SurvivorZ

54

GRAVES

Graves drove the Humvee through the open iron gate of the DiMarco estate, cruising past several Uzi-toting guards dressed like burly undertakers. Carmine DiMarco's security force moved in behind them to retake their positions as the gate rolled closed. The competent team, most of them ex-military, appeared to have things under control. During the drive in, the only dead bodies they encountered outside the compound's walls were the non-twitching variety.

"You weren't kidding," Eve intoned. "This place is a fortress."

"If you like, I can give you a tour later," Tommy volunteered.

"Your father will want to talk to her first," Graves reminded him.

"Yeah, I know."

"Should I be worried?" Eve inquired.

"No, it's just a formality," Tommy assured her. "You'll be fine."

Graves kept his mouth shut and guided the Humvee around the winding road to the main entrance. Eve didn't need to know what happened to the last guy they caught sneaking around the mansion.

They pulled up in front of an elegant limestone estate and got out of the truck. Graves and Tommy went to work removing the supplies from the back, while Eve stopped to gape at the opulent home.

"You guys live here?" she gasped, taking in the incredible castle of white stone and glass.

"He does," Graves replied. "I just work here."

"This is amazing. Is your family in the oil business or something?"

"More like the commodities market," Tommy answered without looking at her.

"Tommy?" a woman squealed.

They looked up to spot the lady of the house trotting out the front door in a pink bathrobe and slippers. Mona DiMarco, Carmine's second wife, couldn't have had more than twelve years on her stepchild, but she cared for Tommy and his younger sister, Erica, better than their real mother ever did.

Normally exhibiting the style and grace of a fashion model, a lack of sleep and worry over her eldest caught her in a rare state, with her hair hanging in tangled curls and dark circles under her eyes. A sleepy Pomeranian bounced in the crook of her arm, while she held the other out for a hug. Tommy left his companions and met her halfway to the door with a reassuring pat on the back, careful not to crush her precious baby cradled to her breast.

"It's okay, mom," he said. "We made it back okay."

"Sweetie, I was so afraid I'd never see you again," she moaned against his shoulder.

Graves looked up from this happy reunion to another person watching from the open doorframe. Erica DiMarco stood with her arms folded over her blossoming chest and a cheerless sneer across her pretty, teenage face. From day one, Mona's doting over her stepson had made it clear that he was her favorite. The fact that he was closer in age to her than his father, her husband, hadn't escaped anyone's notice.

Lulu the Pomeranian emitted a shrill bark, expressing her impatience with her master showing affection to anyone else.

"Tommy's mother?" Eve confirmed in a low voice.

"By marriage," Graves replied. "Their real mother died of a drug overdose four years ago. Carmine remarried a few months later while on a trip to Sicily."

"Sounds like true love."

Mona waved at them. "Mr. Graves, please leave that and come inside. You must be tired. I'll have the men carry your things in."