by Sienna Mynx
Dominic smiled. “You making other plans for the evening?”
The thought of an evening of just the two of them did lessen his anxiety. “Yes. We’ll stay the night in Napoli.”
“I’ll make sure it’s all arranged.” Dominic smiled. Giovanni again gave his nod of approval. He wanted his wife back. He knew exactly how to make that happen.
**
“Where is she?” Mirabella asked Catalina.
“In her room,” Catalina said. “In the bed.”
Mirabella turned and headed down the other direction of the hall. Catalina was on her heels. “We have to do something. She won’t eat. Zia has been making her soup and she won’t eat it. I made her bathe today. She was beginning to smell.”
“I know. I know,” Mirabella said.
“Will Gio help? Did you talk to him?”
“Damn it, Catalina, I have! What more can I do?” Mirabella snapped.
Catalina nodded. “I’m sorry. I hate seeing her like this. Even Zia is treating her coldly. They all blame her. But I understand why she did it.”
Mirabella glanced over. “Don’t ever do anything like that with Domi. If you don’t want kids tell him. Don’t do anything sneaky behind his back. It’s hard to come back from lies and deception in a marriage.”
“I won’t. I wouldn’t. That’s not what I mean. It’s just that it’s hard to tell these men anything. They’re so stupid sometimes,” Catalina said. “Marietta loves Lorenzo. Anybody can see it. But she’s different, Mira. Something is wrong with her.”
“She’s fine,” Mirabella said.
“No she isn’t. We both know it,” Catalina said.
“She’s fine! She’s just stressed out. We’ll get Lorenzo back here and they’ll talk it out. She’ll be back to her normal self in no time.”
“Okay. Yes, you’re right. I feel bad for her. She tries so hard but she always does things the tough way. Lorenzo should understand her more, not try to crush her spirit. It’s cruel. If I were a man I’d kick his ass!” Catalina said.
Mirabella nodded that she agreed. She wished Marietta confided in her fear of having kids with her and not Shae. Why hadn’t she confided in her? She pushed open the door. Marietta lay on her side. She didn’t look up when they entered.
“Nico is leaving. Is he going to bring Lorenzo back?” Marietta asked.
“No, sweetie. I don’t know. Giovanni said he’ll take care of it, so yes, that might be the reason Nico left,” Mirabella lied.
Marietta put her hand to her face. “I don’t feel good.”
“You need to eat. What if they are going to find Lorenzo and he comes home and sees you like this?” Catalina walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. “Get dressed, and come downstairs and eat with us. Okay?”
“No. I need to stay by the phone. I paged him again. He might call back.” Marietta pushed Catalina’s hand away. Catalina looked to Mirabella for a suggestion. She only nodded for Catalina to give her space.
She walked over to her sister. “She’s right you know. He could walk through that door any minute. Look at you. You need to eat and comb your hair. Be pretty and confident when he comes back. Let him see he didn’t break you. No one can set Lorenzo straight like you.”
For the first time in an exhaustive week Marietta didn’t respond with tears. “You think I’m crazy?”
“No.” Mirabella sat on the bed. “Well maybe a little.”
Marietta let go a burst of laughter. Her smile broadened. Mirabella and Catalina both exhaled in relief.
“Zia is angry with me. She’s not talking to me.” Marietta said. She sat upright.
“Zia will get over it. Lorenzo will get over it. That’s what’s special about our family. We learn to love, forgive, and get over it.” Mirabella put her hand on top of her sister’s.
“Mira’s right. You know the story of me and Franco.” Catalina sat at the foot of the bed. “The entire family was mad at me. I thought it would never end. Now we’re planning a wedding. They get over it,” Catalina said.
“Okay! Fuck this!” Marietta stood and heaved several deep breaths. “He better not be with another woman. That’s all I got to say. I swear to God I’ll cut off his dick and feed it to him in a bowl of Zia’s ziti.”
They watched her go to the bathroom. The door closed.
“Do you know where he is?” Mirabella whispered to Catalina.
“I got an idea. I’m praying I’m wrong. But it’s Lorenzo we’re talking about.” Catalina said.
Mirabella nodded. “I know.”
**
“I can’t speak long,” Santo said.
He peeked out the door of the study and then closed it. “Tonight. We do it tonight.”
“What. Why now? You’ve been putting it off for a week. Suddenly you’re ready to make a move?”
“There’s been trouble here. Lorenzo is missing and his wife is distraught. Mirabella and the kids haven’t left.”
“And what’s different about tonight?”
“You asked if I could get her to the arena for the boxing fight. I thought I couldn’t. Today I found out Giovanni is bringing her. If I can separate them it might work to your favor.”
“Might? I want guarantees.”
Santo grimaced. “This is the fucking best I could do. I am putting my life on the line by even trying it.”
“I want Eve,” he said.
“Not possible. I’ll deal with the children after. Do we do this or not?”
The silence on the phone was like the cold steel sharpened edge of a knife being slowly dragged across his throat. Santo kept glancing over his shoulder. He was inside Melanzana. One of the men could walk up on him at any moment. He waited.
“I’m impressed. I think it’s a perfect plan. Yes. Do it. Tonight.”
The line went dead. Santo hung up the phone and considered what he’d have to pull off. It wouldn’t be easy.
**
“Bella?” Giovanni said.
“Give me a second,” Mirabella said. She picked up the stack of folded clothes and went to the dresser drawer. He couldn’t tell if she was angry or not. All he knew was he missed his wife and the tension was draining them both.
“I told Nico to find Lorenzo and tell him to come home,” Giovanni said.
She paused at the dresser. “You did?”
He approached her. She turned and stared into his eyes. He could see the fatigue and stress on her face. She looked exhausted. “Are you well, Bella?” he asked and touched her hair.
“I’m scared for Marietta. I think we might need to get her some help, Gio.” She went into his arms and burst into tears. She wept so hard it shook him. He stroked her back and held her until her sobs lessened. “Something is wrong with her.”
“She’s upset about her marriage. Marriage is private, Bella. We can agree on that much?”
“Yes. We can agree on that.” She lowered her arms and looked up at him. “I just didn’t know what to do. She’s my sister. I don’t know what to do when she acts this way. It’s extreme, and scary. You didn’t see her this week. Do you understand why I’ve been concerned?”
He cupped her face. “I do now, Bella. I only ask that you don’t punish me when we don’t agree. Don’t push me away. Come to me if you’re scared,” he told her.
“I tried.”
“Bella? You’ve tried harder for that business than you did with Marietta. You shut me out. That’s not like you. What is it that makes you so terrified of your sister’s pain?” he asked.
Mirabella lowered her gaze. “I—my family. I think, I think there’s depression in my family.”
“I don’t understand.” Giovanni said.
“Nothing. Forget it. It’s probably nothing. Marietta was upset and she reminded me of someone. But it’s nothing. You’re right, sweetheart.” He held her face and kissed her lips twice before kissing the tears from her cheeks.
“I’ve been so lonely for you,” she said softly. Her hands slipped around his wais
t. “Have you missed me, baby?” she rubbed his back. Giovanni chuckled. His wife was really good at evading. He could press the issue and uncover what scared her about Marietta’s depression. But to be honest he had to be selfish on this. He missed her smile.
“Let me cook us a special dinner. You and me. And then we can make up.” She rubbed her jaw across his. “Any way we please.”
“Let’s go out,” he said.
She looked into his eyes. “Out? Where?”
“A surprise.”
“I don’t know if I should leave her tonight. When Lorenzo comes home we both need to be here. Don’t you think?” she asked.
“He’s coming in the morning, and I’ll have you back before then.”
Mirabella chewed on her bottom lip. He saw how torn his wife was. He loved her loyalty, but on this one he needed to insist. He needed to make her feel good again. Feel safe and protected. It was the best way he knew how to love and nurture her. She may have pushed him away, but he did little to comfort her. He watched her run between the children and her sister for a solid week. He could have easily put an end to it by bringing Lorenzo back home. Part of him wanted Marietta to suffer. It was blasphemous of her to pull such treachery in her marriage. But these women were American, foreign to their customs and ways. Maybe he was too quick to judge. When she didn’t agree he finally relented.
“Okay. I’ll tell you the surprise,” he said.
She lifted her gaze. He smiled down at her. “Ciro fights in Naples tonight. We got ringside seats.”
“Really?” she smiled. His heart expanded with relief.
“Sounds like fun doesn’t it?”
“It sounds like so much fun!” she said barely able to contain her excitement.
“Dà retta. I love you. I’m sorry we argued. This isn’t something either of us can fix. My cougine is as stubborn as I am. I do know he loves her. He will come home and make things right with his wife. Believe me.”
She hugged him. Mirabella was her sweetest to him when she offered him forgiveness. The week had been hard on the family. Marietta’s wails, ranting, cursing, tantrums, were an all day and all night event. He’d spent a couple nights at Villa Rosso to escape his loneliness for his wife.
“I’d love to go on a date with you. I need to be with you away from here,” Mirabella said.
“We need each other. Away from here,” he agreed.
Later –
Marietta saw Nico arrive from the downstairs window. She had changed into a red summer dress that tied around her neck and draped her hips. The hem was mid-thigh. Lorenzo loved her in this dress. She spent hours fixing her dry tangled hair. She even managed to cover up the dark circles of fatigue under her eyes with makeup. She dabbed Shalimar at all her sensitive spots to carry the fragrance with her wherever she went. She was ready for him.
She stepped closer to the window. Her breathing fogged the glass. Nico exited the car alone. Lorenzo was not with him. She glanced up to the gates, and to her disappointment she saw no car follow. Her heart sank.
She turned and hurried out of her room. Where was he? Why hadn’t he come? If Giovanni gave him an order, would Lorenzo disobey? Her mind said he had no choice. Her heart knew the man best, and it told her he’d not come to her on anybody’s demand, unless it was what he wanted. When she reached the end of the hall she saw Cecilia with one of the twins on her hip. She greeted Nico. They kissed. Together they walked off toward the front parlor. Marietta went in pursuit.
“Did you find Lorenzo?” Cecilia asked.
“Don’t worry,” Nico told her.
“Signora Marietta is not well. Did you tell him, Nico?” she asked.
Nico sighed. He took Gianni from her arms and raised him above his head. He grinned up at the baby. “Lorenzo is drunk, too wasted to return home.”
“Where is he?” Cecilia asked. “I swear I won’t tell a soul.”
“He’s at Maria’s.” Nico said sadly. “Surrounded by gypsy whores. He’s been there for the week.”
“Oh? How awful for Marietta. She can’t know that. It’ll break her heart,” Cecilia said.
“I told Elsa to call me when he wakes. I’ll go back and make sure he knows to come home. I couldn’t bring him out of there in that condition. He’s my boss.”
“I understand. But you have to tell the Don. He and the Donna are going to the boxing match in Naples. He needs to know.”
“I will.” Nico threw Gianni up above his head. The toddler squealed with delight. He caught him and kissed his face then threw him up in the air again.
Marietta clenched her fist so tight her knuckles went white. Here she was torn up with guilt, and that rat bastard of a husband had gone to a whorehouse. She’d kill him. She’d kill him nice and slow. And she’d do it after she murdered those sluts.
**
“You look pretty, Mommy!” Eve clapped from Catalina’s lap.
Mirabella checked herself in the mirror. The black dress she chose flattered her slender waist, and curvy hips. And though her breasts were sculpted elegantly to the front, they were not revealed. However, when she turned, the backless cut was so low she couldn’t wear underwear.
“You should wear your hair down,” Catalina said.
“In this dress I think I should wear it up,” Mirabella lifted it from her neck.
“Gio likes it down,” Catalina said. “This is to make up with him so he can bring Lorenzo home. Right?”
“Yes! Papa wants it down. He told me.” Eve nodded.
Mirabella laughed. “Yes, I intend to make up with him. Papa is more willing to be reasonable when he isn’t agitated.” She turned from the mirror when her sister walked in. Marietta surprised them all. She looked beautiful. Her smile had the familiar radiance they all loved about her.
“Auntie!” Eve said and scooted off Catalina’s lap. She ran over to Marietta who picked her up. Eve kissed her cheek and hugged her neck. “Do you feel better?”
“I sure do, little diva.” She set Eve down.
Catalina stood. “Come on, Eve. Let’s see if Zia and Ana need help in the kitchen. I know they’re baking today,” Catalina stopped by the door to kiss Marietta on the cheek. They gave each other warm smiles, and then she walked Eve out.
“You feeling better?” Mirabella asked.
“Yes. Where are you headed?” Marietta asked. She came over to fix the back of her sister’s dress.
“To dinner and a boxing match in Napoli. It’s a date night with Giovanni. We’ve been… arguing. He’s trying to make up.”
“I’m sorry,” Marietta said softly. “That’s my fault. I’ve been a terror these past few days.”
“Hey? It’s okay. You and Lo need to work it out. Is he here?”
“Not yet,” Marietta beamed with a smile. “But I’ll see him tonight.”
Her sister walked into the bathroom. Marietta’s gaze swept her surroundings. This room was the grandest in all of Melanzana. Fit for a king and queen. Next door was the adjoining room for the kids.
“Where do you keep your gun?” Marietta mumbled under her breath. She heard Mirabella with her combs and brushes.
“I think I am going to wear my hair pinned up. What do you think?” Mirabella asked.
Marietta went to the cabinet and then checked the top drawers. “Good idea, with that dress it’s perfect,” she answered. She remembered that Mirabella always kept the weapon close.
“I have a surprise for you. I was going to wait to tell you, but I think I should tell you now,” Mirabella said.
“Oh yeah? What is it?” Marietta asked. She ran over to the closet next to the bathroom and began her search there.
“America!”
“What about America?” Marietta asked.
“Giovanni and I are planning a trip. I want to take you to Virginia, to see where I grew up. To Mama’s grave.”
Marietta walked out of the closet and Mirabella had a curious frown on her face. “Oh, I was looking for your red bottoms to wear with that d
ress. The ones Jamie made for you with the steel pointed tips.”
“Good idea. They’re on the top shelf.” Mirabella winked. “So what do you think?”
“About?” Marietta asked as she returned to the closet. She found the shoes on the shelf with over two hundred others. She brought the pair out.
“About America? Going to Virginia? Me and you. I can introduce you to our family. Cousins, aunts, and take you to Granddad’s farm. We still own it. What do you think?”
Marietta handed the shoes over to Mirabella. “We have cousins and aunts? You never mentioned them before.”
“They… well we aren’t that close anymore. Long story. Still you need to meet our family. And they need to meet you. I know by now with all the press coverage and our interviews they are curious about us both.”
“I’d love it. I think Lorenzo will too. I’ll tell him about it when I see him tonight,” Marietta smiled.
“You sure you’re okay?” Mirabella touched her face.
“Yep. I’m fine. I feel better.”
“Okay.” Mirabella sat on the bed and put on her shoes.
“Hey? You gonna take your gun with you tonight?” Marietta asked casually.
“No. Why would I?” Mirabella frowned.
“You know why. Giovanni made you keep it on you when we were in Milano. Even Lo doesn’t make me carry one,” Marietta smiled. “I guess he doesn’t trust me not to shoot him.”
“That’s not funny,” Mirabella frowned.
Marietta shrugged. She refused to take it back. Especially since she had plans to do just that tonight.
“I hate the thing. Besides my husband has plenty of guns around us tonight. I don’t need mine,” Mirabella chuckled.
“Where do you keep it?” Marietta asked.
“Over there, to the back of the bottom drawer in the gun case. It’s under the sweaters. The bullets are in there too. It’s not loaded. Gianni loves to open drawers and pull clothes out. I know I should move it.”
“Oh? Okay.” Marietta sighed. “Want me to help you finish your makeup?”
