Chapter 47
Dafne wasn't sure how much time passed before there was another knock on the door. Her heart leapt wildly when she heard it. It couldn't be Basta. He wouldn't knock. Was it Silvio? Had he run into trouble and turned back, seeking a place of refuge? But it wasn't Silvio either. She could hear more than one voice on the other side of the door. The boy's wasn't one of them. But there was a voice she did recognise, even though she had only met its owner today.
"Hello? Dafne? It's Nico. We met earlier. I was with Pietro. Dafne?"
Nico? What was he doing here? She considered not answering. Basta had told her not to open the door to anyone. She had already disobeyed him but that was because it had been Silvio. Nico and whoever he had with him were a different story. But when she didn't reply, a more demanding voice replaced Nico's.
"Open up!" this voice was familiar too though she couldn't connect it to a face, "Capricorn's orders. If you don't, we'll break the door down."
"Break the door down? Isn't that kinda extreme?" that was Nico.
"Shut up Nico," came a third voice, "He's just saying that to make her open the door."
"Could you say that any louder," the demanding voice rebuked the third, "Do you think she's going to open up after hearing you say that?"
"Well we could smash the window to get in," suggested the third.
"I don't think it would be a good idea to smash Basta's window," Nico said a little uneasily, "He'd be pretty mad."
"Who cares? He has more pressing things to worry about than a broken window."
"But still..."
"Both of you shut up," the demanding voice interrupted, "You in there. Basta's girlfriend. Open this door," the banging on the door that followed didn't sound like it was being made by a fist, more like the butt of a gun, "Don't pretend you can't hear me. Open..." bang, "this..." bang, "door!" bang, bang.
Dafne sighed. She had a feeling they weren't going to let up, especially if they had been sent by Capricorn. But why had he sent them to search Basta's house again? Maybe she should take this as a good sign. If Capricorn thought Silvio and Netta were here, obviously the two hadn't been caught. If these three were part of the search party she would be doing the escapees a favour by stalling them here. She rubbed her eyes somewhat pointlessly, knowing she couldn't disguise the fact she had been crying. If they called her out on it, she would tell them it was none of their business. Other than her tear-streaked face, there was no proof that Silvio had come and gone.
She opened the door and when she did, she found a butt of a gun mere inches from her face. She recognised the man holding it. It was Sergio, one of the men from her lesson. That was why his voice had been familiar. He looked just as shocked as she was. He had obviously been going to knock again. He recovered and scowled at her.
"You should warn a person when you're about to open the door," he said, throwing the blame on her, "I could have broken your nose."
"Good thing you didn't, Basta would have cut your nose off Sergio," remarked the only man whose name she didn't know.
She recalled his face from church. It was quite a good-looking face too. He was someone her fellow maids liked to steal glances at. He had blonde hair, slicked back and combed and bright blue eyes. She also remembered him by his red leather gloves. They were quite distinct, a splash of colour against the black uniform.
He may have been handsome but he didn't look friendly, not friendly like Nico. Nico was the only one who looked happy to see her. He pushed up his sunglasses, he was wearing them even though it was dark out, showing her those memorable green eyes.
"Hey Dafne. Remember me?"
"Yes of course Nico," Dafne said with a light smile. She had only known him for a while but she found him quite likeable. He seemed to have a pleasant nature. He was a bit like... Silvio, she thought sadly. It pained her that he reminded of the boy she had just parted with.
"Long time no see huh," Nico said cheerfully, "Feels like it was only a couple of hours ago."
"It was only a couple of hours ago," Dafne said, figuring she may as well as begin stalling them by engaging Nico in conversation, "Did Pietro get through his conversation with princi... er, Gabriella, isn't it?"
"Yeah, he pretended to lose reception and hung up," Nico replied, his face suddenly turning gloomy, "Then he smashed my phone with his gun."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Dafne said sympathetically amidst the laughter from Nico's companions. Nico's misfortune only seemed to amuse them, "That wasn't very nice of him."
Nico shrugged,
"He said he'd buy me a new one when we got back," he said, looking hopeful, "He just didn't want Gabriella calling him again."
"Small wonder," the blonde man said, "My sister's a handful at the best of times. I don't how he's managed to put with her for so long."
"Sister?" Dafne said in slight confusion.
"Ernesto is Pietro's brother in law," Nico explained.
"Oh I see," Dafne said, looking at Ernesto through new eyes. Was his sister as good-looking as he was? She wasn't sure why she was curious. Perhaps because she was interested to know the reason why Pietro was married to a woman he'd rather avoid, "Capricorn seems to have a very large extended family working for him doesn't he. Are you a mobster too?"
Ernesto looked surprised to be asked this question but he didn't deny it.
"I don't really like the term mob..."
"How did you know we were mobsters?" Nico cut in excitedly, "Did Basta tell you?"
"You can't include yourself in that category Nico," Ernesto said, popping a cigarette in his mouth and lighting it, the action seemed to show off his rather pouty lips, "You aren't from the old days."
Nico looked disappointed to be told this.
"That's because I was too young," he said, "If I had been old enough I would have..."
"Still been chauffeuring Pietro around because he promised your father he wouldn't let you do anything else," Ernesto interrupted before taking a drag of his cigarette, exhaling deliberately in Nico's direction.
"The driver's still an important part of the team," Nico said after he finished coughing on Ernesto's smoke.
Ernesto rolled his eyes at him,
"You would say that."
"That's enough," Sergio said impatiently, "We're not here to chatter on about how Nico's not really one of us..."
"I am though," Nico complained, "I wear the uniform and everything..."
"Stop whining," Sergio cut him off brusquely, turning to Dafne, "We're here to search the house. I don't need to tell you who for."
"No," Dafne said quietly, "No you don't. But I can tell you that they aren't here."
Sergio sneered,
"Forgive me if I don't take your word for it. Now step aside and let us in."
Dafne did so. She had nothing to hide though the men expected she did. Ernesto and Sergio entered with their guns at ready. Nico didn't appear to have a weapon and he didn't partake in the search. He remained standing with Dafne while the other two checked the ground level then proceeded upstairs.
"Are you okay?" Nico asked her as soon as they were alone.
Okay, Dafne thought, I've just said goodbye to my adopted brother. He's out there somewhere escaping and I don't know if he'll make it or not. No I'm not okay.
"I'm fine," she told Nico.
"It's just..." Nico said hesitantly, "Your eyes are pretty red."
"Really I'm fine," Dafne insisted, now very conscious of Nico's gaze on her face. He might seem nicer than the other men but she wouldn't confide anything to him. Nico was obviously close to Pietro and she didn't trust Pietro.
Nico chewed his lip, looking unconvinced. But thankfully he didn't press her further.
"Hey Serge," Ernesto called from upstairs, claiming Dafne's attention as well as Nico's, "Come have a look at all these bricks Basta has."
"Quite a collection," Sergio exclaimed a moment later, "He keeps going like this and he'll be able to build another house."
The men laughed.
"If he lives that long," Ernesto said, "Capricorn isn't very pleased with his golden boy right now."
Dafne winced at the comment as the men above their heads laughed some more. Nico watched her sympathetically.
"I bet he's kicking himself for choosing that boy as his personal apprentice," Sergio said as the two were coming down the stairs.
"I sometimes wondered about that boy," Ernesto said, "Never saw him at raids like the others except for that one time he got shot. I always thought that was strange for someone who was supposed to Basta's apprentice."
Sergio dropped his voice down low to say,
"Some of us were beginning to think he kept the boy around for something else. That was until..." he nodded his head over at Dafne, "you know. I mean think about it. He wasn't getting it from any woman until she came along."
Ernesto shrugged indifferently,
"Who knows what goes on behind closed doors? In any case, the boy isn't here. Neither is the girl."
"I told you they wouldn't be," Dafne said angrily. She had been able to pick up what Sergio had been saying and was disgusted that he had been implying, twisting Basta's paternal liking for the boy into something unsavoury. With absolutely no proof. "Now leave."
Ernesto chuckled,
"I think the lady of the house heard what you just said Sergio. I don't think she liked it."
"Yes I heard," Dafne growled, "My suggestion is to not judge people with your mind in the gutter. Silvio was like a son to Basta, nothing else."
Sergio sneered,
"A son? How sweet. I bet he doesn't think so anymore. If he finds him, he'll offer him up to Capricorn faster than Abraham offering up Isaac."
"And if he finds you here, he'll get out his knife," Dafne said. She couldn't stand this man's presence any longer even though she knew she should really keep stalling them, "So if were you, I'd leave before he gets back."
"Oh we'll leave," Sergio said nonchalantly as she glared at him, "But we're taking you with us."
"No you're not," Dafne objected immediately, not even caring to know his reasoning, "I'm staying right here."
"I don't think so," Sergio's voice hardened, "Capricorn's orders. He told us to search the house and bring you to him."
"Why don't you tell him that Basta will bring me later," Dafne said. She was worried as to why Capricorn was demanding her presence. He probably suspected her of enabling Silvio with his escape along with Basta. If she could just delay her summons until she spoke to Basta, convince him that they were better off leaving the village...
But Sergio quickly dashed her hopes.
"Afraid we can't do that," he said, "Capricorn was pretty insistent he see you as soon as possible. And he's not a man who likes to be kept waiting."
"I don't care," Dafne refused to give in, "I'm not leaving. Get out."
If only Basta would walk through the door right now. He would make them leave, insisting he take her to Capricorn himself. Then they would be alone and she could persuade him to take her to his car instead, drive out of this accursed village, away from Capricorn. But Basta didn't appear. She was on her own and outnumbered. Not that it mattered. It only took one of them, Sergio of course, to grab her arm and start squeezing her into submission.
"Don't think you can order me around Miss Ex-maid," he growled, "We're not in the classroom and Basta isn't breathing down my neck to make sure I play nice with you. I'm taking you to Capricorn and that's that. Understand?"
Dafne gave a cry of pain as he twisted her arm in the wrong direction. As soon as she did, Nico who had been watching uneasily from the sidelines came to her rescue.
"Hey Sergio, come on, stop that, you're hurting her."
"Stay out of this brat," Sergio snapped as Nico approached them, "You wanted to come with us but remember you're only here to watch."
"I've watched you make your point," Nico said, "I'd say she's ready to go with us now. Aren't you Dafne?"
Dafne nodded in frustrated acquiescence, gritting her teeth as pain burned up her arm.
"See?" Nico went on with a pacifying smile, "There's no reason to keep on hurting her."
"He's right," Ernesto chimed in, though his reason was less compassionate, "You don't want to break her arm. Otherwise we'll have to put up with her screaming the whole way."
Sergio released Dafne almost sullenly. She flew over to Nico, cradling her throbbing arm.
"You have a point there. We've had enough grief from this one already. The sooner we get her to Capricorn's the better."
Nico regarded Dafne with a look that was half-relief, half-concern. Dafne smiled at him shakily in gratitude. Her arm ached but without his intervention, she realised it could have been worse. Nico smiled back, taking her smile as reassurance that she was okay. She wasn't really okay but she accepted that she didn't have any choice but to go with them.
As Dafne stepped out into the night with the three men, she wondered where Silvio was at this very moment. She convinced herself to believe he had reached Netta and Dustfinger and together they were making their way out of the village. Were they past the bridge he liked to guard so much with his beloved dogs? He would miss them. Knowing Silvio, he would have been sad not to be able to take them along.
Speaking of animals, what about Ignacio? He was probably prowling the streets unaware that his mistress had fled. Poor Netta, she was probably devastated to have been forced to leave him behind. She loved that cat. Dafne would need to locate him somehow so she and Basta could take him with them when they...
Stop it Dafne, she thought, you're getting ahead of yourself. You don't know Basta is going to agree to come with you. You don't even know when you'll get to talk to him next. You're being taken to see Capricorn remember. Who knows what's he has in store for you.
She knew it would be nothing good.
Mortola, not surprisingly, was waiting at the front door to relinquish Dafne from the men.
"Doesn't Capricorn want to hear our report?" Sergio ventured to ask as she was closing the door.
Mortola eyed him scornfully,
"What report? That you still haven't found the traitorous brat or the whimpering girl? Why would I let you waste his time? Don't bother coming back unless you have them!"
She slammed the door in Sergio's face.
"I know you're behind this somehow," she hissed as Dafne as she towed her harshly up the stairs, "I know how friendly you were with that little farmer's brat. The boy too. I know that he was living with you. You put them up to it I'm sure. I've made it a point to advise Capricorn very strongly of this."
"If I put them up to it, don't you think I would have escaped with them?" Dafne said. She may as well test this argument on Mortola before she reached Capricorn.
"How should I know," Mortola snapped, "Who knows how your conniving little brain works. But mark my words, those children will be found and you'll have a front row seat at their execution," she smiled maliciously, "Capricorn will let you live long enough to see that I'm sure."
A chill ran up Dafne's spine. Did that mean she was already condemned? Or was this just Mortola's expectation? She would soon find out. Mortola pushed her roughly into Capricorn's room and Dafne's lungs suddenly filled with heady smoke. It was being expelled from the cigars being smoked by the room's two occupants. One was Capricorn and the other was Pietro.
"Here she is, the crafty little madam," Mortola announced rather pointlessly as the two men were already starring at Dafne, "Still no sign of the boy and girl but I bet she could point us in the right..."
Capricorn took a puff of his cigar, raising his hand to silence her.
"That's enough. Go downstairs and wait for Basta to arrive."
Dafne's eyes widened at Basta's name. He was coming here. Had he been summoned like her? Did that mean Capricorn wanted them to stand trial together?
Sitting in his armchair amidst the smoke Capricorn looked like a dragon in his lair. A pale predatory dragon with colourless eyes boring into her. She barely acknowledged the man standing beside him, even though she hadn't expected him to be present. Capricorn was the one she had to keep her eye on. He was the one who held her life in his hands.
"I suppose congratulations are in order," the dragon said without the faintest flicker of a smile.
Dafne was taken aback.
"Congratulations?" she stammered.
Capricorn purposely blew smoke in her direction.
"You and Basta becoming a couple," he said as she choked on the fumes, "To say I'm surprised would be understatement," he didn't look surprised though, his expression was indifferent. But Dafne had learned to fear this poker face of his, to fear what was bubbling beneath it, "I never would have thought in a million years that you would have given yourself to him."
Dafne shrugged weakly, no words coming to her so she could respond. Though Capricorn carried on talking as if he hadn't expected her to,
"Then again, I never would have thought that a brat - a brat who never lit a single fire or strangled a single rooster - that a seemingly spineless brat like that would steal away with one of my maids, bold as you please," he sighed, "Perhaps I'm slipping. I don't seem able to predict people they way I use to. What do you think Pietro?"
"People are quite irrational when it comes to love," Pietro said in a soothing voice, "It makes them difficult to predict. You can't blame yourself. You're still the sharpest person I know when it comes to reading people. Quite impressive for someone without a psychology degree."
Pietro smiled at Dafne but she only regarded him suspiciously. Why was he here? Why was he here comforting Capricorn while the rest of men were presumably out hunting Silvio and Netta? Whatever the reason, his ego-stroking seemed to work as well on Capricorn as it had on Basta.
"Well it is something I pride myself in," Capricorn said, "I've always said you need to know how people work to be able to manipulate them."
"Yes I completely agree," Pietro said, puffing on his cigar.
"Take a person in love," Capricorn said, "They might be prone to unpredictable acts of stupidity but I know I only need to threaten to harm a single hair on their loved one's head to make them obey me," he smiled meaningfully at Dafne, "That I can predict with complete certainty."
His words filled her with unease, especially since he directed them at her. On top of this unease, the smoke was making her feel nauseous. It was not a pleasant combination. Pietro must have noticed the effect it was having on her and spoke up on her behalf.
"Should we give the lady a seat?" he said, not without a trace of concern, "Poor thing looks like she's about to faint."
Capricorn shrugged apathetically,
"If you wish. It would a shame for her to be unconscious when Basta arrives."
Pietro fetched the chair over by the writing desk.
"It's the cigar smoke yes?" he said as she collapsed into it. He held onto her arm supportively as she did, even though she hadn't requested him to, "It takes some getting used to."
Dafne nodded and mumbled "thank you".
Pietro smiled,
"You're welcome bella."
"Is that what you think Pietro?" Capricorn asked somewhat scornfully, having heard him, "Do you think she's beautiful?"
"Don't you?" Pietro replied, lingering by her side. Dafne wished he would go back over to Capricorn. She had been grateful for seat but she didn't want him leaning over her, "Basta's a lucky man."
"Lucky I gave her to him more like," Capricorn said, "Not that he's done much lately to deserve my generosity. Quite the opposite."
Dafne could hear his voice sharpening in disapproval. She felt a little better now that she was off her feet, well enough to start pleading Basta's case. Hers as well.
"He had nothing to do with what Silvio did," she said, "He - we didn't know what the boy had done until Cockerell and Flatnose told us. We had gone for a walk and those two were at the house when we got back. As soon as heard about it, Basta went off to look for him... to bring him to you. Neither of us approve of the boy's actions. It was foolish, more than that, it was... a betrayal. Yes a betrayal and we hope you can forgive us any past affiliation with him."
Saying such lies felt like spitting out mud. But they were words that Dafne thought were necessary. She could only hope that Capricorn accepted them as truth. Hoped but feared he wouldn't because her lies sounded amateurish and insincere to her ears. She knew she wasn't the best liar. She had been unable to keep the truth from Silvio and that had lead to this mess.
Capricorn studied her pleading face for an agonisingly drawn out moment.
"Past affiliation," he said finally, "And what was the nature of your affiliation with him exactly?"
Dafne shrugged,
"To me? He was just Basta's apprentice. Nothing more," she said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Nothing except for being my fratellino...
Capricorn stabbed out his cigar in a nearly ash tray, settled back and began inspecting his nails,
"Do you really expect me to believe that?" he said, not bothering to look up from her fingers to see her reaction.
"Yes," Dafne said as evenly as she could, "It's the truth."
Capricorn sneered,
"Hardly. I've been informed you were quite friendly with the boy before you became Basta's maid. I also know that he began living with Basta around the same time you did. Am I to believe that this is a mere coincidence?"
"No. I admit we were friends," Dafne said nervously, "But that doesn't mean..."
"Oh it means a great deal," Capricorn said, "It means that this boy held more significance to you than what you first implied," his expression darkened, "which means you were lying to me. So what else are you lying about?"
"Nothing," Dafne said desperately, "He was my friend but now he's not. He was Basta's apprentice but now he's not. He's betrayed us just as much as he's done you. He's put our lives at risk because you think we're his accomplices. But we're not. Please believe me, we're not."
Please forgive me for saying all this Silvio, she thought, but I need to talk Capricorn out of punishing Basta and I. I need him to let us leave his house so we can escape like you're doing... at least I hope you're still escaping. I hope you haven't been caught. If you are caught, I have no idea what I can do for you. I don't even know if what I'm doing now is going to work.
"What do you think Pietro?" Capricorn asked the man still standing beside her, "Do you believe she's telling the truth?"
Dafne looked up at Pietro begging him with her eyes, please say yes.
"She's definitely frightened," Pietro said, not breaking Dafne's gaze, "She's been frightened since Mortola pushed her through that door. That says a lot I think."
"What do you mean?" Capricorn said with slight irritation. Pietro hadn't given him a straight answer.
"I mean she's obviously afraid of being punished. She's afraid of Basta being punished too. Aren't you?"
Dafne nodded mutely. She wasn't sure where he was heading with this but she hoped he was on her side.
Pietro smiled,
"And I'm sure Basta feels the same way."
"Get to the point Pietro," Capricorn said testily.
"Certainly. My point is why would she and Basta help the boy escape and then wait around if they knew they were likely to be punished for it? It makes no sense. Especially for Basta. He's the last man I would expect to betray you. He worships the ground you walk on."
"I couldn't disagree with you on that," Capricorn said to Dafne's building relief. Pietro's logic seemed to be swaying him.
"I don't know how close he was to this boy," Pietro went on, "But I don't think the brat would have been worth Basta jeopardising his life or Dafne's just to help him. Dafne said herself that Basta didn't hesitate to start looking for him. If you hadn't sent for him just now, he probably would have carried on searching until he found him for you. You know what Basta's like. He's bloody stubborn."
Maybe I should be grateful that Capricorn's summoned him then, Dafne thought.
Out of all the men who could be out looking for the escapees, Basta posed the biggest threat, especially if he thought his life depended on it. Dafne was grateful for Pietro too. She was now thankful for his presence in the room though she wondered why he had gone to the trouble of defending his rival. Grateful or not, she still didn't feel she could trust him. There had to be some motive she wasn't seeing.
Still his words had worked their magic on Capricorn. His master was regarding the man with a look of something almost like admiration. It was a look that Basta would have killed to be graced with.
"You know you make a rather convincing lawyer Pietro," he said.
Pietro chuckled,
"Well I've spent a bit of time in front of jury," he said, "But you asked for my opinion and I've given it to you."
"A rather selfless opinion," Capricorn observed, "If Basta were in your shoes, he wouldn't have done the same. You know that. He's always been jealous of you."
Pietro laughed again,
"Ah but that's what makes him so amusing. That's why I'd prefer to keep him around," Dafne jumped as he put a hand on her shoulder, "And his lovely girlfriend as well. I quite like her. For one thing she's a lot more quiet than my wife."
I won't stay quiet if you don't remove your hand, Dafne thought. Did he think he'd won the right to touch her?
Capricorn regarded Dafne almost like a long-suffering parent.
"She may seem quiet but she's proven herself a handful," he told Pietro, "She tried to escape once with another of my maids."
"Is that right?" Pietro said with genuine surprise.
"Oh yes. Though it didn't work out how you wanted it to, did it my dear?" Capricorn said to Dafne with mock sympathy, "But at least you didn't get bitten by a snake," he turned to Pietro, "The other one did. Fortunately she survived. She's my favourite maid despite her wilfulness. I suppose it's because she's beautiful. More beautiful than this one," he pointed at Dafne, "Makes Dafne look like a weed under the shadow of a flower. More silent than her too. Resa is mute."
"Is she blonde?" Pietro inquired, "I think Basta may have mentioned her."
"I'm sure he has," Capricorn said with an amused sneer, "He used to fancy her but Resa loathed him. Eventually he got tired of being rejected and moved onto this one. A step down but it seems to have paid off for him. He's convinced her to love him somehow. Quite a turnaround since she used to hate him. You should have seen the fuss she made when he first asked me to let him have her. She wasn't quiet then I can assure you."
"Well something must have changed," Pietro said, "She told me she was happy being with him."
"Did she just," Capricorn drawled, "I bet Basta's even more so. Let me give you an opinion Pietro as you've given me yours. I've found that happiness is just as easy to exploit as love. You threaten to take away the source and people will do just about anything to be given it back. Whatever the price."
They sounded like ominous words to Dafne, especially when Basta chose that precise moment to barge into the room, eyes zooming in on Capricorn's chair, where he doubtlessly expected his master to be.
"Sir, I..." then he noticed Dafne. He starred at her in utter surprise, surprise and fear. He obviously hadn't had any idea she had been brought here, "Dafne, what..."
"Hello Basta," Capricorn said, "I was just talking about you."
To be continued...