I like writing strong women. Do you hear that Guza? This one is for Lante Lover. Thanks for giving me the Boston weekend off.
Chapter 52
"See you soon, Lucky," Dante replied into the cell phone, closing it and tossing it to Luke, who stood nearby, "He's on his way."
"I think that was should examine the woods over there," Luke told Dante, pointing to a patch of trees to their right.
"We've already been through their Mr. Spencer. There wasn't any sign of her," Dante reminded him, his tone sympathetic.
"Then, we'll look again," Luke answered, stopping to turn toward Dante, "Tell me something, Chef Falconeri, if it were my daughter out here, would you just give up and call it a day."
"No, sir. I'd move Heaven and Earth to find her," Dante replied, seeing the torment in Luke's eyes, "And I certainly wouldn't let anyone stop me."
"Good. Now, let's check out those trees," Luke ordered, moving toward them, not even glancing backward to see if Dante followed.
Running his hand through his hair, Dante maintained a short distance behind Luke, giving him the respect he deserved and allowing him to continue the search. Dante had lost hope that they would find Lulu's mother. She wasn't anywhere to be found. Matt Hunter could be miles away from them at this point. Out of respect, Dante stood by Lulu's father, trying to find some ounce of faith that her mother was still here, somewhere on his grandfather's property.
His head was pounding. Flashes of light like pin needles upon his eyes, as he slowly came to. He heard the sound of voices, one boisterous, commanding, while another was softer, but just as opinionated. The sound of metal assaulted his ears, the noise drawing him further toward consciousness.
His hands and feet felt numb and he instinctively moved them, attempting to alleviate the prickling. His efforts were met with restraint, his hands and feet restricted.
The voices were louder now and he could make out phrases, the words penetrating the fog that hovered directly over him.
"It needs more garlic," the woman said, stubbornly, as he heard several clattering noises.
He'd recognize that voice anywhere. It was the bitch that had hit him.
"It needs rosemary," another voice interrupted.
His captive. The witch that had kneed him.
"Mm, this tastes fantastic," yet another interjected, "Definitely needs more garlic."
Lulu.
"Traitor," the softer voice that had kneed him answered.
His eyes slowly opened. He glanced around his surroundings. He was inside the cabin. He looked down, noticed that his hands and feet were bound. Struggled once again, but his exertion was useless. He directed his focus back to the women, his eyes opening wider, as he became aware of what they were doing.
He was tied up and they were...cooking?
"She's marrying my son. It warms my heart that she recognizes the gift of garlic," she replied, grinning.
"Dante loves garlic," Lulu told the woman that had hit him.
"I am going to make your life a living HELL, unless you untie me," Matt Hunter shouted, interrupting their conversation.
"He's awake," the woman that had kneed him said softly, watching him, as the woman that had hit him, stirred the tomato sauce.
"I'm going to tear out your heart, use one of those knives to mince it and then FEED it to the fishes in the lake," he yelled, pulling at the cords and causing the chair to move.
"Lulu, honey, can you hand me that wooden spoon, please?" the woman asked, calmly continuing to stir the sauce.
"Maybe we should get Dante, or Sonny?" Lulu told the woman, watching him struggle, trying to release himself from his bonds.
"Did you hear me? What the hell is wrong with you people? I'm telling you that I'm going to butcher you and you are stirring-"
"Although, he's not very good with knives," Lulu whispered, handing the wooden spoon to the woman with the long dark hair, "Dante said that he'd never make chef."
"You're nuts. You're all fucking nuts," Matt Hunter told them, frustrated, "UNTIE ME NOW!"
"The guys should be back any minute. Laura is here. He's in here," she looked down at her watch, "I would say another five or ten minutes at the most."
He watched the woman dip the spoon into the sauce, bring it to her lips and close her eyes, "Mm, you're right, Lulu. It does taste fantastic. Needs just a pinch more of garlic," she stated, directing Lulu to the crushed garlic in a nearby bowl.
Once the garlic was added, she took another taste, smiling as the flavor was much more to her liking.
"Honey, why don't you set the table," she told Lulu, who turned and grabbed some plates, cups and utensils, then headed toward the large table at the opposite side of the room.
Except for the sweat that lined her brow, he would never know that Lulu Spencer was affected by his presence- she was completely relaxed.
"Will you check on the garlic bread? It should be ready," the woman that had hit him said, wiping the spoon on a nearby towel, as the woman that had kneed him did as she directed.
"Table's set," Lulu answered, turning toward the kitchen. The older, blond woman carried a plate of piping-hot bread to the table, handing it to Lulu to place upon the wooden surface.
"Pasta's ready," the woman with the dark hair announced, carrying the large glass bowl to the table.
"I SAID UNTIE ME!" he shouted, trying to get their attention. He had never been so off his game in his life. He felt like he was in the middle of some Twilight Zone episode.
The woman with the long, dark hair walked with determination toward him, a purpose in her steely eyes.
"Cut the cords on my legs first," he ordered, his eyes glancing downward at the spoon in her hand, "You can't cut them with THAT," he shouted, just inches from her.
She lifted the wooden spoon, pointed it at him, her face red with anger, "If you don't shut up this instant, I am going to ducktape your mouth closed and BEAT you with this spoon," she threatened, as he looked on in surprise.
She was crazy.
He directed his focus to Lulu and the other woman at the table, both standing with their hands folded across their chest.
They were all FUCKING crazy.
"Who the fuck are you people?" he shouted, Lulu the only woman that he knew by name.
"Who am I?" the demented lady shouted back at him, shaking her fist, "I am the MOTHER of the man you threw in the lake. MY BABY," she bellowed. So close, that he could smell the garlic on her breath.
His mother. She looked like his sister. Christ. This was not how he had planned everything.
"That's Olivia Falconeri," Lulu answered him, "and this is my mother, Laura Spencer," she continued, looking toward her mother.
"Mom, that's Matt Hunter," Lulu told her mother, pointing to Matt tied up in the chair, "He's the one that left Dante in the fire. He left him to die," Lulu said, turning toward Olivia.
"I didn't LEAVE him," Matt said softy, his focus on the deranged woman in front of him.
"He was unconscious. How was I supposed to know that he was still alive?" Matt answered, his hands desperately trying to release the cords behind his back.
The crazy lady with the wooden spoon was shaking her fist at him again, her eyes shooting daggers, as he sucked in his breath."
"You could have called for help. Dialed 911," she said softly, so quietly, that his nerves reacted, his body on edge.
"You could have flagged down someone on the street."
"I needed to get away from there. I didn't have time," Matt Hunter told her, watching the emotions flash across her face, "Why the hell am I explaining this to you? You should be afraid of ME!"
"You didn't have time? My son didn't have time, Mr. Hunter," Olivia replied, standing straight, "Every minute he was in that inferno, every second he inhaled that black smoke, was one step closer to him meeting his Grandpa Falconeri, God rest his soul," she said raising her eyes to the ceiling and crossing herself, "But, you...you could have stopped all of that before it even began. You could have saved his fiancee, Lulu, who's pregnant by the way," she said slapping the spoon on his thigh and watching him flinch,"his family, all of us, from going through Hell every day, Mr. Hunter. I thought my son was dead...for weeks. I grieved for him. I called in every favor I could think of to bring my baby back, to make what they told me, not to be true. But, you...you, Mr. Hunter, could have eliminated all of that. Just one phone call," Olivia told him.
"All right, all right. I'm sorry. Jesus, lady. My problem isn't with you. Hell, it isn't even with Chef Falconeri. He was just a means to an end. I did all of this because of one man. One bastard that I have waited YEARS to seek my justice."
"I don't understand," Lulu whispered, interrupting, "Why would you come after Dante? Me?"
"Because hurting you would devastate Chef Falconeri, and if I hurt him, well that would destroy the one man that I detest over all others.
"Sonny? You did all of this because of SONNY," Olivia shouted, pointing the wooden spoon at Matt Hunter once again.
"Christ, lady, would you drop the spoon? Just untie me and I'll let all of you go," Matt told them, trying to reason with them.
"Do I look stupid? Untie you?" Olivia shouted, pacing in front of him, thoughts racing through her head, "Yo, why don't you start explaining what my husband has to do with ANY of this and I'll think about letting you go."
Matt Hunter was about to answer when a knock sounded on the door and he released a breath, sighing in relief. Thank God.
"Hey, Olivia, it's Sonny. Open up."
Sonny Corrinthos, Matt Hunter, thought, bracing himself to face the man that had started his whole journey and the path that had led him to this place.
Years of anger fermenting inside of him, festering, infesting every crevice inside his body. All leading up to this, here in this cabin.
"I smell pasta," Sonny noted, closing the door behind him, his back turned, "Dante and Luke are still looking," he said, locking the door, "No sign of-"
"Hello, Sonny," Matt Hunter, said with bitterness, his eyes dark with hate.
"Is this the man-"
"Yes," Olivia whispered.
Sonny moved closer to Matt Hunter, leaned down and whispered, the barest sound emanating from his lips, "You're a dead man."
He stood and walked toward his wife, his eyes glancing back to Matt Hunter, ice cold. He took note of how he was tied to the chair, his expression never changing, even though on the inside emotions of hate, surprise and then pride, washed over him. He turned to his wife, Olivia, "You've been busy."
"Are Dante and Luke right behind you?" Olivia asked, still holding the wooden spoon like a weapon, "I made dinner."
"I can see that," Sonny replied, moving toward her and removing the spoon from her grasp, "Did you do this?" he asked his wife, directing his gaze toward the cords that bound their prisoner.
"We helped," Lulu interjected, as Sonny looked toward Lulu, "Are you all right? Did you hurt you?" Sonny questioned both Lulu and Laura, while his hand clasped his wife's, feeling the slightest tremor.
"We're fine," Laura answered, looking toward Olivia, "She's incredible."
Luke Spencer stopped and leaned against a tree, his body showing signs of fatigue, "Did I ever tell you how Laura and I met," Luke asked Dante.
"No, Lulu told me about your travels with Lucky, but very little about her mother," Dante answered, leaning against the opposite tree.
"I worked for Interpol, can you believe it? My buddy, Robert was a huge spy, always bragging about his lifestyle," Luke told Dante, pausing, a look of sadness crossing his face, "He died a few years back. No obituary. No funeral. As far as the world is concerned, the man never existed."
"I'm sorry," Dante replied, watching the emotions play across Luke's face.
"Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk about- Laura and I met when I was working a con for Robert. She was eighteen. A breath of fresh air," Luke reminisced, as Dante listened intently.
"I was working this nightclub in Port Chuckles," Luke laughed, "and she just strolled in one day looking for a job. She changed my life. Some good, some bad. A lot of good, though," Luke said aloud, flashes of memories invading his head.
"She was the best and worst thing that ever happened to me," Luke admitted, brushing a few fallen leaves from his pants.
"We fell in love, got married, had a few kids. I tried to make it work, but a part of me- well, it just wasn't made for family life."
"Most people get cold feet before the wedding," Dante stated, as Lulu's father laughed, "Well, I was never one for being predictable, that's for sure."
"What happened?" Dante asked, folding his arms across his chest.
"Life. Laura and I argued, made up, then argued some more. We loved each other. I think I love her more today, because of everything she went through with me."
Dante didn't answer, just listened, as Luke shared his past with him.
"Anyway, I don't know exactly how it happened, but Laura suffered a breakdown. Doctors didn't think she'd ever recover. I suddenly found myself a single parent, when I didn't even want, or know the first thing about raising a family. I ran. Took my son with me."
"You left Lulu behind," Dante acknowledged, a part of him angry with her father for abandoning her.
"I thought I was doing what was best for her. She was a girl. I didn't know how to deal with that," Luke shared, "So, I left her with her grandmother. Leslie Webber was a good woman. I knew that Lulu would be loved."
"She thought that you didn't love her. That you abandoned her," Dante accused.
"It wasn't like that. I wasn't gone all of the time. It was just easier to cope without having to see her face. Laura's face."
"So, how did you two get back together again," Dante questioned Luke, changing the subject before he became angry and protective over Lulu's feelings and her issues with her father.
"I would return from time to time. The state kept hounding me to put Lucky in school and she just woke up one day," Luke reflected, his expression one of amazement, "Just out of the blue. Awake."
"I have never felt anything like I did that day. The joy. The guilt. It was incredible. Overwhelming. We decided to make another start, with a few ground rules," Luke noted.
"No more cons," Dante answered for Luke, "no more traveling."
"No more Interpol," Luke commented, "I was officially retired. We opened a restaurant. I met this sweet woman named Adela and the rest is history."
"And Laura forgave you," Dante replied, watching Luke's look of disbelief, "Completely. We have our issues, but we're better now then when we met. But-"
"Lulu didn't," Dante answered, "She needed your support."
"I know. I don't need you to tell me how I've failed my daughter, Dante," Luke answered, angry.
"No, you don't. But, I'm marrying that woman. She is the best thing to ever happen to me. She's beautiful. She's smart. She's spunky as hell," Dante smiled, "And she's incomplete. She has this hole in her heart where you are supposed to be. I can't fill it. Only you can."
"Are you always like this? Freaking Dr. Phil," Luke replied, with a partial grin.
"I'm not telling you how to be a father, Luke. Hell, I don't know the first thing about being a husband, let alone taking on the role of a parent. My father is a crimelord. He kills people for a living."
"Yeah, can you imagine Grandparent's Day at your child's school," Luke laughed.
"I try not to," Dante groaned, not wanting to think that far ahead, "One day at a time."
"Do you think Sonny found Laura?" Luke said, changing the subject.
"She's like Lulu, right? I can't imagine Matt Hunter going up against anyone like that."
"Yeah, me either," Luke noted, pushing himself away from the tree, "What do you say we head back to the cabin? Maybe all of this has been one great big wild goose chase and our girls are safe and sound."
"She'll be fine. You'll see," Dante told Luke, following him toward the cabin.
"What exactly did you do to Matt Hunter," Lulu asked Sonny, her eyes glancing toward the man still tied to the chair.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Lulu," Sonny answered, pretending ignorance.
"He said that you did something. That you started ALL of this," Lulu answered, her eyes beginning to narrow, as she began to process the day's events.
"Lulu, he's tied up, probably a bit worried about his safety at the moment," Sonny replied, sending a look of reprimand toward Matt Hunter, "He'd say anthing."
"He's telling the truth," Olivia interrupted, facing her husband, "I saw it in his eyes."
"Olivia, honey, let me handle this," Sonny told her, turning toward Lulu and her mother, "You did great. Now, it's my turn. I'll take over."
"He means he'll make me disappear. I'll be handled," Matt Hunter chimed in, breaking his silence.
"I can't let you kill him," Lulu responded, "no matter what he's done. Lucky can-"
"The law won't keep him, Lulu. He'll be out in a matter of hours. Weeks at the most," Sonny informed her, shaking his head, "Do you really want him showing up at your wedding?"
"No, but-"
"Then, let me handle it. I'm just going to take him outside. We'll have a talk, come to an understanding. We're family Lulu. Family takes care of each other."
"Dante wouldn't want this. I don't want this," Lulu told him, "We can call Lucky. He'll take him in."
"Then what, Lulu? Wait for a trial. There won't be one," Sonny noted, coldly, "People like Matt Hunter always seem to skirt the system, to walk away scot-free."
"You're one to talk," Matt Hunter interrupted, his eyes dark with bitterness, "You kill people for a living, Sonny. You walk the line between right and wrong everyday and never get punished. Do you remember Tony Poletti?"
"Anthony Poletti? He played baseball with Dante," Olivia commented, her ears perking up, as she listened more intently.
"He was a kid. What about him?" Sonny questioned Matt Hunter, finding the words coming out of Matt Hunters' mouth a waste of oxygen.
"Anthony Poletti- Lil T, I called him- was my friend, Tony Poletti, was his father. Ring any bells, Sonny?" Matt asked, directing his focus on the women, on Lulu.
"See, it was several years back, I was pretty green, just starting out in the business. A few stolen cars here, some convenience store robberies there. Small stuff. Then, my friend comes to me and says he knows about this job. Nothing big. Easy money. All I have to do is provide the fireworks."
"Fireworks?" Lulu asked softly.
"My specialization was arson. I was good. Lil T comes to me and says he has this friend he wants to introduce me to and in walks Logan Hayes. Barely a foot out of the academy and already on the take. He goes on and on about this mob boss that is taking over the neighborhood and how I should get in on the action. Ringing any bells yet, Sonny?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Mr. Hunter. IF you got yourself into trouble back then, I'm not responsible."
"You son of a bitch. You are responsible. You set me up. You, Logan. I paid the price. Prison, Sonny. The whole time thinking about what I was going to do when I got out. But, I didn't pay the ultimate price, did I? No, that was Lil T. He was twenty-two years old. He had his whole life ahead of him, Sonny. And you...you had him gunned down like he was nothing. You shot him. You killed him, because he knew."
"That's a lie. I don't remember your precious Lil T, Mr. Hunter. Now, I'm tired of listening to the garbage coming out of your mouth, so we're going to take a walk. Do you swim?"
They heard the sound of the lock disengaging and watched the door swing inward, "Dad, Mom," Dante said canvassing the room, his eyes locked on Lulu's, a smile transforming his face, as he saw her mother by her side. Then, it dropped from his face, as he saw Matt Hunter in the chair, tied up.
"What's going on?"
