Sorry for the wait. Thanks for the reviews ladies. You keep me going.
P.S.: Long chapter to make up for the wait.
Chapter 49-Vicky's Gone
Vince's POV
I sat in the living room the next day, a bowl of cereal in one hand, Desmond in the other. We were staring intently at the talking, dancing sponge and his pink starfish friend. I had to admit, it was pretty amusing. Especially to Desmond, considering he was giggling and clapping. I smiled at how happy he looked. I was pulled from my indulgence by footsteps entering the room.
"You going to work today?" Sasha's voice filled the room. Both Desmond and I looked up at her, I taken aback. She had her hair straighten with very light makeup. She wore a white tank top and a short, denim skirt that showed off her fantastic tanned legs. "Vince!" I blinked and looked back up at her.
"You look nice," I smiled, standing from the couch. She rolled her eyes and took Desmond out of my hands.
"Look, I'm taking Desmond with me. We're going baby shopping with Letty. Apparently, she's keeping the baby," Sasha said, bouncing Dez up and down in her arms. I nodded, happy to hear the good news. I knew Dominic would be in a better mood today.
"That's good. But I told Dominic I was going to stop by after I went to check on Victoria. It's been a while since I seen her last," I replied, stretching my arms over my head. One smell of my armpits and I felt dizzy. "Whoa, guess I better shower first."
"Yeah, that'd be nice," Sasha added, receiving a glare from me. I kissed Desmond on the cheek and ruffled his tiny head of head. I kissed my wife, only more passionate, thinking twice about letting her leave. "Go shower please, you smell," she smiled, pushing me away. I responded with a grunted as I told them 'bye'.
"Daddy!" Desmond shouted to my back. I turned, the largest goofball smile on my face, and looked at him.
"See ya junior," I smiled, continuing my walk upstairs.
In the bathroom, I turned on the hot water knob, watching the warm water stream from the hose. I stripped naked, tossing my previous attire, which was a white wife beater and basketball shorts, in the laundry basket that was located in the corner. I looked in the wall mirror at my body.
I felt nauseous at the sight of my scars. The scar that wrapped down my right arm, the shotgun scar that sat on my waistline. The scars that started the hell of my life. I noticed the scar on my chest from the shot I received from the night of the kidnapping. Though I was wearing a vest, the force still left a pretty sick scar on the left side of my chest.
I snapped out of my daze and walked over to the shower, stepping in the now hot water. As soon as the water hit my neck and back, I felt relaxed. I dipped my head under the steaming water, my long hair cascading down my head. You need a haircut, soon.
I spent a few hours in the shower. I was so relaxed and felt so serene, I couldn't pull my body to move. I was only brought down from my high by the opening and shutting of the front door. I shut off the shower and grabbed a towel, drying off my head carelessly. I wrapped it around my waist and peeked out the door.
"Sasha! That you?" I called out. I didn't hear a response.
I ran to the bedroom and pulled on some old jeans and grabbed my .9mm from my top drawer. I hid it by my side as I crept down the hallway stairs. I looked into the living room, pointing my gun around. No one there. I made my way to the hallway, hoping it was just Diana or Jesse coming home. I looked down the stairs, only to find it dark and quiet. I walked back up the stairs to check in the bedrooms. Mine and Sasha's was empty, so was Desmond's. Only one more place. I slowly turned the knob, gripping my pistol tightly. I tossed the door open, holding the gun out, to find a saddened Jayden lying down on her bed.
"Geez, Uncle V, put that away will ya?" she shouted for the first time since I'd met her. A little taken aback, I placed the gun in the waistline of my jeans and walked over to her.
"What's wrong Jay? And why are you home so early?" I questioned, sitting on the edge of her bed.
"The principal gave me the rest of the day off," was all she said before turning over, her back to me. Not fully understanding, I patted her stomach.
"C'mon, let's go downstairs and get a drink. You can tell me what's going on," I said, leading her out the room and down to the kitchen. She sat on the stool and stared blankly at the countertop sadly. I grabbed us both a Mountain Dew and kicked the fridge closed. I handed her the drink and sat across from her.
"So why'd he give you the day off? You sick?" I questioned her. She shook her head no. The next question popping in my mind, I was a little hesitant to ask. "Is … is it that time of the month?" She looked at me weird and shook her head. Thank God, I thought. "Jayden, you need to tell me what's going on with you," I said, slightly raising my voice to assure her I was serious.
"Vince, don't push it. I'd rather not talk about it," she snapped again, taking a swig of her soda. I squinted my eyes at her sudden rude behavior.
"Well I would. What's your freaking problem Jay?!" I yelled, not being able to contain my temper. I was a very impatient person.
"My fucking mother just died you asshole! If you answering your phone today instead of doing God knows what, you'd know that!" she yelled, stomping out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
What? She's dead? She died and I wasn't there? Shaking my head furiously, I stomped over to the phone. One message waiting. Why didn't I hear it ringing? I looked under the phone and found my answer. I pushed over the 'ringer on' button. I pressed the playback button to listen to the message on the phone.
"Hello, Mr. Palmeriti. This is Jeffery Chambers, the principle of Tillerman Reform School. I'm calling to inform you that your niece Jayden Parish will be leaving school early today. Also, I'm sorry to report that your sister Victoria Parish passed away this morning. The officers here today said they will contact you as soon as possible about custody of Jayden and other information. Jayden may take as much time off as she needs. I'm sorry about for your loss and your family has my deep condolences," by the end of the message, soft tears ran down my cheek. I cradled my head in my hands as I tried to process what I had just learned.
"She's not dead. She can't be," I denied, marching up the stairs, three at a time. I slipped my feet in my boots, not bothering with socks or a shirt. I walked slowly to Jayden's room, feeling guilty for yelling at her. I put my ear up to the door to listen. She was crying. Before, she never showed any emotion when her mother was brought up into conversation. She never talked about her and rarely went to visit. Now, she was crying over her death. I walked away and bounded down the stairs. I grabbed my cell phone and car keys and left the house.
xxx
Sasha's POV
I was sitting with Letty, Lillian, and Desmond on the Food Court of the local mall we hit up. I was feeding Desmond baby food while listening to Letty and Lily talk about the new baby. We already purchased four outfits each for the young one, none of us sure of the sex. I wanted to by the new Toretto toys, but Letty was positive he wouldn't need any because of all the children in the family already. She felt it was pointless to buy brand new toys when he can just have the kids' old ones.
"You want a girl or boy Let?" Lily asked her, chowing down on Chinese food.
"I dunno really," Letty was acting a bit distant. Like something was bothering her. She was light on words, which was very unusual for Leticia Toretto. She was jumpy and was constantly asking me if I was alright. I didn't have a reason not to be, so I was a bit worried.
"Letty, what's your issue girl? You seem like a totally new person," I asked, scooping up greens that feel from Desmond's mouth.
"I'm fine. Just a little on edge," she answered, wanting to drop the subject.
"Whatever. Anyways, how much more shopping?" I asked, not in the mood to play twenty questions with her. Before she could answer, my cell phone rang. Picking it up off the table, I looked at the screen. "Vince. I'll be right back," I said, standing from the table. I walked over to the escalators and stood to the side, watching people go down.
"Yes Vince?" I answered, a bit annoyed. He knew I liked my Ladies Day without him calling every two seconds. He didn't answer right off the bat. There was sniffling and heavy breathing, but no words. "Vince, I'm in the mood for jokes."
"She's gone Sash. She's dead," my body stiffened as I listened to his words.
"Who Vince? Baby calm down, tell me what's going on."
"Vicky. She died today. This morning," I sighed and lowered my head in grievance, "Sasha, my baby sis passed away and I wasn't fucking there to help her! She had to go through that alone." I felt tears spring to my eyes, but I fought them back down.
"V, baby I'm so sorry. It's gonna be okay V. There was nothing you could've done, as much as you would have wanted too," I replied.
"No, it won't be okay! Jayden had to find out from her fucking principal that her mother was gone! I had to find out from a fucking message on the machine because the goddamn ringer was off on the phone!"
"Okay, I understand your upset, but you need to calm down. First of all, YOU turned the damn ringer off on the phone when Tony kept calling last night. And second, I'm sorry she had to go through that. I'm sorry for both of you. But Vince, there was nothing you could've done. Vicky didn't want the treatment. She didn't want help. You can't help someone who doesn't want it Vince."
"I just can't believe she's gone. I barely had any time with her. It's like, as soon as I find her again, she's snatched away from me once more," I could hear him softly breaking down on the other end.
"Look V, meet me back at the house in twenty minutes. I'll be there babe, just hold on," he replied and hung up. I slowly meandered back over to the table where the girls greeted me with worried looks.
"Everything okay Sash?" Letty questioned, finally snapping out of her mood.
"Victoria died this morning," I sighed again, running my hands down my face.
"Wow, that's sad. How's Coyote holding up?" Lily asked, looking sincerely saddened.
"Not too swell. You ladies mind watching the little guy for a bit?" I asked, juggling my car keys in my hand.
"Yeah, sure. When he calms down a bit, bring him and Jayden by the house. I'll tell the others," Letty said, standing from the table. I kissed Desmond and ran down to the parking garage. I ran over to my Porsche, automatically opening the door with the button before I was close to it. When I approached my car, I slid in and peeled out quickly.
xxx
No POV
Vince sat in his car, staring at the house that once belonged to Jayden and his sister, Victoria. He truly couldn't believe she had passed away. She was gone and she wasn't coming back. Ever. The thought made him cry even more. Vince, a man who rarely showed a weak side, let his guards down and cried in his car. He cried for his deceased sister. She shouldn't have died this way, he thought. He cried for his niece, whom he would have to take care of for the rest of her life. She lost her mother at such a tender age. He felt pain for her. He cried for himself. He was without a sibling now. He had plenty 'brothers' and 'sisters', but none who shared the bond quite like himself and Victoria.
Vince glanced at the house again and decided it was time. He wiped his eyes and exited the car, an empty box in hand. He pushed open the front door, remembering the creaky floor. Looking around the house, everything looked the same from the time he had first visited. He turned his objective to the stairs. He ascended them, pulling the pictures off the wall as he went, dropping them into the box. Vince turned to the first room he found, which looked to be a bare room. He continued down the hall, finding a bathroom and closet on the way. He opened the closet. It was empty, with the exception of two photo books and cleaning supplies. V grabbed the books, sitting them in the box.
He closed the closet door and walked down to the final room. Victoria's. It was dusty, as if it hadn't been visited in centuries. She probably died in the kitchen, considering that's where it appeared she spent all her time, he thought. At the thought of the word 'die', tears sprung to his eyes again. He sat down on her bed, the springs squeaking in response. He looked at the clothes in the closet. He sister always did have good taste in clothes. He found a small suitcase sitting in the bottom of the closet. He took it out and placed all her clothes in it. At the end of closet, there was medium-sized box. Curiosity getting the best of him, Vince removed it from the closet and sat it on the bed. Deciding to respect her privacy, no matter how bad it was killing him, he didn't open the box. He knew Vicky kept a box when they were younger of things that were important to her. Could this be the same box? He ignored it. He looked around her room, grabbing other things that may have been valuable to her. He picked up more pictures, CD's, and other essentials, such as a bottle of perfume that smelt delightful, a makeup kit that looked brand new, and a pair of high heels that also looked new. Beautiful, Vince thought, picking them up. Jayden would like these. He tossed everything he could fit in his box, placing the remainder of things in the suitcase.
As Vince was wrapping up his cleanup, his cell phone rang.
"Yeah?" he answered, his voice still grungy from crying.
"I'm at the house. Where are you babe?" it was Sasha.
"I had to come get some things from her house. I'm on my way. Is Jayden still there?" Vince asked, carrying the suitcase in one hand. He placed the small box on top of the larger one he brought and closed the bedroom door.
"Yeah, she's not feeling too well. I picked Chrys up from school so she could be with her. Hurry home baby. I love you V," Sasha said sincerely.
"I love you too babe," Vince replied, hitting the END button on his cell. He loaded the suitcase and large box in the truck. He carried the smaller one around to the passenger seat.
"Listen my boy, she's in a better place now. Nothing can hurt her there," a voice said from behind Vince.
"May I ask who you are?" Vince asked, walking over to the driver side of his car. The elderly man followed.
"I'm Joe Dickens. I live next door," he said, pointing to the green house next door. Vince shook his hand.
"Vincent, I'm Vicky's brother. She passed away this morning," Vince fought to let the words escape his mouth.
"I know, I saw the police here earlier. I also saw you crying in your car. Not much of a sad man are you son?" the old man asked. Vince smiled, he liked this man.
"No sir, I'm not," he admitted.
"Hell, neither am I, but I was sad to see her go. She was a nice lady. That young girl who lived here, she didn't look too happy though. Vicky didn't pay her much attention," Mr. Dickens said, talking as if he'd never quit.
"Yeah, well she's living with me now so she'll get all the attention she needs. It was nice talking to you though Mr. Dickens, I have to leave now," Vince said, trying to make a quick get away.
"No problem son. You come by ever once in a while and we'll talk more eh?" He asked over his shoulder.
"Anytime sir," Vince said, slipping into the Maxima.