Music to my Soul
Chapter VII
Lara was smiling warmly at him from the bench. When he didn't move, she beckoned him. Cole took a few hesitant steps and the door closed noiselessly behind him. In Lara's eyes, there was none of the coldness he had seen the previous day. She seemed happy and at peace.
"Won't you play for me," she questioned softly.
"I don't play anymore," Cole managed hoarsely, as he felt his throat tightening.
"Of course you can," she insisted gently.
Without knowing how, he found himself sitting by her on the bench, his hands poised to strike the keys. Cole looked down at his hands and saw that he was trembling slightly.
"I can't play," he protested louder, pulling his hands away.
"Sure you can," Lara said again, as she took his hands in hers and gently brought them back toward the keys. "You always could, Cole… Please, play for me…"
Cole turned to Lara, staring at her beautiful face uncertainly. Slowly, she moved toward him and her lips brushed against his. Cole felt dizzy as he responded to her kiss and he only pulled away when he heard the music. He turned back toward the piano and was surprised to see himself playing as if no time had passed, just the same as the last time he was sitting in just this place.
"Cole," Paul's voice came from behind him and Cole jumped, as if pulled out of a trance. He glanced at his side and his heart sunk when he realized Lara was gone.
"Cole" Paul insisted and then Cole woke up, looking around his bedroom in total confusion.
It took him a second to realize that someone was knocking insistently on the door.
"Cole, I know you're in there. Come on…"
Cole sighed heavily at recognizing his friend's voice. It was just like Paul to insist like this. The night before, Cole took a ride back with Leo; and he had to admit, that was to avoid any more unpleasant discussion. Of course, Paul surely guessed and the only surprising thing was that he waited until the morning to come here.
"Just a minute," Cole called gruffly as he got up and grabbed his pants.
As he headed for the door, Cole was still shaken by the dream. However, there was also anger growing inside of him. Anger with Lara for causing all this confusion inside of him, but most of all, he was angry at himself for allowing such a weakness. His life was as he had wanted it until yesterday. Cole hadn't had a second thought in years. Yet now, he was questioning everything. How could he have even worried about Rita's feelings was beyond him. This woman was no better than the others. She'd only have given him grief if she knew he had cared even for an instant. And so would this Lara, he thought irately.
When he opened the door for Paul, this one saw that Cole wasn't in a much better mood than the previous night.
"Hey Cole… you thought you could get away from me?"
"Paul, you really are an ass. I don't run away from anything," Cole answered while turning his back to his friend. "I simply didn't see what more I could do there…"
"Yeah," Paul replied sarcastically. "Hey, if you're not running away from me, can I come in? I got something to tell you…" Paul saw the annoyed shrug Cole made and he added quickly, "Don't worry, I won't insist about you and the girl anymore…In fact, I'm not so sure she's good for you…"
"I'm not worried," Cole replied a little too loud, as he turned back toward Paul.
"Sure…" Paul said as he moved inside without waiting for the invitation.
After a moment of silence, while Paul took a seat in his living room, Cole questioned him.
"So, if you're not here to give me grief about your stupid theory. Why are you?"
"To try and talk you out of this scheme of yours… what else…?"
"Paul, I thought I was clear last night. I promised Leo I'd get him the goods on Fredo and I intend to do it."
"Cole… you saw the bodies like me. Those guys are lethal. Even if you get something on them, you'll never be safe again. Besides, I learned something else this morning and I really think you need to hear it."
"I give," Cole sighed heavily as he took a seat himself. "What?" He pursued impatiently.
Paul almost rolled his eyes.
"Did you read the paper yesterday?"
"No Paul… I don't need to read the paper," Cole answered with a half smile. "You're good at keeping me apprised of anything of interest…"
"Lazy bastard," Paul joked lightly. However, he soon became serious again. "Look Cole, they found another body floating in the bay yesterday morning. A mutilated one who had been thrown in sometimes this week…"
"And that should be of interest to me why?"
"It has to do with Lara…"
Paul saw Cole's frown and he went on quickly before this one could interrupt.
"They just identified the body this morning. He was Fredo's former driver… The one who supposedly quit unexpectedly and which Fredo asked you to replace…"
Cole felt a chill at this, but he didn't let Paul see that he hit the mark.
"Alright, but if Fredo's on some sort of killing spree, that's all the more reason…"
Paul interrupted, "There's more… Some people who knew the guy claim he was boasting of an affair with Lara Love; only days before he suddenly disappeared…"
At this, Cole flinched visibly.
"Yeah Cole…that's the kind of people you'd be dealing with… Count yourself lucky she wasn't interested…" Paul fished.
"Who the hell said she wasn't interested?" Cole exclaimed.
Paul couldn't help a teasing smile at this.
"Well, see, I got a hell of a time imagining that you said no to a sure thing!"
"I could just…" Cole stopped himself and breathed in deeply before pursuing more calmly. "I can think with something besides my dick, Paul."
"You could've fooled me many times…" Paul uttered just as teasingly.
Cole chose to ignore this and continued right away.
"As you said… those people are dangerous, and I realized the risk of touching Fredo's girl. That's all… Now he's got nothing to reproach me…"
"Things could've changed. If you even tried to put the moves on her, the girl might already have talked to Fredo about it. For all we know, there could be a shooter waiting for you out there right now."
"Paul, are you purposefully trying to freak me out?"
"Yeah!" Paul answered emphatically.
"Well, won't work. For all you know, the driver got killed by a rival gang. Last night could've been the same thing for that matter. You said yourself it could've been a coincidence…" Cole added. Cole felt an almost irrepressible urge to defend the girl against Paul's accusations and it only increased his anger with himself. Yet, even if he was indeed miffed at her for his weakness, he couldn't accept that she might be as vile as his friend implied.
"And you told me I shouldn't believe in coincidences…" Paul insisted.
"No matter, I didn't do anything to that girl, and Fredo's got no reason to suspect me of anything. And I don't believe she would do such a thing," Cole added against his better judgement. Realizing he had indeed tried to defend her, albeit mildly, he pursued quickly before Paul could use this against him. "I'm just a piano tuner who saved Fredo's butt… He's grateful and I'm sure he's got no intention of having me killed. Far from… I even had the distinct impression that he had more trouble trusting his own Lieutenant than me…"
"What if you're wrong, Cole?"
"Then, next time you'll see me, I'll have a nice body bag outfit," Cole clowned half-heartedly.
"Don't even joke about it. You can walk away from this right now. No harm done…"
Cole stood up and took a few steps away from Paul before he answered. He knew Paul might be right about this, but he couldn't help wanting to go back. Cole's only problem now was to understand why it mattered all that much. In his mind's eye, the answer came with the memory of the dream, and he almost told Paul about it, but refrained.
"I'm not one to turn around, Paul. You know that perfectly well. I won't get killed and I will get the info on Fredo. You know I mean it…" Cole said without looking at his friend.
Paul sighed heavily.
"I wish I was as confident about this as you are…"
Cole didn't answer this. Paul waited for a moment longer but when Cole said nothing more, he pulled an envelope from his jacket.
"Hey, I found this in your mailbox…there wasn't any postage on it…"
Cole finally turned toward his friend and saw the envelope in his hands. It looked the same as the one he'd found the night before. Cole went to pick it up and he indeed recognized Rita's handwriting.
"Not again," he sighed dejectedly.
"Won't you open it," Paul asked as Cole put the letter unopened on the coffee table.
Without replying, Cole picked it back and opened it with a shrug of annoyance. The letter was very similar to the one from the night before but the words sounded more desperate.
"Cole, you've got to reconsider. I swear; something bad will happen if you don't. Please don't leave me… Rita."
Cole thought, "Something worse will happen if she doesn't stop this…"
He was actually considering giving the goods on her to her husband at this point but as he thought of that, he felt sick. "What in the hell has this Lara done to me," Cole thought angrily as he dropped the note back on the coffee table.
"Bad news?" Paul questioned.
"No…nothing to concern you for sure," Cole replied gruffly…
Paul frowned but didn't insist.
~~~~~~~~
Rita sat in her kitchen, staring at the coffee pot, which was already boiling and threatening to spill, but she didn't react. Not even when her husband came in and exclaimed at the sight.
"Rita, what's the matter with you," he questioned while hurriedly picking up the coffee pot and turning off the gas.
Rita only continued staring, apparently without seeing or hearing anything.
"Rita, have you gone mad," her husband insisted when he saw the absent look in her eyes. "I think I know what your problem is," he suddenly spat. "Your lover dumped you, didn't he?"
That got a reaction from Rita, who glared at her husband at once angrily and with surprise.
"Yeah…you thought I didn't know how much of a slut you are? Well, I'll have you know that I don't care too much either way… But you won't ignore me in my house. And I sure won't endure your broken heart, Rita. Get over yourself…"
"If you know, why are you still here?" Rita finally asked flatly.
"I ask myself this question every day," he replied dejectedly before leaving the room without waiting for an answer.
Rita watched him going, and then she looked down at her hands, which had remained hidden from view until now. She was still holding the gun, her fingers almost caressing the trigger…
~~~~~~~~~~~
Phoebe was in her personal dressing room, relishing her triumph, but at the same time knowing that something was missing. Restless, she opened the door and looked in the hallway, expecting something but not knowing what. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Cole came to her and pulled her completely out in the hallway. He pressed her against the wall, face first, and then leaned against her back heavily, his warm breath burning the skin of her neck.
"Phoebe," he whispered huskily, "I want you." He was already pulling her dress with one hand while the other grabbed one of her breasts and began fondling it almost roughly.
"I," she managed under her breath before the caress of his hand on her bare thigh sent a shiver in her that stopped her. She bit her lower lip, while closing her eyes, only wanting to drown into the sensation.
"Yes," Cole trailed, "I know what you want," he pursued as his hand slowly moved between her thighs and toward her quivering loins.
"Yes…" she whispered in a trembling voice.
"Lara," Fredo questioned softly.
Phoebe opened her eyes and almost jumped out of her skin at seeing Fredo bending over her. His hand was caressing her inner thigh, but gone was the sensation of intense pleasure she had in the dream. Now, all she wanted was for the old man to leave her alone.
"Sorry, Fredo," she said, while rolling over, effectively escaping his caress, "I've got a headache…"
Fredo watched her curiously, as he tried his best to hide his frustration.
"I understand," he said then, but Phoebe knew that he was making an effort.
However, she cared little for the old man's frustration. What really bothered Phoebe was the intensity of this dream. That bastard… it wasn't enough that he had humiliated her yesterday; now he was invading her dreams… Fredo left their bed after a few seconds and she almost sighed in relief. She looked at the clock and saw that it was only 9:30 am. Still hours away from her visit with Paige. Phoebe waited until she was certain that Fredo had left the room, and then she rolled on her back again, while she allowed her mind to wander off to the past in an effort to dissipate the intense desire she still felt for the piano tuner…
It had been almost six months since Rudy picked Phoebe up on the street. To this day, she still hadn't told him her real name and by then, she was actually getting used to hearing herself being called Lara. At first, it had been difficult, but she liked the made up name. Not only had Rudy saved her from a life of depredation and humiliation but he also was helping her enter the showbiz world after he heard her singing. Phoebe soon found out that Rudy was a ballet dancer who had enjoyed a moderately successful career that was now on the decline. Therefore, he took Phoebe under his wing and began showing her the ropes. However after six months, she'd only had two gigs and in very obscure clubs at that. The last one had actually been a bad experience. The drunks frequenting the establishment had wanted something very different from her singing number and insulted her. After that, the old doubts had come back, and Phoebe began looking for the reassuring gratification of sex.
Rudy was very worried about her, but Phoebe assumed he was only scared to lose his only chance to recapture fame. In the end, she met a bar owner with a little more pull and she dumped her gay friend unceremoniously.
"You can't dump me like this," Rudy had exclaimed the day Phoebe announced it to him.
"Look Rudy, we both know that if I wasn't a good singer, I'd probably be back on the street. You can't give me what I want. You tried…"
"Lara…" Rudy exclaimed, apparently horrified at Phoebe's cynicism, "you know I wouldn't do that."
"I know no such thing," Phoebe replied harshly. "All I know is that people always use others. My father used me…other men and women did too and now, I'm gonna use them."
"How could such a young woman have become so cynical?"
"You ask me?" Phoebe questioned with a hint of disdain. "Look at what people are saying about you. Many could knife you just for what you are…"
"Lara!"
"Don't try to stop me. I owe you nothing… I paid my dues and you should be grateful I'm giving you back your life. Good bye," Phoebe had finished before picking up her bag of belonging and turning her back on Rudy for the last time.
As she got up and began preparing for her outing, Phoebe felt a pang of remorse at the way she treated Rudy. After all those years, it seemed ridiculous. Her malaise only worsened as her mind wandered again toward the dream about Cole, which seemed just as real and arousing as it had before she reminisced. "What's the matter with me," Phoebe wondered with a tinge of anxiety. She seriously hoped that her visit with Paige would finally put all the doubts and worries to rest…
When Cole arrived at the Turello residence, he thought he heard screaming from inside the house. This was confirmed as soon as the housekeeper opened the door for him. Lara and Fredo stood in front of his office and Lara was positively fuming.
"You won't keep me stuck in here! No one will ever force me to stay somewhere I don't wanna be. I'm going to see Paige and that's the end of it."
"Lara you gotta be reasonable. I can't risk you going out there on your own right now. It's not safe…"
"I'll decide what is safe," Phoebe almost shouted again.
"Lara, I told you, there's no way I'm letting you go out there!" Fredo retorted angrily this time.
"Others have tried to lock me in, Fredo. I dumped them all. I'm not gonna be tucked in a corner and made to wait for your good will. I'm going," Phoebe insisted again.
Cole thought he detected a hint of fear in her voice. As if the thought of staying in here was worse for Lara than going out there and risking being attacked… She was obviously even willing to defy a powerful man like Fredo to get out of the house. Was Lara claustrophobic? Or was there something deeper going on here? Maybe something he could use, Cole thought again to himself.
The housekeeper was already trying to shoo Cole into the study, but Fredo saw him then and came straight at him, obviously giving up on convincing Phoebe for the moment.
Cole couldn't help the bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. All of Paul's warnings were still echoing in his mind. Yet, Fredo seemed actually friendly considering the obvious annoyance he had with Lara. The old man didn't lose time in small talk either as he extended his hand toward Cole.
"So…are you joining the team?"
Cole watched him uncertainly. It was now or never. He could just turn back like Paul said. He could've walked away from this after making the repairs to the piano. Yet, Cole looked discreetly behind Fredo and he cast a quick glance at a still fuming Lara… he knew then he didn't have a choice. For whatever reason, he wanted to be there.
"Well, even if I still think it's a little sudden, I'm willing to give it a try," Cole finally answered.
"A try?" Fredo questioned somewhat unhappily.
"You know, being a chauffeur's not exactly glamorous."
"And I told you that you'd only be starting from there. However," Fredo gave a quick look back to Lara himself, "right now, I could use your services."
"What, now?" Cole replied, pretending he thought it was too soon. In reality, Cole had guessed what Fredo wanted him for.
"I think you could be the answer to my problem… Lara," he called to her. "What if we compromised?"
Lara took a few steps toward the two men. Cole got the distinct impression she was avoiding his eyes. He found it strange considering her directness of the previous day. In fact, he had expected recriminations.
"What do you mean," Phoebe questioned hesitantly. She had her doubts on what Fredo was about to propose and she wondered if the trepidation she felt inside was caused by annoyance or impatience.
"Cole here just accepted the chauffeur's job. If you agree to let him drive you there and back, I'll feel much better about you going out."
"I can drive myself," Phoebe protested mildly.
"Lara, you've gotta be reasonable. I wanna keep you safe and I trust that Cole can help in that respect. What does it matter, anyway? Until he left, Martin was driving you everywhere," Fredo added in a voice that again made Phoebe squirm inside.
"I don't even know him and I don't trust him," Phoebe still tried, indicating Cole.
"I can assure you Lady," Cole intervened with a smile, "that I'm a very good driver and won't let anything happen to you…"
In spite of her resolve to avoid looking at him, her eyes met with his at this and the sensation that coursed through her was not one of fear or annoyance. However she soon realized this with irritation and she turned away from Cole's stare, addressing Fredo instead.
"If that's the only way…I guess I can live with it…"
"That's my girl," Fredo replied with a half-smile.
Phoebe reflected that she would prove to herself Cole wasn't that much of a problem for her. No man would have a hold on her she repeated stubbornly in her mind.
"I wanna go now!" Phoebe then exclaimed impatiently. "Paige's waiting for me…"
"I still had this little work to do for you… on your piano remember?" Cole replied.
"That'll wait."
"Take the car that is parked up front," Fredo offered. "You can leave your tools here, but if you'll follow me in my office, I have a few instructions for you," Fredo offered, ignoring the annoyed gaze Phoebe gave him.
"Whatever you say," Cole answered, putting down his bag of tools near the double doors. All the way to the office, Cole thought he could feel her eyes on him. The thought brought a slight arousal to him which he tried his best to repress. How could even the thought of her be enough to stir him? This even after she was so obviously insulting to him… At the same time, however, Cole had detected vulnerability in her and he couldn't help the warm feeling that accompanied this knowledge. This was strange indeed as he would usually consider such a thing a way in. Now, it only provoked an intense desire to protect her.
Inside the office, it was soon obvious that Fredo's "instructions" were rather simplistic. The old man opened a drawer of his desk and pulled a handgun out of it. He weighed the weapon pensively for a moment while Cole wondered if this had not been an elaborate scheme to finish him right then and there.
Then, Fredo walked toward him and handed him the gun, handle first…
"I think you should be armed."
"Is there something wrong," Cole finally asked, as if until now, he had believed that Fredo resolved all his problems as he told Cole he would the day before.
"Just consider this a precaution. I care a great deal for Lara. I don't want anything happening to her."
"I get that…what I wonder is…" Cole hesitated a moment. "Well, is there something in particular that you fear?"
"Would that change your mind," Fredo asked with a hint of defiance in his voice.
The old man was obviously trying to appeal to Cole's pride, no doubt thinking that Cole wanted to back down in the face of danger. Cole felt an irrational anger mounting in him at the thought.
"Not at all… I said I'd do it, didn't I?" Cole replied while taking the gun resolutely and ostensibly checking the load.
Fredo observed Cole's handling of the gun appreciatively and Cole knew that the old man was satisfied with his expertise.
"Now remember what I told you about Lara," Fredo called to Cole as this one was heading out of the office.
"Nothing's gonna happen to her." Cole assured. Deep down, he had to admit he cared just as much as Fredo. This time, Cole didn't even try to deny it as he saw her waiting for him near the front door. However, he also swore to himself that as soon as he was convinced she was safe and after he had finished his work for Leo, he would leave her behind and try his best to forget about the beautiful singer. No one, not even Lara would change the way he lived his life.