by Sienna Mynx
“The stress of it all, Mira, I want to talk to you about what happened... explain so many things.”
“Shhh, not now, we’ll save that conversation for later. Right now, I want to know how you are doing. The truth.”
Marietta’s eyes began to tear and she sighed with relief. Catalina could see it, too. Mirabella was the same sweet person they always knew. The person to heal the family. She should have gone home the night she killed Rosetta. She should have trusted her family to help her deal with her mistakes.
“The doctors... they say...” Marietta stammered.
“The doctors told her she won’t carry the baby to term if she doesn’t get the rest she needs,” Catalina said.
“I’m so scared,” Marietta said. “And it’s all so horrible. I know this is bad, but...”
“Oh, sweetheart, of course you are scared, c’mere.” Mirabella hugged Marietta. She smiled at Catalina, and everything felt normal again. Armando was wrong. He said the family would reject her. He had no idea about the bonds they shared. How deep their love was for one another. Her gaze finally slipped over to Dominic. He stared her in the eye. He looked good. He looked like he hadn’t missed a single night of sleep. Did he even think about her at all? Catalina lowered her gaze and looked back to Mirabella.
“So, I guess the both of you are staying with Armando?” Mirabella asked.
“Lorenzo is staying with me too,” Armando said with a smile.
Catalina’s breath caught. Mirabella blinked as if the name were foreign to her. It was odd how calm she was. Especially considering what she knew about Lorenzo and Giovanni.
Mirabella touched Marietta’s cheek. “I want you to come home with me. I want to make sure you get the doctor’s help, and everything the little one needs. I’ve been through a difficult pregnancy. Our mother went through this. Let me help you.”
“But... I mean considering everything...” Marietta said.
“Let me be clear,” Mirabella said and switched her gaze from her sister to her brother. “Nothing has changed. We will deal with this attack on our family, on my husband in due time. We will deal with you.”
“Me? What have I done but what you asked of me? Wasn’t it you, dear sister, that asked me to help... threatened me to help our sister?”
Mirabella ignored the dig. She turned her attention back to Marietta. “I consider your health, and justice for Giovanni, two separate matters.”
“We’ll leave as soon as possible,” Catalina agreed.
“Not you, Catalina,” Mirabella said.
“What?”
“I said not you. I’m inviting Marietta to come back so I can help her. But I think it best you stay here. I’m sure Armando can accommodate you just fine.”
“Why? What?” Catalina took a step back.
Mirabella took a step forward. “You did it. Didn’t you?”
“I... I... I...” She glanced to Marietta for help. And then she looked to Dominic, and finally to Rocco. Everyone just stared at her. “It was an accident.”
“The hell it was. You pushed Rosetta off that cliff and left her there for the family to find. Confess it.”
“I’m sorry,” Catalina’s voice broke like the whine of a child.
“Are you? Is that why you couldn’t even bother to pick up the phone to call me? Is that why you let us worry about you for weeks?”
“Me? What about her? Lorenzo shot Giovanni, and you’re treating her like nothing happened. You know how Rosetta tortured me. She and Armando tricked me.”
Dominic gave a sardonic laugh.
“Don’t you dare, Domi! You aren’t totally innocent. You told me to stay away. Giovanni told me to stay away. What was I supposed to do? Armando was the only person that could protect me. That would protect me.”
“Then you’re protected,” Mirabella said dryly.
“Mira... wait,” Marietta said.
Mirabella cut her sister down with the same angry glare, but her voice came across syrupy sweet. “The children and I will be flying out in the morning. At six. If you decide you want to go with me, then be at the airport. Talk it over with Lorenzo. Give him my best.”
“No! No! Mirabella, please! Please!” Catalina rushed Mirabella, but Rocco stepped in front of her. Catalina took a step back.
“Say it to my face, Catalina. Did you kill your cousin?”
“I’m sorry, Zio. But she as much as killed me by... getting in between me and Domi. Please forgive me. Please.”
Rocco shook his head with disappointment. Catalina looked to Dominic with tears in her eyes. “Domi, I beg you, if you ever loved me, please help me now. Don’t leave me here.”
“Why did you come here? Of all places in the world you could go, why here?” Dominic asked. When she couldn’t summon an answer, he shook his head. “That is exactly why you aren’t welcome home.”
“I’m guilty. I confess! Okay! Do you hear me Mirabella? I confess. I killed Rosie, and I went to the beach to kill myself. But I was too weak to do it. Then I found out about Gio and I went to see him. But it was our own men that told me the family hated me. They told me to go and stay away. I felt lost, and rejected. I went to Armando with a gun in my purse. I was going to kill him. Tell them Armando. Tell them!”
Armando didn’t speak.
Catalina broke down in tears. “I hated myself so I let him... oh God, I’m just sorry for everything. Please help me.”
Dominic paused. For a moment Catalina saw the defiance that made him her lover, her best friend. But Armando cleared his throat, and Dominic looked to him once more. The look he gave Catalina after that was the final nail in her coffin.
Mirabella walked out past him. She cast a final look at her sister. “Think about my offer. For the baby’s sake and your own.” She then turned her gaze to a panic-stricken Catalina, before finally focusing on her brother. “We’re done here. Get the fuck out of my house,” she said to Armando. Three of her men stepped into the room with guns. Armando’s left brow winged up, and he stared down his sister. Mirabella’s gaze went to Catalina last. She could barely see the cold contempt through the tears, but Catalina felt it. Whatever she shared with Mirabella had been taken from her. It was gone.
Mirabella left.
Rocco aimed his cane at Armando. “She may be done with you, but I’m not. Give Lorenzo my regards.”
“I look forward to it.” Armando winked.
“Domi!” Catalina pleaded.
Dominic left.
“Domi?!” Catalina screamed. She ran after him. She caught him by the sleeve before he walked out of the door, and out of her life. One final plea for forgiveness tumbled through her lips. For the love of God, it can’t be this easy for him to toss her aside. “Forgive me. I’ll do anything. Anything. Forgive me.”
“It looks like you’ll do anything for anyone, Catalina.” He snatched away from her. “You’re nothing but a whore.”
Catalina put her hands to her head in horror. Dominic sneered at her. He was enjoying her torment. It made her sick. He left her standing there whimpering like a broken child. She almost accepted her fate. What other choice did she truly have? But then something in her mind snapped. She screamed at her family to listen. She shouted in Italian. She shouted to the top of her lungs, until Marietta appeared and tried to calm her. The car drove out and away. The men in the house forced Armando and his men to leave under their guns. And she was forced out as well. Her family home. Her family. And now she had no one.
Destroyed, she could barely walk without Marietta’s help. Armando swept her close to him with his arm to her waist. And when she started to resist leaving, he picked her up and carried her to the car. She fought against his assistance. But there was no point. He was right. It was done.
The ride back to Bagheria was just as quiet as the one to Mondello. Except Mirabella had a hard time keeping the tears from slipping down her cheeks. To see Catalina, and be cruel to her, killed something special between them. The damage may never be undone. However
, the moment she learned that Catalina had turned to Armando while her own brother lay in a coma fighting for his life, was the moment all was lost between them. How could she betray the family so deeply? She could forgive anything but that. We never turn to our enemies. Catalina knew better and decided to betray her brother in the deepest most hurtful way. That would not be forgiven.
“We have a visitor,” Dominic said.
Mirabella tried to peer out of the car to see who he referenced, but could not. “Who is it now?”
“Don Tacchini.”
She checked her watch. It was close to midnight. There was nothing appropriate about a late- night visit.
“Something must be wrong,” Rocco said. “He waited for us.”
The car stopped. The men got out, and her door was opened for her last. She exited the car into the humid night. The moment she did, his attention averted from Dominic to her. She stared at him as Dominic questioned why he’d come.
“I came to talk to you.” Tacchini said.
Rocco and Dominic both looked back at Mirabella as if she had invited him. She hadn’t. “How did you know that I was on my way... here?” she asked.
“Bagheria is a small township. Is this a bad time?”
“Yes,” Dominic said. “We can schedule a meeting.”
“No, Domi. I’ll talk to him.”
“Are you sure?” Dominic asked.
“Leo will stay behind. Domi, you and Rocco go inside.”
“I don’t advise that,” Dominic said. “I should sit in on this meeting.”
“I said I will do it alone. Don Tacchini, you have five minutes. This is a stressful time for me and my family. My children need me, so let’s do this quickly.”
Dominic looked as if he would disobey. Rocco touched his arm and started toward the house. It was the signal of consent. Dominic shook his head at her, turned and left. She understood his frustration. She should rely on his counsel, but since his drinking and breakdowns, she wasn’t certain of him anymore.
“Forgive me for the late night visit,” Tacchini said.
“Thank you for coming to the funeral. Paying your respects.”
“Vito Battaglia was a good man. It’s a tragedy that he and his youngest daughter have left us this way.”
“I agree. Why are you here?”
Tacchini smiled. She wasn’t sure that she appreciated the way he tried to be familiar with her. It felt wrong. And if Giovanni were at her side, he’d find it disrespectful. Her husband had cut down men for lesser improprieties.
“The meeting was a success. Brava to you. The offer you made was very generous.”
“But you think I made it hastily?”
“I am concerned. Licciardi can’t be trusted.” Tacchini said. “He has been undermining your interests from the start. He shouldn’t be rewarded.”
“Ah, but I should trust you?”
“Giovanni trusts me, completely. I can help you. Like I said before, we should get to know each other better.”
“And here I thought you only came all this way to show respect for my family. You have your own agenda, Don Tacchini.”
“What if I was to say it’s personal. My investment in your success. I want to see you win this game.”
“I’d say you made your first mistake in assuming this was a game. This is my life.”
“A life I can protect.”
“At a price?” she asked.
“I’m the man who can keep the demons away. Join me and we can defeat them together.”
“Still you haven’t named your price.”
“I’m a man, a friend, an ally.”
“You’re a man. And you want something. Say it.”
He chuckled. “I guess I may have exaggerated my worth a bit. What I mean to say is my wants should be yours, the only way that can be accomplished is that you trust me...”
“Thank you for your concern, Don Tacchini. But like I said, I’m just a simple wife trying to keep my family protected. I’m not looking to take down the Camorristi. Or make a new friend.”
The Don gave a sly smile.
“Something I say funny?”
“Now it is you who is undervaluing your worth.”
“We relinquished control to the Bay, and that is indeed a huge gamble. But I’m also aware that men, such as yourself, will not pass on opportunity. With Giovanni recovering, and my family healing, the Bay is a prime target for the Camorristi.”
Tacchini nodded. “You have a point.”
“I also have allies. Earlier today after the funeral I met with the Dons of Sicily. They offered their support.”
Tacchini’s brow winged up. “They met with you?”
She chose to ignore his question. The Dons had come to the funeral, and then met with Rocco behind closed doors. She was not invited or respected enough to join the meeting, but Tacchini didn’t need to know that.
“The Bay belongs to the Camorra for now. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?” she said.
Tacchini stepped forward with his hands clasped behind his back. His voice deep and seductive now, but heavy in his Italian brogue. “Why don’t you allow me to take you to dinner?” He glanced over to Leo who scowled at him. “There are a lot of things you can learn from me.”
Mirabella’s brows lifted in surprise. The way he said dinner sounded like an invitation. A personal one. She glanced to Leo, who stared at Tacchini only.
“No. Dinner is premature. Besides, I have all the counsel I need.”
Tacchini gave her a curt nod. He walked over and kissed her left and right cheek, which she allowed. “Again, my deepest condolences on your loss,” he whispered in her ear. “Think about my offer. Anytime.”
“Grazie.”
Tacchini turned and walked over to the car waiting for him. One of his men opened the door and he slipped inside. Mirabella didn’t bother to stop to watch him leave. She started toward the villa with her heart racing. She loved her husband, and was learning new things about him daily. But she was also learning a lot of about herself. Inside the villa doors she was met by Dominic.
“Can we speak?” he demanded, instead of asked.
“Of course.”
He marched ahead of her. Before she followed, she turned and cast her gaze over to Leo. “Have you called home and made things ready for Marietta?”
“Sì, Donna,” Leo nodded. “Kyra is taking care of it all. She said they will be ready.”
She smiled at him. “Good night, Leo.”
Leo bowed and left. Dominic headed toward the kitchens. So many family members remained in the villa, and others without a room slept in the parlor. The kitchen at this time in the morning should be open to them. And it was. Dominic stood facing the doors that led from the kitchen to the outside terrace. He opened the glass door and stepped outside. She followed.
The night was humid and dry. The darkness was so thick, without the moon and stars, she could barely see her hand before her. But her eyes adjusted to the shadows.
“I know I’ve been less than myself,” Dominic began. “I’ve agreed to see this Dr. Marchetti. I’ve held my tongue as you stood before Giovanni’s enemies and gave them the keys to our business affairs. Who am I to judge you and your decisions when I can’t trust my own?” Dominic glanced back over his shoulder. “What you did to Catalina today... how you did it... leaving her behind...”
“I didn’t do that lightly. You think I want to leave her to Armando?”
“I don’t know what you are thinking now, Mirabella. Catalina was wrong, but Rosetta threatened this entire family by spying for Armando. She was the traitor.”
Mirabella’s eyes stretched. “So now Catalina is a victim? Wasn’t it you that called her a whore, and said her crimes were unforgivable? What were the last words you said to her before you left her crying in Armando’s arms tonight?”
“That is my point. What I am, what I can’t be for her, has nothing to do with who you are to this family, Mirabella. Who you are to all of us. She be
longs with you! At your side. With la famiglia!” Dominic’s voice boomed loud and full of rage.
“Make up your damn mind, Domi. Does she belong with me, us, or does she belong with you?”
“What does that matter?”
“You chased her away. You pushed her out of the family. You and Giovanni did that. I watched you both, and I prayed that you’d find a sliver of compassion in your hearts to help her. But neither of you bothered. You were too caught up in your self-righteous anger!”
“Self-righteous! She cheated on me! She betrayed me!”
“Oh, well if she didn’t before, I’m sure she has now. Armando won’t let her stay with him unless she plays his games. Don’t you dare stand in judgment of me. I am dealing with the fallout left to me. Catalina can’t be trusted. Not any more. And that is your fault, and Giovanni’s fault. Not mine!”
“And Marietta?”
Mirabella smiled. “Don’t you worry about my dear sister. I have plans for her.”
“What plans? What are you doing with Tacchini?”
Mirabella was done answering questions. It was time some of hers were answered. “What happened with the meeting of the Dons? You and Rocco had the meeting and excluded me.”
“It’s the Mafiosi. It’s how it’s done. They wouldn’t sit with you. They respect Rocco. Plus, I wasn’t invited.”
“They will respect me! All of them!” Mirabella said. “I’m going to protect my husband and I don’t trust anyone but me to do it!”
Dominic’s eyes stretched. “We are all working to protect Giovanni. Not just you.”
“We shall see.” She turned and left and ignored his calling out to her. She was tired. In the morning, she had a flight to catch.
***
Mirabella checked in on her kids. The moment she pulled the blanket up over Eve, her little girl opened her eyes. Eve immediately reached for her. She brought her up into her arms and held her close to her heart. In the corner of the room near a table lamp, was a rocking chair. She sat in the rocker and held Eve until she drifted in her arms. Her heart was heavy. Tears welled in her eyes. It had been the second worse day of the year. The first being the night when she got the call that Giovanni was shot. Tonight she’d have nightmares. This time not of her children and Giovanni dying. This time her nightmares will be for Catalina, and the division between them now.
