Author's Note - Once again thanks be to all my readers. This writing at home stuff is actually kind of productive when I can get on the computer, lol! Anyway, next chapter I hope you enjoy it.
A huge debt of thank to DeDe324 for damn near everything! Making me laugh and keeping the faith in me. Seriously girl don't know what I would do without you. You are a phenomenal talent in your own right and you telling me that just makes my year! I love you to pieces!
Also a thanks to HooliganLynn who made Raking a favorite, much appreciated.
As always feel free to drop me a line, even if it's just to say "What's up?" Please read and review, thank you!
Quinn woke up, her head throbbing, but something wet was blotting her skin very softly. Opera music was playing low in the background, it was Vivaldi. The red head recognized it when she regained most of her senses. Still drowsy and head in pain she moaned. A pale hand cupped her chin, opening her eyes she saw the face of an old man. It was kind, he wore horn-rimmed glasses, a full head of white hair with goatee to match. His brown eyes were cloudy and the skin underneath them looked like a maze. A smile came to his face, Quinn squinted trying to focus more, but the pain in her head made it painful to think. He continued to dab the wet washcloth on her head, "Bella rosa, you had me worried," his voice was scratchy, dry almost.
"Wha…" was all the red head could muster, her throat was as dry as his sounded.
"You're safe. My apologies for how you were brought here, but it was necessary," his voice thickly accented in Italian, but he spoke English very well. "Can I get you anything?"
"Water," she got out but coughed a bit. He handed her a glass on the bedside table. She took a long drink, "Thank you," her voice now sounded like hers again. Quinn looked at the man, "Why am I here?"
The old man smiled, "To get to them," his tone was friendly but a chill ran through Quinn's body. She tried to move but his strong arms held her in place, "I will not harm you, I only want them to come here. My name is Louie and I used to be a friend of their father. Now rest bella rosa, we will speak more when you feel better," he helped her lie back down, smoothed her hair and kissed her head lightly.
He smelled of orchids. He left the room quietly. Quinn was left with her thoughts, none of them comforting. They passed from Connor to Duffy to Murphy to Rosie to Eunice to Dolly & Greenly and then finally to the twin's father. She had only met him twice. The confusion that ran through her brain made her dizzy. How did this man, a former friend of Noah's, know about her? How was it possible that she had been abducted again? None of this seemed possible just a month ago, when she and Brendan were discussing seriously about having another baby. She sighed in despair, that seemed so long ago. The comforting embrace of her husband seemed lost forever, the beautiful sound of Rosie laughing a foggy and distant memory. Tears spilled down her cheeks silently as she sat in the Spartan room trying to figure out if Louie would keep his word and not harm her. The struggle and the sheer terror she felt when that little bastard broke down her room door had taken a lot out of her. An ill feeling rose up from her stomach to her throat producing dry heaves, she downed the rest of the water which seemed to settle her stomach but not her frazzled and nearly gone sanity. Wiping the tears from her face throwing her neck upward, now staring at the low ceiling counting the cracks trying to decipher patterns. Her eyes crossed making everything a blurry beige mess. Flopping back down on the bed, "Ow, fuck," she hissed out as she hit her throbbing head too hard on the mattress. The ginger shut her eyes tightly, tears burning her already raw eyes. The burn in her eyes and the throbbing in her head were the last things she remembered before slipping into a fitful sleep.
Louie came into her room at 8:00 AM, the red head stirred. He was absently humming along with the opera playing throughout the house. The tray he carried had water, coffee and what looked like sweet pastry. Setting the tray down on the table next to her the old man then helped her to a sitting position. He handed her the water, "Feeling better bella rosa?" Quinn nodded after she swallowed slowly, the smell of the confectionaries and the coffee made her salivate, she couldn't remember the last time she had eaten. Her gaze shifted from the tray to Louie unknowingly. A smile crossed the man's face, "Eat, you must be hungry."
"Thank you," she said grabbing what looked a bit like a croissant, but it was sweet and cake like. The sugar woke her up more. Her mouth full she looked at Louie. Pristine white button down shirt, sleeves rolled up, dark khakis held up by suspenders, brown almost black dress shoes. The shine of metal caught her eye. He was wearing a brace of some kind.
"We should talk today, finish breakfast. You can shower in the next room and your clothes are at the foot of the bed," he stood, cupped her face in his hand again, "I'll be in the garden when you're done," his gait was uneven but you wouldn't know unless you looked closely.
The ginger swallowed hard and audibly once Louie had left her. "Well," she said to herself, "At least he hasn't tortured me yet. Always look on the bright side of life," the Monty Python reference made her smile and a little sad. It was one of Duffy's favorite movies. Shaking off the tears, she told herself that she would get through this for Rosie. She'd make it out alive, maybe broken, but alive. Quinn finished the amazingly good pastry, found her suitcase on the floor. Picking her favorite jeans, a plain grey shirt and fresh underwear the ginger headed into the next room. Locking the door and after checking it three times she got undressed and stepped into the small shower. The water was hot and it felt good on her skin. Steam enveloping her body. The throbbing lessened and she felt better. Quinn quickly got dressed in the bathroom then walking back the little bedroom putting on socks and tennis shoes. Following the sound of Puccini to the garden. Louie sat in a high backed chair, eyes closed listening to the music he opened them when he heard her come in. The garden held hundreds of flowers, several different varieties of orchids and a few rose breeds. There was a angel statue in the middle of the garden. Quinn was admiring the line work on the wings when Louie waved her over. There was a table between the two of them with an old Victrola on his right, playing the Puccini. She leaned down, putting her elbows on her knees, "This is a beautiful garden."
He smiled and chuckled slightly, "Thank you my dear. Now we have come to the reason why I have brought you here," he drew in a breath before continuing, "They need to stop," his words spaced deliberately. "I tried to stop it 17 years after it began."
Quinn ran her fingers through her wet hair and then across her face trying to understand what Louie was telling her, "Are you saying that they boy's father, Noah, started killing evil men long before the twins did?"
"Yes, it was in 1958 when Noah first got the taste for revenge." Quinn's eyes went wide with shock and her mouth dropped to the floor as Louie continued, "I was 18. I had been in America for only a year. I was working at a cobbler shop owned by Jacob MacManus. He had just brought over his 16 year old son Noah."
"They boy's grandfather?"
"Yes," he confirmed then continued, "There were gangs in all areas looking for protection money. Jacob was a proud man, he never wanted to pay. The gang that frequented our neighborhood killed him for his pride and insolence. Noah witnessed his father's murder. I came back seeing Noah cradling Jacob's lifeless body, I urged him to call the police. Noah had other plans. He began searching for a way to avenge this murder and make the streets safe for good and decent people. I helped him. He did the killing and I picked the targets," he paused for a moment resting his arms on his thighs.
"What changed," the red head asked completely enthralled with the old man's story.
"I did. I no longer saw a purpose in killing, it didn't seem to make the problem stop. It only got worse for the people we were trying to protect. I came to Noah several times begging him to stop. All he saw was his father's killers again and again. There is no reasoning with a man so set on revenge. Things continued as planned for a few more jobs. I was frightened when we first started, seeing the blood and death no more than a few feet from my eyes. However watching Noah work was almost art come to life. He was, come si dice, stoico," he paused for a moment trying to find the word, "Emotionless, nothing ever touched his eyes or his soul. He thought what he was doing what was right. The last job we did I planned perfectly. The targets were set and after Noah had killed them the police would be waiting. I would be long gone. Once he was arrested and prosecuted, I put the final nail in his coffin or so I thought. To keep him from pulling me into prison with him, I showed him a picture of his sons and wife. After that I was free to build the empire I dreamed of. Everything was going smoothly until Yakavetta got in the way and Noah's boys started to walk in their father's footsteps."
The detective's wife sat back in her chair, everything Louie told her was just so unreal and accurate at the same time. She closed her eyes and her head started to throb again. Taking a deep breath she looked at Louie, he may have been an old man but he was dangerous, "Where do I fit in," so afraid of the answer to that question.
"I need to get Noah here with his boys. I would like to tell you that it will not end in blood, but these things always do. You, bella rosa are the key to getting them here. Both of the boys love you, it's easy to see, but one is willing to put his life on the altar for you. If my plan goes smoothly, you will be sent back to your family, unharmed."
Frightened at the old man's words she didn't even notice that the record had stopped playing. The one major disadvantage of gaining the favor of a MacManus, was it could be used against them. Her green eyes studied his appearance again, while not being tortured or tied to a chair for countless days was favorable, at least with Chappy and Geno there was no hidden intent. You knew they were going to torture you and then kill you eventually. With Louie, his kind aged eyes and slight smile gave a sense of peace where there shouldn't be. However this was going to play out, she didn't hold out much hope that she would remain unscathed.