Bella Mafia

by Sienna Mynx

  For the first time since she arrived Mirabella removed her sunglasses. She tucked them into her hair on top of her head. She didn’t care if Tacchini could see evidence of the stress and strain her life had become in her weary stare. Right now, he was the man to understand Giovanni better than anyone.

  “What does this woman have to do with this? I want to know about Arielle.”

  “Giovanni had all but killed all of them. His boys eventually found the children. Toward the end Angelo Calderone knew he had to get his kids help. His wife had already been caught in the crossfire. He reached out to someone, a priest, for help. That is how I found out, and then how Giovanni learned about the surviving children.”

  “You were going to turn them over to my husband, let him kill them. For what? Property, money, what?”

  “Doesn’t matter what I wanted. Giovanni wanted something else. Turns out his madness wasn’t complete. He didn’t want to kill women and children. He sent me and my men into Tuscany. The kids and their mothers, a few old women, were being hidden by the people there. The last living souls who were friendly or brave enough to hide a Calderone. All of them terrified. Some of them traumatized after witnessing the deaths of their loved ones. The Camorristi believes that he gave the order to kill them all. They believe that I fulfilled that order.”

  “He didn’t. Did he? He didn’t kill those children.” She finished, and hope to hear something good about her husband was heard in her voice.

  “No. He did not. Arielle and I helped him. She took some of the kids in. Others were sent to my relatives in Turkey. And then given new lives. They all understood that they were never to return to the Campania. To the triangle. To Italy, period.”

  “So Giovanni and this woman stay in touch because of these children?”

  “It’s far more complicated than that.”

  “I know it is,” Mirabella mumbled.

  “The simple answer is yes. He wasn’t having an affair with Arielle. I can’t attest to his fidelity in other areas though. We are, afterall, men.”

  Mirabella tensed but did not give him the response he was looking for. She saw the way he studied her. He read her the way Giovanni read his opponents, always in search of a weakness. Her coming here was proof of her weakness. She wouldn’t give him anything further.

  “Giovanni was protecting our mutual interests. And Arielle reminded us both that we had good in us. When my wife died she comforted me. When you were gone those years, she comforted him. That’s her purpose. That’s who she’s always been to the both of us.”

  “Comfort?” Mirabella said and cut her eyes. The jealousy swelled in her so tight she found herself grinding her molars.

  “Now that Gio is, hurt, we have to work together to finish what he and I started. You’ve met one of the children.”

  “I have not...”

  “You met her when you met Arielle,” Tacchini said.

  Mirabella remembered the meeting with Arielle in Carlo’s room. The way the young woman seemed caught by surprise to have the two of them in the room with her.

  “That’s right. Her name is Adara, and she’s an undercover agent working for the Carabineri.”

  “She’s with Carlo?”

  “Giovanni had intended to break up that relationship before he was shot.”

  “Does Carlo know that a Calderone is his lover and an agent with the police?”

  Tacchini chuckled.

  “You find it funny?” she asked.

  “No. It’s hard talking to you when you keep wanting me to start over from the beginning. Does Carlo know? No. Does it matter? It shouldn’t, Mirabella. What those men,” Tacchini glanced over to Umberto, “are, or become is based on what you want them to be.” Tacchini continued to hold her stare when he spoke. “They take an oath, an unbroken vow and they belong to something greater than anything in their lives. Loyalty no matter the cost is their single purpose. Giovanni runs his men this way. I do the same.”

  “My husband is a lot more caring than you know, Don Tacchini.”

  Tacchini arched a brow. “He’s not. He arranged Adara’s schooling and training. He groomed her. He pointed her in the direction of law enforcement with the help of Arielle. And now the Carabinieri are thirsty for law and order in Naples. They think their biggest weapon is the Butcher’s girlfriend.”

  Mirabella rolled her eyes away.

  “You have gone and let the dogs out. That brings heat and attention to my business and yours. Adara is the only weapon we have left.”

  “I have a plan,” Mirabella said.

  “I was sure you did when I heard your offer. But any plan outside of the one I offer to you will fail. We need to bring Adara in, let her know what she needs to do. And then use her to do exactly what you intended.”

  “What are my intentions?” Mirabella asked.

  “To let Licciardi and that idiot Racchi go up in flames. I’m telling you that Adara is the match you need to strike.”

  She sat back in the chair and let the history of her betrayal, and Giovanni’s ruthless act of revenge sink in. The names that people called him-baby killer, child murderer, monster. He took it and never said anything against it. The things she too accused him of. He never once set her straight or shared the truth. If Tacchini hadn’t told her, and Giovanni had died, she may have never learned the truth. The Don seemed to understand her conflict. He looked at her with pity.

  “Now do you understand why this isn’t a phone conversation? I am not trying to trick you. I want to work with you.”

  “Giovanni has lied to me from the beginning.”

  “An omission of the truth is not necessarily a lie. Our lives are filled with secrets. Don’t be angry with your husband. Understand him.”

  “Stop talking to me like you care. You don’t. You’re no better than any of them!”

  “I’m no worse,” he said.

  “What’s in this for you?”

  “Like it or not, you’re the future. Donna Nera... our black donna. I want you for my future.”

  “Why? The real reason. What do you really want from me?”

  “Giovanni is smart. It wasn’t just the Calderone war that gave him power. The real power came with you. The moment he married you, you legitimized him. You walked him through doors that were shut to him outside of Italy, past the U.K. You took him into the West. Your beauty, celebrity, and independent wealth took the Battaglias into the future. And we Camorristi have watched as you stepped back into the shadows like a good wife and let him lead.”

  Mirabella chuckled. “That’s what you think my marriage is? A power play?”

  “We just discussed what you sacrificed to be his wife. Did we not?”

  “My marriage wasn’t a business transaction. I married for love, you asshole.”

  “Absolutely. Giovanni worships you. Like any man should. And you can go home every night and plead for him to open his eyes, beg for him to wake up and be yours. But one day you may realize that he won’t. My offer will never be that displeasing then.”

  “You are supposed to be his friend.”

  “Men like us don’t have friends. But I’d like to be yours. Right now, we have mutual interests. Let’s focus there. And if our interests collide, we change our focus.”

  “A word of advice, Don Tacchini, my husband isn’t defeated. One day he will walk through this door instead of me. And you, like every other man that has ever tried to get close to me, will learn what our love is really about.”

  The Don nodded and then released a merry chuckle. She couldn’t help but smile too. The Dons eyes teared with laughter. “Don’t you realize Mirabella, I’m not afraid of your husband. If I were I would have never made the offer in the first place.”

  She shook her head. She stood. “You should be. We both should be. As for Arielle, I want a meeting with her. Extend the invite, please.”

  “And our gem? Adara? The meeting I want you to have?”

  “Yes. My answer is yes. You are right. My plan was
to let the Camorristi devour each other with greed and then let that Generale who is always watching pick their bones. But that plan is messy. I like yours better. We’ll use Adara.”

  “Stay for a while, Donna. Let me show you another side of Naples.”

  “Another time,” she said. “I have family arriving today. Arrivederci, Don Tacchini.”

  “You’ve been calling me Don Tacchini since you arrived. I thought I was Piero.”

  “And I thought you were my husband’s friend. Turns out we were both wrong.”

  He winked.

  She left.

  “Bee? Bee! Hurry, chile. I’m confused as it is.” Minnie said. She turned in a full circle looking up at the signs that were in Italian. Belinda hurried to catch up with her mother. There were so many people and she had their luggage to contend with.

  “Ma, if you just take one bag, I can handle it.”

  “Girl, quit your complaining. Cain’t you see we lost! Yammering in my ear ain’t helping.” Minnie took the smallest bag by the handle and yanked it forward, but her purse dropped from her shoulder and a man passing by nearly tripped over it. The bag slid further away.

  “I’ll get it!” Belinda said and hurried after the bag now being tossed about like a kickball through the travelers. “Excuse, me please, excuse me,” she said. She had to bump several people to reach it. Her own bags were left in the way of several others. And her mother looked at her with an exasperated frown that matched her tone. Belinda tried not to take it personally. She returned with the purse. Minnie accepted her bag and grimaced.

  “I don’t know where we are,” her mother mumbled. “Thank you, baby. I’m sorry to fuss.”

  “It’s okay, Ma, that’s why you brought me. Remember?”

  Minnie smiled at Belinda and in an instant things felt right again between them. This trip was the biggest privilege she’s had since she disappointed her folks. And it was a test for her mother. She knew it.

  “Look over there, that sign. It means we go that way.”

  “It do?” Minnie frowned. “How you know?”

  “I’m smart like my mama,” Belinda smiled. “Besides it’s where everyone else is walking. So we follow the crowd. Okay?”

  “Hmpf.” Minnie took the small bag and started off. Belinda was left to gather the rest of their luggage the best she could. Her mother was as sweet as honey to everyone that knew her. But she was a strong disciplinarian to her children. And this long trip to Italy had now become a matter of transference. Belinda as the oldest girl, and she knew all to well when Minnie was frustrated that bad energy would be put on her unless she anticipated her mother’s mood and acted accordingly.

  That was her life. Obedience, and orderly conduct were not only expected, but practiced in their household. Growing up country and Christian wasn’t the sole reason. Wanting to rebel but feeling guilty about her dark desires became a constant struggle. So she tried hard to make her mother proud and live up to her expectations until she got a taste of freedom. Her last semester at college she blew away the facade she mastered. In the past she could always hide from her parents the mischief and wildness. But when she got caught in college and expelled nineteen years of trust with her family was gone. She’d walked in shame ever since.

  “Ova there!” Minnie said. “That fella has a sign with my name on it!”

  Belinda’s head turned. She saw several men in dark suits with black gloved hands holding name signs. But she didn’t see one with theirs. The duffle bag she had weighted to her shoulder, slipped off and dropped to the floor. She struggled to keep up. Her mother was barely five-feet tall. How on earth did she see anyone through these crowds? Besides the Italian police walking around with Uzi machine guns and vicious dogs on leashes, the airport was a blur of people.

  Her mother walked confidently away, pulling her tiny suitcase. Belinda did her very best to follow. And soon she saw what Minnie did. Belinda couldn’t hide her surprise. The man waiting for them was unlike any man she’d ever seen.

  Leo’s gut churned with hunger. He hadn’t eaten in over sixteen hours. To make matters worse, the Donna had sent him on an errand. With the boss down from an assassin’s bullet, he believed his sole purpose was to protect the Donna. But instead he was sent to meet and bring in the American relatives. Anyone on the staff could have done this. He should be with Umberto in Naples. That was his duty.

  A short brown-skinned woman with wide hips headed his way. She looked him dead in the eye. It had to be the lady the boss wanted him to greet. Behind her was a younger woman. She was tall and slender, except for in the breasts and hips. She wore blue jean shorts and a t-shirt that said HAMPTON UNIVERSITY on the front. Her hair was in long braids that swayed behind her when she walked. And she had the prettiest round eyes that were bright and inquisitive. When he stared at her, she lowered her gaze and followed the other woman.

  “Hi! I’m Minnie. Mira send you for me?”

  “Ciao, mi chiamo... I... Leo,” he said with practiced perfection. The Donna had taught him English. They’d spent so much time together over the years, he’d learned, and then been coached on the different enunciations and nuances in the English language. But still, he rarely spoke the language, and never trusted his ability to communicate. The woman smiled. The girl kept her gaze averted. Though she was strikingly different and undeniably beautiful, she was like all other young women who had the misfortune to meet him. Distrustful of his scarred face.

  “This here is my daughter Belinda. We ready. Got all our luggage ourselves!” Minnie announced proudly. “Take us to my girls and those sweet babies.”

  Leo noticed the young woman was forced to shoulder the load. And she’d done quite well by herself. The ladies must have come for an extended visit.

  “Brava, may I?” Leo said to her. The young woman’s gaze lifted to his, and she gave him a shy smile before handing him the luggage, and taking off the large backpack she wore.

  “Well let’s go! I got to see my girls. I saw on the news about Giovanni’s shooting. Back in America the news is so grim about him, but Mirabella says he’s recovering. Lord I’ve been praying hard for him. Had the entire church praying for him.”

  “Signorina, I can help,” he said to Belinda about the last bag she held on to.

  “Oh, ah, sure, here you go,” she replied.

  “Belinda! Stop holding the man up. C’mon, girl.”

  She hurried after her mother who walked assuredly as if she knew where she was going. He collected a push cart and dumped the bags on it. He then followed, trying not to notice Belinda’s curves as she walked ahead. But twice she looked back and caught him staring.

  “We need to talk!” Dominic said.

  Rocco lifted his head from the documents before him. The meeting had proceeded without Dominic, and the attorneys had already left. But that was the least of his concern. Some of the stuff in the ledger was too complicated for him to fully grasp. And he wanted to be the man to do so. Still, it was evident he would need Dominic.

  “I sent for you over an hour ago,” Rocco mumbled.

  “Do you know where she is right now?”

  “She? How many women do we have left in this family?”

  “Mirabella!” Dominic demanded.

  Rocco regarded Dominic with impatience. He closed the ledger and sat back. Dominic closed the door behind him. He walked straight to the desk. “She’s in Napoli with Tacchini. She refused to let me go. Said you approved.”

  “I do approve.”

  “Has everyone lost their fucking mind? She can’t trust them without us!”

  “Why are you so convinced she can’t, Domi? Why do you question her every move? Haven’t we prepared her enough. Isn’t it time we let her do what she is expected to do?”

  “Because she is not from our world. She does not understand things no matter how much we prepare her! A couple of weeks ago she was crying and having nervous breakdowns. Now she’s all tough and bad ass. I don’t buy it. Giovanni would never allow a
ny of this!”

  “It was your idea that she step forward.”

  “As the face of the family. Not the brains behind our business.”

  “She is a business woman. Before she ever met Giovanni.”

  “She went too far with the Camorristi. She goes too far because you encourage it.”

  Rocco sighed. “I am tired of this argument. Have you spoken to Giovanni’s doctors?” Rocco asked.

  “Why?”

  “Have you?” Rocco barked.

  “No. I haven’t had time,” Dominic mumbled.

  “I have,” Rocco said. “He’s not getting better, Domi. And they can’t explain it. They are leaning toward believing he is empty in the head. Do you understand? Brain dead.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “It’s time for us to think of a world without him. And if we have to, we have to do it this way. Piero Tacchini is the closest we have to controlling power in the Camorristi. He has an interest in Mirabella, and she needs to gain his trust.”

  “So, you’re using her as bait? Does she even know that? Or is she actually thinking she’s the one in control?”

  “She is the one in control. As long Giovanni breathes, they all believe that. We can’t protect her Giovanni’s way. But she can protect us, my way.”

  “Your way? That’s what this is? You. What happened with La Cosa Nostra? What did you promise them, Rocco?”

  “A new beginning.”

  “Giovanni isn’t even cold in the ground, and you are already after your former glory. Just like Lorenzo. Have we forgotten him? He’s out there plotting with Armando, while you and Mirabella destroy what Giovanni and I have built!”