Part 25 (1/2)

She kissed the tip of her fingers and laid her hand on the casket. Her grief was unbearable. She no longer wanted to live. What was the point? She wanted to be wherever Rheyna was. She began to cry and Vincent came over. He handed her a tissue and then wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He held her as she sobbed.

After a few minutes, she leaned back to look at him. ”Thank you, Vincent. I think I'm okay now.”

”Are you sure?” he asked with genuine concern.

Vincent took a tissue and wiped the tears from Caroline's cheeks. He held her close against him as he led her back to the car where her mother was waiting.

Caroline was oblivious to the drive home. She barely remembered Vincent pulling into their driveway, or Terasa kissing her on the cheek. All she wanted was to go to her room and be alone.

Caroline sat curled up on the bed with her legs tucked beneath her and stared out the bedroom window. She angrily wiped at the tears spilling down her cheeks. She thought about the times she and Rheyna had spent together. No matter how many times she told herself that Rheyna was gone, she just couldn't believe it. It just wasn't possible. She had waited her entire life for someone like Rheyna to come along. Now she was gone, and it wasn't fair. She reached over the nightstand and turned the radio on.

The tears were automatic as Gloria Estefan's soft melodic voice filled the air. She thought about how many times Rheyna had made her listen to this CD and smiled. She thought back about their trip at the cabin and her first attempt at fis.h.i.+ng. She laughed and then she cried. The pain and emptiness in her heart was more than she could take. She didn't want to spend the rest of her life without Rheyna, and fate wasn't giving her a choice.

Terasa knocked lightly on the door and pushed it open. She sat down on the bed, pulled Caroline into her arms, and held her tightly as she cried.

Caroline laid her head against Terasa's chest. ”I hurt so bad, Mom. My heart feels like it died, too,” she said through tears.

Terasa smoothed Caroline's hair back from her face. ”I know you do, baby. I know it hurts and right now, I would give anything to be able to take your pain away.”

”I loved her so much. More than anyone I've ever known.”

Terasa looked lovingly at her daughter. ”And she loved you, too.”

Caroline pulled away. She shook her head. ”How can you say that? Everything about her was a lie.”

Terasa held Caroline's face in her hands. ”I saw how she looked at you, baby. She loved you as much as anyone possibly could, and that was something even she couldn't fake.”

”She used me. She was playing a role to get to Dad and I was part of it.”

Terasa nodded. ”In the beginning, I suspect she was. She had a job to do. But somewhere along the way, that all changed for her, just as it did for you.”

Caroline started to cry again, and Terasa pulled her closer, rocking Caroline in her arms. ”Shh, everything's going to be okay. You try and rest now.”

Terasa was worried about Caroline. It had been three weeks since she left her room. She looked down at her daughter's gaunt features and felt a stabbing pain in her heart.

Big Tony leaned smugly back in his chair and laced his fingers behind his head. Sonny tossed a newspaper on his desk.

Big Tony grinned as he leaned forward to pick it up. He read the headline out loud and laughed. ”Authorities no closer to solving the brutal death of FBI Agent Rheyna Sorento.”

He tossed the paper onto the open folder with Rheyna's FBI pictures. Sonny watched his boss revel in the glory of his latest endeavor and then jumped as Big Tony slammed his fist down on the desk. ”Nessuno me lo ficca in culo, nessuno!” he yelled in Italian and then repeated it. ”n.o.body f.u.c.ks me up the a.s.s, n.o.body!”

Sonny looked at him. ”There will be big repercussions. Carlos won't take kindly to the extra heat coming from the Feds. Informants are one thing, but a FBI Agent comes with a lot of extra baggage.”

Big Tony blew a smoke ring in the air and waved his hand. ”f.u.c.k Carlos. He doesn't deserve his position. He's a weak old man who refuses to get with the times. He thinks that we can still run things like the old days. Well, I've got news for him, times have changed, and his ten minutes are up.”

Stevens looked up as Edwards walked through the door. He removed his headphones and laid them on the table. Edwards walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down next to him.

”Anything?” Edwards asked, nodding toward the recorder.

Stevens shook his head. ”Did we get the indictment yet?”

”No. Should be any day now,” Edwards said as he lit a cigarette. He looked at Stevens and shook his head. ”I don't understand why it's taking so long. We have more than enough evidence, especially with what happened to Rheyna.” Edwards nodded toward the recording equipment. ”I'll take over here for awhile. Why don't you go get something to eat?”

”You sure?” Stevens asked as Edwards picked up the headphones.

”Yeah, I'm sure.”

He waited for Stevens to grab his car keys and leave the room before putting the headphones on. He turned up the volume and directed his attention to the conversation going on in Castrucci's office.

Vincent, carrying a pitcher of coffee, followed Terasa into Big Tony's office. Terasa repositioned the covered serving tray in her arms and nodded to Vincent. He walked over, placed the pitcher on the edge of the desk, and then took a position opposite Sonny. He leaned up against the wall, and folded his arms across his chest.

Big Tony glanced up at her, his brow furrowing in agitation. ”You forget how to knock?” he asked rudely.

Terasa ignored the question. ”Have I been a good wife to you, Anthony?”

He frowned at her. ”What kinda stupid question is that?” he asked.

She ignored his question again. ”Anthony, I have always done what you wanted and I've always been obedient.” He opened his mouth to speak and she held her hand up to stop him. ”I've never asked questions and I've never questioned your actions, even when I should have.”

He clicked his tongue against his teeth. ”And now is not the time to start, Terasa,” he said in a low voice, his eyes narrowing to slits.

”You had Rheyna killed,” she accused.

Big Tony smiled smugly, puffing out his chest. ”So what if I did?” he asked.

The look on Terasa's face was incredulous. She shook her head. ”Did you think for one minute about what it would do to Caroline?”

”I was thinking of her!” he yelled, his voice shaking with anger. ”I was right about that b.i.t.c.h, and no daughter of mine is going to lay down with a d.y.k.e, a f.u.c.king d.y.k.e who was dead set on destroying me, destroying our family.”

She looked at him, this man who was her husband, and felt nothing but pity and disgust. She leaned forward and looked him straight in the eye. ”No, Anthony, you've done that all by yourself.”

Big Tony had heard enough. ”I won't listen to this. I think you've forgotten your place, Terasa. Now get the h.e.l.l outta here before I forget that you're my wife,” he said, dismissing her with a flick of his hand.

Terasa didn't budge. When she spoke, her voice was eerily calm and controlled. ”You can do whatever you want with me. But no one and I mean no one, f.u.c.ks with my child, not even you, Anthony.”