Fidelity (Infidelity #5)

“That would have been before he…” It was hard to say it out loud, to say before he killed Melissa.


“During the call,” she went on, “Mr. Spencer specifically states that the two of you are going to be married. He doesn’t say that you’re already married.”

“That’s right! Can the recording help?”

“Not in a court of law. In the state of Georgia they’re only admissible if one of the two parties is aware of the wiretap.”

“I could say I knew.”

Deloris shook her head. “I’d rather not. However, I suspect we can stop this farce from ever getting that far. I can send the recording to Fitzgerald’s attorney. It will show him that we have evidence to fight the claim. That should help as well as a few other loopholes.”

Oren repeated, “Loopholes?”

Silvia laid a phone on the table. Though it wasn’t making noise, the screen was bright. “It’s the house phone,” she said, explaining how it was attached to her cell phone. “The caller ID only says Georgia.”

At first no one responded. How many times would it ring?

Finally, Oren nodded to Silvia, who connected the call.

“Hello?”

We all hung on each of Silvia’s responses.

“Yes.”

Her eyes darted to my mother. “Mrs. Fitzgerald?”

Momma’s head moved back and forth.

“I’ll talk to them,” I volunteered. Deloris had already said they’d tracked me down.

“No,” Nox said. “Give me the phone.”

Silvia asked the person to please hold before she pushed something on the screen. “It’s a Ralph Porter, representing Alton Fitzgerald. He’s looking for…” She bobbed her head toward Momma. “…Mrs. Fitzgerald.”

Nox reached for the phone. “This is Mr. Demetri.”

A familiar concoction of anger and fear stewed inside me, simmering below the surface.

“If we hear from her, we’ll let you know… Yes…” He looked at me. “…Miss Collins is here.” The way he emphasized my name made me worry Ralph had referred to me as Spencer again. “No, she’s unavailable at this time… I’m not sure. Perhaps you could try again tomorrow?… We’ll be looking forward to that… Yes, I understand you’re concerned. I hope you locate her soon… Goodbye.” Nox handed the phone back to Silvia.

“Even after we’re gone, if they call, only say that we’re unavailable.” He turned to my mother. “No one will give up your location until you’re ready.”

Momma’s eyes were closed. One hand was near her neck while the other was on the table, encased in Oren’s.

“You don’t have to talk to anyone you don’t want to,” Oren confirmed.

Her neck straightened. “I do and I will. Just not now.”

“When you’re ready, amore mio.” He searched her expression, his eyes narrowing. “Do you want to go back upstairs? Is this too much?”

Momma’s head moved back and forth.

“Shall we move on to the will?” Deloris asked.

Heavy footsteps approached. “Mr. Demetri.”

“Yes?” Oren and Nox answered in unison.

I reached for Nox’s hand, unsure who the man was who’d entered the dining room.

He was tall and dressed similarly to Isaac with a nondescript dark suit. “Sirs, there’s a guest who demands your presence.”

Oren stood. “I said no one was to be allowed on the property.” His eyes flickered to Deloris. “No one not already approved.”

“Sir, it’s—”

It was then the voices came from the front of the house. I didn’t know who it was but the man’s Brooklyn accent was thicker than Oren’s.





“EXPLAIN WHY YOU’RE here in this house!”

Who was he speaking to?

The voice bellowed from the front of the house like baritone thunder. Each rumble brought back a memory. With Adelaide right in front of me, the most prevalent recollection turned my stomach, taking me back to a bar in California. I purposely avoided Alexandria’s stare. Her red hair wasn’t as copper as her father’s, but her damn eyes were his.

Even without visual confirmation, Vincent’s image danced through my mind, a slideshow commemorating the years. I recalled the accompanying glare, the bulging veins protruding from his wide neck, and the color that filled his cheeks.

As a younger man, Vincent Costello had been the voice of reason. His influence while his father Carmine was alive and immediately following his father’s death, was instrumental. He understood the changing world and climate. His visions worked to move the family forward, evolving as technology advanced and recognizing the importance of legitimate investments. He’d ensured not only the survival of the Costellos but also the continued dominance of the family.

Time and power had a way of clouding what was once clear. Though I hadn’t been directly involved with the Costellos for years, the ties were never fully severed. With both the role of family leader and time, he’d changed. That was evident the night he’d almost sentenced both of our sons to death, but from what I’d heard, it wasn’t the only time his decisions were impulsive.