“For raising such a good man,” the young woman looked past Athena’s shoulder. “I’ll let you be with your family,” she said.
The girl had gotten lost in the crowd before Athena thought to ask her to wait. A hand touched her shoulder and squeezed. She turned.
“Emilio!” Athena’s sobs renewed when she fell into her brother-in-law’s arms. “It’s not fair...it’s not right...he was a beautiful child, too beautiful for this,” she moaned.
“Shh...” Emilio Tesano rocked Athena slowly and pat her back. “Shh bella, he’s at peace now.”
Athena shook her head on his chest. “He wouldn't have done this, I know he wouldn’t have.”
“But it’s done,” Emilio’s tone displayed remarkable calm. “Whatever the circumstances, there’s no turning it back now.”
“He’ll hate me now,” her sobs continued to seep into Emilio’s suitcoat. “Giaimo,” she said, looking up into his deeply set eyes.
“Amor,” Emilio put a kiss on her forehead and then leaned back to prop her chin to his fingertip. “My brother would never hate you. Could never hate you,” a sly look crept to his handsome face. “Gia was more of a ladies man than our little Gabriel could ever hope to be and I never saw him gone over any woman the way he was over you.”
“I lost our son.”
“He could never hate you Athena.”
“He’s a fool not to,” her jaw clenched. “He couldn’t even be here for his son’s...” the anger she strove for didn’t hold and she broke into a wave of fresh tears.
“Listen to me,” Emilio bent to look into her eyes. “I’m here to take Stone to his father.”
“Wh-what?” She blinked through spiky lashes.
Emilio grinned. “Thought that’d get your attention. Liam called me here, asked me to take Stone to where Gia was buried.”
“But-”
“I know, but Liam doesn’t,” his request is a blessing on many levels. Giaimo was fit to be tied when we got the news. He wanted to be here. He’s firing mad that Li would let the world believe the boy took his own life.”
Athena’s jaw clenched again, “Liam knows best.”
Emilio didn’t appear convinced. “Guess it doesn’t matter what we think, the big man has spoken,” he shrugged.
“Liam is a good man, Emilio.”
“He’s too good. Don’t get me wrong, bella,” Emilio squeezed Athena’s shoulder when she bristled. “Goodness is admirable, but it can be blinding. You see things as evil or good and close yourself off to all that’s in between. When you glimpse the in between you cast it off as evil without question or explanation or even giving others the benefit of the doubt.”
“You tried to undermine his business, Emilio. You tried to make it something he didn’t want it to be and you tried to use our son to do it.”
“Yes,” Emilio nodded somberly. “And I was wrong for that,” his long brows drew close then as he fixed her with a measuring look. “You’ve turned over some new leaves. No longer the wayward bella, eh?”
Her mouth quirked on a small smile. “I may be taking more care with my actions.”
“No longer led around by your sex drive...si?” He chuckled wickedly and dropped another kiss to her forehead when she grimaced. “Apologies, bella. You know I adore you like my own sister. The two of us see each other in a way Liam can’t understand from his lofty perch in moral realms. You say you’re taking care, but your actions could still be intolerable to your husband. Remember that. Liam may very well leave you over your next indiscretion.” That being said, he squeezed her elbow and left her alone.
Athena turned back to Stone’s casket and considered the warning.
***
“Pop’s in bad shape.”
“We’re all in bad shape.”
“Suicide, my ass,” Pitch muttered. He and Aaron wore identical expressions of weariness and fury while they grieved and brooded near one of the numerous elms dotting the cemetery.
Rena and Candace leaned on the tree trunk. Roman and Imani had been seated on the bench under the largest limb when everyone else arrived. Imani was now standing and cradling Roman’s head against her waist. His breathing was labored, his face streaked by sweat and tears.
“Four days,” Pitch said. “Four days for them to come up with this bullshit suicide ruling.”
“Cops seems set on it,” Aaron said.
“Cause they’re lazy,” Pitch threw back. “He wasn’t depressed over being gay.”
“But something was up with him,” Aaron declared. “We both saw it that day when we met with Xav Auten,” he added when Pitch sent him a thunderous look.
Roman stood then and went to Aaron, his 6’6 dwarfing his older brother’s 6’2. “You think he killed himself, Ari?”
“I don’t believe that at all,” Aaron showed no sign of intimidation at Roman’s show of anger. “But to argue the point will only draw this side show for the press out for longer than necessary. Do you really think they can handle that?”
The young men looked to their parents. Liam and Athena stood across the yard with a group of Tesano board members.
“Proving this will take time and it won’t bring Stow back,” Aaron said.
“You’re right, Ari,” Pitch mopped his face in his hands. “This needs to end for them. Doesn’t mean we have to accept it,” he looked to Roman then and squeezed his shoulders. “We’ll find whoever’s responsible, Ro.”
Roman’s expression was suddenly mutinous. “I got a fine idea.”
