- 5 hours ago
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00:00I didn't react when my son pushed me down the basement stairs.
00:04I just lay there in the darkness, tasting blood,
00:08listening to his footsteps fade away upstairs.
00:11My daughter-in-law's laughter echoed through the floorboards.
00:14Maybe now he'll finally get the message, she said.
00:18I was 67 years old.
00:20My hips screamed.
00:21My wrist was definitely broken, but I didn't call out.
00:25I didn't bang on the door.
00:26I just pulled out my phone with my good hand and made one call.
00:31Three words.
00:32That's all I said.
00:33It's time, Marcus.
00:35Then I waited in the dark.
00:37You're probably wondering how I ended up here.
00:40Lying at the bottom of my own basement stairs while my son and his wife laughed about it upstairs.
00:45Let me back up.
00:47My name is Vincent Caruso.
00:49For the last 15 years, I've been what you might call retired.
00:53I live in a modest house in Cleveland.
00:55I spend my days reading, going to the gym, visiting my late wife's grave every Sunday.
01:01I'm the quiet old man at the corner table in the diner, the one who tips well and never causes
01:06trouble.
01:07But that wasn't always who I was.
01:09My son, Anthony, never knew what I did before he was born.
01:14His mother, my beloved Marie, she knew.
01:17She's the one who made me promise to leave that life behind when Anthony came into the world.
01:23And I did.
01:24I walked away clean.
01:26Changed my name.
01:27Moved cities.
01:29Started fresh.
01:30For 35 years, I was just Vincent Caruso.
01:34Devoted husband and father.
01:36Nobody from my old life knew where I was.
01:38That was the deal.
01:40Marie died three years ago.
01:42Cancer.
01:43It took her fast.
01:45Anthony grieved for maybe a month before his wife, Brittany, started talking about moving in with me.
01:50You're all alone now, Dad, he said.
01:53We can take care of you.
01:54And honestly, our apartment is too small.
01:58Now that Brittany's pregnant.
02:00I should have seen it then.
02:01But I was lonely.
02:03I missed Marie.
02:04I wanted family around.
02:06That was my first mistake.
02:08They moved in within two months.
02:10At first, it was fine.
02:12I gave them the master bedroom.
02:15Took the smaller room upstairs.
02:17Brittany was sweet at first.
02:19Always asking if I needed anything.
02:21Anthony seemed happy to have his childhood home back.
02:24Then the baby came.
02:25Little Michael.
02:27And everything changed.
02:28Dad.
02:29Can you keep it down?
02:31The baby's sleeping.
02:33Dad.
02:33We need to use your car today.
02:35Ours is acting up again.
02:37Dad.
02:38Brittany's mother is coming to stay for a few weeks.
02:41Would you mind sleeping in the basement?
02:43Each request got bigger.
02:45Each demand more entitled.
02:47And I went along with it because they were family.
02:50Because I didn't want to cause problems.
02:52Because I thought this was what being a grandfather meant making sacrifices.
02:57Six months ago, I noticed something odd.
03:00Mail coming to the house addressed to companies I'd never heard of.
03:03Anthony being secretive with his laptop.
03:06Brittany suddenly wearing expensive jewelry.
03:09I'm old.
03:11But I'm not Sinele.
03:13I started paying attention.
03:15That's when I found the documents in Anthony's desk drawer.
03:18See?
03:19Brittany had gone out shopping.
03:21Anthony was at work.
03:22And I was watching baby Michael.
03:25The desk was right there in what used to be my study.
03:28And the drawer was slightly open.
03:30Inside, I found a quitclaim deed.
03:33My house.
03:34Signed over to something called Summit Property Holdings LLC.
03:38My signature on the bottom.
03:40Except I never signed it.
03:42I stood there, holding that paper.
03:44And something cold settled in my chest.
03:46My son had forged my signature.
03:49My house.
03:50The house I'd bought with cash 40 years ago.
03:52The house where I'd raised him.
03:54Where Marie had died.
03:55He was stealing it from me.
03:56I kept looking.
03:58Found more documents.
03:59A reverse mortgage application.
04:02Also forged.
04:03They'd borrowed against my house.
04:06$340,000.
04:08The lender wasn't a bank.
04:09The lender was a company called Apex Capital Solutions.
04:13I knew that name.
04:14Or rather, I knew who really owned it.
04:17See, in my old life, before I was Vincent Caruso, I did work for certain people.
04:24People who don't advertise in the yellow pages.
04:27People who solve problems that can't be solved through legal channels.
04:31And Apex Capital Solutions was a front for the Volkov organization.
04:36Russian.
04:37Brutal.
04:37Not the kind of people you borrow from, unless you're desperate or stupid.
04:42My son was both.
04:43I photographed everything with my phone.
04:45Put it all back exactly as I'd found it.
04:49Went downstairs and made dinner like nothing had happened.
04:52That night at the table, I watched them.
04:55Really watched them.
04:57Anthony wouldn't meet my eyes.
04:59Brittany kept checking her phone.
05:01Smiling at something.
05:03Baby Michael babbled in his high chair.
05:05Innocent to the rot surrounding him.
05:07Dad.
05:08Anthony said.
05:09Pushing his food around his plate.
05:11Brittany and I have been talking.
05:13We think it might be time for you to consider assisted living.
05:17I took a bite of my meatloaf.
05:19Chewed slowly.
05:20Is that so?
05:21It's just that you're getting older.
05:24Brittany chimed in.
05:25Her voice dripping with fake concern.
05:28We worry about you.
05:29What if you fall?
05:30What if something happens when we're not home?
05:33I appreciate your concern.
05:35There's a really nice facility in Akron.
05:37Anthony continued.
05:39We looked into it.
05:40They have activities.
05:42Medical care.
05:43Everything you'd need.
05:45How much does it cost?
05:46They exchanged a glance.
05:48Well, that's the thing.
05:50Dad.
05:51With the equity in the house.
05:53We could easily afford equity in my house.
05:58Our house.
05:59Technically.
06:00Brittany said.
06:01Her mask slipping just a fraction.
06:04Anthony grew up here.
06:05It's his childhood home.
06:07I set down my fork.
06:08I see.
06:10That was three months ago.
06:11After that conversation.
06:13Things escalated.
06:15They started treating me like an inconvenience in my own home.
06:19I wasn't allowed to have friends over.
06:21I had to ask permission to use the living room.
06:23Brittany complained about everything.
06:25The way I breathed too loud.
06:27The way I took too long in the bathroom.
06:29The way I existed in spaces she wanted.
06:31Anthony started staying out late.
06:34Coming home drunk.
06:35Getting aggressive.
06:36Two weeks ago.
06:38He shoved me into a wall because I accidentally woke the baby.
06:42Left a bruise on my shoulder the size of a grapefruit.
06:45Last week.
06:46Brittany accidentally served me food she knew I was allergic to.
06:50I spent the night in the emergency room.
06:52She apologized.
06:53Said she forgot.
06:54But I saw the look in her eyes.
06:56They wanted me gone.
06:58Not just out of the house.
07:00Gone.
07:01And that brings us to tonight.
07:03Dinner was tense.
07:03I'd made pot roast.
07:06Marie's recipe.
07:07It was Sunday.
07:09Which meant it had been exactly three years since she'd passed.
07:13I'd gone to her grave that morning like always.
07:16Told her I was sorry.
07:17Sorry I'd let our son become this.
07:20This is overcooked.
07:21Brittany said.
07:22Dropping her fork with a clatter.
07:24Jesus.
07:25Vincent.
07:26Can't you do anything right?
07:28She'd stopped calling me dad two months ago.
07:31I followed Marie's recipe.
07:33I said quietly.
07:34Well, Marie's dead.
07:36She snapped.
07:37Maybe it's time to accept that.
07:39And move on.
07:40Something shifted in Anthony's face.
07:43Even he looked uncomfortable with that one.
07:45That was uncalled for.
07:47I said.
07:48You want to talk about uncalled for?
07:50Brittany stood up.
07:51You want to talk about how you sit around this house all day.
07:54Contributing nothing.
07:55Eating our food.
07:56Using our utilities.
07:58Your house.
07:59Your food.
08:00I kept my voice level.
08:02Interesting choice of words.
08:04What's that supposed to mean?
08:06Anthony's eyes narrowed.
08:07I could have kept quiet.
08:09Should have.
08:10Maybe.
08:11But I was tired.
08:12Tired of being disrespected in my own home.
08:15Tired of watching my son become someone I didn't recognize.
08:18It means I know about Summit Property Holdings, I said.
08:22I know about the forged quit-claim deed.
08:24I know about the reverse mortgage.
08:26And I know who you borrowed that money from.
08:29The color drained from Anthony's face.
08:32Brittany recovered faster.
08:33You went through our things?
08:35My things.
08:37In my house.
08:38That you're trying to steal.
08:40Anthony stood up so fast his chair fell backward.
08:43You don't understand, Dad.
08:45We were going to tell you.
08:46We just needed.
08:48Needed to forge my signature?
08:50Needed to borrow $340,000 from the Russian mob?
08:54What exactly did you need that money for, Anthony?
08:57Brittany's face twisted with rage.
09:00You self-righteous old bastard.
09:02You sit there judging us.
09:04You have no idea what it costs to raise a child.
09:07What it costs to live.
09:09We needed that money.
09:10For what?
09:11Your jewelry?
09:12His gambling debts?
09:14What was worth selling my house out from under me?
09:17It's not your house anymore, Anthony shouted.
09:20The deed is filed.
09:21It's done.
09:23And you can't prove the signature was forged.
09:25Who's going to believe some senile old man?
09:28That's when he pushed me.
09:30I was standing at the top of the basement stairs.
09:32He put both hands on my chest and shoved.
09:35Hard.
09:36I fell backward.
09:38Tumbled down 13 steps.
09:40Landed in a heap at the bottom.
09:41The pain was immediate and blinding.
09:44My hip.
09:45My wrist.
09:46My ribs.
09:47Everything hurt.
09:49Above me.
09:50I heard Brittany laugh.
09:52Maybe now he'll finally get the message.
09:54Is he dead?
09:55Anthony's voice.
09:57Uncertain.
09:58Who cares?
09:59Help me with the baby.
10:00We're going out.
10:01Their footsteps faded.
10:03I heard the front door close.
10:05The house went silent.
10:07I lay there in the dark for a long moment.
10:10Taking inventory.
10:11Hip possibly fractured.
10:13Wrist.
10:14Definitely broken.
10:16Ribs bruised.
10:17Maybe cracked.
10:18I was bleeding from somewhere on my head.
10:21But I was conscious.
10:23And I was angry.
10:24I pulled out my phone with my good hand.
10:27Dialed a number I hadn't called in 35 years.
10:30Marcus answered on the first ring.
10:32I'll be damned.
10:33Vincent Caruso.
10:35I thought you were dead.
10:37Not yet.
10:38It's time, Marcus.
10:40A pause.
10:41You sure?
10:42That door doesn't open halfway.
10:44I'm sure.
10:46Give me the details.
10:47I told him everything.
10:48The house.
10:50The forged documents.
10:51The loan from Volkov.
10:53Anthony and Brittany's plan to have me declared incompetent or dead.
10:57When I finished, Marcus was quiet for a moment.
11:00Then he laughed.
11:02Oh, Vincent.
11:03Your boy borrowed from Alexey Volkov.
11:06That stupid?
11:07Apparently.
11:08You know what this means.
11:10I know exactly what it means.
11:12I'll make some calls.
11:14Sit tight.
11:14I hung up and closed my eyes.
11:17The pain was bad.
11:18But I've had worse.
11:20Much worse.
11:21In my old life, broken bones were part of the job.
11:25That's what Anthony never understood.
11:27His gentle father, the man who coached his little league team and attended every parent-teacher conference,
11:33that man was real.
11:36But he was only part of the picture.
11:38Before Anthony was born, before I met Marie, I was someone else.
11:43I went by a different name, and I did things that would give my son nightmares.
11:48I was what they called a cleaner.
11:50When problems needed to disappear, I made them disappear.
11:54I worked for the DiMarco family out of Newark.
11:57Twenty years.
11:58Never caught.
11:59Never questioned.
12:01Never traced.
12:02I was a ghost.
12:03But then I met Marie, and she gave me an ultimatum.
12:07The life.
12:09Or her.
12:10I chose her.
12:11DiMarco let me go because I'd been loyal.
12:13Because I'd made him a lot of money.
12:15And because he respected a man who'd walk away for love.
12:18I became Vincent Caruso.
12:20Got a straight job.
12:22Had a son.
12:23Lived clean.
12:24And for thirty-five years, nobody from that world knew where I was.
12:29Nobody except Marcus.
12:31Marcus was my partner back then.
12:33The only person from that life I trusted completely.
12:36When I left, he stayed.
12:39Rose through the ranks.
12:41Last I heard, he was running most of DiMarco's East Coast operations.
12:45I'd called in a favor that had been sitting there for thirty-five years.
12:49Now I just had to wait.
12:51I must have passed out from the pain because the next thing I knew, light was streaming
12:55through the basement window.
12:57Morning.
12:58I tried to move and immediately regretted it.
13:00My phone showed six missed calls from Anthony, probably realized he might have actually killed
13:06me, and was worried about the legal complications.
13:08I heard the front door open upstairs.
13:11Footsteps.
13:12The basement door creaked open.
13:15Dad?
13:16Anthony's voice, shaking.
13:18Dad?
13:18Are you down there?
13:19I didn't answer.
13:21Oh God.
13:22Brittany.
13:23Call 911.
13:24Are you insane?
13:26Her voice hissed.
13:28If he tells them what happened, he fell.
13:31It was an accident.
13:33Nobody's going to believe that, you idiot.
13:35He has bruises from last week.
13:37If they examine him, so what do we do?
13:40Silence.
13:41Then Brittany's voice, cold and calculating.
13:44We wait.
13:46If he's not dead yet, he will be soon.
13:49Old people die from falls all the time.
13:51We just say we found him this morning.
13:53That's murder.
13:55That's survival.
13:56You want Volkov's people to find out we don't have their money.
13:59You want to tell them we spent it all?
14:01This is the only way out.
14:03More silence.
14:05Then Anthony's footsteps retreating.
14:07The basement door closed.
14:09They were going to let me die down here.
14:11My own son.
14:12I checked my phone.
14:13A text from Marcus.
14:15In town.
14:16Situation handled.
14:18Stay put.
14:19Six hours later, I heard vehicles outside.
14:22Heavy footsteps.
14:24The front door crashed open.
14:26What the hell?
14:27Anthony's voice.
14:29Terrified.
14:30Mr. Caruso?
14:31Sit down.
14:33Shut up.
14:34A voice.
14:35I didn't recognize.
14:37Russian accent.
14:38Who are you?
14:39You can't just break into our house.
14:41Your house?
14:42The Russian laughed.
14:44No.
14:45No.
14:45This house belongs to Apex Capital Solutions.
14:49You signed it over when you borrowed our money.
14:51Did you forget?
14:53We're going to pay you back.
14:54We just need more time.
14:56Time is expensive.
14:57And you, my friend, are out of both time and money.
15:01I heard Brittany scream.
15:03Don't touch me.
15:04Where is Vincent Caruso?
15:06He's...
15:07He fell.
15:08He's in the basement.
15:09He might be dead.
15:11Might be?
15:12Footsteps thundered down the basement stairs.
15:15The light flicked on.
15:17Three men stood over me.
15:18One of them was Marcus, looking exactly the same except for some gray in his hair.
15:23The other two were muscle.
15:25Russian muscle.
15:26Vincent.
15:27Marcus said, kneeling down.
15:29You look like hell.
15:30Feel worse.
15:31Let's get you out of here.
15:33He gestured to the Russians.
15:35They lifted me carefully.
15:37Professionally.
15:38Carried me up the stairs.
15:39In the living room, Anthony and Brittany were on the couch, surrounded by four more Russians.
15:46One of them was Alexei Volkov himself.
15:48I recognized him from the old days.
15:51He'd aged, gone gray.
15:53But those cold blue eyes were the same.
15:55He looked at me, broken and bloody, and smiled.
16:00Vincent Caruso.
16:01I heard you were dead.
16:03Rumors of my death, I said through the pain.
16:06Marcus tells me these two are your family.
16:08My son and his wife.
16:10And they did this to you?
16:12They pushed me down the stairs.
16:14Forged my signature to steal my house.
16:17Borrowed money from you with no intention of paying it back.
16:21Volkov's smile disappeared.
16:23He turned to Anthony and Brittany.
16:25Is this true?
16:26It's not what it looks like.
16:28Anthony stammered.
16:30We were going to pay you back.
16:31We just needed.
16:33You spent my money on jewelry and gambling.
16:35Marcus showed me the receipts.
16:37Yes, Volkov stood.
16:39You borrowed $340,000.
16:41You've paid back exactly zero.
16:43And you did it using a stolen house as collateral.
16:46We'll get the money.
16:48Just give us time.
16:49I don't think so.
16:51Volkov nodded to his men.
16:53Take them.
16:54Wait!
16:55Brittany shrieked.
16:57You can't do this.
16:58We have a baby.
17:00Your baby will go to child services.
17:03Unless.
17:04Vincent.
17:05What do you want done with them?
17:07Every eye in the room turned to me.
17:10Anthony was crying now.
17:12Understanding finally dawning.
17:14Brittany was pale.
17:15Shaking.
17:16I thought about what they'd done.
17:18The theft.
17:20The abuse.
17:21Pushing me down the stairs.
17:23Planning to let me die.
17:25I thought about Marie.
17:27What she would want.
17:29I want my house back.
17:30I said.
17:31I want the deed corrected.
17:33I want them out.
17:34Today.
17:35That's all?
17:36Volkov seemed disappointed.
17:38That's all.
17:39What about the money they owe me?
17:41They'll pay you back.
17:42Every cent.
17:43But not with my house.
17:45Volkov studied me.
17:47Then he nodded.
17:48Out of respect for who you were.
17:50I'll agree to this.
17:52But they will pay.
17:53With interest.
17:55If they miss a payment.
17:56Any payment.
17:57They're mine.
17:58Understood?
17:59I nodded.
18:01Volkov turned to Anthony and Brittany.
18:03You have one hour to pack your things and leave.
18:06The house is his again.
18:08And you will pay me five thousand dollars every month until the debt is cleared.
18:12That's sixty-eight months.
18:14Miss one payment.
18:16And I'll take what I'm owed.
18:18In other ways.
18:19We can't afford that.
18:20Brittany whispered.
18:22Then you'll work harder.
18:24Get second jobs.
18:25Sell everything you own.
18:26I don't care.
18:28But you will pay.
18:29They were escorted out by the Russians.
18:32I heard them packing upstairs.
18:34Heard Brittany sobbing.
18:35Heard Anthony pleading uselessly.
18:38Marcus helped me into a chair.
18:40You need a hospital.
18:42I need a minute.
18:43We sat there in silence while they packed.
18:45Volkov's men went through the house.
18:48Removing any trace of Summit property holdings.
18:50One of them handed me back the original deed.
18:54Properly recorded.
18:55Sixty minutes later.
18:57Anthony and Brittany came down with suitcases and baby Michael in his carrier.
19:01Anthony couldn't look at me.
19:03Brittany shot me a look of pure hatred.
19:06You're really going to let them do this?
19:08Anthony asked quietly.
19:10Do what?
19:11Hold you accountable for your choices?
19:13I'm your son.
19:14You pushed me down the stairs.
19:16You forged my signature.
19:18You stole from me.
19:19You were going to let me die.
19:21I leaned forward despite the pain.
19:24You stopped being my son when you chose this path.
19:27We needed the money.
19:28Everyone needs money.
19:30Not everyone becomes a thief and an attempted murderer.
19:34Brittany snatched up the baby carrier.
19:36This isn't over.
19:38Yes, I said quietly.
19:41It is.
19:42They left.
19:43Volkov's men followed them out.
19:45The house suddenly felt very empty.
19:47Marcus sat down across from me.
19:50You went soft, Vincent.
19:51In the old days, you would have handled that differently.
19:55In the old days, I didn't have a conscience.
19:58Marie gave me one.
20:00You know they'll tell people.
20:01About what happened here.
20:03Let them.
20:04Who's going to believe them?
20:05A couple of deadbeats who forged legal documents and borrowed from the Russian mob?
20:10They'll sound insane.
20:12Marcus smiled.
20:13You're still sharp.
20:15I'm glad you called me.
20:16I'm glad you answered.
20:18I owed you.
20:19That job in 88.
20:21You took the heat from me.
20:23Did six months because of it.
20:25We're square now.
20:26We're square.
20:27He stood.
20:28Get to a hospital.
20:30And Vincent?
20:31Stay retired.
20:32The world's different now.
20:34Messier.
20:35You wouldn't like it.
20:36I don't plan on coming back.
20:39This was a one-time thing.
20:40Good.
20:41He headed for the door.
20:42Then paused.
20:44Your son.
20:45You think he'll learn?
20:46I don't know.
20:47But that's not my problem anymore.
20:49After Marcus left, I sat in my quiet house.
20:53My hip was screaming.
20:54My wrist was definitely broken.
20:56I probably had a concussion.
20:58But I was home.
21:00Really home.
21:01For the first time in two years, I pulled out my phone and called an ambulance.
21:06At the hospital, they x-rayed everything.
21:09Fractured hip.
21:10Broken wrist.
21:11Three cracked ribs.
21:13Minor concussion.
21:14The doctor asked what happened.
21:16I fell down the stairs.
21:18I said.
21:19Someone should stay with you.
21:20Do you have family?
21:22No.
21:23I said.
21:24No family.
21:25They kept me for three days.
21:27When I got home, the house was clean.
21:30Someone had been through.
21:31Removed all traces of Anthony and Brittany.
21:34He even repainted the scuff marks on the wall.
21:37There was a note on the kitchen table in Marcus's handwriting.
21:40The nursery furniture is in storage.
21:43When you're ready, give it to someone who deserves it.
21:47M.
21:47I stood in the empty nursery, leaning on my cane.
21:51This was supposed to be Michael's room.
21:54My grandson's room.
21:55But that child was growing up with parents who stole.
21:58Who lied.
21:59Who pushed an old man down the stairs.
22:01Maybe he'd turn out different.
22:04Maybe the struggle of paying back Volkov would teach them something.
22:08Or maybe he'd turn out just like them.
22:10Either way, it wasn't my responsibility anymore.
22:13I sold the nursery furniture to a young couple down the street.
22:17Used the money to buy flowers for Marie's grave.
22:20I broke my promise.
22:21I told her headstone.
22:23I used the old connections.
22:24But it was necessary.
22:26I hope you understand.
22:28The wind rustled the trees.
22:30I chose to believe.
22:32That was her answer.
22:33That was six months ago.
22:35Anthony and Brittany have been making their payments to Volkov.
22:39I know because Marcus sends me updates.
22:41They're working multiple jobs.
22:43Living in a small apartment.
22:45Struggling.
22:46But they're paying.
22:47They haven't tried to contact me.
22:49I haven't tried to contact them.
22:52Sometimes I wonder if I should have done something different.
22:55Been softer.
22:56More forgiving.
22:58But then I touch my hip.
23:00Feel the permanent ache there.
23:02And I remember.
23:03Remember lying at the bottom of those stairs.
23:06Listening to them laugh.
23:08Listening to them plan to let me die.
23:11No.
23:12I did exactly what needed to be done.
23:14I'm 78 now.
23:16I've lived a long life.
23:18Done terrible things and wonderful things.
23:20I raised a son who became a stranger.
23:22I loved a woman who saved me from myself.
23:25And I learned that sometimes the quietest men are the ones you should fear most.
23:29Because we're quiet for a reason.
23:32We're quiet because we know what we're capable of.
23:34Last week, I ran into Brittany at the grocery store.
23:38She saw me.
23:39Froze.
23:40Then turned and walked the other way.
23:42Her cart was full of generic brands.
23:44Cheap cuts of meat.
23:46She looked tired.
23:47Older.
23:48I didn't feel satisfaction.
23:50I didn't feel vindication.
23:52I felt nothing.
23:53And that, more than anything, told me I'd made the right choice.
23:58Some people think family means unconditional forgiveness.
24:02That blood should excuse any betrayal.
24:05Those people have never been pushed down the stairs by their own child.
24:08I live alone now.
24:10My house is mine again.
24:12I have my routines.
24:13My quiet life.
24:15I visit Marie every Sunday.
24:17And tell her about my week.
24:19I don't have family anymore.
24:20But I have peace.
24:22And at my age, that's worth more than blood.
24:24I have two.
24:25I have one.
24:25I have one.
24:25I have one.
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