Page 83 of The Tempted
Epilogue
3 months later
I walked into the kitchen of Anthony’s apartment dressed in one of the tailored suits that were collecting dust in my closet. I glanced up at Anthony, who was dressed in a suit as well, of course, it was all black the man always looked like he was going to a funeral. Sadly, I believe he lived each day of his life as if he was attending his own funeral.
He handed me a cup of coffee and nodded towards the newspaper that sat on the counter. I took the first sip of coffee reaching for the newspaper and shook my head sadly when I read the headline.
“The Day The Mob Died"
Mark your calendars New York today is the day the jury decides the fate of one of the most notorious gangsters of our time. Victor Pastore turned himself in three months ago after confessing to a slew of crimes including the murder of his youngest daughter Nicole’s ex-boyfriend Rico Sanchez. If convicted Pastore can face up to life in prison.
I stared at the picture the paper had plastered on the front page of Victor leaving the courthouse yesterday for quite some time before Anthony took the paper from my hands.
“We better get a move on or else we’ll be late,” Anthony said, grabbing a pair of miniature boxing gloves off the kitchen table.
“C’mon bro really?” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re not fucking funny my pinky wouldn’t fit in these things,” I said, flicking the gloves that dangled from his fingers mocking me.
He stared at me expressionless for a moment before shaking his head as if I was some kind of fucking moron or something.
“They’re not for you,” his voice sounded as if it pained him to have this conversation with me.
“Oh yeah? Then who are they for smart ass? I doubt Victor’s going to need them where he’s going,” I said pointedly.
“Actually, the can is where I took up boxing so do us both a favor and don’t speak unless you know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“You know you’re going to miss me when I move out of here,” I told him wondering who he was going to tease, be grumpy with, and order around once I wasn’t his houseguest anymore.
“Don’t count on it Mike,” he said as we walked towards the door.
“And the gloves are for Luca,” he paused, looking down at the gloves and I swore my eyes were playing tricks on me because he had the slightest smile playing on his lips but as quick, as it appeared it was gone. I followed him out the door, wondering just how close he was getting to A’s kid. I knew that the three of them had been holed up together in a safe house close to Canada when Nikki and I were in Florida, but like everything else, Anthony didn’t elaborate on how that had played out for them. I noticed he had grown closer to the kid there was even a few times I caught him asking Nikki how Luca was. I suspect much didn’t get resolved with Adrianna though since he was still pining away for her.
Nikki and Adrianna insisted that they escort their mom alone to the courthouse. Grace was having a hard time with the fact Victor was facing jail time and I completely understood her concerns. The only life she had ever known was crashing down on her, she was about to embark on a life without her husband of thirty years. I watched my mother deal with life without my father and knew that the next few months would be the hardest for the Pastore girls. I had vowed to take care of Nikki and if that included caring for her mom and sister too then I’d do my very best.
Almost dying can change a man and so can falling in love. The last three months have been both the most difficult and the most rewarding. I put my all into recovering from my gunshot wound so that I could be there for Nikki as her dad stood trial. It was a pretty cut and dry case due to the fact that Victor cooperated with the feds. He didn’t take down anyone else in the organization and Jimmy was running things now.
When I was able to come back, home Jimmy offered me a job, but I turned him down. I felt that life had given me a second chance to make something of myself. I was determined to make a life for myself, one that I could share wholeheartedly with Nikki. I’d make my parents proud of me finally and so I got a job with the Department of Transit. On the weekends, I coach a youth football league and do construction jobs here and there when my schedule permits. I’m an honest, hardworking guy just like my mother always wanted, only I didn’t do it for her I did it for me.
Nikki is still working at the salon, but talks about opening her own someday she’s even asked me to build it for her. We spend nearly every night together, but it’s getting a little ridiculous shuffling from her mom’s house to Anthony’s apartment. I’m hoping to convince her to live with me, but I’ve been waiting for after the trial.
We pulled up to the courthouse and immediately were bombarded with reporters and cameramen asking us questions about Victor. We brush past them and head into the courtroom. Nikki, Grace, and Adrianna are already there waiting in the row right behind where the defense sits. We make our way into the row and I take Nikki into my arms and kiss her softly.
“Hi Princess,” I whisper against her soft lips.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says, taking my hand in hers and we sit down. Moments later the courtroom fills and the warden brings Victor in. He looks at his family and mouths that it’s going to be okay. Grace sobs quietly between her two daughters, her hands are balled into fists on her lap because she’s not allowed to touch him. We all rise as the judge enters.
“Will the defendant please rise,” the judge says before turning around to face the jury. “Has the jury reached a verdict?”
“We have your honor.”
There is a pause and I swear it’s the longest pause in history. Nikki clutches my hand so tightly I think she’s broke my fingers, but I don’t say a word as I let her crush my hand.
“In the people versus Victor Pastore we find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree,” the head juror reads and gasps are heard throughout the courtroom. Grace lets out an anguished sob and Anthony had to practically hold Adrianna up as she cried. Nikki stares at the jury in shock and I take her in my arms turning her face into my chest muffling her cries. Victor turns around and his eyes meet mine as they continue to read the verdict finding him guilty on all counts.
I don’t know why he made the decision to turn himself in but he doesn’t look like he regrets it, in fact, he looks as if a load has been lifted from his shoulders. I’m sure he’s dying inside the thought of being in prison for the rest of my life is terrifying, especially if I had a wife and children to leave behind. The warden allows Victor to say goodbye to us before they take him back to jail as we wait now for the judge to decide his sentence. It could be days I guess not really sure, no one close to me has ever gone to jail before. All I know is that it’s my job to be there for Nikki.
After we leave the courthouse, we go back to Victor and Grace’s, and it’s like a repast after someone dies. Everyone is gathered together food is brought in and we temporarily forget that Victor is most likely going to spend the rest of his life in prison. Nikki comes up behind me and wraps her arms around my waist, leaning her chin on my shoulder.
“Can you do me a favor?” she says as her hand trails over my abdomen slowly.
