goes; No circle approval, no overall gain. Still Mr. Gambino couldn't help but to think in the back of his mind. As sleazy and ill breed as this man was he surely could use his profit.

"Mr. Gambino are you coming?" With no further thought he decided to go through with it. Why not take a gamble when it could have a huge payoff?

 Clav's office reminded Mr. Gambino so much of a whorehouse with all the women that ran rapid in the narrow and long space. Only difference was that the women were so much younger, a little too young, and the room smelled of wild berry incense instead of sweat and musk.

"Come Gambino sit down won't ya. Candy darling go fetch him a drink from a bar" Clav nodded his towards the red headed girl in all black.

"What will ya have good ol' Gambino." A drunken smile played on his face. It was also obvious that he hadn't bathed in a day or two.

"Cognac with a splash of scotch." With that he added. "And please call me Mr. Gambino."  This place had to be the luxurious scum of the earth. A high-end place, unknown to the regular world, owned by an amateur. This girls, not even real women. Pity was all he felt. The day my Eugenia was ever caught dead  in this place would be the day I would turn over in my grave.

 Clav changed his playfully drunken tune. Mr Gambino was different than the others. He wasn't some young fool who he could con easily out of bunches of money and they would be to foolish to notice. Mr. Gambino was much older and wiser. He was highly educated, refined, business savvy, and  knew his shit well. Clav had better play his cards right or his ass and his business was grass.

"So what proposition do you have in mind Mr. Gambino."

"I actually have a lot in mind Mr. Clav. I just need a little help from you."

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11:00 p.m. The Funhouse Play Room

There she stood, perched at bar waiting for something or someone perhaps. It didn't matter. All he knew was that he had to say something to her. If he didn't it would continue to eat him up inside. The wanting to know. The craving nagging feeling that he needed confirmation to know if she was truly okay. And only then would he be able to possibly forget about it.

 

Todd kept debating if whether or not he should make a move. The new guard Bruce that watched him like a guard dog does a house wasn't letting him out of his sight one bit. Plus he felt if he made one move it would get back to Clav. And he knew that would be a very bad move.

"Romeo Ms. Accardi is here to see you." Tonya the cute petite button-noised receptionist or party host as they were called told him.

"Thanks sweetie." He flashed her a smile that made her tiny chocolate face blush bright pink. "Hm" Todd thought to himself. "With all the things in my life falling apart I still manage to get women to smile."

"Lets go." Bruce trudged ahead making sure to keep a watchful eye on Todd. Well it seemed like Ava would have to wait. Todd really hated guards.

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Ms. Accardi waited patiently in her seat. Her bright amber eyes focused on the stairwell ahead. Mentally she didn't have a reason for coming here. Unlike most of women who came here to shell out wads of money on young lads and pour out there miserable lives to the toys she didn't need that. She was almost perfectly happy. Ignoring all the minor mishaps that she refuses to discuss with anyone her life was how she wanted it. She got to stay home, work less, and spend most of her time doting on her four children; one girl and three boys. Though it was mostly her boys since her daughter and eldest child had gone to live with their father two years prior. They sill kept in touch by phone and e-mail but just didn't see each other often.

Once a highly devoted and ambitious young journalist who climbed her way to the top by hard work and tears, she was lucky to have married very well and live a more than comfortable lifestyle. Now she only works on occasion and while she loves her job, she payed less attention to it when her first child was born. Though other things in her life have fallen apart she still holds them together miraculously like her momma had taught her.

"Mam I bring you Romeo." "Eee" she thought to herself. This man was frightening. With his huge build, washed out facial hair and hair, and huge glasses he looked  much like a mugger.

"O..okay" she said, her voice trembling.

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Thank you Ms. Accardi. Thank you. Todd silently thanked his Lovely who by purposely striking up a detailed conversion with Bruce that surprisingly distracted him gave him a few minutes to go try and find Ava. He had to be quick about it. Bruce would only distracted for so long. Luckily he found her outside of the club. She had her eyes fixated on the pool. What was she doing?

 There was a long silence before Ava finally looked his way. "Hey T...Todd can I talk to y...you?" she was nervous.

Todd placed his had on his neck to wipe the sweat that was forming. He had been wanting this moment for so long yet it made him nervous.

 "I ... I just want to say thank you. You know for helping you. It was really nice of you doing that for me. You didn't have to."

"Yeah but I wanted to." They both smiled. Apparently they both got to say what they wanted to.

Suddenly as if caught up in a moment they found themselves held tightly in each other's arms. The embrace lasted for a few seconds then they finally released. They found themselves blushing but didn't know what for. Maybe it was just understanding. Maybe it was something more.

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It was exactly one o' clock. Ms. Accardi was preparing to leave the club so she could get home to her boys when she someone out the corner of her eye.

"Carlotta!" Mr. Gambino shrieked. He couldn't believe his eyes. "Why are you here! Where are the boys?"

"No Valentino don't question me! Why are you here!"

"Don't worry about me."

"And don't worry about me. Goodnight!"

On the drive home Ms. Accardi pondered what he could have been doing there. If only she could have guessed.

Chapter 6: A Touch of Grey

Oh well a touch of grey, kinda suits you anyway

That's all I had to say if its alright

I will get by, I will get by, I will get by, I will survive

Todd stared idly at the evil bartender watching as he carefully mixed the devilish ingredients  into the cup preparing the horrid glass with the demonic substance used for sin that he was about to use. A sinner's glass for a perfect sinner. Tossing a wicked smile that could go for days the evil  man placed the cup before him  which he sadly couldn't resist.

Todd couldn't but sadistic evils at work around him today. They poked, prodded him, begged him to come play. And him, being a huge sucker just couldn't resist. It didn't start out that way. It had begun neural, calm, maybe to calm for his life.

It was sunny out, about 75 degrees. Highly unusual for a day in March here in Bridgeport where the it seemed as if the skies were always dull and cloudless and the temperature stayed in the mid-sixties up until mid may. Todd saw this as the perfect occasion to have the top down on the convertible taking in the smog filled beauty of the city as he cruised to his punishment.

Todd pulled up to the restaurant at exactly 11:00. He searched the room for Mr. Clav with no avail. That was until he saw him hugged in a corner with a very young girl that was not his wife.
"That old fucking pervert!" Todd thought to himself. Though he wasn't so sure why he was surprised. Mr Clav, the club's owner, had been known to fool around with much younger girls. The younger the better filled his sick mind and he sure wasn't afraid to show it.

"Mr. Clav I'm ready! Whenever you are!" Todd shouted to the top of his lungs hoping to embarrass him. It was about time the old pedophile learned that you can't just do who and what you want. Mr. Clav in the girl both looked towards Todd's direction. The girls hallowed pale cheeks blushed with vibrant rosy color. On the other hand, humiliated as everyone looked in their direction, lost all the color in his overly tanned face. His eyes piercing burning red flames darted at Todd.

"See you some other time babe. I got a rodent to kill." Todd smirked. He had a long history with Clav. He knew his antics well.

He did however feel pity on the girl. She looked so young! She had to be about only seventeen. Her body was frail and thin. Her hair was grungy and dirty. Her makeup was terrible. Plus her clothes were so worn! Her face held this innocent childlike saddness. It looked hopful, but lonely. Strong, yet broken. Todd knew the type all to well. She was a runaway. And that jerk was using her.

"Todd please sit." The white haired old man with the dyed hair and blonde streaks commanded him to do.

The man's face was almost frightening with his protruding cheeks do to multiple plastic surgeries. His luxury suit and cheap ugly and outdated shirt that he wore with open buttons screamed tackiness. It didn't help that he frowned the whole time to.

"Listen kid." Clav spoke like was talking to a five year old. "I'm not going to go into details about policy seeing as how you staring working here when you were seventeen and have be active for seven years. I will say however its never good to mettle  in someone else's business. Now what happened with Adora and Mr. Dean had nothing to do with you."

"He was trying to rape her!" Todd protested,  his eyes fuming with fire. "I had to help!"

Clav laughed. "Silly kid. You can't possibly call yourself a man after saying that. Amother man 's affairs is amother one's privacy."

"This is stupid!" Todd protested.

This time Clav was not amused. "Listen here little lost boy. Don't forget I made you who you are today. I'm like your Peter Pan, taking you to a Neverland of never being broke. Without me you would have died on the streets or been locked up like all the rest. You were a statistic and I saved you. If anything you oew me."

Todd was quiet then. Clav had touched a seirous nerve. One that dug at him and ate him alive.

"Anyway I'm not going to fire you because I do have some sort of feeling for you boy. Instead your on probation. I will have someone watch your every move like a hawk. If anthing is reported you will be fired on the spot. Got it? Good"

On that note Todd hopped into his car hoping for some calm and clarity with a drink.. or mamy from  his favorite bar. It was a same old ratty place but it suited him. It was dark and vague just like himself. Perhaps even darker than his past.