Bella Mafia

by Sienna Mynx

  “Like you and Tacchini?”

  “No. Yes. You were shot. You would have died if Carlo didn’t bring you to the hospital. He saved your life.”

  “Lorenzo? Is he dead?”

  “No. Do you remember the shooting?” she asked.

  “I want to talk about Piero. Why are you two friends?”

  “Stop it, Gio!” she said.

  His brows lowered.

  “You were shot, honey. The worst possible thing happened. Do you know what that did to me, to all of us?”

  He frowned, and looked around the room.

  “My back? Shot in the back?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she sighed with relief that the conversation had switched.

  “Was it Lorenzo who shot you?” Mirabella asked.

  “No. Lorenzo was to the front of me. I was going to... kill him, and... I was... shot? In the back? Shot by who?”

  Mirabella went cold inside. Her husband’s cool stare turned toward her. “No one knew I was there but Lorenzo. Who shot me?”

  “My sister,” Mirabella confessed. She would not lie to him. Not anymore. Giovanni showed no reaction to the news. But his stare never wavered. “It was my fault, sweetheart.”

  “How is it your fault Bella?”

  “I panicked when I found out you were going to kill Lorenzo. So I told Marietta to call Armando. To have him help.”

  “You did this behind my back?”

  “I didn’t understand what I had done until it was too late. If I hadn’t...”

  “I would still have been shot,” Giovanni said.

  “Armando was at that warehouse too. We don’t know when he arrived, but he rescued Lorenzo and Marietta after the shooting.”

  “Armando left me there? Alive?”

  “The way I understand it is, Marietta and Carlo arrived shortly after you and Lorenzo met. They heard the shots from inside of the warehouse. You shot Lorenzo. Carlo got out of the car, but he didn’t see Marietta. She had something in her hand and she hit him over the head. She knocked him unconscious. Then she picked up his gun and went inside. Later, Carlo woke and you were next to him, not in the warehouse. You had been shot. He brought you to the hospital. Marietta and Lorenzo escaped to Sicily. That’s where... Catalina went.”

  Giovanni’s brows shot upward.

  “Catalina is in Sicily? With Armando?”

  “Yes,” Mirabella said in a trembling voice. Her stomach twisted, and the muscles low in her belly contracted. It was enough to catapult her into a full blow panic. Her mind kept saying: He saw me and Piero. He saw me and Piero. We were hugging. He saw us. What is he thinking? What will he think of everything I have to tell him? Do I tell him all of the truth? If I do he will kill Piero.

  “Can you come closer to me, Bella?”

  Mirabella didn’t hesistate. She walked over to the side of the bed. He moved over. It was an invitation for her to join him. She eased onto the bed and turned on her side to lay close to him with her arm around his waist.

  “There’s more...” she said softly.

  “It can wait,” he told her.

  “It can?”

  “Silenzio.” He ran his hand down her back. “Rilassare.”

  He told her to be silent and relax. Mirabella closed her eyes and tried. The tension knots in her tummy released. She was going to fall apart, she was close. But she felt stronger. Did he know that she needed this? Of course he knows, her mind said. He always knows.

  Time passed. Enough time to steady her voice and restore her bravery. “Are you angry?” she asked.

  “I’m alive, I’m grateful,” he said in a weary voice.

  “What was it like? The coma? Did you hear me, us? Did you know?”

  “It was like waking up from a dream. I can remember people, sounds, laughter of children, my children, and then the memory fades. Do you know what I remember the most clearly?”

  “What?”

  “This, you, right here, touching me, comforting me, my Bella.”

  She looked up at him.

  He looked down at her. “Were you with me?”

  “As much as I could be. More than I was with the kids. I’d come here at night, undress and lay next to you. Like this. To let you feel me.”

  A sly smile curled the corner of his mouth. “Undressed?”

  Mirabella laughed softly. “Yeah.”

  “Undress for me now.”

  “I can’t,” she whispered. “They’ll be back in here soon with test results.”

  Giovanni looked around the room. “Why this room? If I was in a coma? Why...?”

  “I moved you back to Melanzana. We expected you to wake up any time. I have doctors and nurses here. All of them. I needed to keep you safe.”

  “Good decision,” he said.

  “There are things you don’t know, Gio. Something I have to tell you.”

  “Take your time Bella. Tell me...”

  “Vito is dead, Gio. He had a heart attack.”

  When Giovanni went silent and his touch stopped with caresses, she hesitated on sharing the rest. But she knew he could handle it. “Rosetta is dead. Catalina killed her. Afterwards she ran away to Sicily. She’s with Lorenzo.”

  “Did the cancer kill Vito?”

  “No, he had a heart attack after learning about Rosetta’s death.”

  “And Catalina. You are certain she is with Armando and not just there to be protected by Lorenzo?”

  “I saw them Gio... together...”

  He started to caress her back again. She looked up at him to see what he thought of the news. He showed no outward sign of concern. “Vito will be missed,” he finally spoke. “This all happened while I was asleep, but it started when I was awake.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He lifted her chin and her head tilted back. He brushed his lips over hers. “Just be my Donna for a little while longer.”

  “You’re tired.”

  “I’m tired,” he admitted.

  “I’ll take care of you,” she said and stroked his face. She kissed him and scooted in closer. She wanted to talk about the pregnancy, but she didn’t mention it. And she didn’t know why. She’d tell him the good news later. There was much more bad news to share.

  “What has happened? The shooting?” Marietta had managed to get out of bed. When Minnie arrived she was halfway down the steps.

  “What are you doing up?” Minnie gasped. “Back to bed! Now! Now!”

  “Is it Lorenzo? Armando? Are they here? Are they shooting their way in to rescue me?’

  “Back to bed!” Minnie forced her back up the stairs. Marietta clung to her and let her help her up the stairs.

  “What is it? Is it Lorenzo? Who is shooting?” Marietta panted.

  “Calm down. It’s a celebration. Giovanni’s awake.”

  “He is?”

  “Yes. It’s great news isn’t it?”

  Marietta sat on the edge of the bed. “No, Minnie. It’s not. If you think she’s bad now, he’s a hundred times worse, and dangerous. I can’t do this...”

  “Hush now, I know Giovanni. This can be worked out.”

  “You have to call Lorenzo.”

  “I can’t. I can’t do that,” Minnie said.

  “You have to call him.” Marietta reached over to the nightstand and removed a letter she wrote. The number to Sicily was on the top of the letter. “Read this to him. Do it now. They won’t notice if they are celebrating.”

  “But if I’m caught… Do you know what she will do? Let’s just talk to her again. She has to be reasonable now.”

  “I talked to her. She’s different now, Minnie.”

  “You talked to her? When?”

  “She showed up here early in the morning. In my room.”

  “Okay? What happened?”

  “She doesn’t care what happens to me. She’s trying to have me committed. She wants me to sign some documents. Give her control of my wellbeing. Then she plans... she plans to put me in an insane place. She says
I’m like Bessie Mae. That I need help. And she will take my baby...” Marietta broke down. Her crying turned into ragged sobbing. “The only chance me and my baby have is you now, Minnie. Call him. Tell him Giovanni is awake and I’m trapped. Tell him everything in that letter.”

  Minnie stared down at the letter. “I’ll do it.”

  “Thank you.” Marietta lay back on the bed and turned over to her side. Minnie stared at her for a moment, then kissed her head before she left. Marietta closed her eyes and prayed. If Giovanni was alive and awake, then the chances of her and Lorenzo escaping their fate was less than hope could afford.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Retribution

  Sorrento, Italy

  “Donna Catalina Battaglia Mancini, mia moglie,” Armando whispered with lips close to her ear.

  The proclamation unfurled in her heart like warm puff of smoke. Catalina stretched with a smile so bright her cheeks hurt. Armando rolled on top of her. It was the best way to wake from an afternoon nap. One she partook in with her husband after the whirlwind affair of the morning ceremony at his mother’s chapel. It was the consummation that followed as husband and wife that exhausted them. Never had sex been so intensely felt. She became an acrobat and he became her sledgehammer drilling into her from every conceivable position. This wasn’t a dream. They were married. And life for her now was as good as it could get.

  “I have the best news for my wife,” he said and brushed his lips across hers.

  “Really? What could you have for me that is better than this,” she asked and squeezed his groin. He groaned.

  “My man delivered the news. It comes straight from Sorrento.”

  “What news? Is it Giovanni?” she pushed at his chest to stop his passionate kisses.

  “He lives, he’s awake. The Campania is rejoicing.”

  “Armando! Armando are you sure? Are you certain?” she shoved him off her. He rolled to his side laughing. Catalina hopped on him and hit him about the head playfully. Armando curled up and tried to defend himself from the blows. “Don’t play with me! Is he awake?”

  Armando roared and flipped her to her back. She gasped but was unharmed. He pinned her ams above her head. His dark eyes locked on her even through the long wisps of hair hanging over his brow. He panted. His nostrils flared. She searched his face for the truth but she couldn't be sure. So she said a silent prayer that the truth would come soon because her heart was set to explode.

  “It’s true piccoletta. He’s awake. Your brother has recovered,” he said.

  “Mio Dio,” she gasped. “Mio Dio!”

  Tears flowed. Armando’s lips brushed hers and then her neck before going lower. His lips, tongue teased her nipple before he drew it into his mouth. He sucked between licks and kisses while he pushed her thighs apart. And then his kiss lifted from her nipple and claimed her mouth. The swirling, dashing and deep dives of his tongue as he rubbed his erection against her pussy felt good. Her brother was alive. The hardest part of the nightmare was over. Giovanni would live! The blessing consumed her as did the passion flowed between her and him. It felt damn good. She loved the prelude to sex more than the actual act of sex itself. In the prelude the intimacy was formed, the love was sealed. When she first came to him she was on the verge of falling apart. Fractured into a million pieces until there was nothing left. That time felt so long ago. Now everything had changed. Catalina had let Armando ravish her body so many times before. Being with him was insanity. She had become crazy and perverted. She loved the liberation of wildness.

  Armando’s mouth left hers taking with it the loving taste of matrimony. His eyes were banked with lust and appreciation. “I want children. A boy first. And then a girl who looks like you.”

  “Okay,” she agreed. “A son. I’ll get to work on it right away. How tall should he be?”

  He dropped his forehead on hers. His warm breath spilled over her mouth from his nostrils before another kiss came, and then another, before his face lifted and he pinned her legs and thighs up against her chest to get her in position. His erection thrust inside and then withdrew all the way.

  “More... please.”

  “You loved how it felt in your ass earlier?” he asked. Because his mouth was so close when he asked the question, it was like the words that followed were in her head. The top of him was raised by his hands flat to either side of her face, while his pelvis bore down on her. And the thickness of his dick kept poking at her entrance. Bliss dissipated from her butthole after the invasion he spoke of. It happened without warning. They decided to walk back to the villa when his motorcycle got stuck along the way. They cut through trees. And suddenly she was up against one. Only his saliva spat in the palm of his hand slicked his dick. He fucked her until her knees buckled and her spine went weak. She shivered with fiery hot remembrance. She wanted him to take her again with just as much aggression. He wanted to play his games.

  “Say it. Tell me how much you loved it.”

  She gasped from another poke. “I love it.”

  “You love what?”

  She undulated her hips to make him go in, but he dodged her move by lifting his ass.

  “You love what?”

  “When you take it,” she breathed.

  “And this pussy?” he asked as he licked her mouth and trailed the tip of his tongue down her chin to her neck. “It’s mine now. I can take it, when I want it. You’ll give it to me when I want it.”

  “Yes! Armando. It’s yours, please stop teasing me.” She grabbed both cheeks of his ass and squeezed.

  “You’re so goddamn perfect,” he growled. “There’s no one else like you. No one.” He took a deep breath. “No one, except me.”

  Catalina giggled. “I’m worried I won’t live up to your expectations.”

  “Don’t worry about a damn thing,” he groaned.

  His teeth were sharp at her neck when his cock took a deep plunge. She clung to him. To all his power and strength. She clung to the feeling of abandonment. She did love him. She knew all too well that feeling. It was a different kind of love than what she shared with Domi, but it was theirs. And yes, as his wife she’d give him everything, including her loyalty. She’d give him kids, as many as they could make, and she’d never look back. Never. She told herself this as he ravished her. Thrusts that rocked her soul. He’d turn her over and slip into her pussy from the back, and love her hard and fast. At some point he’d roll to his back and she’d ride his dick until the curtain of her hair covered her face and blocked him from view. He shuddered, but he held on and never let go.

  Together they broke. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. As they lay with her on his chest, and his flaccid cock still lodged inside of her there was a crash downstairs. Armando flipped her over to her back and covered her mouth. It sounded like a glass breaking. That was strange because all of the windows were left open. Catalina instantly understood the threat. Her heart raced so fast and strong she struggled to breathe. Added to the pressure was Armando pinning her down with his hand covering both her mouth and nose. He leaned in and whispered to her ear.

  “Get dressed and stay hidden.”

  She nodded that she understood.

  As she hurried to do the task she remembered why there would be glass breaking. The place had been crammed with roses. He had the villagers fill the place with vases. The roses greeted them after the wedding. She accidentally knocked one over when she came in the door. There were so many. And that vase had shattered with the same noise.

  Armando dressed faster than she thought possible. He had two guns.

  What was happening? He looked over at her and winked. An almost evil smile was on his face. The man was excited for the drama. She rolled her eyes and shook her head and smiled. Why not? He was her husband now. They’d go out in a blaze of glory if it came too it.

  He gestured for her to come closer. She crawled over to him.

  “Closet. Go to the closet and stay there.”

  “I want
a gun...”

  “Catalina...”

  “I want my own gun,” she demanded.

  “Go now,” he said and gave her the second gun he had in his hand. She did as he said. No sooner was she in the closet, did the door come crashing open with cannon blasts. She covered her ears while still holding the gun. The shooting went outside of the room. And then further in the distance. Catalina let her hands down. She heard shouting outside and more gunshots, and then someone running upstairs. Catalina released the safety on the gun and set it to rapid fire. The person was in the room and headed for her. She held the gun in front of her ready for whatever was to come next.

  The door flew open. It was Armando. He barely escaped death. Her finger twitched but did not pull the trigger. He grabbed her. He yanked her to him. “Let’s go, wife! Door! Door!” he said.

  Under his cover she ran through the door and almost slipped in the blood of the dead men. There was one dead man on the stairwell and four dead men below. What had happened? Was it her family? Did they know about the wedding?

  None of her questions were answered. She was shoved in a car. And he went back inside. “Armando!” she called out to him. She tried to open her car door. A man with a gun got in the car with her and prevented her escape. Startled she stopped struggling. But she screamed for him. The last she saw of him was him glancing back at her. He smiled and then he was gone.

  The driver sped away.

  Belinda suffered the sting of her mother’s words long after Minnie left. She tried to be the good daughter and settle into her baby-sitter duties for the little wild blue-eyed children. However, babysitting became harder after her taste of freedom and adventures with Leo.

  The twin boys constantly wanted to wrestle or play rough with her. At first it confused Belinda since they were toddlers and generally sweet kids. Then she met their guardian Nico and it all made sense. The moment he entered a room the boys went on attack. He tossed one kid over, and onto his shoulder. He held him there while he tucked the other under his arm and ran around the room with them. They’d squeal with delight but bite and kick to keep up the melee. The little girl, named Eve, never took to her. Cecilia explained that Eve was wary of strangers. She’d grown even more sensitive to the changes around her. That may be true, but Belinda got the impression that Eve just plain didn’t like her. So Belinda offered her candy and books then started a conversation about her braids. Eve asked for her to do the same to her hair. She’d found a way to reach the kid. Still she remained bored.