Disclaimer: The characters you recognize as J.E. are hers, and I am only borrowing them. There are several original characters that are mine, and I claim them as mine.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who review as guest as well as those of you who don't allow PMs. I love the reviews and want to tell you that I read and appreciate them all. Thank you all.

Spoilers: Anything from the books 1-12 might be used for the most part, but I won't rule out anything from all 19 of the books. Please note that the time-line for the books has been altered to fit the story, and people and incidents might have been added.

I would like to give a special thanks to Jenn from BCRU. She has been doing quotes from book 9, and the quote in the first chapter here is what gave me the idea for this story. Hope you enjoy. Thank you also to Dreemseeker for all your input as Beta. Thank you to the ladies at BCRU for answering my questions as well.

Chapter 10: The Other Side Is Heard

Rene's POV:

I was talking softly to Connie as I stroked her jaw, trying to help her forget the incredible pain from the migraine she was experiencing. I'd wanted her to accept the pills Bobby had offered her to ease the pain, but she refused to take a chance that it would hurt the baby she carried. My respect for her increased enormously. When I'd seen her in our bed writhing in pain I wanted to move mountains to change places with her. It killed me to see her in so much agony. The only number I'd had was Raul's. When I told him I needed to get Connie to the medics office he'd come right over so that I would have the access I needed.

I didn't bother with getting dressed, sweats covered everything necessary and I was by no means shy. When we'd entered the medic's wing, Bobby was just putting a final stitch in Vince's arm. Apparently, he'd answered an alarm and surprised three men that had broken into an electronics store RangeMan monitored. On seeing us enter, he jumped off the exam table to allow me to lay Connie there for Bobby to look at. Her skin was clammy and too pale, her brow was pinched in pain. Raul handed me a chair that I placed beside the table so I could stay as close to her as possible, and I arched my arm on the table around the top of her head as I gently caressed her jaw with my other hand, hoping to calm her. Bobby immediately lowered the light before coming over to examine her. I absently listened to Vince telling Raul about the incident at the store as I waited for Bobby to finish his exam of Connie.

When Ranger stopped in, he asked if anyone had called Stephanie. Bobby said he was getting ready to do that as soon as he'd gotten Connie as comfortable as he could make her. Ranger said he'd make the call. While I sat beside Connie and tried to soothe the pain away, I was still able to hear his conversation. He'd no more than said Connie was in the infirmary and then he was pulling his phone away from his ear and shaking his head.

Bobby asked him, "What's wrong?"

"She hung up on me."

The amused surprise on their faces led me to believe that was unusual to say the least. Ranger shook his head. "I'd stay, but Tank just got a call from the owner of the electronics store and we need to go do some damage control."

Bobby lifted a hand in acknowledgement and Manoso left the room.

Literally seconds later a whirlwind, called Stephanie, entered the room demanding to know what happened. She had come in at full steam pushing the half open door into the wall and nearly knocking Vince off his feet. If he hadn't done some pretty fancy footwork he would have been put on the ground by a girl nearly eight inches shorter than him and a whole light lighter. Once she was informed about what was happening, she pulled out her phone and made a call demanding someone named Morelli bring 'the cure', and giving them two minutes to have it here. She then called someone else, telling them what to expect.

Once she hung up she came over beside Connie and whispered, "I got Morelli bringing the cure, Connie. I'm hoping it will help your pain."

Connie reached out a hand and Stephanie took hold of it, leaning down closer. "Steph. Tibet. Danger. He's gonna kill you."

I could see the confusion on Stephanie's face as she asked the sixty-four thousand dollar question, "Why? How does he even know me?"

"Ramos. To… get… back… at… Ramos."

Stephanie straightened and I noticed a gleam in her eyes. Before she could do or say anything else, one of Ranger's men came in with another man. He was around six foot, maybe an inch over in height with a lean build packed with muscle. He had dark brown hair that brushed his shoulders and his eyes were a shade darker. The guy had looks, and the way he looked at Stephanie told me he was here because she needed his help. I briefly wondered at the story behind these two and what it had to do with Manoso.

Stephanie took the McDonald's bag and drink from him, and opened it, before bringing it over and placing the straw at Connie's mouth so she could take a drink. She told Connie to open up and put several fries in her mouth, all I could do was shake my head. Connie managed to eat all the fries and slowly drink the pop. She was quiet for a while, and we all looked on in anticipation. She moved her head from side to side, then removed the wet cloth from her eyes, and attempted to sit up.

I quickly moved to help her sit on the edge of the table. Connie had a slight smile on her face and although you could tell she wasn't totally pain free, she was definitely feeling better. She squeezed Stephanie's hand and said, "Thanks. That did the trick."

The newcomer narrowed his eyes and asked, "What's going on, Cupcake?" Stephanie glared at him. He raised his hands with a grin on his face, "Force of habit, Steph."

"Well, it's time to cure that habit." She relented with the glare and softly said, "Thanks for bringing the cure, Joe."

He nodded. "I hear there was some excitement on your way into Trenton yesterday."

I watched as Stephanie grimaced before admitting, "Just a bit."

He gently pulled one of her curls. "I'm glad you weren't hurt, Stephanie. Tell Ranger if he needs my help, I'll be by the phone."

She smiled gently at him and something told me there was a history with these two. Although I had seen first-hand how she was around Manoso, I could sense feelings here as well. "Thanks, Joe. I'll tell him."

I saw the sadness in his eyes as he turned to walk away. I glanced at Stephanie and saw the pain in her eyes before she quickly masked it. She checked her watch before turning our way. "Are you ready to go meet with your mom?"

Connie nodded. "Yeah. I'm ready."

I helped her down and wrapped my arm around her. I leaned down to ask, "Do we have time to swing by the apartment so I can add a shirt? I don't want to make a bad first impression on my new mother-in-law."

Connie looked at my bare chest and blushed before whispering, "That might be a good idea."

Stephanie's POV:

When Connie told me Tibet was going to kill me to get back at Ramos, everything started to make sense. Although I needed to know what Connie could tell me, I knew it had to wait until after we talked with her mom. We made a stop by the apartment Ranger had shown them to the night before so Rene could dress a little more conservatively for his first meeting with Connie's mom. When he stepped out of the bedroom, I had to admit, he was drop dead sexy. If I didn't already have Ranger in my life, I might be fanning myself the way Connie and Lula always did when Ranger was around.

The three of us headed down to the conference room off the lobby. Gianna was already waiting for us. She was up and hugging Connie in no time, and I heard her asking, "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, ma."

Gianna nodded. "Come sit down."

Connie allowed her mother to drag her to a seat, holding tight to Rene's hand so he would go with her. Once we were all seated, Connie turned to her mother and asked, "When I was little, I heard you crying on the phone and saying you were sorry, and you should have told someone. Can you tell me what that was about?"

I could see the denial in Gianna's eyes. It was obviously something she didn't want to talk about. I had a feeling it would take a lot more than us asking before she would relent and tell us what we needed to know. I glanced at Connie and as if she knew what I was asking, she nodded her head. I took it as permission to let her mother know what was going on and why we needed to know.

I sat forward and began, "Mrs. Rosolli…"

She held up a hand, "Please. Call me Gianna."

I nodded. "Gianna. Connie needs your help. She and Rene were married in Vegas and now we need your help in understanding this feud between the Rosollis and the Bianchis. Does that have anything to do with the phone call? If so, it's very important we know what the connection is."

Gianna looked at Connie worriedly, "You got married? Why didn't you say anything?"

Connie pulled her bottom lip between her teeth for a second before rolling her eyes and saying, "I didn't even know if I actually did get married or even who it was until three weeks ago. If it hadn't been for the fact I found out I was pregnant, I probably still wouldn't know who it was that I married."

Gianna's eyes lit up with joy. "You're going to have a bambino?"

Connie smiled with pure joy. "Yes. That's why I need your help mamma. Her eyes turned to Rene and with both her hands clasped in his she faced her mother. "This is my husband, Rene Bianchi."

Gianna's face paled and she looked ready to cry.

I laid my hand over hers and tried to reassure her. "Everything will work out. Once we get this feud business sorted out, everything will be fine."

She shook her head. "You don't know."

A tear slid down Connie's cheek. "Then tell us so we can understand."

I didn't think she was going to at first, but then she straightened in her seat and nodded. "All right. For you, I will dredge up the past." She looked around, as if for a distraction.

I stood up and poured her a cup of coffee and placed it before her with the cream pitcher and sugar bowl. She smiled and dumped in some of each before starting to stir. She continued to stare down at the mug as she started to speak. "It was forty years ago. Concetta and I walked into the meat market to pick up some things for our families. This was right after I married your father. Concetta and I were best friends even before I became part of the family. We were like sisters we were so close. Well, we walked into the store and there was a young man behind the counter. His father had sent him to learn the butchering business from his good friend here in Trenton. Your aunt took one look at him and was head over heels in love. Apparently the young man felt the same. He started taking Concetta places and at first everything was just fine."

She paused to take a sip of the coffee and grimaced. She moved the mug aside and clasped her hands in front of her. Your grandfather Uberto had a meeting with Drago Bianchi. When he came home from the meeting, he called Concetta into his study and told her she must break it off with Giovanni. Concetta refused. Your grandfather was beside himself. I overheard him talking with Vitto Grizolli, asking him if he would help him to ensure Concetta's safety by preventing her from marrying Giovanni."

I could see the question in Connie's eyes but put a hand up. I wasn't willing to let her mom re-think telling us all about this. Connie nodded and remained silent. After a couple minutes, Gianna took a tissue and daubed her eyes. Then she continued. "I told Concetta what they were planning. She begged me to drive her to Giovanni's apartment and I did. I stayed down at the car while she went inside. I'd only been waiting a couple minutes when she came flying out of the building and ran right into the road. There was a car coming too fast, it was apparent that they could not stop in time, and as I watched she was hit by the car and killed instantly. I was frantic. I ran into the building and hurried to Giovanni's apartment. I wasn't thinking and just opened the door. Serafina Giovincini was on top of him and there were noises coming from them to make it obvious just what they were doing. I quietly closed the door and went back down to my car. The police were pulling up as I got there, and I ran over to tell them what I'd seen."

Her expression turned bitter. "Of course, Concetta's death never made the papers. The driver of the other car was the Governor's drunken son. It was hushed up. When I told Uberto, he was beside himself with grief. I heard him ranting that Bianchi had done this and there would be no peace as long as there was a Bianchi alive."

I could see by the expression on Rene's face that he was trying to reconcile what he had just heard with the father he knew. After several minutes he shook his head. "I believe you think what you saw was the truth, but I know my father. In the thirty-nine years he has been married to my mother, he has never strayed. If he planned to marry your sister-in-law, I am sure he wouldn't have been with another woman willingly."

My eyes widened. That queasy feeling I'd had when we were talking to Alexander was back. Connie's eyes narrowed on me and she asked, "What's going through that mind of yours, Stephanie?"