The Seventh Family

North Park Street

The robbery attack on Van and Sara had a pernicious impact on them. They left home that evening full of hopes and plans but lost all of the money. They suffered from hunger and fear of been thrown out their apartment.

Van had to do something about it. He had contemplated on going on the street to start stealing again when he saw his neighbor, Didi burying something at the back yard.

Van saw it and acted as if he did not see him. Two days later, he saw Didi dig it out and went out. Van followed him and trailed him to a pawn shop. Didi came out dejected.

“What happened in there, Didi?” Van asked him and the man was shocked.

“Van? What are you doing here?”

“Being a nice neighbor.”

“How are you nice by stalking me.”

“I was being nice by watching you bury this on Friday and did not go behind you to dig it up and sell. I am a very honest man and the royalty in me keeps my integrity in check.”

“You have been watching all these while?” He  twitched his lips, “it is safer to mind your business in this neighborhood, do you get that?”

“Who says that is not my business? You are wasting time. If you wasn’t it sold, give it to me let me sell it.”

“I am Fabio and my name is not Didi. You only heard one person all me Didi and I told him to stop.”

“Okay Fabio. You are wasting time.”

Fabio knew there was no point of prevarication. He was a seller but pawn shops owner did not like buying from him. He sold anything that came his way and never asked how it was gotten but he was not a good seller and mostly had to sell far below the values of his goods.

He hesitated but gave the wristwatch to Van.

“Wait here.” Van said.

“Don’t fuc* with me. Your wife is collateral.”

Van laughed.

“You don’t know what it is to have a royal blood. Honor and honesty.”

Fabio eyes his shoes.

“Hurry up Shoe-man.”

Van disappeared. Fabio lit a cigarette and waited. Van came out after ten minutes.

“Two hundred dollars.” Van showed him the money.

“How did you that. He refused to buy it for one hundred.”

“An experienced pawn dealer knows a prince when he see one.”

“Prince of what or where?”

“Prince of Sicily.”

Fabio smiled. He counted the money and gave Van fifty dollars.

“You said he refused to buy it for hundred. I was expecting at least eighty.”

“You will sell more.” He said. “I get, you sell. I am Fabio Vicinci.”

“I am Don Van Marco of Sicily.”

They shook hands.

“I would I have known that my clownish neighbor is smart?”

“I am not smart. It is just the respect I get.”

Fabio laughed.

They shook hands.

“Thank you Shoe-man.”

“Why do you call me that?”

Fabio opened his eyes.

“You have not heard. That is what they all call you here. I guess the kids named you that. I guess people love your shoes.”

“Even kids can identify an expensive shoe. It is an Edhèn Milano Double Monk Straps.”

Fabio laughed.

This was the day Van and Fabio formed an alliance. Van had quickly gone to buy food, groceries and paid giving Ray twenty dollars for two weeks rent.

Fabio would get the goods from thieves or steal them himself and Van would sell them. Even some people who did not steal would give Van things to sell.

No matter how you got your goods, Van had one principle, he never swindled so people began to gain confidence in him.

He sold mostly petty stuff which was just enough to get them food and pay for rents. He also used the money he got one day to buy new clothes for Sara.

‘You need new clothes too. You have just two pairs and the other day, a kid called Shoe-man’s wife.”

“I know. The money is not enough to buy clothes for both of us and a woman needs more clothes.”

On that fateful day, they had gone out to get some groceries. Van excused himself to sell a bottle of beer which Fabio brought to him.

Sara was waiting for him outside the shop when she saw someone walking towards her.

She felt a bang in her heart and thought it was just a hallucination.

He wore a striped suit and hat, his shoes shone and clean.

“I have been searching for you for one month.” He said. “I know I would find you.”

It was not a hallucination. It was a reality.

“Andrea!” Sara screamed and ran to hug him. She had tears in her eyes. “Andrea! You made it.”

“Yeah! You know I don’t give up. I left one week after you left. I have been searching all over the Italian neighborhoods in Chicago. Intuition told me you will be here.”

“I am sorry Andrea I left without you.”

“I understand. What matters most is that we met again and we are both in America.”

“Yes!”

“Your father came to my house with the police looking for you.”

“Why would they do that?”

“They said I took you away. I told them I did not kidnap you and you are an adult so what crime did I commit.”

“You said the right thing. I am sorry.”

“I am fulfilled.”

It was at that point Van came out of the shop and saw them. He felt his heart explode. The day he had feared was here!

******

Jayden and Jane just got married and the love birds’ joy knew no bounds. It felt surreal. This was her happiest day in her life. A day she knew real joy. It had always been a life of melancholy.

“you need to wire some amount so we go somewhere and celebrate.”

“I will wire it tomorrow.”

“No. Wiring money to them makes you happy so today is the best day for that.”

He was right. When she called Kate, she complaint of being very broke and they needed new clothes and learning materials.

She sent eight hundred dollars to them.

“I just got married.” Jane told them.

“Married? Did that happen in a drama or dream.” Kate asked.

“I am wearing a ring.”

“and you never told us? You are our only sister and you can’t share this day with us?”

“I am sorry. We just got married in a registry and not really celebrating.”

“Where are you?”

“Philadelphia. I left New York.”

“What do we even know about you? You left New York, got married and we don’t even know?”

“I am sorry. You know the life we live.”

“We are a family no matter what.”

“I am calling Tate and we are coming over to wherever you are.”

“You don’t have to bother. You can’t use the money for ticket..”

“It is not all about money. It is not enough that you just send money to us. We need you. You are our father and mother. The only one who really cares and we need you in our lives so we will give up everything to be with you today.”

“Let them come.” Jayden whispered.

“We don’t have an accommodation for them.” She whispered too.

Jayden collected the phone from her.

“Hello, I am Jayden, your new in-law.”

“Hello Jayden, I am Kate, her mother and that makes you my new son-in-law.”

Jayden laughed.

“I am glad to speak with you ma’am.”

“I never told you they could be naughty.” Jane said and laughed.

“Thank you son. I have not met you but I like you so take care of my daughter.”

“Sure ma’am.”

“On a more serious note, she is all we have. Promise me that you will take good care of her.”

“I promise and I can’t wait to have you guys here.”

Jane raised her eye brow. Where would they have the space accommodate them? It seemed the three thousand dollars with him would go down the drain within the next few days.

“Really? I will call Tate right away and we should be on the next flight to Philadelphia. One hour, we are there. Address please.”

“We will be at the airport waiting for you.”

“Okay son.”

They laughed.

He gave the phone back to Jane.

“Use the money I sent to get tickets and I will refund it when you get there.”

“Okay sis and don’t forget the things I taught you. I raised you as a good girl.”

“Okay mum.”

They laughed and ended the call.

“What did you just do?” Jane asked.

“Today is the most important day in my life and no matter how low key we planned it, having them for dinner will be fun. I wish my brother and sister could be around.”

“I understand but you are going to exhaust all of your money.”

“I will be meeting Nicolas next week and I will get paid. I just got five grand today. I may get nothing less than twenty grand and we can start our online business. I have a friend. He works with a billionaire and lives in a mansion with apartments. We will take them there and also spend a few days there.”

“Now that sounds like fun.”

“It is fun.” He kissed her. “Come on; let’s go for lunch before going to the airport to pick the kids.”

“I never knew life could be this exciting.”

*******

Van was not angry. He was also not astonished to see her excited to see her boyfriend. He had expected this but he made a mistake. He fell in love with her. Was that a mistake? Could he stop himself? Do people plan to fall in love or there was something overwhelming that took control of their hearts?

He did not plan it. He even tried to avoid it but it happened and she had become a part of his life. They have been together for a few weeks and have known for almost two months but it seemed like a life time.

This was it!

It was all over. He saw her run and hugged him, saying she missed him and her eyes were full of life and excitement. For the first time, he felt so jealous.

Van decided to leave the scene and just go away from them. He did not want to any hitch to her happiness. That was what mattered most; her joy.

“Van.” He suddenly heard her call. She had seen him.

He turned at her. He wished she had not seen leave.

“Where are you going to? Come and see who I met!|

Van turned back and walked to them. He wore a fake smile on his face.

Andrea looked at him closely as the shook hands.

“It’s Andrea.” Sara said happily.

Both men shook hands.

“Is this not the guy we met at the harbor?”

“Yes, Van.”

“Don Van Marco.” Van said.

Andrea smiled.

“I remember the shoes.” Andrea said.

Van chuckled. “It’s expensive. So you made it.”

“Yeah..I had to come and find me heartthrob.” He smiled. “Have you guys been together?”

“Yeah, Van helped me. Remember I had no single Lira on me.”

“I remember. It kept bothering me all along and wondered how you were going to survive.”

“It was my entire fault. I refused to jump down.” Sara said.

“We have gone past that.” Said Andrea. “What matters is we found each other again.” He looked at Andrea. “Thank you for taking care of her for me.”

“You are welcome.” Van said. “I have to leave.”

“We will leave too.” Andrea said. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Where are you based at?” Sara asked.

“I rented a two room apartment at Abbey Drive.”

“Whoa! How did you do that? That is expensive.”

“It is just forty a week. I met Pius and we are into business.”

She saw that he looked good.

Andrea counted some money and offered it to Van.

“This is two hundred dollars. Thank you for taking care of my queen.” He said. “Sara, where do you sleep? We may need to get your things.”

“Thank you but I am good.” Van said. “She sleeps in the room of a lady in our block. I can bring her things for you if you give me an address.”

“Oh that is okay. Block 7. Apartment 13, Frank Estate, Abbey Drive. Do we need a pen?”

“Block 7. Apartment 13, Frank Estate, Abbey Drive.” Van repeated.

“You are smart. Please you can’t refuse this money. You need new shoes. Please.”

“No…”

“I insist.” Andrea put the money in  Van’s pocket.

“Thank you.” Van said.

“You are welcome.” Andrea said and held Sara’s hand. “Let’s go.”

“Andrea..”

“He will being the clothes or do you want us to go get them right now.”

“No.”

“Then what?”

Sara glanced at Van.

“He is not telling you the truth.”

“The truth about what?”

“About sleeping in a room in their block.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I can’t come with you or live with you?”

“What are you talking about? It was our plan.”

Sara looked uncomfortable.

“Plans change. I don’t sleep in another room but we  live together.”

Boom!

Andrea could not believe what he just heard.

“You mean you two have been living together?”

“Yeah and I am sorry.”

Andrea ran his fingers through his head and he felt his mouth tasting bitter.

“Sara, mi deludi (you disappointed me). How dare you.”

“I am sorry, Andrea.”

Andrea turned and kicke the air.

“We planned this together and when I missed, you refuse to jump down! You went away and that was like betrayal but I fforgave you. I came and searched all around for you. I never stopped thinkiong about you but you were sleeping with this wretched, tattaered, dirty bastard. Who knows if you planned it right from home. Maybe that explains why it took you so long to meet me that day. Who knows if you hired someone to pull me down so I dont make it on board and you can elpoe with you street urchin with shoes that has a toe constanlty waving at us..”

“Andrea! Ho detto che mi dispiace (I said I am sorry).”

Andrea glared at Van and then Sara.

“Okay, I forgive you. I understand. You had  no money and he took advantage of you. He gave you food and protection for s*x. It happenes but now I am here. I will heal. Let’s go. You don’t even need the clothes you have i his place. We will go shopping...”

“Andrea I am soory because i let you down but it was not intentional.” She glanced at Van. “I told him how much i missed you. I had the intention to send money to you so you could make it. I wanted to leave him for you but I fell  in love with him. I don’t want to be with another person except him.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Yes Andrea. Drunken in love. What I feel for him is different and like he said, fate. We must accept our fates. I just realized that it is him I love as we met. Youhave better cloths, have more money and have a better place to offer me but I just feel nothing  makes me happier than being with him.

I feel happy when I am cxalled Shoe-man’s wife.”

Andrea could not believe his ears. Did she just say this.

He said nothing but glared at Van.

“Okay, Sara. I am happy that you found youe love.” Andrea said. “I will take my leave but I know we shall met again.”

“I am sorry...’

“Stop saying you are sorry!” Andrea shouted. “You are a fuc*ing traitor, ingrate, slut, b***h and the low life street girl. You don’t even deserve me. I am glad I did not send  Rita away for a slut like you.”

“Thank you for understanding.” Sara said. “Don Van, let’s go.”

Andrea laughed.

“Did you call him Don? Is that what he told you? He introduced himself as Don Van. Have you ever seen a Don with shoes that have sixty nine stitches? Your are not just a slut but a shallow brain bitch.”

Sara smiled, held Van’s hand and they began to walk away.

“Hey!” Andrea called. “Give me back my money.”

Van smiled.

“I am a a noble and honorable man Andrea. I refused to collect that money but you forced it on me. It will be condescending to refund the money. I do not want to tamper with my integrity.”

“Integrity? Integrity means giving it back to me. That is integrity and dignity put together.”

“Thank you Andrea. Say hi to Rita.”

“I swear you will pay for this.”Andrea threatened.

Sara did not know that she was pregnant at that time.

*****

Tate and Kate were identical twins. Tate was older by a few minutes. They arrived Philadelphia in less than one hour. They found the newly wedded couple waitng for them.

Jane was glad to see them and wished it was possible to have her sibling live close to her.

Jayden  got a cab  and they left the airport. They went to a country hopuse sequestered in a serene area with only billioanaires and millionaiers as neighbors.

The gate was guided by armed men and electronic security systems were everywhere. Jane fell in love with this space and felt it was going to be a perfect place for their honeymoon.

The cab pulled up in front of the big, main building and they alighted. There were fleet of cars parked with over twelve choppers at tarmacs. Who was this poerful man who owned this place?

They all alighted and looked round.

“The rich live lives , we breath air.” Tate said and they laughed.

The wide door opened automatically and popping sounds of firecrackers filled the air. Sara was shocked as she saw the important dignitaries inside. The hall highly decorated with rich looking people inside. What was going on?

She saw two waiters push a giant cake to the center of the hall while people applauded.

A lady elegantly dressed appeared and Jane saw that she looked so much like Jayden. She was with a younger man who also looked like Jayden. She needed not to be told that they were his siblings.

“Congratulations bro.” She hugged him and smiled at Jane. “You broke  a spell Jane. Welcome to the family.” She hugged Jane.

She saw people bowing at Jayden. Some bodyguards came behind them.

“Welcome  sir and congratulations.” A big man in suit said.

Jane could not understand any of these. He had only proposed yesterday and they got married today. How could he have gathered all these people within such a short time?

Jayden smiled and looked at Jane.

“I told you I had a home here.” He whispered. “This is my home; our home and I was telling the truth when I said I was a billionaire.”

Jane had never been more shocked.

That was the beginning of a big celebration that night.

*****

On Thursday, February 14, 1929 something happened that would change Van’s life. He had struggled to feed and take care of Sara and the coming baby. Then he saw a car and recognized the car. It was the car that was used to rob him. After the robbery incident, he had gone to threaten the pawn shop owner but found out that the robbers had come there to sell and heard him selling that so they followed him

Van did not see the car again until January 1929 so he began to trail the car and discovered that the owner was a gangster called  Hum. He was a bootlegger and robber.

On that fateful day, around 9: 00 AM, Van was East Clark Street. While he was stalking Hum, he found his house and warehouse. Val had been watching him for a while so on that day, he went into the house with the Hudson machine gun he got from them and shot him and his friends dead. He riddled bullets into their bodies and broke his safe and packed all of the money he found there.

Van also packed all of the cartons of alcohol in the warehouse into a rented wagon and drove off. As he got to North Clark Street, he saw  four policemen so he pulled over and came out the car.

He saw a few minutes after 10:00 AM. The police men went into a garage so Van got into the wagon and drove pass them. He had barely passed by when he heard the sound of Hudson Machine guns. He was tempted to turn back but he had things to do. But he wondered if they were policemen. He drove to a hideout and hid the beer.

He counted the money he got from the safe: three hundred and seventy thousand dollars and he had cartons of alcohol. He knew he was in business now. That was not the only thing that changed his life on that day but he got back to learn that Sara was at the hospital.

She had given birth to baby boy.

Van was so happy.

“Welcome to the world Angelo AKA Rogers.” Van said. “You came on the day of love. Giorno Dell’amoure.”

******

“What is this?” Jane asked and laughed as she saw an old shoe with stitches all over.

“That was my grandfather’s shoes. He had so many names. Shoe-man and that is the reason I am known in the cryptic IT world SM-Shoe-man. He was known as Don Van Marco.”

****

Camillo rushed towards his grandfather’s room.

Nicolas was feeling weaker and he now understood why the caller said he was dead already. I added up. Giorno Dell’amoure was Angelo’s name. He was also called Rogers. Wait! The I|T boy was called Jayden Rogers and before he left he said it was a lovely day for him. All of them were killed on the day of love.

How could he have been so blind. He saw something familiar about the boy. He  looked more of his grandfather, Don Van than his father. His father was born  on Saint Valentine’s day, and the day seven people were killed in a garage in Chicago which became known as the Saint Valentine’s day m******e.

SM

Shoe-man!

Shit! Jayden was the founder of Ditcoin and Wallchain. He had to tell Camillo this.

Camillo rushed in but he could not speak. He knew he was poisoned and that was done when they shook hands. Jayden poisoned him. He felt energy drifting out of him. He was so Jayden did not die on that day. They thought they wiped out the seventh family. They were wrong.

“Grandpa!” Camillo shouted. Nicolas closed his eyes and surrendered to death.

*******