36. The Welcome

Tristan watched Vincenzo walk away. He had just told Vincenzo the news that his baby sister was almost killed. Now, Vincenzo was going to go out there to follow his own protocols.

When Tristan had found out about Vienna's accident, he had acted quick. He hadn't allowed anyone to delay him. He knew Vincenzo was going to waste no time either and he was certain Vincenzo was not going to take any advice or suggestions. His eyes said he had plans and they didnt seem to involve him for now by the looks of it.

Tristan badly wanted to know what was going on in Vincenzo's mind. But Vincenzo wasn't the type to share. If Tristan even stopped him from leaving to find out about all his plans, he knew he was just going to stare him down silently telling him, "go on then". "Make me talk". Vincenzo wasn't going to talk unless he wished it.

Despite knowing this was the worst timing to try to talk to Vincenzo, he decided to speak. Tristan whispered while he walked behind Vincenzo who was walking away "Vincenzo. Where you go, I follow you... You know how much your sister means to me." He held his breath awaiting the reply that could tell him at least what Vincenzo thought of him. His baby sister was almost killed on his watch. Was he going to put the blame on him without knowing the facts? He had some responsibility for sure. Tristan would have given anything to hear him talk that minute but he didnt hold his hopes up.

He watched Vincenzo stop to open the door and Tristan stopped walking afew steps away from Vincenzo. He saw his old friend put his hand on the door knob. Vincenzo didn't turn around. He heard Vincenzo speak with a low tone "You may follow. Don't try to stop me. That's all I ask."

Tristan took a deep breath. So he was in the clear. Vincenzo hadn't condemned him for this. Vincenzo  time and time again had stated that he believed Tristan was the man to protect Vienna. But he expected Vincenzo to ban him from seeing his sister immediately. He expected him to lash out. But it baffled him that he hadn't. Tristan wanted to know for sure. Could he get the beast to talk more? It was worth a try. He wanted to get a glimpse of his mind. So he asked urgently before he left the Irish ruled territory " Don't you hold me responsible in any way? I do. I should atone... I want to make myself atone for not being able to stop this... Only you can make me pay..."

Vincenzo didn't look at him again as he spoke with his back to him "Were you the one who tried to kill my sister?"

Tristan said "What? No... But I couldn't protect her... Don't you blame me for this at all?"

Vincenzo turned around and stared right at Tristan with his cold calculated but murderous eyes that looked impatient now too "Why do you ask me the questions you know the answer to Tristan? I have trust in you with my sister's life and my sister loves you. You are the only one who I believe can fully protect my sister. Don't doubt your place with me. Remember this .... Protecting her is my duty as much as it is yours. You should have told me what had happened over the phone. Now, don't delay me any longer with your questions. Whoever that is behind this, is bigger than my father's intelligence. My father is the one responsible for Vienna's safety since you are years away from marrying her and making her an O'Neil. Whoever has done this is above my father's security and your security all combined. Either that or there is an individual who has gone rogue from the inside... Maybe this is an inside job. That is my best guess. Vienna is untouchable based on all the protection and security. But someone out there nearly touched her and tried to kill her. They could strike again. I need to know if all the culprits are caught or some are free to strike once more... If you had told me over the phone about this I could be a step ahead. You withheld vital information from me. I won't forget this Tristan. I will give you a chance for redemption. But only you..." He then opened the door.

Tristan followed him out of the room and said "You were out of the country. You couldn't do anything... Your father wanted to finish his investigation first before he told you..,"

Vincenzo  said as he walked ahead of him "Really Tristan?  Dont give me excuses.  My father is acting like any father would. He wants me out of harm's way. He feels responsible. You and I are not our fathers. We cant afford to wait for no investigation to end. We are the investigators, judge, jury and executors...."

Tristan walked fast alongside Vincenzo as he was making his way down the stairs to the exit "Where are you going?"

Vincenzo stated "Home. Then I will leave... I won't go back home until my job is done ..."

Tristan sighed "I can help..."

Vincenzo stopped next to his car "Get inside and help then if you mean it. I don't need atonement when I know if it wasn't for you much worse could have happened. No one touches a protected O'Kane woman or even dream of it except for an O'Kane. We are up against some serious threat. We can't afford to fight amongst ourselves and have a contest on who is to blame for not protecting Vienna. It insults my intelligence to hear you say you failed to protect her. You don't fail. You haven't. She is not harmed. That's all I want." He then opened the door "Get in. Save me some time and tell me what happened. Will you ?... As part of the redemption."

Tristan wanted to argue. He preferred to go with his own car but it didn't matter much. As he got in, automatically his men outside gathered a long line of cars to follow him within seconds.

As the car left the gates, Tristan began the story of what had happened. Vincenzo didn't look at Tristan. He looked outside at the Irish unfamiliar surroundings as he made different facial expressions. He was totally silent with a clenched jaw all throughout. He gave out a breath when Tristan told him about Vienna's multiple medical examinations and how nothing was found. Vincenzo didn't turn his head at all to look at him as he was silently listening. That was until he reached to the part about Viggo. That got his attention.

Vincenzo turned sharply. He looked into Tristan's eyes as he narrowed his eyes at him "You threatened my brother." It was a statement. Not a question.

Tristan nodded "Yes I did. You would have done the same if you were in my situation. The only one I would never harm is Vienna. You know that Vincenzo."

Vincenzo said "I do... Think of the repercussions Tristan. Be ready to face the consequences. You know how it works ... You hurt my brother, I will hurt yours. You hurt my family, I will bring down yours. You dare threaten my family again, you will pick up the phone and call me Tristan...."

Tristan didn't waver. He could bring it on. He replied "I will."

Vincenzo sighed "Now go on. You were saying. What happened next?"

Tristan carried on telling Vincenzo about the occurrences.

Vincenzo shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose "Angelia has really messed up this time. What is she thinking?" Vincenzo sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest again looking outside the window "She asks my father to punish her by separating her from Viggo and ending their relationship of all the things she could ask. What does she have to gain on this? ..."

Tristan said "You make no sense... So it doesn't bother you that she was the reason Vienna was in danger?"

Vincenzo turned to Tristan "As much as I would want her punished, she belongs to my brother. My father gave her a chance and she blew it. That is what bothers me. I dont want Viggo to become a rebel. Because he will be if his woman leaves him..."

Tristan asked "But your father wanted a punishment for her... She chose the easy option."

Vincenzo said "She didn't have to choose no options. This is my father's routine way of passing judgements. Based on my father's rules she is not at fault for being involved in the same accident that nearly hurt my sister. She is to blame for her loyalty to these low life strangers she calls her people or rather what's left of her people. She should have denounced them. You say she begged for their life to be spared... Big mistake. She didn't cause the accident but the people she calls her own caused it. She must choose her loyalty wisely. She refused to denounce them and now my father has agreed for this unacceptable arrangement. Viggo would not willingly accept this break up... Too much has happened and I can't put the pieces together before finding out about what has gone on. Hearing the account from you is not giving me much time... Now, I also have to consider the cherry on top of it all and what's happening right now at the O'Reily camp. Is the case closed for my father? I am not sure. Viggo and my father are out there in that meeting to get Angelia's cousin and his accomplices from the O'Reilys. This is why I wanted you to tell me all this. I have no time for this family problem. I have to find the real culprits who tried to kill my sister. That car was tampered with...Angelia's cousin is a the culprit based on what you say... But not one worth my time. The real one is the one your father mentioned... The one tampering with the car..."

Tristan said "Where do you go from your home Vincenzo? After seeing your sister...."

Vincenzo said "If you follow you will know... I wont stop you... I will see your old man and I will see that car... I want to examine every inch of it..."

Tristan said "The car has been examined by my mechanics. I will give you the file... Gloves don't leave finger prints and the traces of external tampering is nothing that's worth checking. It doesn't tell us much."

Vincenzo said "I dont want the file. I don't want your analysis. I want the car. I will examine it myself. There is more than finger prints on it and you know it. Where is the car?"

Tristan said "In my uncle's warehouse downtown."

VIncenzo said "What? A piece of evidence that nearly killed my sister is downtown at some garage?"

Tristan said "Dont you trust my people?"

Vincenzo said "I only trust me. I will need to see that car personally..."

Tristan asked "What else will you do?You still haven't told me what you plan to do exactly." He wanted to badly know Vincenzo's plans. He had opened up enough. He had to know as much as he could or he could become a phantom if he lost sight of him. He was like his grandfather in that sense. No one could find him no matter how they tried. He found you. You couldn't locate him.

Vincenzo looked outside the window "You will see Tristan. You will see."

Tristan asked "Am I a suspect? Who are your suspects?"

Vincenzo shook his head "Tsk Tsk. Tristan. You test my patience with your questions. If you were any other man I would have not allowed you near my sister. You are not a suspect to me ... but every one else is. Your people are suspects too Tristan. Make no mistake. The only one who dares to touch O'Kane property is an O'Kane. It makes no sense why anyone else would be crazy enough to try to kill my sister when she is O'Kane property."

Tristan said "Vienna is not a property."

Vincenzo said "She belongs to you. Doesn't she? She is yours. She is your family's property in the eyes of the world. She is my baby sister to me." He then turned to look at Tristan "You must let the Irish favouritism out of your mind Tristan. Your people either know the culprits or they helped them or the O'Kane power is just a myth. I don't trust your people. Especially, I don't trust that uncle Jack of yours who keeps a picture of my aunt who is s married woman in his office. He is a rebel. I fear Viggo will become him. A man without a woman becomes a rebel."

Tristan said "My Uncle is a man of faith. He has never been able to get over your aunt. I don't defend his actions but he is honourable. He loves one woman only..."

Vincenzo said "A woman who is married now and has kids with my uncle Arturo. If Viggo loses Angelia that's his future which I would rather he doesn't follow. Your uncle is a special case. One I never trust."

Tristan said "I could say the same about your grandfather. I never trust him..."

Vincenzo said "He is my blood. Uncle Jack is your blood. Not mine... I dont expect you denounce him. Blood never betrays blood."

The rest of the long drive was spent on mostly silence. Even though Vincenzo seemed composed, the tension was clear. He kept looking at his watch and by looking at his face, Tristan could tell he had dark thoughts in his mind.

As the car reached the Rosario mansion, Tristan sighed "I know you are hiding so much..."

Vincenzo glanced at Tristan "Get used to it. I have let you follow me. Haven't I?" Ge then rolled the window down at the gate. The guards quickly opened the door without hesitation letting him in. Vincenzo wasted no time in getting off. He wasted no time in questioning the guards either. They responded as quickly as they could speak.

Tristan got off the car and watched the exchange between Vincenzo and the men outside his home. Francesco and Viggo hadn't returned yet by the sounds of it. He wondered what this meant and most importantly what Vincenzo was going to do if the O'Reily family didn't hand over Angelia's cousin who they had captured on their territories and wished to interrogate for their own purposes. Rule one was never to get caught. Once someone got caught they became an object of a game. Their lives didn't belong to them any more. Andovinis hadn't lasted long because they didn't have a survival instinct. The last of them was Angelia who had given up on life so much she didn't care any more so she wanted a quick death by separating herself from Viggo. She had said she wanted to die. He hadn't told Vincenzo that. Vincenzo had certain beliefs. Suicide was a touchy subject. Vincenzo was going to go mental on Angelia if he found out she was doing this as a way out of her torturous life. To Vincenzo, suicide was a sin. A hell deserving sin. He was pro-life in every way.

As Vincenzo made his way to the building, Tristan watched from far how his mother greeted him at the stairs. She embraced him and cried as she held him tight. "Thank the lord you are safe..."

Vincenzo comforted his mother "I am sorry mother for not being here when I was needed. I am sorry about Vienna. Can I see her now?"

Adele nodded at her son "Yes she is upstairs. She had a nap but she is awake now reading a book."

Vincenzo kissed his mother on the cheek "Thank you for taking care of her. I promise you I will find out who did this. I will make sure they regret being born." He then pulled away and walked past his mother.

Tristan nodded politely at Adele "Hello again Mrs Rosario. I am back again." He walked past her noticing how her stare was on her eldest son. Tristan wasn't important to her anymore. Vincenzo was. Adele watched her eldest son as she wiped her tears. Tristan didn't even know why she was crying. She cried for everything. Probably she was too emotional from seeing her eldest son.

Tristan walked slowly up the stairs giving Vincenzo enough time to have some private moments with his sister. He looked at his watch. Of course he wasn't going to give him too long. He walked to her room and hesitated outside. He knocked on the door and entered. He took a deep breath as he watched Vincenzo sitting at the edge of Vienna's bed firing questions at her left and right.

Tristan leaned to the wall watching the siblings. After the medical questions were over Vincenzo held his sister's hand in his and took a deep breath "Vienna. I hope you haven't lied to me..."

Vienna signed "I am fine. I was wearing my seatbelt when the accident happened."

Vincenzo said "That was no accident. That was an attempt on your life. I need to know if you are harmed in anyway."

Vienna said "Ask mum. She is a doctor."

Vincenzo said "I am asking you. You are the one on the bed."

Vienna said "I am fine physically...I have been told to rest though as precaution. I am sorry you had to come all the way."

Vincenzo said "I am sorry I didn't come sooner. If I knew I would have called. Your man didn't bother call me sooner..." He then turned around "Isn't that right?"

Vienna looked past at Tristan and then noticed him just then "Tristan... I didn't notice you were here. She then smiled at him." Vincenzo didn't miss it. He turned and looked at his sister's smile that she gave to the raging bull. How could he be ever mad at the raging bull for anything when his baby sister gave him her most innocent smile that she gave no one else.

Vincenzo whispered "Vienna. I have to go now. But I am not far. I will come back. I don't want you out of bed and out of this room...." He then stood up and turned to Tristan "I need to get some supplies and men power. Then I am leaving. You can join if you wish."

Tristan nodded and watched him leave the room.

Vienna sat up on the bed "Tristan... Where is he going?"

Tristan said "I don't know. But where he goes I follow. He wants to protect you and so do I." He then walked to her and sat down on the edge of her bed "It will be alright."

Vienna swallowed "I am scared. Vincenzo didn't seem happy. He didn't smile. His eyes had no feelings at all in them..."

Tristan said "But he has feelings. He cares for you. And so do I." He then kissed her cheek "You belong to me. Remember that." He then recalled Vincenzo's words. His theories about how the O'Kane camp was involved bewildered him. His people would never dare betray him. He was certain. It was rare in Irish history of crime for anyone to cross an O'Kane. Who could be so crazy to do this?