A/n: New Chapter

"...a child may forget what was spent on them

but even when they grow up, they will never forget who was there for them when they needed it the most..."

"Signor? Do you have a minute?"

"Come in. What do you have for me?"

"The plot thickens." Russo chuckled. "The man Katya wants dead, his name is Jason Burke. He is this woman's husband." He placed a photograph of a beautiful young woman in front of me. Her eyes. It's always her eyes that does it for me. Put aside the innocence of her face, her nature, Keira is a beautiful young woman. She seems to be in my path and I can't help but feel that it means something.

"Now why would Katya want her husband dead?"

"I think Katya and Nicko are working together on this."

"Si. He likes this young woman."

"So much so that he assaulted the man. He was arrested for it and also accused of abducting Keira."

"Is he still in jail?"

"His grandmother bailed him out. Our source at the precinct where he was taken says that Keira told the investigating detective that her husband nearly beat her to death. According to her, Nicko saved her life. What's your move?"

"Do we know where this man is?"

"He is moving around a lot but our man is staying close. He was last seen in a casino in Las Vegas."

"I think I see a way to kill two birds with one stone. I have Katya working for me and I get to leverage Nicko to play my game." I smiled. "I want this man dead by the end of the week. Make sure that Nicko is implicated in his murder."

"I'll get on that."

This is the noose I'll use to hang Nickolas. I have been looking for ways to trap him and he is finally out of moves. I will have him exactly where I want him.

Nicko and I have had our share of disagreements. I can't say we are an exemplary pair. We bicker, we argue and we hood grudges. He's not easy to deal with. Tony understands me or better yet he knows how to yield. Nicko purposely fights me on everything. I hate to lose. He hates to lose. Losing is just not an option for either one of us. But it's not a victory either when a son is detached from his mother. I have been through so much with that boy. He doesn't even know.

It's because I love him more than I would like to win that I'm here today. I'm in Manhattan. I'm in front of his house. I have never been here before. For seven years he has lived here and I have never visited. It's a big house. It's not as big as the villa in Tuscany but it's a big house in an affluent neighborhood. I'm happy he has been doing well for himself. I'm also sad that Helena has fired him and disinherited him.

Nicko is a lot like Nate. They can't stay idle. When they are idle they are self destructive. Nicko loves to work. It's really hard to just find him lazing around or sleeping in. He wakes up early and he works hard. Tony is the lazy one. He has a big IQ but he can be lazy beyond what is normal. Still, he has his own work ethics that make money. I dint meddle as long as he doesn't ask me for a cent. If anything, he gives me money. I don't know why but I don't complain. Nick doesn't give me a cent.

I rang the doorbell. My heart is racing. When I told Gio I'm coming here, he laughed at me. He laughed so hard and told me I'll probably run away when the front door is opened. He doesn't believe I can give in and be the bigger person. When you're as short as I am, there's no room to be the bigger person. But I'm surprising myself today and it's because I love this boy.

The sound of the lock turning increased my heart rate. Is it Nicko who will open the door? Is it him? I took a quick breath and sighed when I saw Lupe. "Oh thank goodness!" I laughed. "It's just you."

"Who were you expecting?" She laughed too. "Come in Signora." I walked into the beautiful home. It's so Nicko to like stark white walls and dark furniture. "Shoes."

"No." I refused and walked past her. "Where is the witch?"

"Who?"

"The woman who lives here."

"Oh. She went out very early-"

"Nonna!" A high peached squeal drew my attention to the little girl hurrying down the stairs to meet me. I passed my bag to Lupe to pick her up when she reached me.

"Maddie!" I kissed her pretty face. "I have missed you bambina."

"I missed you too! Are you staying? Are you going to be here when I come back?"

"I'm not sure." I set her down on the floor. She reminds me of my Nicko when he was little. He was so much fun.

"I hate to interrupt but she will be late for school." Julio pointed out. "Buongiorno Signora."

"Buongiorno." I greeted him. "Have a great day Maddie." I waved at her as Julio carried her away. "Nicko doesn't take her to school?"

"He usually does. I'm happy you're here. I want to show you something." I followed Lupe into the kitchen. She opened a door, it seems to be a pantry. She pointed to the floor where there are empty bottles of whiskey. "Twelve in three days. As we speak, he has a few stashed in his room. He is probably high out of his mind and it doesn't help that he is more aggressive when he's drunk."

"My instincts told me to come here today. Where is he?"

"Locked up in his room."

"Spare key?"

She gave me one.

She accompanied me upstairs to Nicko's room. She pointed at the door. I opened it, not sure what I'll walk into but it's dark and the air reeks of alcohol. I can hear snoring. I don't know if he snores or not. I have been absent from his adult life for too long to even say I know my son. Lupe followed me in. She opened the heavy dark curtains, allowing light in to reveal the man lying stomach down. He didn't even get inside the covers. Bottles of whiskey are on the floor. Three empty, one on it's way to getting empty and a full one on the dresser.

As Lupe started clearing the bottles, I sat on the side of the bed, resting my hand on his cheek. "Nicko?" He's deep asleep. I almost don't want to wake him but I might as well. "Nickolas." Is shook him.

He blinked repeatedly and opened his eyes. He squinted at the light.

"Mom?" He spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Si bambino. It's me. Wake up."

He only looked at me for quite some time. Nicko is not a light weight. When he drinks, he drinks. While Tony is a merry drunk, Nicko's aggression levels hit sky high when he's drunk.

I helped him sit up. He covered his face probably from a hangover headache. "What are you doing here?"

"Checking on my son." I answered.

"Shocking." He whispered. "I thought you didn't care about me."

I pried his hands away from his face. The blue of his eyes is just like Nate's and Helena's. I remember how Gio was shocked when he met Nicko for the first time. He couldn't believe Nicko came from me. He is pale, blue eyed and blond. We have never had a blond or blue eyed person in our family until he came along. I took both of his hands. "We have been through our share of disagreements figlio mio but never doubt that I love you so much."

He hugged me out of the blue. It's funny how they start out small and they fit in your arms and then they grow up and are bigger than you. I had to get on my knees to sustain the weight he's leaning in me. He smells of whiskey. I hate the smell of whiskey. But I am his mother and I just he used to pee on me so this is better.

"I... Mom, my life is falling apart." He whispered while still holding me.

For a man who lives to control everything, his life is indeed falling apart and he can't control anything. "It's all right figlio mio. Sometimes, we lose control."

He pulled away. His eyes are blood shot. "Helena fired me."

"I heard." Helena gave me a heads-up. But it's also a subject on the tongues of many people. When someone as well known as Nicko suffers drama like this, it becomes everyone's business.

"And she disinherited me."

He looks miserable. He looks almost defeated.

"Which is a good thing. She is protecting you and you can't see it now but you will."

"What do you want?" He asked softly. "To lecture me?"

"No. I'm here to offer you support. Whatever you need Nicko. You can fall back on me."

"Thank you."

"Now, how about you take a bath? You smell."

He started laughing.

This incident may be a tragic loss for him but it's also an opportunity for us to fix things. Maybe we can do better now.

I haven't been home in over a month. It almost feels foreign and overwhelming at the same time.

"Will you come in?" I asked Bruce. "Please? Just come in to at least take the edge of."

"Okay." He agreed. He's really turning out to be a good friend. "What?" He smiled at me.

"You're a wonderful man. The girl you'll love, is lucky."

"Thank you Kei. Nick is lucky." He got out of the car first so that he can get my door for me.

We walked together towards the old yellow farm house. The Red front door is open. I rang the bell like a stranger only to feel foolish and enter the house. I can hear soft classical music. That's my mother's favorite. I can also smell oranges. She likes citric scents.

I heard heavy footsteps getting closer. Bruce is looking at photographs on the wall. I came face to face with my father. His expression hardened immediately, dark blue eyes narrowed to mere slits. I did not wear any make up today because I wanted it to be self explanatory.

"Daddy..." I whispered in a weak voice almost like a little giro who wants her father to solve her problems. I couldn't help the tears that followed. He opened his arms and embraced me without saying a word. I cried softly, soaking his chest with my tears. It feels like home right here in his arms.

I pulled away after a moment. He used his thumbs to dry my eyes. "Dear child. Do you know the worry you have put us through?"

"I'm so sorry." I apologized. "I'm sorry daddy."

"Who is your friend?" He paid attention to Bruce.

"Bruce St Patrick." He introduced himself.

"Michael Ballard. You have quite a handshake there. Army?"

"Yes sir. Do you serve?"

"I used to. Retired. Navy. I was based in Norfolk Virginia."

"It's a pleasure sir." Bruce gazed at me. "I was just making sure the lady got home safe."

"I'm grateful. She's all I have left." He draped his arm over me, pressing a gentle kiss on the side of my head. "You said St Patrick. Are you related to the Colonel?"

"The Colonel is my father."

"Ah! Small world. Would you like to join us for lunch?"

Bruce glanced at his wrist watch. "Thank you sir but I'll have to decline. I need sto be somewhere else. It was a ln honor meeting you."

He left immediately. I'm grateful he came in with me.

"Young lady, we have a lot to talk about."

"We do." I agreed.

"Why don't you sit down? I'll get your mother."

"I'm already here." I covered my mouth when I saw her head. She cut all her hair. "Don't look at me like that. It was falling off in chunks."

"But you look better."

"That place Nick got me into us doing wonders for me." She smiled at me. "I'm so happy he beat the crap out of Jason! But why? What happened? Was it just a jealous fit?"

"No." I walked past them to sit down. They sat on either side of me so that in in the middle.

"Please tell us what happened." She rested her hand on my back.

"Jason has been abusing me. It's not just insults.

"I can see it on your face."

"Lili, let the girl speak for herself." My father told her sternly. She can't serve as my mouthpiece today. I have to do this.

"He beats me up. Not anymore since the last time but he has been beating me up. Sometimes over nothing and this last time because I told him I want a divorce. He punches my face repeatedly until I passed out. Then he wrapped me in a rug and he put me in the boot of his car. He wanted to get rid of me. That's when Nick found me and he beat Jason up. Nick took me to Bruce's place... a lake house out of town. I have been there since."

"Who is Bruce?" My mom asked me.

"Christopher St Patrick's son." My father answered.

"Courtney's Chris?" My mother asked me. "I know Court. She's in the foundation. I have never met her son."

"He's a good friend." I smiled to myself.

"What is the plan?" My mother asked me. "Definitely a divorce."

"Yes." I agreed. My father is silent. "Daddy I'm okay."

"Four years Keira. Four years and you never said anything. I'm sitting here wondering if it's my failure ad a father for not noticing or ignorance. It breaks my heart to know what you're going through and I'm so sorry I didn't do anything about it earlier. Please forgive me for my failure."

"Forgive us both." She took my hand. "We always thought you were okay. We paid attention to Keith and not to you and we are sorry. We should have known."

"You would never have known." I told them. "It's only that Lorraine told Nick."

"We want you to know you have our full support. You're moving back home and we can go get your things. You will like for divorce and that man will let you go even if death is the only way left. I will kill that man for what he has done to you." My father told me with a clenched jaw.