Forbidden love for a Barkley
Part Twenty Six:
"Pride and Prejudice, pt. 2: Infighting and Breaking..."
John, Roy, and Joe had arrived to the bridge and were immediately told to drop their guns if they didn't want any trouble. Chet would whisper to Victoria to follow suit, but Jarrod quickly said that like Heath and himself, she wasn't going to do such a thing. Naturally, he would earn what appeared to either be a look of disapproval or a "really?" look to which he returned it with a shrug and half smile. Meanwhile, Italia and Stefania would engage in a back and forth then a catfight which Stefania ended up winning by doing to Italia what Jarrod did to Maybelle Williams; toss her into a trough to "cool off" before leaving hand-in-hand with Nick. Prior to that, Stefania managed to untie Nick and upon looking at his bruises and wounds, she told him that she would help take care of him. He insisted he would be fine and that considering the possibility of being pregnant from what happened to her, she was the one who needed rest. Back out at the bridge, Victoria would step down from her buggy and make her way to the Mangano men and their friends, hoping to meet Carmine halfway and talk parent-to-parent, woman-to-man with him. Possibly seeing that she may not be a threat, Carmine would reluctantly begin to make his way to her. Understandably both sides are nervous about this. Now, just as the Mangano patriarch and Barkley matriarch were getting within close range, creaking sounds could be heard coming from the bridge. The questions that remain are as follows: What's the reason behind the creaking noises coming from the bridge?, Will Nick and Stefania make their way to the bridge?, Will Carmine and Victoria come to an agreement?, Will the Barkley matriarch and Mangano patriarch come halfway and shake hands?, Will Nick let Stefania take care of him? What's happening? Stay tuned and find out!
Author's Note: I do NOT own The Big Valley or its characters. I ONLY own this fic and the characters of: Stefania Mangano, Carmine Mangano Sr, Carmine's friends, Paulie Mangano, Italia Mangano, Chet and the men Heath rounded up, Leonard Barkley, Seth & his gang, and the Mangano family. This is the second part of however many parts of this multi chapter saga and this one might be a very brief chapter. As you can very well see by the title, I modeled this chapter after the Jane Austen book, tv shows, and movies of the same name. Full disclosure, I have neither read the book, watched the 1958, 1967, 1980, 1995, or 2014 series, nor seen the 1940 or 2005 film. I just think the title is fitting. Oh and I forgot to mention in the previous chapter, this multi parter saga was originally written as part if not all of Chapter 25, but I decided to divide it all up into many parts as it would've made that chapter way way way way too long. How many parts? You'll see. Anyways, enjoy! :D
WARNING: There may be an intense moment involving the matter of life or death in this chapter. If you cannot handle or stomach it...you get the idea by now. Rated 'T' for a reason.
(Flashback to part 25)
"Italia, ammettelo! Ti sconvolge quando Allegra, Serafina, Francesca, o trovo un uomo e ho una scarsa possibilità di felicità mentre fai fatica a trovare il tuo qualcuno speciale. Ammettilo! (Italia, admit it! It upsets you when either Allegra, Serafina, Francesca, or I find a man and have a slim chance at happiness while you struggle to find your special somebody. Admit it!)" Stefania had a tight grip on Italia's fist.
"Stefania, perché dovrei essere arrabbiato e cosa sono arrabbiato? Hai una possibilità con il nemico?! Il NOSTRO NEMICO MORTALE a questo! (Stefania, why would I be upset and what am I upset at? You having a chance with the enemy?! OUR MORTAL ENEMY at that!)" Italia denied once more and chuckled a little.
"Ammettilo, Italia! Ammetti che è l'unica ragione per cui ti sei unito a zio Paulie e papà in questa caccia. (Admit it, Italia! Admit that it is the only reason you joined uncle Paulie and dad on this hunt.)" Stefania started to twist Italia's fist.
"Questo non è vero! Tu di tutte le persone sai perché ho unito lo zio Paulie e lo zio Carmine! Voglio giustizia non solo per il nonno Emilio e mio padre, ma per quello che è successo ad Allegra, Serafina, e ciò che quel pagano ha lasciato che ti è successo mentre si alzava e guardava. (That is not true! You of all people know why I joined uncle Paulie and uncle Carmine! I want justice not only for grandpa Emilio and my dad, but for what happened to Allegra, Serafina, and what that heathen let happen to you as he stood and watched.)" Italia shook her head before spitting on the ground only for some of it to hit Nick in the face.
"Bitch! Hai appena sputato contro di lui! (You b*! You just spat at him!)" Stefania saw some spit on Nick's left cheek and shot her cousin a glare.
"E? (And?)" Italia asked in a nonchalant way.
Stefania released her fist from her grip, kneed her in the gut, and punched her, sending her staggering backwards into the hallway.
"Non giusto! (Not fair!)" Italia yelled back.
Stefania rolled her eyes then went over to Nick and wiped the spit off of his cheek before beginning the process of untying him.
"Ouch! Careful, Stefania. I have some rope burns from trying to break free." Nick hissed.
"I'm sorry, Nick. I'm so sorry for everything that you have been through." Stefania's voice started to break.
"Stefania, you don't need to be sorry for anything. I fully understand your family's anger considering all that has happened. However, I did not expect to meet some of them under these circumstances. I thought I had a fiery personality." Nick tried to reassure her.
Stefania stopped untying him for a brief moment and looked at him.
"No offense, Stefania. Please, don't-" Nick was cut off.
"Nick, none taken. My family is crazy for doing this to you. They've been acting crazy towards you and I know I shouldn't, but a part of me if not all of me feels responsible." Stefania smirked, clearly agreeing with Nick and knowing he was spot on while feeling partially if not fully responsible for their actions.
"What they've done to me doesn't reflect on you at all just like what all Leonard said on father's birthday, his views and everything do not reflect on me or my family or at least I hope not." Nick replied.
"They don't. If only my family could see it that way, but they're so hardheaded it makes my nose bleed." Stefania managed to get Nick's hands untied, "I got your hands untied."
"Ohhhh! Thank you, Stefania. Thank you so much!" Nick had relief in his voice and started moving his fingers in order to get the blood flow going. Not that the blood flow wasn't going at all, but considering how tight his wrists were bound, it was safe to say that his hands had fallen asleep so to speak and now, he was trying to "wake them up" if you will.
"You poor thing you. I'll tend to your wounds after we get you out of here." Stefania took another look at Nick's bruises and wounds & let out a sad sigh before getting into the process of untying his ankles.
"Oh, Stefania. I appreciate that, but I'll be fine. I got that Barkley toughness." Nick smirked.
"Nick, it won't hurt you to let me tend to your wounds and to you." Stefania put her hand on his forearm.
"I know, Stefania, but I'll be fine. Really. Besides, you're the one who needs to be tended to and resting." Nick started rubbing his left hand after his right hand got back to normal.
"Nicholas, please, don't fight me on this. I want to take care of you. Let me." Stefania stood her ground.
"Stefania, I'll be-" Nick was cut off.
"Nick, let me care for you. Let me take care of you. You've been through enough and being in agony alone doesn't do anybody any good. Now, I won't have you fight me on this." Stefania affirmed.
"Stefania." Nick said.
"Nick." Stefania replied.
The two looked at each other for a moment before getting into a bout of laughter.
"Look at us! Just look at us! We're already bickering like a husband and wife." Nick chortled.
"It sure does sound that way, doesn't it? Well, we are in a slow growing relationship and I want to pull my weight by taking care of you like a good girlfriend does, so it is safe to say that we'll probably have many of these moments." Stefania laughed.
"You betcha." Nick nodded.
"Plus, we may have moments where we finish each other's sentences and try to have the last word, but never give it to each other." Stefania smiled before going back to untying Nick's feet.
"You better believe it, Stefania and prepare for me to always have the final say." Nick teased.
"Oh, really, now?" Stefania asked in a joking way.
"Yes, really. I know the truth hurts and that it hurts to know that I will always have the final say. You'll get used to it." Nick teased, again.
"Okay, you know wha-" Stefania was cut off.
"Oh, brother! Why don't you two make out already?!" Italia crawled back into the room and made a vomiting noise.
"Pardon me, Nick." Stefania leaned back, delivered another punch to Italia, then leaned forward and continued to untie the series of knots that helped tighten the rope on Nick's ankles, "Good grief! How many knots are there?!"
"Five." Italia groaned while rubbing her jaw.
"Who asked you?!" Stefania replied.
"Stefania, all humor and everything else aside, you really should be resting." Nick told her, concern filling his voice, "I mean you were r*ped and well, you face the possibility of...you know."
"I know, Nick but I haven't felt sick or anything as of yet. However, I'm more concerned about you. Now, let me be the one who worries while you rest and I take care of you." Stefania got his ankles untied, "There we are. You are untied. Now, let's-"
Italia jumped onto Stefania's back, tackling her to the ground. Stefania rolled onto her back, slightly crushing Italia before punching her in the side and gaining the upperhand by turning herself around and attempting to pin her cousin to the floor. Italia used her feet to push Stefania back before getting to her feet and lunging at her, pinning her to the wall only for the latter to put her hand on top of her head and grab her hair. Italia balled up her fists and punched Stefania twice; once in her thigh and again on her back, knocking her down. Stefania grabbed at Italia's ankles and pulled them out from under her, sending her to the ground before getting on top of her. It would turn into a round where the two women rolled around on the ground, taking turns punching each other.
*Back out on the bridge*
The Barkleys (most notably Jarrod and Heath) continued their defiance in not dropping their guns despite being told to so via whispers from Chet and the other guys & demands from the Mangano men and their buddies. It was, because of this that the tension continued to increase by the second. Wanting to get past this tense moment and get across the bridge, Victoria stepped down from her buggy.
"Mother, what are you doing?" Jarrod's eyes were the size of plates.
"I'm going to go meet Carmine half way and try to talk to him, parent to parent, woman to man. Maybe it'll get things going and cool the waters, if you will." Victoria started walking towards the Mangano men and their friends.
"Mother, if I were you, I'd be-" Heath was cut off.
"Heath, Jarrod, I'll be fine." Victoria insisted.
"Mother, please-" Jarrod was cut off.
"Trust me on this." Victoria told him.
*Over where the Mangano men and their friends were standing*
Seeing Victoria coming their way got their attention and even surprised some of them. Paulie, among those surprised, slightly lowered his shot gun and turned to Carmine.
"Carmine, what do you make of this?" Paulie asked.
"Yeah, this white woman is coming our way. This is not a good sign." Arturo shook his head.
"She may have a whip and start using it on us as if we're her servants!" Massimo sneered.
"Carmine, are we just going to stand here and let her tell us how things should be?!" Enzo chimed in.
*Back with Nick, Stefania, and Italia*
The Mangano women continued to fight and went from rolling on the ground taking turns punching each other to throwing whatever they could at one another. However, Stefania, having since grown tired of tossing things at Italia, delivered a sucker punch that hard enough to make her cousin visibly dizzy to the point of collapsing to the ground. Nick, clearly proud of Stefania's tough streak and the fact that it mirrored his own to a perfect "T", folded his arms and smiled.
"Ti arrendi?! (You give up?!)" Stefania reverted to Italian, wiped the blood away from the corner of her mouth, walked over to Italia, and used her (Stefania's own) foot to sit her cousin upright, pinning her against the wall.
Italia, panting a little, looked up at Stefania and made a "Hmph!" noise.
"Answer my question!" Stefania reverted back to English and started to press her foot into her cousin's chest.
"Let...Let him go, Stefania!" Italia wiped the blood away from her nose, "He may be a white man, but he's handsome and I just might find him handsome!"
"Never! He's my man and I found him handsome..." Stefania pressed her foot into Italia's chest a little harder this time, before bending down as best as she could and getting nose-to-nose with her, "First."
Italia shot Stefania a glare and let out another "Hmph!" noise.
"Who's the alpha of the two of us?!" Stefania asked, before gritting her teeth.
Italia didn't say anything, shaking her head instead, clearly not wanting to admit to anything.
"Answer me, Italia. Who's the alpha and do you give up?!" Stefania slightly raised her voice.
"I won't give you an answer! I won't!" Italia shook her head, again, "You pulled this when we were kids and you're doing it again! You're a bully, Stefania!"
"And you're whining as usual, because I bested you. Plus, it looks like you may need to cool off and there's a trough outside. So, why don't I help you?" Stefania took her foot off of Italia's chest, grabbed her by her shoulder, forcefully standing her up and starting to pull her outside.
"No! No, you wouldn't dare!" Italia protested as Stefania pulled her along.
"Wouldn't I?!" Stefania asked as the two got outside and headed to the trough.
"Don't you do it!" Italia shrieked.
Once approaching the trough, Stefania picked Italia up the same way Jarrod had picked up that Maybelle Williams girl and then...*SPLASH!* tossed her into the trough just like he did. As Italia shrieked and struggled in the water, splashing it everywhere, Stefania went back inside to where Nick was.
"Let's go, Nick." Stefania said before taking his hand into hers and walking out with him.
While Nick and Stefania were walking off, Italia managed to get out of the trough and screamed at the two of them, mainly at Stefania before throwing what appeared to be a whiny tantrum due to the humiliation of being bested by her own cousin, yet again.
*A few minutes later, back out at the bridge*
As Victoria continued to make her way to the Mangano men and their friends, like Paulie, Carmine also lowered his shot gun, albeit very slightly, making it appear that while he was keeping his guard up, he just might be sensing something other than danger and/or deceit from the Barkley matriarch. Seeing that both Mangano men did this, Massimo and the others followed suit, to a degree. Meanwhile, Jarrod, Heath, and company were watching Victoria like a bunch of hawks, hoping against hope that nothing bad would happen.
"I hope Mrs. Barkley knows what she's doing." Chet whispered to Heath and Jarrod.
"So do we, Chet." Jarrod whispered back.
Just as Victoria was approaching the Mangano men and Carmine was making his way to her, very reluctantly, both the Barkley matriarch and the Mangano patriarch stopped in their tracks when a creaking noise could be heard coming from the bridge. Unphased by noise and believing it to be nothing, Victoria and Carmine continued to make their way to each other only to stop when the creaking noise got slightly louder. They looked down at the bridge then looked back up at each other, locking eyes.
(Now)
"Signora Barkley, do you hear that creaking noise?" Carmine asked, sounding a wee bit nervous despite his efforts of trying hard not to give any indication of nervousness.
"As a matter of fact, I do." Victoria nodded.
"Probabilmente aveva chiesto a uno dei suoi amici bianchi di preparare una trappola sul ponte. (She probably had one of her white friends set up a trap on the bridge.)" Massimo interjected.
"Zitto, Massimo! (Quiet, Massimo!)" Carmine dismissed Massimo by waving his hand.
"Carmine, don't make any more sudden movements. I'll come to you." Victoria told him before continuing to make her way to him only to stop yet again when the creaking noise got louder.
"Carmine, you going to let that woman order you around?!" Enzo asked in a nasty way.
Carmine ignored both Enzo and Victoria, picked up his pace, and kept on walking, causing the creaks to get louder and louder.
*With Nick and Stefania, not too far away*
Nick and Stefania had since gotten back into the wagon and were riding off to the bridge. Unbeknownst to them, they were not too far from the bridge. After a few minutes of total silence and absorbing everything that had been happening, Stefania couldn't help, but stare at Nick's bruises and wounds as the more they got into the sunlight, the more gnarly and painful they looked. She also couldn't help feeling responsible for everything Nick went through and the thing was...she didn't even know the half of it. All she knew was what she saw so far and that Paulie & the other guys had "taken care of" Eugene and him. She wasn't aware of the fact that her father finally came face-to-face with Nick and Nick wasn't aware that there was a tense stand off at the bridge. All he was aware of was what all had happened since the attack on Stefania, that he needed to pass a message to her from Dominique, and get back to his goal of catching McMahon, his uncle Leonard, and McMahon's gang, one by one. Whether the Mangano men and their friends would join him or not was on them. Nick desperately wanted to get back to his goal and he wasn't going to let bruises and/or wounds get in his way. Never. He looked to his right and noticed Stefania was still staring at his bruises and wounds.
"Yes?" Nick asked, before smirking.
"Nick, you look awful." Stefania replied.
"Oh, thanks a lot, Stefania." Nick gave her a weird look.
"Nick, that's not how I meant it. I mean your bruises and your wounds. They look so...brutal...and painful!" Stefania cringed.
"Ah, they're just bruises and wounds, Stefania. No big deal." Nick brushed off any concern or tried to.
"No big deal? Nick, you have wounds on top of wounds and bruises that look worse than the mess that Italia tried to pass off as a cake. Now, as I promised before, I'll take care of you. No ifs, ands, or buts." Stefania insisted, a little firmly this time than before.
"Oh, Stefania, I'll be fine. I appreciate it, but I'll be fine. You, on the other hand, you need to rest. You shouldn't worry your pretty little head about me." Nick gently affirmed.
"Nick, I can't help, but worry about you. I mean look at what my zio Paulie, Massimo, Luca, and the others did to you. I don't like seeing somebody I care about get hurt." Stefania told him.
"I know that feeling all too well. However, what they did to me pales in comparison to what happened to you. I mean you were..." Nick cleared his throat, not wanting to say the last part.
"I know, Nick but I feel bad." Stefania sighed.
"Stefania, you have nothing to feel bad about. It was no fault of your own that you were attacked and violated. The only ones at fault are the perpetrators and I'm going to make them pay and pay dearly." Nick put his hand on her shoulder.
"I know, Nick but I feel bad that you had to suffer, because of me. I really do." Stefania's voice started to break, "It's not...fair!"
"No...it isn't, but it's understandable. What happened to me is understandable. What happened to you was wrong. It should've never happened." Nick sighed before stopping the wagon, turning to her, and looking her in the eyes, "I'm carrying the biggest guilt imaginable. In fact, it is just as big as my father's murder and the guilt I have from that. Two people I failed to protect. Two people...very special to me and...I failed."
"Nick, you did not fail. You didn't know that was going to happen just like you didn't know or ever imagine that somebody would murder your papa." Stefania cupped his face in her hands, "Nick, there was no way you or anybody could've stopped your papa's murder or what happened to me. I mean in both instances, more lives could've been lost. For all we know, Seth McMahon and his buddies could've had guns and if you intervened, there was that chance that you could've been-"
"Stefania, I would've gladly taken that chance. Any chance if it meant that you were spared from what you went through. I would've gladly taken it." Nick insisted.
"I know that, Nick but if you got killed...I would've never forgiven myself." Stefania shook her head.
"Stefania-" Nick was cut off.
"We're near the bridge." Stefania pointed outward.
"Bridge? What br-" Nick turned his attention to the horizon and saw the bridge, "That bridge. What's the big deal over the bridge?"
"Zio Paulie, Massimo, Luca, Enzo, Arturo, Jarrod, Heath, your mama, and Chet are there." Stefania picked up the reins.
"They are?" Nick raised his eyebrows.
"Uh huh. Zio Paulie and the others were as stubborn as usual. Plus-" Stefania stopped mid sentence and gasped.
"What's wrong?" Nick asked.
"My papa! My papa is there!" Stefania spotted her father and got bug eyed.
"Well, I'll be! He is and...it looks like he is about to..." Nick's eyes got big, "Shake hands with my mother?!"
"Let's get to the bridge." Stefania lightly tapped Coco and the other horse with the reins, "Giddyup. Hyah."
The two horses did what they were told and drove Nick and Stefania straight to the bridge.
*A few seconds later, back at the bridge*
As Carmine and Victoria continued to make their way to each other whilst trying to be careful due to the loud creaking coming from the bridge, Jarrod was about to call out to them only to stop in his tracks when he saw Stefania approaching with Nick.
"Heath, Chet, Stefania's back and it looks like she has Nick with her!" Jarrod turned to Heath and Chet.
"Don't tell us! Tell mother!" Heath replied.
"Mother! Mother!" Jarrod called out to Victoria.
"Jarrod, I am being careful. I promise." Victoria yelled over her shoulder.
"No, no! Nick's here!" Jarrod hollered back.
"Nick's here?!" Victoria asked.
"Carmine! Carmine!" Paulie called out to Carmine.
"What is it now, Paulie?! A spider crawl on you?!" Carmine asked in a sarcastic way.
"No, Carmine. C'è Stefania! (No, Carmine. Stefania's here!)" Paulie told him.
"Stefania, cosa stai facendo? Dovresti essere-(Stefania, what are you doing? You're supposed to be-)" Carmine turned around and stopped midsentence when he saw Stefania.
"Riposando. Lo so, papà. (Resting. I know, dad.)" Stefania finished Carmine's sentence or so it seemed.
"Se lo sai, allora torna a casa. Non ti lascerò correre il rischio di farti male o di prendere la tua stessa morte! (If you know then get on home. I won't let you run the risk of being harmed or possibly catching your own death!)" Carmine waved his finger at her before taking a look at Nick and balling up his fist, "Che diavolo ci fa qui?! (What the hell is he doing here?!)"
"Papà, l'ho slegato. (Dad, I untied him.)" Stefania replied, before shaking her head and sighing, "Avete sbagliato tutti molto a tenere Nick legato in quel modo e a ferirlo come avete fatto! Guardatelo! Guardatelo bene! È ferito e pieno di lividi! (You all were very wrong to keep Nick tied up like that and to hurt him like you all did! Look at him! Take a good look! He's wounded and bruised!)"
"Stefania, mia figlia, la mia piccola principessa-(Stefania, my daughter, my little princess-)" Carmine was cut off.
"Non Stefania, figlia mia, la mia piccola principessa io, papà. Tu, zio Paulie, Massimo, Luca, Vito, Enzo e Arturo sapete tutti che vi sbagliate di grosso a fare del male a Nick. Sapete tutti nel profondo del vostro cuore che è innocente eppure lo crocifiggete! (Don't Stefania, my daughter, my little princess me, dad. You, uncle Paulie, Massimo, Luca, Vito, Enzo, and Arturo all know that you're very wrong for hurting Nick. You all know deep within your hearts that he's innocent yet you crucify him!)" Stefania pointed out while waving her finger.
"Nick, are you alright?" Victoria called out to Nick.
"Never better, mother." Nick called back, before putting his arm around Stefania, "Thanks to Stefania. She untied me and everything."
"She had no business to do that!" Carmine reverted to English and turned his attention to Nick, "She had no business to untie you! You were better off tied like you were! Nobody else's daughters would be harmed!"
"Carmine, it's not his fault and you know that. Deep inside yourself, you know Nick is innocent." Victoria told him, "You know he's innocent and you won't let yourself believe it."
"Papà, la signora Barkley ha ragione. (Dad, Mrs. Barkley is right.)" Stefania nodded in agreement with Victoria.
"Mr. Mangano, how about we make a deal?" Jarrod called out to Carmine.
"Jarrod, don't you dare open your open mouth and make any sort of deal!" Nick yelled to his older brother.
"Why?" Jarrod asked.
"The last time you did that, Macklin and those others nearly hung me while helping you set up that trap for Alderson. Remember that?" Nick replied.
"Nick, I have apologized time and-" Jarrod was cut off.
"No deal, Jarrod! You are not to make anymore deals!" Nick raised his voice.
"Nick, you never told me this." Stefania turned to Nick.
"Not something I would write home about, Stefania." Nick shook his head.
"Mr. Mangano, ignoring my brother for a minute, how about we make a deal? You said you want your brother Santo and your father Emilio to get justice, right?" Jarrod started.
"That's right. However, I also want justice for what happened to Allegra, Serafina, and Stefania! What happened to them shouldn't be forgotten and why are you bringing this up? Stuff about deals. Why bring it up all of a sudden? Do you have something up your sleeve?! Like a trick?!" Carmine nodded, before waving his hands around.
"No tricks, Mr. Mangano. None whatsoever. You see, I'm a lawyer and-" Jarrod was interrupted.
"Jarrod, don't you dare make him and the others go through what you put mother, Audra, Heath, and me through! Don't you even think about it!" Nick yelled.
"Nick, I never intended to put you and everyone else through anything. I never intended for any of that to happen." Jarrod replied, "And I won't let anything happen to Stefania and her family. Now, would you kindly-"
"I won't butt out, Jarrod! Yeah, maybe you didn't intend for anything to happen, but I was almost hung and that isn't something I can just simply forget!" Nick shook his head.
"Nick, I have apologized time and again. When are you going to let that go? You know, you're-" Jarrod was cut off.
"Nick, Jarrod, everybody let's quit this bickering. We all know that infighting solves nothing. Carmine, my son is innocent. He didn't hurt Stefania. He would never do such a thing. I'd clobber him and if his father was alive, why his father would shoot him at dawn if he harmed a woman. Nick cares a lot about Stefania and it wouldn't make any sense for him to do anything ungodly to her. However, that being said, your anger is very understandable. Stefania is still your little girl who you love dearly and it makes you angry that somebody would do what they did to her. I know that feeling very well as did Tom. My husband was what you are, a father and I'm a mother. Our children being hurt is every loving parent's worst nightmare. You feel helpless, you feel hopeless. It's all a part of the game. I understand your anger and the pain you and Mrs. Mangano feel and have felt. I truly do. Whether you believe me or not, that's up to you. As for you, Nick, Jarrod never meant for anything untoward to happen to us. He never meant for the trap he helped set up for Alderson to get out of hand like it did. Unfortunately, things like that do tend to get out of hand and it's beyond anybody's control. Nobody knows whether something will be easy and peaceful or difficult and chaotic. Nobody does. That being said, there is one thing we all know and that is the incident was harrowing and traumatic. Nobody denies that. That trauma is real and I understand as does Jarrod that your trust in him has been iffy since then, but Nick, just try to allow yourself to at least forgive Jarrod. It haunts him more than you know. Sure, the trauma will never go away, but Jarrod doesn't need that reminder each time he goes to lend a helping hand. While I'm at it, another thing I suggest is let Jarrod voice his idea to Stefania and her family then let the law take care of McMahon, the Ballingers, and that whole bunch." Victoria tried to sound like a voice of reason.
"Let the law take care of them? Sure, sure, right, right. Just let the law deal with it. The law always deals with it and protects everyone, doesn't it? If that's so, mother, then riddle me this: where was the law when Stefania was attacked and where...where...where was the law when father was killed? Where was the law those two times?" Nick was clearly tired of hearing the "let the law handle it" talk. Who could blame him? The law was nowhere to be found when Stefania went through pure hell and when Tom was murdered. How could he or anybody trust the law? How? Nobody in their right ever loving mind would trust the law again if they had happen to them what the Manganos and the Barkleys went through.
Jarrod was about to speak, but stopped when the bridge made that creaking noise again only this time, it sounded more like a breaking noise. Like a dead or dying tree that was about to fall.
"Nick, did you hear that?" Stefania asked, clearly alarmed by the noise.
"I sure did. Sounds like a tree is about to fall." Nick nodded, before looking around.
The bridge made another loud breaking noise and then...before the blink of an eye...*SNAP! CRASH! SPLASH!* The bridge finally gave way, breaking apart, sending Victoria and Carmine into the water.
"PAPA, SIGNORA BARKLEY!" Stefania shouted, before jumping off of the wagon and rushing to the bridge.
"MOTHER! MR. MANGANO!" Nick, Jarrod, and Heath shouted before rushing over to the broken part of the bridge.
"CARMINE!" Paulie and the other shouted.
"Jarrod, Nick, Heath, hurry! The current is starting to get fast!" Victoria urged while trying to stay afloat.
"Stefania, bambina, come ha detto la signora Barkley, la corrente sta arrivando molto velocemente! Sbrigati! (Stefania, baby girl, like Mrs. Barkley said, the current is coming very fast! Hurry!)" Carmine also tried to stay afloat.
"Non preoccuparti, papà. Tu e la signora Barkley sarete fuori dall'acqua in men che non si dica. (Don't worry, dad. You and Mrs. Barkley will be out of the water in no time.)" Stefania started to get into the water only to be stopped when a hand grabbed her wrist.
"Stefania, no!" Nick held onto her wrist.
"Nick, what the hell are you doing?! My papa and your mama are in the water!" Stefania gave him a look.
"Stefania, I can't let you go in the water. It's too dangerous! I'll go in!" Nick told her.
"And I'm coming with you!" Jarrod started to get in the water.
"Oh no, you don't! I can't let either of you go in the water! I must do this alone!" Nick shook his head and gestured for Jarrod and Stefania to get out of the water.
"Nick, she's my mother, too!" Jarrod told him.
"Yeah, and even though you two have your differences & I do not agree with him, he is still my papa! My papa is still my papa and I love him!" Stefania looked Nick in the eye.
"I know that, Stefania and Jarrod, but-" Nick was cut off.
"Nick, I failed Dominique." Stefania had tears in her eyes and shook her head, "I will not fail my papa!"
"Yeah, why should you be the one to save mother and Mr. Mangano?" Jarrod asked.
"Because I do not want to fail the other parent and someone else's father!" Nick raised his voice, before having tears spring to his eyes and biting his lip.
"Nick-" Jarrod was cut off.
"Jarrod...I failed Stefania and...I failed father. I will not fail mother and Mr. Mangano." Nick sighed, "I gotta do this."
"Nick, I understand, but in case you forgot, I failed, too." Jarrod cleared his throat, "I failed Beth. I'm not aiming for a repeat."
"Guys, we hate to break up your conversation, but we still need help!" Victoria called out.
With that, Nick, Stefania, and Jarrod joined forces, got into the water, and rushed over to Carmine and Victoria. With the water current starting to get faster than before, the trio tried their absolute best to get the Mangano patriarch and Barkley matriarch back to shore, but to no avail.
The water kept rushing and all hope was lost until after what seemed to be an eternity, Stefania, Jarrod, and Nick with the help of Heath, Paulie, and the others managed to get Victoria on shore. Now, it was time to get Carmine on shore, but he and Nick were being pulled further and further back by the rushing water.
"Mr. Mangano, Nick, keep going!" Jarrod yelled.
"We can't, Jarrod! The water-" Nick was cut off due to being splashed in the face, the last part being in complete gibberish.
"What?" Jarrod asked, before getting splashed.
"I said that we can't, Jarrod. The water is coming too fast!" Nick yelled.
"Ummmm...Nick?" Carmine looked behind himself then back at Nick.
"What is it, Carmine?" Nick turned to Carmine.
"I think there's-" Carmine was cut off when he got submerged by more oncoming water.
"Hey!" Nick went under the water then resurfaced, this time having a tight hold on Carmine's forearm, "You okay?"
"I think so." Carmine nodded.
"Alright, now, let's-" Nick was cut off by another oncoming wave of water, this one being strong enough to whisk both Carmine and himself away from Stefania and everyone else.
"Nick! Papa!" Stefania got back into the water, Jarrod and Heath following suit.
"Nick, Mr. Mangano, swim towards us while we swim towards you two!" Jarrod instructed, before swimming towards his brother and the Mangano patriarch, Stefania and Heath following him.
"Jarrod, we-" Nick got submerged for a brief moment, quickly resurfacing, but getting swept further away.
"Stefania!" Carmine was also getting swept further away.
"Papa, Nick, hang on!" Stefania kept on swimming towards them.
"Hang on, brother! Hang on, Mr. Mangano!" Heath called out.
However, before the blink of an eye...it happened. Another wave of water came rushing like mad, only unlike the previous times, this one was the strong one. Strong enough and big enough to chew Nick Barkley and Carmine Mangano up then spit them out, sending them away. The last things that were heard from both men were loud yells as they went over a waterfall.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Jarrod, Heath, and Stefania shouted, before rushing back to the edge and looking over.
"Heath, Jarrod, Stefania, what happened?" Victoria, having heard the shouting, rushed over to where they were, Paulie and the others following suit.
"Stefania, what happened to your papa?" Paulie asked, fear filling his voice.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! Nick! Mr. Mangano!" Jarrod uttered the same thing he said when he discovered his beloved Beth had just been shot by Cass Hyatt.
"What happened?" Victoria had fear in her voice.
"They went over the edge." Jarrod's eyes were the size of plates.
"Zio Paulie, Nick and papa just...they just..." Stefania, unable to finish her sentence, started crying.
"And...they're not resurfacing." Heath's voice started to crack.
Nick and Carmine's yells were still echoing except now what was once loud yells was starting to fade away and be replaced by the eerily calm sounds of the water. There were no splashes. The water current was no longer rushing like it was a few moments ago. Everything was dead calm.
To Be Continued...