Legend (Requiem MC #6)

Chapter Twenty Good News, Bad News

Glory

We made it into New Orleans with a sunny day and heavy humidity. The same climate as when we were with the Louisiana Walkers. The scenery here was a bit different however, I could see some skyscrapers and huge hotels from the freeway. This was a very large metro city for one thing. For another, it was built for tourists as well. So it looked a lot brighter and busier than Ramton. `

Our limousine finally pulled up to a huge double gate that had a guard house. Our gates and fence at Requiem were high and huge but these outdid those by far. All black rod iron and brick. The driveway looked so long that I couldn’t see the house from here. I watched all of this on the small screen that Legend and I did not know was a camera on the outside of the limo. I sure could have used that bit of electronic help when we got attacked earlier.

The limo was allowed in of course and up the driveway we went. It had to be at least a mile long. I happened to look over at Legend.

He kept shaking his head while staring at the screen and said, “I forgot it was so damned big.”

“How far is the house from the gates?” I asked him.

Shrugging, he muttered, “Like a mile and a half. Ok, there’s the house.”

I looked from him over to the screen. A house? I stared. Not really, it looked like a hotel but all brick and three stories high. Unlike the plantation style of homes that were out here, this was not southern style. It looked maybe East Coast style or something. The driveway went circular and our car stopped in front of huge steps. Like they had at large courthouses.

I tapped the screen to shut it off as the limo had stopped.

The door opened.

I grabbed Legend’s hand and squeezed it as I told him, “Remember, greased lightning.”

He actually laughed.

I smiled. “See? Face him with joy and be friendly, but commit to nothing.”

“Wow, babe. He could use you at one of his corporations,” he mused.

I shook my head. “Nah, I have a job.”

Legend scooted out across the seat and stood in the driveway. “Where at? You never told me.”

‘You.” I grinned at him. “My job is you for now.”

He chuckled. “Glory, a person cannot be a job.”

“Hey, I have my degree in psychology and I still couldn't reach you.”

“But that’s all over with now,” he replied.

“Maybe, but now we have this emotional rollercoaster of a ride coming up fast.” I motioned upward at the huge estate house.

“I've been reached and teached.” He gave me a wink.

“No, Legend, no made up rapping please?”

He fake pouted.

I laughed at his little boy expression. “Look, I know you and Liberty used to do that until your sides were splitting from laughter. But I’m not sure this is the time or place.”

“I do it when I’m nervous.”

I looked from the monstrous house to his face. “What?”

“When I’m nervous sometimes?”

I laughed. “I never saw that. How could I have missed it?”

“I hid it well.” He shrugged.

“Yes, you have been extremely good at doing that, alright. Ok then, I will be having a therapy session with you later.”

He shook his head and joked, “I know what kind of therapy I wanna have.”

“Sir?” a voice interrupted us.

Legend turned to look at Oscar.

“Please follow Tito upstairs,” the chauffeur said formally. “I will be bringing your bags up.”

I looked around and asked, “What about the enforcers?”

“Oh, they will be treated well by the security team,” Tito told us. “There’s a huge building next to the garage that’s just for security people.”

“Yeah, we will check on them later,” Rocky agreed. “Right now,” he said as he looked down at his cell phone. “Your dad is anxious to see you both.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Legend muttered.

I grabbed his hand and we went up the long, wide steps. It was a helluva trek really. “You grew up here?” I asked Legend.

“Yeah,. But it was after we moved here from New York.”

I felt amazed suddenly. I never knew any of this. We knew each other for more than ten years, yet this part of his life was a total mystery to me.

He stopped us at the door. “I don’t have much to say about living in this kind of luxury, Glory. I did not miss it though. After this is over, I will gladly go back to the life we had.”

The double doors opened and we looked up.

A tall man in a tailored suit stood there.

“Well, hello Max!” Legend greeted him.

The large man smiled at him and replied, “Giovanni.”

Legend nodded at him. “You look exactly the same.” He grinned at him.

“Well, sir. I must say that you do not,” Max stated as he stepped to the side and said with a wave of his arm, “Welcome home.”

Legend and I walked in through the doorway so large that three people could easily walk through it at the same time.

“Max, this is my fiancée, Glory Walker,” Legend introduced me.

The tall man gave me a formal bow though his smile was warm and wide. “It is wonderful to meet you.”

I noted his English accent and stared at his formal suit. I noted that he wore a carnation on his lapel. Looking over at Legend, I raised my brows.

“Yes, Glory.” He nodded at me. “He is an actual British butler.”

I chuckled. “I-I thought so but…Wow.”

Max gave me a formal nod. “My family have been butlers for more than two centuries.”

Rich, extravagant and a butler too. I paused to look around. Large… was the only word I could think of as everything here was double sized. As we went in, it only got bigger and more ostentatious. I paused to peer up at an extremely bright gold chandelier above us. I blinked my eyes, then looked over to the side at the long winding, ridiculously huge staircase. The marble flooring, the plants and paintings everywhere. Elegant and magnificent, the sights just went on and on.

“Giovanni!”

We looked up to see Legend’s father standing at the double doors off to the far side.

Legend’s grip on my hand tightened.

I smiled at the older man. I felt determined to make this visit work and with the least stress on Legend as I could manage. Like I told him, for now, Legend was my job. I cared more about him than I did about myself. I wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt him or push him around. I never met a mobster before, but I’d met men like Stephano Descalia. All about power and control. You needed to be cautious and careful when around them.

“Miss Glory!” Stephano called to me as he came over across the gleaming floors and took my hand. Raising it, he kissed my knuckles.

I stood very still. I never expected this greeting. I wasn’t particularly nice the last time I saw this man.

He dropped my hand carefully and smiled at me. “You look as beautiful as I remembered. Cosi bello.”

I shook my head. “It’s only been a few days.”

“Yes, but you misunderstand me. I envisioned your beauty since our last meeting and that fell short to the loveliness you really are, capire?”

Oh, man. He could charm. Yes, I saw this right off. “Grazie.” I had studied a few Italian words on my phone during the few times the ride got quiet today. I figured I would use my cell phone to look up any more I might need.

“Bene, come, come.” Stephano turned and motioned ahead of him.

We followed him and Max walked behind us.

We walked into a very huge room. No surprises here. I smirked. Lots of couches, all leather cherry wood and glass side tables. More paintings and plants everywhere. The lighting was perfect. By that, I mean it was warm and bright but sort of soothing.

I tried to take it all in but gave up.

“Gio!” someone called loudly.

Turning, I froze.

The man rushing over could have been Legend’s twin.

Staring at him, my mouth popped open in utter shock.

“Romeo!” Legend exclaimed as both men hugged and slapped each other’s back.

All I could do was stare. How could he not tell me that he had a twin brother? I felt stunned and I am sure my face showed this.

Finally, the two men parted and both were talking at the same time.

Turning to me, Legend introduced his brother, “Glory, this is Romeo.”

I just kept shaking my head as I said, “Y-you didn’t warn me, Legend.”

He paused and glanced at his brother then back to me. “Warn you? About what?”

“Oh, my God!” I exclaimed. “He could be your identical twin, Legend!”

Looking at me, then over at Romeo, Legend laughed. “Oh. I never saw that when we were kids. And I haven’t seen him in ten years and he was a lot younger back then. He’s not my twin, Glory.”

This really threw me. I mean I realized his family would have similar looks to him, but not like this. My line about men not being as bright as they should be went through my head again. I let out a breath to steady myself, then when I looked up, I caught Stephano staring at me.

He smirked. The man could be smiling about my shock or was it more sinister than that?

I looked back over at Legend and asked, “So, do the rest of your brothers look like you?”

“No.” He laughed then he paused and said, “Well, yes, but not like Romeo I suppose?”

Romeo stared at me. “Damn, Gio. She’s…”

I looked back over at him. “What?”

He suddenly seemed mute as he shook his head.

“I think he means you are like I said,” Stephano piped up. “Bellissima.”

I looked down at my phone and typed in the word. It said aloud, “ Gorgeous.” I gasped and tapped the mute button. Looking up, I grinned.

“Damn, brother!”

This was a new voice.

Looking over, I saw another man approaching us.

Rushing across the room, he pulled his fist back like he intended to punch Legend in the face.

Jumping in between them, I stopped him with a hard push to his chest. Then I took a fighting stance.

“Santo cielo!” he exclaimed as he stepped back “Take it easy, hellcat!”

Legend placed his hands onto my shoulders and whispered to me, “It’s just a childhood joke, baby. We pretend we are gonna kick each other’s asses. It’s just a game.”

I stared at the man in front of me and slowly lowered my fists.

“Glory, this offensive human being is my brother, Dante.” Legend laughed.

Dante gave me a smile, then looked around me to ask, “Is this your woman Gio, or your bodyguard?”

Romeo chuckled as he answered this, “Looks like she’s both, bro.”

Dante raised his hands up and looked at me. “Mind if I give him a hug?”

I nodded then stepped aside.

Dante grabbed Legend up and said, “Where the fuck have you been?”

Legend chuckled and patted him on the back. “Over in Texas.” Pulling back, he said, “I’m glad to see you free.”

Dante paused and cocked his head at him. “You knew about that?”

“I heard about it, yeah.” Legend shrugged.

Stephano growled then grumbled a bunch of Italian.

I looked back and forth as the tension in the room just seemed to spike.

“We took care of it,” Stephano said.

Legend looked over at me then took my hand in his. “Is Maria home?”

“Si, where else would I be?”

At the sound of the woman’s voice we all gazed over to the doorway.

Legend paused and then he grinned as he moved toward her.

The older woman rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him. “Il mio bambino!”

Legend laughed as he embraced her. “I’m not a baby, Zia.”

“I know. I know,” she said as she nodded then kissed both his cheeks soundly.

Legend looked totally overwhelmed by his Aunt’s boisterous nature. Finally stepping back, she looked over at me and asked him, “Is this your girl?”

He nodded and said, “This is my Glory.”

“What a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” Maria turned and scooped me up into a hug.

I gasped as my breath left me and she squeezed me tight.

“Grazie for bringing my boy home!” she exclaimed as she stopped back.

I didn’t know how to respond to this. I suggested coming but I really did not bring him home.

Dabbing her eyes with a tissue she scooped from her apron pocket to dry her tears, she again kissed his cheeks. “Make sure you come to dinner, Giovanni. I have made your favorite.” Then she leaned over and kissed each of my cheeks yet a second time. Finally, she hurried away while crying as she seemed to be too upset to stay.

“Wow,” was all I could mumble.

Legend chuckled. “That is Zia Maria.”

“Hurricane Maria, I call her,” Dante said.

I had to agree with that nickname.

Now, a woman came in, carrying a tray full of drinks.

Stephano smiled at her then looked up at his kids. “We have refreshments. Please take one and sit somewhere close while I give Miss Glory and Gio the good news.”

Legend and I looked up at him.

“News?” Legend asked while looking tense all over again.

I grabbed an ice tea as I watched them both. This could be a good thing or a really bad thing.

“Si, si,” his father said. “Grab your drink.”

Legend distractedly grabbed an ice tea as well. Taking my hand, we sat down on the leather couch.

Stephano smiled at us as he sat in a large leather wingback chair across from us. “I am proud to announce that in our dungeon right this minute, we have this Deacon Walker, chained to the wall.” He growled and his smile faded away. “He tried to kill you both and that is something I cannot forgive.”

We both stared at him like he had suddenly sprouted a third arm or something. Was this man telling us that he had caught Deacon? A man all the Walkers had been hunting for all this time?

“Y-you have…” I swallowed heavily and tried again, “...captured Deacon Walker?”