The Mafia Boss’s Angel: Her Sweet Revenge

Los Angeles, California It was early afternoon at the very end of February, cloudless skies. A 5’7 tall lady sat in the taxi of a first-generation Cadillac Escalade smelling of old cigarette smoke, trundled along in the busy street of Pine Avenue, California at unhurried pace. Sitting in the back of the taxi, her head throbbed while gazing through the taxi’s dusty window. She vividly remembers what happened few minutes ago in her hotel room before getting on in this ride. ‘Is the man dead?’ she recalls checking his body, his half open eyes, his breathing, his pulse. It has nothing. No blood, no weapon, just a spilled coffee on its side with half of its contents still inside. Recalling, she massaged her temples with a forming head ache, what was she doing in that hotel room? Who was she? Who is that man? Why can’t she remember anything? Escaping from that horrible scene was not an easy feat. Broken vases, picture frames, glasses, disheveled king-sized bed. Did she have a fight with this large frame man? With her? She glanced at her delicate fingers, well-groomed nails, fair skin, hour glass figured body and wait – a cut in her lips and bruise in her upper right chin as she shuffled toward the luxurious vanity mirror. Had she killed that man their fight? No way! ‘Excuse me, Senyorita, where are you heading?’ the taxi driver inquired over his shoulder, in a heavy Mexican accent. She leaned forward but a sob bubbled in her throat. That terror had slammed into her head brought shiver into her spine. ‘Just a little way on, Senyor’. She patted the pockets on her jeans, no ID’s, no car key, luckily a thousand dollars on the other side of her pocket and a black keycard embraided ‘VENGEROV, 1901, Key West Luxury Villas’. ‘To this place, Senyor’. The taxi driver speeds up as he hummed an old Mexican song in his car radio. ‘A thousand dollars?’ She thought. ‘Urrgghhh..’ She bit her bottom lip and winced. Looking at the driver’s rear-view mirror, she now saw a red spot forming high in her cheekbone, beneath her left eye. Maybe someone had attack them in that hotel room and left thinking she’s dead. Maybe that someone would return. She backed away from the driver’s mirror and stumbled back in the passenger seat. Eyeing her hotel slippers, ripped jeans, white fitted blouse and a heavy dark coat. She can’t remember anything, her name, anything about her, much more the name Vengerov, but she liked the sound of it. Upon reaching the heavily guarded Villa, the security eyed her and said; ‘Madam, good to see you again, for security reasons, we need to scan the card in the system, did you have it with you?’ Sweats formed in her forehead as she elegantly and calmly as possible pass the card to the security. She faintly hears the clattering of computer keys and the beeping sound of the machine while she is trying to calm her racing heartbeat. ‘Here you go, enjoy your stay madam, and if there’s anything you need, just inform us. And by the way, maintenance department did the trimmings of the pine trees as you’ve previously instructed, madam. Thank you and have a nice day’. The security chatted away. ‘Whew! that was close. She let out a sigh of relief and mentally thank the security for the clue as to where she was “supposed” to be staying. ‘Which villa is it, Senyorita? The Mexican driver asked. She leaned forward, ridiculously excited, expectant and thinking hard as possible. ‘The silver and white gates with pine trees on the right, Senyor. They’re open. There! Here we are.’ He turned in through gates and the car drew up at the front of the villa. She paid her ride, thank the driver, opened the door and got out, drawing her coat in her body against the cold. The taxi had just left as she left rooted in her position. While praising the view of the Villa. Dramatic front gates leading to a courtyard with an artistic landscaping, sculptural water feature, a meandering walkway that provides easy and comfortable access to main residence and separate-entry to guest house. ‘Wow! What a view, whose house is this? Who is Vengerov? Who is this person to me?’ She unlock the door using her card. When she closed the door, she gulped on seeing the custom-made barrel ceilings that is featured at the main entry on the contemporary living room. A large breakfast island table, the dramatic fireplace, drop ceiling chandelier, spacious dining rooms, pocketing walls of glass to floating patio over streaming water with twinkle lights. She hurriedly checks the outdoor in which she saw two fireplaces, artificial turf, multiple lounge seating areas, flat panel televisions, sunbather’s deck, outdoor bar, infinity pool, outdoor dining – all with unobstructed ocean views. She went back to the living room and open the fridge and she just saw bottles of water. She drank two bottles of it and felt how hungry she was. But then she felt so sleepy and went to the master’s bed room. The sumptuous master suite melds elegance and relaxation, with designer furnishings, fireplace, huge television, boutique-style walk in closets, dual vanities, glass walls and views to outdoor pools and oceans and mountains beyond. For now, there was nothing more to be done, she thought. No food in the fridge, she’s done checking all 10 rooms in the house. She discovered that she was very tired, but it was a gentle tiredness, a soothing one, she felt it. Assuaged and comforted by her surroundings, as though she was in this place countless times, she can feel the familiarity in it, as though she was being embraced by a loving arm. She lit the fireplace, sunk in the sofa, she found herself surprised by, the happiness that she is in this luxurious suite, alive! ‘Whatever, I have survived it, and I will discover who I am sooner, I will not waste any moment, a single moment.’ She promised herself. Her eyes wanted to shut down when she noticed a large picture frame of a ballerina holding a Juliet rose. She went for a closer look and gasped when the lady in the frame is herself!