by Sienna Mynx
“Ah, is there something else?” she asked. This time her smile was a bit dimmer and she looked at him with concern.
Santo stepped toward her.
Cecilia stepped back.
“Lunch?” he smiled.
“What?” she frowned.
“Lunch. You need to get lunch for the kids. Giovanni doesn’t want any strangers near them. I can’t allow the staff to come up.”
“But there’s a servant’s entrance to this room. Nico said lunch would be brought up.”
“No. You should take the elevator down to the lobby and meet with the receptionist. She has the menu selections from the Donna. She said you were aware. I came up to stay with the kids. They’re safe with me.”
“Oh?” she sighed. “Oh, okay. Eve?”
“Sí, Chi Chi?” Eve answered.
“Zio Santo is going to stay here with you and the boys. I won’t be long,” she said.
“Okay, Chi Chi,” Eve said. “I’ll watch Gino.”
“Good girl.” Cecilia looked to Santo and nodded, then she walked out. Santo glanced around the room. He checked his watch. He locked the door Cecilia left through. Eve looked up at him curiously. Her brother turned the page on the book. Eve began to read to him again. Santo wouldn’t have much time. He walked over to the back of the suite. The reason Nico chose this room was the very secure access. Even the wait staff had different access to the room. Of course Cecilia didn’t know Santo’s intentions. Santo found the service door and unlocked it.
“You have ten minutes.” Santo said.
Kei stepped into the suite. He passed Santo. When he first saw Eve, the heart he thought was dead in his chest began to beat again. She had grown so much. There was little access to pictures of her. Mirabella never let ‘little rabbit’ out of her sight. Gone were her chubby cheeks and red pacifier. Too much time had passed. Eve had blondish brown curls in two ponytails separated by a center part. She wore a yellow dress and white sweater. She kicked her little feet as she read to a boy next to her in Italian. Kei observed her. It was the boy who looked up at him first. The child met his stare. It was Giovanni’s spawn.
“Get rid of the toddler,” Kei said.
Santo approached the children. The boy, who could be no more than two, flipped over and scooted down from the sofa. He ran for the door.
“Gino! Come back!” Eve yelled in confused surprise. Santo nearly crossed his legs and tripped over his own feet trying to catch the kid who hollered and ran from him.
“Gino! Gino!” Eve said alarmed. Eve got down from the sofa. She ran for her brother but Kei intervened. He held her hand to keep her close. “Gino! What’s the matter?” Eve said trying to pull away from Kei’s touch.
Santo grabbed the boy by one arm and lifted him from the ground. The toddler swung his other arm and kicked his little legs. The kid was wailing so loud he was certain to be a problem.
“Put him down, Zio Santo! Put Gino down now!” Eve shouted, with tears brimming her eyes.
Santo carried the kid roughly into the other room and slammed the door shut.
“Let me go! Let me go!” Eve struggled in Kei’s hands.
“Little Rabbit, it’s okay.” Kei said to her calmly. “Shhh… it’s okay, darling.” She didn’t hear him or didn’t care to listen. She struggled. “It’s me Poppy. Don’t you remember me?” Kei asked.
Eve looked into his eyes. She looked so much like Mirabella in that moment it burned his chest. Kei’s heart melted. He loved her so deeply. He took her little hand in his iron glove and kissed it. Eve pulled her hand from his immediately. She blinked at him confused. “I want my Papa,” she said and her bottom lip trembled.
“I won’t hurt you. I came a long way to see you,” he said softly.
She touched his eye patch. She then touched his face.
“That’s right, Little Rabbit. It’s me Poppy. Do you remember?”
“Poppy?” she said and shook her head with confusion. “I don’t know you.”
“It’s okay. I know you. I’ve known you since you were this little,” he pinched his fingers together.
Kei remembered it all. The day she was born. The many nights he picked her up from her bassinet and put her to Mirabella’s breast to nurse. He remembered the long days by the fire with Mirabella talking about her future. So much time had passed between then and now. But those memories never faded.
“What happened to your hand?” Eve asked.
Kei looked down at the iron sleeve covering his fingers and palm. After a brutal beating by his uncle’s men in prison, his hand was crushed, every bone broken. To make it halfway useful he wore the glove and relied on the mechanisms to bend and stretch his fingers.
“It’s my special hand,” he told her.
“And your eye?” Eve touched his eye patch.
Kei smiled. “My magic eye.”
“Like Captain Hook from Peter Pan. Mama reads the book to me. It’s my favorite,” Eve smiled.
“Yes. Exactly. And do you know what would make Captain Hook happy?” he asked.
Eve blinked at him again. “No?”
“A hug. Can I have a hug, Eve?”
“Yes!” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. He pulled her close to his heart and kissed her cheek. “How is Mommy, Little Rabbit?”
“She’s pretty.” Eve grinned.
“Yes she is. I miss her. I miss you. Would you like for us to go somewhere? Some place far away.”
“To Neverland? Where Peter Pan lives?” Eve asked, her eyes stretched with wonder.
Kei nodded slowly. “To Neverland. Me, you, and Mommy on a special trip.”
“Yes!” Eve grinned. “I want to go!”
“Times up,” Santo came out of the room carrying two boys in his arms. Isabella had shared the news that Mirabella carried twins and nearly died during their birth. He looked upon Giovanni’s sons and seethed with rage. How sweet would justice be if he snapped their necks now? Kei resisted the urge. He had far greater plans of pain and torment for Giovanni.
“Are you leaving?” Eve asked.
“I’ll come back for you. Neverland, remember. I promise.”
Kei let Eve go. Santo set the boys down. Both of the toddlers went to their sister giving him a wary look. Kei clenched his fist and narrowed his eyes on the boys.
“Poppy loves you,” Kei said.
“Bye, Captain!” Eve said in return.
Kei reluctantly turned and left out the way he came. He stopped at the door. “Name the price to put a bullet in the boys.”
“I told you, I will not kill children.” Santo said. He glared at Kei. “No harm will come to them.”
“I should take Eve with me now.” Kei said.
“And if you do, even if you manage to get out of Milan with her, you’ll never get next to her mother. We stick to the plan. She’s yours, the both of them. Soon.”
Kei nodded. He glanced back at Eve who smiled at him. Though it killed him he had to turn away.
**
Cecilia pounded on the door a third time. Santo opened it. “Is everything okay?” she stormed inside. “Why was the door locked?”
Santo held the door open for the server to wheel in the lunch cart. “I was taking a piss. Didn’t want the kids to get away from my sight.”
“Oh. Leo is back. We are fine now. Please leave.” Cecilia requested.
Santo nodded his head and walked out. Cecilia felt much better once he was gone. The server left the tray. She thanked him and saw him to the door. She could barely turn around before Gino was clinging to her knees and crying. Gino never cried. She knelt down and touched his little face. Gianni stood next to Eve holding her hand.
“What is it?” she asked. “He’s trembling. Why is he so upset?”
“Captain Hook scared him,” Eve said.
“Who?” Cecilia asked.
“Captain Hook. He came here, and he scared Gino. Santo took Gino to the room and closed the door so me and Captain Hook could play. Gino got
upset.” Eve walked over to her books. She picked up the one she read to Gino. Cecilia lifted Gino in her arms. Eve handed her the book. It was the children’s fable of Peter Pan.
“He told me he was my Poppy and I was his little rabbit,” Eve smiled.
“Wow. That’s amazing. Well it’s time for lunch. How about we eat? Huh, Gino? You want to eat, bambino?” The little boy rested his head on her shoulder and tears continued down his cheeks. “Oh sweetheart, it’s okay. I promise. Zia and Zio will be here soon for us. And we will go have fun, after lunch.”
“Yay!” Eve said and Gianni grinned up at her. Cecilia laughed. She looked at the book once more. Little Evie had a very vivid imagination.
**
Zenobia strutted down the catwalk with a long leg stride and swaying arms. The couture gown she wore shimmered like a polished pearl. An off-white ensemble of webbed fabric, that Giovanni assumed was some kind of futuristic wedding gown. The crowd celebrated. A standing ovation was given for the final Mirabella original to come down the runway. Zenobia struck a pose at the end of the catwalk. She slung her neck with a dramatic turn, and headed back to the other end. Giovanni stood. He applauded.
And then the models returned. First came Fabiana’s fashions in shades of red and pink, and then Mirabella’s originals, which were a mix of dark greys, blues, and black.
Each turned at the end of the catwalk and then kept going.
“The women did good,” Dominic said. “Mirabella is very talented.”
“Yes, she is,” Giovanni agreed.
He held his breath and waited. Soon Mirabella walked down the runway. She waved at those applauding, and held hands with Zenobia. His wife was a vision in white. Being married to a fashion designer he’d become aware of the fit and compliment of clothes on his woman. In this dress she had fine hips and shapely thighs. The golden clasp to the right of the dress made the fabric tight to define her small waist. Her throat and breasts looked like warm brown satin thanks to the low cut bodice. He preferred modesty when she was on the world stage. When she reached the end of the runway their eyes met. She blew a kiss to him. He winked at her. Bella bowed for her admirers and turned and walked her models back up the catwalk.
“Andiamo,” he told Dominic and Lorenzo. The crowd consumed them. Two of Giovanni’s men fought back reporters who shoved a microphone at him for a comment on his wife’s big moment. They left as the excitement and applause reached a deafening pitch. The back stage production was as rowdy and chaotic as the crowd to the front. Several champagne bottles popped and a fountain of bubbly poured out of the tops.
He glanced over and saw Kyra leap into Renaldo’s arms, and him swing her around with delight. It was rare to see Renaldo show any emotion. Giovanni shouldered his way through the celebration in search of his wife. He saw and met with his sister first.
“Gio! Did you see? Did you?” Catalina exclaimed. She rushed to him and hugged him. “Did you see? It was fantastic! They love her again!”
“I saw. Where is she?”
Catalina ignored the question and rushed to Dominic’s arms next. Giovanni cast his gaze over to Lorenzo. His cousin nodded in the direction of the right side of the room. Mirabella and Marietta were side by side grinning and speaking with a reporter. He told her one interview and he sat for it. But there she was in front of reporters. He started toward them. When his wife finally recognized his approach she ended the interview and walked over to him. He swept her up in his arms and spun her in a half-circle. Mirabella hugged his neck tight. She put her face to his cheek, and he buried his in her neck. She smelled as beautiful as she looked.
It was hard to put her down or let her go. He just wanted to hold her. “What did you think?” she asked with tears glistening in her eyes. “Did you like it?”
“I loved it. I love you. Ti amo, Bella!”
Lorenzo now celebrated with Marietta. He held her up in the air above him and she kicked her legs with laughter. They made such a scene that the reporters ran over and started snapping pictures. Marietta squealed with delight. She grabbed her husband’s face and leaned in to kiss him with the passion of a porn star, while he held her up with his arms locked around her thighs. The sisters were a team now.
“Let’s go see the kids,” he told Mirabella.
“But… Gio I have to give a few more interviews.”
“I told you no interviews, Bella. We granted one. And now you’ve given them plenty.”
“But these are different. I have to make a statement,” she smiled. She kissed his jaw. “A few more. Just a few and I’ll be yours. I promise. Go see the kids and wait for me.”
His face went slack. He opened his mouth to object but she breezed away. Marietta was lowered to her feet. She hugged her husband once more before being pulled away by her sister. Giovanni stroked his jaw. What was he to do? He couldn’t drag her out in front of the media. He felt awkward and dismissed around nothing but strangers.
“It’s her moment, Gio, let her have it,” Lorenzo said.
“What have I done? I didn’t say she couldn’t have it!” he snapped.
“No? You look like you will draw Danny-boy and empty the room.” Lorenzo teased.
Giovanni scratched his brow. He tried to mask his irritation but he could never hide much of his emotions from his cousin. “I’ll go see the kids.”
“They’re gone. Remember? Zia and Rocco came for them.”
“Oh?” he said. “Yes, I remember.” Giovanni felt further agitated. His family was scattered. In Sorrento he kept Bella and the kids safe in Melanzana. Here in Milano they were in enemy territory. Though no one would dare make a move on him, he couldn’t shake his agitation. Too many strangers. Too much noise. Flash bulbs kept exploding in his face. It was chaos.
“I’ll check on things. Nico and Renaldo have been running tight security. Santo too, I’m told. We’re still doing the party afterwards. In the gardens?” Lorenzo asked.
Giovanni groaned. He’d forgotten that there was a party after the show. The Prime Minster and his wife were going to attend. If he had it his way he’d take his family and head to Bellagio. “Yes. We’ll do the party.”
Lorenzo patted him on the shoulder and walked off. Giovanni stood there with his hands in his pockets. He felt awkward in the mix of these strangers. Too many faces he didn’t know. He decided to focus his attention on his wife. She laughed with Marietta for a reporter, and then turned sideways and around so they could get the full view of her dress.
“She’s beautiful,” a voice spoke behind him.
He cast his gaze left and Armando stepped to his side. His nemesis dropped his hands into his pockets and parted his blazer. “She looks a lot like her mother. More so than Marietta.”
“How would you know?” Giovanni asked.
“I found a few pictures in Papa’s things. I should give them to the twins,” Armando replied.
“What are you doing here?” Giovanni asked.
“Catalina gave me a pass. She said it would be okay if I came and wished my sisters well after the big event.”
Giovanni shook his head and smiled. “Your sisters? You continue with this bullshit.”
“We continue, Gio. Remember? Neither you nor I can change the blood in their veins. They are Mancinis. Sicilian. My father’s baby girls.”
Giovanni looked up into Santo’s eyes. He approached them then paused at the sight of Armando. “Don Mancini,” Santo said with a nod of respect. The men had known each other since primary school, but Santo addressed Armando formally.
“Santo, I heard you were out of prison. Come va?” Armando asked.
“I’m well.”
Armando nodded and glanced to Giovanni. “We’ll speak again soon.”
Giovanni watched him walk away.
“Problemo?” Santo asked.
“Unfinished business,” Giovanni said. Santo was the only man in his camp who didn’t know the truth about Bella and the Mancinis. When he told his men Santo was in prison. Giovanni consid
ered sharing the truth but held back. Santo was still proving himself to him.
“The children and their caregiver left two hours ago with Rocco. Leo accompanied them. I thought you should know.”
“You’ve been working with Nico and Renaldo?” Giovanni asked. “Has it been difficult? There are so many damn people here.”
Santo shrugged. “The crowds are manageable. To be truthful it’s the men I’m concerned about.”
“What about them?” Giovanni asked.
“They are still a bit hesitant around me. I guess it’s to be expected. I’m anxious to meet with the clan bosses and be heard, to have my own clan again. Under you of course.”
“You will get your chance,” he reassured him. “One chance, don’t fuck it up.”
“I don’t intend to,” Santo smiled.
**
“That’s enough,” Mirabella whispered to Marietta when the reporter spoke to her cameraman who had equipment failure. She could see Giovanni across the room staring at her. Even when she didn’t look into his eyes she felt his impatience. And she had disregarded his wish to limit the interviews. It was time for it to come to an end.
“Okay, you go, I’ll finish with them.” Marietta kissed her cheek.
Mirabella smiled. She cheek kissed the reporter and thanked her for coming. She stopped twice to hug and speak with her staff. When she returned to her husband’s side he took her hand and walked her away. Mirabella glanced back to see Santo smiling at her. It felt like a sneer.
“Why is Santo here? I thought you didn’t trust him?” Mirabella asked.
“He’s family, Bella. He’s earned my trust,” Giovanni answered.
“He’s been in prison,” Mirabella said.
“Who told you that?” Giovanni glanced back at her.
“I’m not stupid, Gio. I know where he’s been.” Mirabella said. “It was on the news when he was arrested.”
“Don’t worry about it. He’s family.” Giovanni pushed the button to the elevator and it opened upon request. Inside he pulled her to him. He squeezed her ass. Mirabella lifted her arms to his neck. She gave her husband a slow teasing kiss with her tongue, and their tongues dueled for control with unrelenting passion. He turned her to the back of the elevator and pushed her against it. She giggled. She stepped out of one shoe and hooked her leg around his. When his face went to her neck she caught her reflection in the glass doors of the elevator. His kisses smeared her lipstick over her mouth and chin. Mirabella’s eyes fluttered when he sucked her pulse and eased his hand between her thighs.
