Chapter 21

Author note: I only own the Bentivegnas.

LovinGreg247: Hey don't worry about not reviewing, it's nice to know i have a few readers at least. I know how it is when you get busy with other stuff. I'm getting there with Frankie and Greg, i just make them difficult

SlappyWhite:That was my intention! hmm,i wonder what exactly those tattoos mean...hahah. I hope you like this one too, it's necessary for the story, i think at least

Jauntychick:I updated! I think you may be right. :

The incessant repetitive beeping sound omitted throughout the bedroom, where the sleep deprived Frankie lay. She sat up slowly, her hand hitting the snooze button and then she looked over to her left where Greg lay. Sine her accident her sleep had been filled with dreams of the car crash where she could not save her son, and that's what scared her the most. Frankie had opted for no sleep rather than these nightmares, which Greg had noticed, so when she did sleep, she'd wake up crying. That's why they always slept in her bed together, because she needed his comfort, even if she wouldn't come out and say it. He understood though and wanted nothing more but to have an excuse to hold the woman he loved without her questioning it. She slid out of bed, and stealthily headed to her bathroom to shower. Frankie needed a little time to herself before all hell broke loose.

She opted to blow dry her hair, and pulled the longer pieces together into a small ponytail. She pinned the stray chunks of her hair with criss-crossing bobby pins, to keep her appearance looking clean-cut and professional. The pencil black skirt didn't fit right on her today neither did the green long sleeved blouse that had always been her favorite. Frankie already knew the day was not going to be any better. She had to laugh, when she opened the door of the bathroom and watched Greg struggle with his tie. She glided over to him, and gently took the silk in her hand. Tying the ties for her brothers every Easter morning since she was a little girl had come in handy. Greg sighed in relief that Frankie could tie his tie for him. No matter how many times he had been to court, his nimble hands always grappled with the serpent fabric. She smoothed out the stray wrinkles in his blue oxford, and then went in search of a green headband to match her shirt.

Greg left her bedroom to go wake up his son, but the boy was not in his bed. A sharp happy bark from downstairs told him that both Dorian and Nanook were already awake and downstairs. Greg walked into the kitchen and started the coffee pot, while Dorian ate his breakfast consisting of a bowl of cereal. Frankie hadn't been too far behind him, for when he looked up in the doorway, she entered the kitchen. Frankie greeted her son with a kiss to the cheek and pet the obedient Nanook. Greg poured two cups of coffee by the kitchen counter and handed one of them to her. In her head, she couldn't help but laugh at the interaction. In a twisted way they were a family, which biologically was true, but not in the traditional view of the American family.

Twenty minutes later the trio sat in the courtroom at the trial. Frankie sat behind the plaintiff's desk, while Greg and Dorian sat in the row behind her. Currently Johnny was standing before the court addressing his older brother on the accusations of attempted murder. "Besides your personal morality issues, what gives you, a man of finance, the right to impose justice on a single-mother barely striving to get by?"

"That's why. She disobeyed god's law and if God wasn't punishing her, I took it into my own hands. Francesca is not an innocent girl, she doesn't play by the books, she's a smoker and a drunk, both of which connotes a sinner."

"Mr. Bentivegna you are not God and you cannot enforce his justice on others simply because you believe it to be right. Did you deliberately accelerate your car, because you knew it belonged to Miss. Francesca Bentivegna?"

Anthony remained silent.

Johnny glanced to his younger sister and then over to his rival lawyer. Neither attorney's said anything, but the judge ruling spoke up. "Mr. Bentivegna, answer the question."

"Yes."

A dark shadow cast across Johnny's face, he was in total disgust that the man before him was his own brother. "I have no further questions."

Anthony stepped down from the stand and Anthony's attorney stood up. "May I call to the stand victim in question, Dorian Bentivegna-Sanders?"

"Objection!"

"Over-ruled. Dorian, can you please come sit up here?"

Frankie was freaking out, as she hadn't realized that her son would be questioned as well. Despite Johnny's efforts to stop that from happening, it was. Dorian was escorted by the bailiff to the stand, read his rights and asked to swear his oath. Unlike any other eight-year-old, Dorian completely understood and complied with anything that was asked of him. Anthony's attorney stood in front of the judge's desk and began his attacks on the young boy. His intent was to confuse, but Dorian had inherited from both his parents a quick-witted sense to understand when someone was trying to fool them. Frankie knew he'd be a great investigator just like his father.

"Now, Dorian how was your mother's state that day?"

"Normal. Mom's not an alcoholic or a drug addict or unstable, if that's what you're saying. We were going home and out of nowhere another car hit us."

The attorney sighed. "I have no further questions."

He knew there was no way they would win this, so he didn't even bother questioning Frankie. This was an open and shut case. After Dorian was questioned, there was a short court recess. Immediately following the recess, the jury had come to a decision and everyone was brought back into the courtroom. A representative of the jury handed the judge a slip of paper, and he announced, "We, the jury vote in favor of Francesca Bentivegna and find the defendant, Anthony Bentivegna guilty of attempted murder, traffic violations and intent to harm a child."

Belief and satisfaction was felt throughout the party, that Frankie suggested they all go out for lunch to celebrate the good news. The boys agreed with her, especially her eager son, who hadn't eaten since his small bowl of cereal earlier. The same went for his father, the two of them alone could eat her out of her house, but together with the addition of her brother Alexander it was worse. She cooked full meals and still had to go grocery shopping at least twice a week. It did wonders for her paycheck, but she had been lucky enough to have her father pay for the house as a gift to his two youngest kids, and he refused to take any of her money as payback. It was good for her, because she still was paying off all her college loans.

Frankie let Greg drive her car to the diner he frequented the most with some of their coworkers. He had told them they would get the best service, because Rita had become somewhat of a good friend over the years. Johnny followed in his car and when they were seated, he was pleased that Greg had been right. Rita was a really good server and they had been surprised there was no wait at the lunch rush. Johnny was impressed by his nephew and was proud of his sister on doing such a good job raising him. He noticed the way Greg fawned on her and he really wished she would see it.

When Frankie went to the bathroom, Johnny confronted him about it. "Greg?"

"Yes?"

"Are you in love with my sister?"

"Yes."

"Then tell her, she needs to know."