Cheryl Bradshaw - Sinnerman

He reached for my hand and folded it inside both of his.

“What do you want to ask me?”

I wanted to take five and prolong the moment, but it was here—and it was now or never.

“Are you the head person like a boss guy—some kind of don or something? I’ve seen stuff on TV, but you don’t wear a ring, and in the movies the people kiss the ring and since you don’t have one, I don’t know if that’s true, or if I’m crazy, or…”

I felt so stupid when the words poured out of my mouth, and I was sure the constant twitch in my leg wasn’t helping things either.

He released my hand and leaned back and acted like I’d just asked him how he took his coffee.

“I have many people I look after, including my own family—but no ring.”

I guessed it was his way of saying, Yes Sloane, I’m a mafia boss. I dabble in mafia affairs. Can I bump off someone for you?

He continued.

“I’m involved in a handful of businesses, and I use the money I’ve earned over the years for many things.” He stretched his arm out all the way and said, “Come with me. I’d like to show you something.

An hour later we were parked outside a building in downtown Salt Lake City.

“What is this place?” I said.

“A shelter for women and children.”

I looked around. It didn’t look like any shelter I’d ever seen. The building itself was a work of art. The outside was so luminescent, it glowed. The building towered above the others in the area. The flower beds that surrounded all four sides of the building were immaculate and filled with rich shades of purple, pink, blue, and white. They reminded me of the atrium at Bellagio in Las Vegas. The smell of honeysuckle penetrated the air. I stood a moment and appreciated the beauty that radiated from all sides before I walked by two Italians dressed up as security guards and followed Giovanni inside.

When I walked through the door I heard, “Mr. Luciana. Good to see you again.”

“And you Rochelle.” He faced me. “This is Sloane. I’ll be showing her around.”

She nodded and then retreated behind a desk in the center of the room.

“Do people always let you do whatever you want?” I said.

He smiled and said, “Most of the time, yes. But it helps when you own the place.”

We walked into the different areas of the facility and in fifteen minutes I’d seen enough to last a lifetime: women with blackened eyes, children on crutches, some with broken arms or legs. Some walked around freely while others were downtrodden and stuck to their beds.

“What happens to them here?”

“They are treated, and they are safe. It’s a refuge. A place where they can’t be harmed.”

“How long do they stay?”

“Depends on their needs, and those of their children. My goal in building this place was to get them back on their feet and then to offer counseling. Once their confidence is built back up, they can be released into the world again. I offer the chance of a better life. All they need to do is embrace it. In here they are taught essential skills like self-defense and given the tools they need so that when they are ready to leave, they can survive anything.”

“This place and what you are doing…it’s amazing,” I said. “These women owe you their lives.”

“I know what it feels like to be the one someone puts the screws to. I’ve witnessed and suffered through many things in my life, even as a child, and this is my opportunity to make it better. Even if it makes the smallest dent on humankind. It will spread to future generations that come along after I’m long gone. All it takes is one seed, Sloane, to make a change in the world.”

I stood there in that moment with a full heart and in complete awe of him.

In the corner of the room a young boy looked our direction and then darted into the next room and returned seconds later with a group of children. They ran to Giovanni, and he bent down to greet them.

“Gio, Gio,” they said. “Will you read us a story?”

“Please,” one girl said.

“Double please,” said another.

Giovanni laughed and said, “Alright then, one story. Go and choose a book for me to read.”

A minute later we were in a room full of beanbags with an assortment of children who latched on to every word Giovanni read like a room full of parishioners listening to a sermon.

There were times in my life when I felt like I was a magnet to all things complicated. Giovanni seemed stable and secure, and more magnificent than I expected him to be. Here he was in a safe house with a book in his hand reading to a handful of children. There was just one caveat that played like a skipped record in the back of my mind, and there was no getting around it. I was dating a modern version of Don Corleone, and as impressive as the safe house was, there were two sides to a man like this. There had to be.

CHAPTER 48

In the morning I found a note next to my bed that said to go upstairs and to walk to the second door on the right and then go in. I’d never been one to back down from a good old fashioned surprise, and I wasn’t about to now either.

Lord Berkeley was still asleep on the bed next to me sans his detective costume, so I slipped out the side of the bed, wrapped a robe around me, and tiptoed out to the hall. When I arrived at the door in question, I imagined what I might possibly find on the other side. I almost didn’t want to open the oversized double doors in fear that I would spoil what I’d built up in my mind.

I grabbed both knobs in my hands and pushed them open at the same time and then gasped. Along the walls on all four sides of the room were bookshelves lined with books—old, new, collectible—they were all there, and there were thousands of them. A desk in the middle of the room contained a note that had been folded over with my name written on the front. I opened it.

Sloane, read whatever you wish. I hope this helps take your mind off things.

I folded the note up and slipped it in the pocket of my robe.

“Amazing isn’t it?”

I spun around to see Giovanni’s sister at the door.

“Morning,” I said.

“He’s been collecting for over twenty years now. It’s a big deal he let you in this room, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“This is where he comes for refuge, and usually when he’s in here everyone knows he’s not to be disturbed.”

“I see. He showed me the shelter last night. It’s amazing to me that he built that place.”

Daniela laughed.

“He’s ahhh, built ten of them.”

“Ten?” I said.

“They’re all over the place. Las Vegas, L.A., Miami….”

“It’s amazing what he’s done for these women and their children.”

“That’s just who he is. He puts others before himself all the time.”

“I can see that,” I said.

“Listen, I have to head out.”

“So soon?” I said.

“It’s time for me to get back to my real life. I just came up here to say goodbye.”

She had a look on her face that said something more.

“And…?”

“Don’t hurt my brother.”

“What makes you think I would?” I said.

“I can’t remember the last time he had a girlfriend. I hope that gives you some idea of how long ago it was. He’s cautious with women; most don’t appeal to him.”

“Why?”

“They can’t think for themselves, are interested in his money, and that type of thing. So it’s rare for him to attach himself to anyone. As his girlfriend, I thought you should know.”

“But I’m not his—”

“Of course you are. Just don’t hurt him. He acts all tough and believe me he is, but he’s let you see the other side of him, and not many ever see that so consider yourself lucky.”