Wanderlust

Wanderlust
Elsie’s pov~ 

Angelo didn't sleep at home last night, coincidence I think not!

He has probably gone to finish up the rest of his kids.

Or perhaps warn the other concubines about my latest discovery.

I can't believe he'd do something so diabolical, why am I so shocked he did it to me years ago!

Right here in this mansion.

I slumped to the bed, I have to keep my promise to Theo at least, I dressed up, kissed my daughter and left in the black sedan.

I was shown to her not long after, and the quiet sound of the oxygen tank humming filled the cold hospital room.

Tammy lay deathly still beneath pale blue hospital bed sheets, her skin glistening with unnatural oils. 

A small moving bump stretched out her gown, rising and falling with the steady cadence of devices that kept the two heartbeats alive and well.

I stood there like a ghost, watching Theo’s life falling apart in real time.

Eyeing the woman who was never my rival and yet still managed to torment me.

“And her parents, where are they?” I asked quietly.

The nurse nodded and pointed toward the waiting area out front. I thanked her and backed out of the room.

I had to find a way to save her for Theo’s sake.

Minutes later, I slid a check for 100 thousand dollars across the table. Their eyes widened, it was safe to say they had never seen such an amount.

“Taking this money means she stays on life support. Until her child is born, no matter the cost, I'll take care of it, understand?” 

They both agreed without a word, much like they had been waiting for this.

It was a miracle they couldn't believe. Maybe it was relief or maybe guilt but I didn't care.

I was glad to have taken care of it.

Now Theo can rest easy, wherever he is, 

I went back for one last visit to Tammy, I took her hand in mine, “Your husband was a fine man till his end,” I started, the machine beeped calling the nurse's attention.

“Can she hear me?” I asked in surprise, she shook her head, “She's not supposed to” she replied, “I'll go get the doctor”

I watched her hurriedly leave the room and I looked back at Tammy.

“Tammy?” I called but no response, I waited for another beep from the machine, it never came.

“Im going to care for you from now on, I'll make sure your baby is safe” I promised.

I was tempted to touch her bump but I deemed it disrespectful to do so.

The nurse soon came back with the doctor, he examined her and shook his head, “its probably a memory was conjured up, it happens, leaving brain activity to activate for a few seconds”  he explained.

I nodded in understanding, “That means there's hope” I said.

“Not really ma'am, she has no functional brain activity, she's lost all functions, all she can do is dream”

I shook my head in disagreement, “I don't believe that, im going to come back here every other day” I stated.

“Each different day comes with special memories of your husband Theo” the machine beeped again.

“There!” I exclaimed, the doctor looked closer before whispering to the nurse.

The nurse nodded and left the room, I was now left with the doctor.

“Mrs Moretti, I understand that you don't understand much of what is going on but I believe upsetting Tammy is not the best choice at the moment”

I shook my head, “I understand what you are saying. I'm telling you that as her trusted guardian…” I paused, as the nurse walked in.

She nodded, “Glad we've settled everything, as her guardian I want you to put her on every trial medication she can get until she wakes up” 

The doctor advised against it but agreed in the end.

I left the hospital soon after and I turned back down the hallway hoping to catch a breath before I head back to the company.

I was drowning in debt and this deal I have with Fedora is going to save me trillions in debt.

The feeling of being watched bound over me like a noose.

My footsteps slowed cautiously. 

My hand trembled at the thought of being murdered in this alleyway.

I instinctively skimmed my thigh where I’d wrapped Theo’s pocket knife, waiting for danger to rear its ugly head.

Who is it? Here for me? Or is it that Angelo wants to finish Tamara off as revenge?

Whatever it is, I knew I wasn't alone.

An oddly dressed man stepped out from under the stairwell.

He was a tall man, asian with a round cap. He was rightly lean, dressed in a brown suit that didn’t belong anywhere in the fashion world.

His skin was glowing, his hair slicked back into shape, and his lips curled perfectly with confidence.

Top deadly to know what comes next I started.

“If you want to kill me at least have the decency to do it in my home, when I'm comfortable in bed”

The man smiled, before clapping his hands together.

“President Elsie Hathaway, heir to Elias’s fortune, do you know the power you've inherited” he said smoothly. 

“I must admit, I expected more constraint from the woman everyone can't stop talking about" he started before tapping Cain on my thighs.

“Who once ran a powerful mafia Don, off the streets with nothing but the fear of her name, Miss Mafia” 

My mouth opened narrowly. “Who are you? Who sent you? Angelo?” I asked 

He laughed.

“ Why would your husband send me? He would be livid if he finds out I've been in contact, we missed you at the meeting” he informed me and I was lost for words.

“Meeting?”  I asked, he nodded “yes we call it the summit, maybe ask your husband about it, it should be interesting” he glowed.

“You missed the vote, it's not too late to recant though, " he continued, ignoring my next question.

“Who are You?” I asked, he smiled “someone you should consider a friend”

I looked at him, unsure if conversing with him was a threat to my father’s legacy.

"The one your father fought three years to secure that presidency for himself and for who comes next after him, you lost that vote all for having a good time with Angelo?" 

All for sex with Angelo Moretti, what the hell does he mean?

My brow arched up in curiosity.

“Shame.”

I froze. My heart beat quickened, “I don't understand?”

President?

“What are you talking about? I don't know what this position is,” I asked.

He stepped closer to me, and his teeth shone like ivory. 

“I'm Fang Wei. I head the Eastern Sector for Vybe Logistics which is until your husband didn't like the idea of sharing anymore.  You accidentally signed off on my clearance a month ago and you don't know you only have that power?” he asked with a scoff.

You mean to tell me you didn't know perhaps it was omitted? girl?”

“I don't know what the hell it is you are talking about” 

He smiled, “Miss mafia…” he started

“Look, I've heard about you and how you like to make an example out of everything”  he wasn't happy to hear that.

“I see fedora’s got to you, you've met my daughter then?” he asked again.

“I wonder what type of father would do that to his child?”

“One who offered her the world on a silver platter and still chose to sleep with your husband” he said.

He looked away, it was obvious it upset him.

“My world bent over to be fucked recently by your husband angelo” he added before stepping closer.

This wasn't just about Theo, or the kids in the tunnels.

It was about Angelo, but deeper…

My voice snapped. “Why did you follow me, Surely you want me alive for something”

He tapped his cane on the floor and stepped closer to me.

“I'm doing you a huge favour” he replied, “ why?” I asked, heavily suspicious, a man who can do that to his own family won't have a problem discarding a whole queen of Chicago.

I'm dealing with very serious people, they can smell the weakness at our camp and its all my fault.

I've been distracted of late.

“Because I know something that will help you in the next summit,  the board thinks you’re compromised right now with your run-ins with the feds” His eyes narrowed briefly. “We don't like the feds miss mafia, they are too much of a problem and from the looks of things….” he paused to give me a condescending glare “they’re right.”

He tossed a sleek red envelope onto the trash van between us.

Inside, I peeked at the surveillance images of Me, and Angelo coming out of the tunnels without Theo.

“How?” I asked, “How the hell were you able to get this?”

“You're not the only one with a network of spies, President…..” he paused.

“ With that said, I believe I've got you right where I need to be,” he said, tapping the envelope with his cane.

“Now tell me in simpler words, how exactly do you plan to clean up this mess? Or are we all going down with your crazy unhinged husband?”

He smirked once more and then lowered his cane to balance on it, adjusted his sleeve, and turned back to me.

I stood there frozen, nothing came to mind except how I'd inherited a whole presidency and no one thought it wise to tell me!

This is Angelo at play! He must be up to something and I've walked right into his trap.

I, Elsie Hathaway, am the president of an underground cabal.

A vote for what exactly? How deep and dirty are the hands of these thieves and murderers?

Clearance approvals, id heard my father talk about the one time and how he had to seek approvals to send his shipments away.

There was something inside me reaching  to be remembered, and I had a feeling this strange man, this Fang Wei had just pulled out the lid off a locker I had no idea existed.

I turned back to look up at Tammy's room, still quiet in her world, quietly missing her husband.

“So what the hell was I before all this? What exactly did my father do for Chicago?”

Fang Wei looked at me, “oh Elsie, I think you need to do more research, but I can't promise you you’ll find all the answers but you will feel better but be warned” he paused looking at me, “ no one in Chicago is going to wait for you, already moves have already been made against you, its best you start moving the same way or they are going to have you for dinner”

His words stung but he was right, something far deeper was going on. My father had only shown me a taste of what it feels like to be powerful but now it seems I have to work for it harder.

Angelo pulled one under me, questions hovered around my head and I had to know how deep this secret is and how I'm supposed to lead several murderous cabal members.

How am I supposed to control them when I'm just a timid girl pretending to be tough?

The more I try the deeper I get into the shit, 

Angelo is hiding something from me. I can feel it, but I won't let that derail me.

“I hope I get to see you at the next summit” he said before disappearing into the corner.

He gave me a life-saving clue, the summit.

Now I have to figure out when it is and how I can prevent any major move from happening.

The floor vibrated under me, startling me from further thinking.

I saw the nurse from earlier walking towards her car, it was the end of her shift maybe.

She was parked beside mine, she almost tripped and landed on my car, just as she was about to pick the key that had dropped on the floor the car she rested on blew into bits.

Her head shot straight off her neck and landed a few feet away from me.

She looked shocked.

This was a warning, a serious warning from one of them.

Not to worry I'll find out soon enough who is bold enough to kill me this soon.