by Sienna Mynx
“Signora! Signora! I help you! I help!” he said. He lifted her up and put her arm over his neck. With his help she managed to limp along. And they moved fast.
“We have to hurry. Please. Let’s go. Please!” she begged him.
They were in the water now. It was knee deep. He nearly dropped her in the shallow waves when they reached his little boat. He lifted her and helped her inside. Mirabella wept with relief. “Thank you! Oh God, thank you!”
The man smiled. He removed a gun from the pocket of his pants and pointed it at her.
“What are you doing?” Mirabella asked.
“I’m sorry, signora,” he said.
“No!” Mirabella threw up her hands in defense. A gunshot blasted off like a cannon. Mirabella screamed as the man’s blood and fragments of his skull exploded all over her.
Confused she looked around in the dark. And then Kei and his men came across the sand. Mirabella tried to start the motor on the boat but there was no switch. She hopped from the boat. She fell to her knees. She was taken under by a very large wave. She swallowed seawater and sand. Dazed and panicked, she tried to swim out through the shallow waves. She was in too much pain, and trapped by her own fears after seeing a man murdered.
Men grabbed her. She screamed and fought them but she was dragged through the water to the shore. She was thrown on the beach not far from the dead fisherman.
Mirabella caught her breath. She looked up to Kei who stood right before her. He grabbed her by her hair and forced her to her knees. She swung at him but her reach wasn’t long enough. Kei struck her. For the first time since they met he struck her. She landed on her side and nearly lost consciousness from the blow.
“So, my trying to appeal to the woman I thought you were doesn’t work. Now it’s time for me to teach the woman you are a lesson in obedience.”
She blinked and forced her mind to stay awake.
Kei yelled something in Chinese. His brother was pushed, shoved, and forced to walk in the sand. One of the men hit Bao Zei to the back of his head, and he dropped to his knees. He looked up at Mirabella. In his eyes she saw nothing but raw hatred. She realized Bao Zei had set her up. He wasn’t going to help her escape. He simply wanted her dead, shot and her body dropped out in the sea. Kei stepped over to his brother.
“We were born only months apart. Did he tell you that?” Kei asked.
Mira spit up seawater. She was able to sit upright on her knees.
“I love him.” Kei pulled out a gun and shot his brother in the head. “But I love you more,” he smirked. He turned and started to walk off. One of his men came over to her and picked her up. She hit the man and scratched his face. She was thrown over the man’s shoulder. She screamed through her tears. When she lifted her head she saw the dead body of Bao Zei and closed her eyes. The nightmare continued.
A Tale of Two Dons
It didn’t take long, but the wait was killing him. It was a physical pain. His chest was so tight with anxiety he had gone upstairs to the bathroom and located a pill bottle to take three painkillers. Nothing worked. The Benicias failed. The Tacchis and Racchinis were in prison. He had the Mafiosi at his door. Giovanni glanced up to the bottle of Scotch. It sat on the counter like a beacon of hope. He could dull the pain and clear his head if he took a sip. Just one.
He closed his eyes and swallowed his own saliva. The dry mouth and heart palpitations had him sweating across his brow and under his arms. He reached for the cool pitcher of lemonade brought to him by his sister, and poured another glass. He drank it down clean.
Father Nicosia entered his office. The priest carried himself with the same smug superiority he always did. Armando followed him in.
“Padre, join me,” Giovanni said. He set down the glass and walked around the desk. The priest walked over and gave Giovanni a proper greeting. He kissed both his cheeks before taking a seat. Giovanni’s gaze lifted to Armando, who stood by the door.
“Don Mancini tells me there is family trouble. I am shocked by what happened to young Ciro.”
“Something to drink?” Giovanni asked.
“Scotch is looking good,” The father answered.
Giovanni went to the bar and poured a drink.
“How can I help, Giovanni? I told Armando I know nothing about the madness. I wasn’t part of the negotiations with Chao Lee.”
Giovanni handed him the drink. He sat. Armando occupied the other seat. The priest gave a confident smile, but Giovanni noticed how his hand shook when he held the glass. He glanced to Armando who seemed to have seen the same thing.
“Before I agreed to sponsor Carlo’s brother, you were working with him,” Giovanni said.
“I have a popular gym. I work with all the talent that comes through the doors.”
Giovanni nodded. “Yea, yea, I’m aware. But here’s the thing, Nicosia. Carlo needed Ciro to raise his rank, to have the IBF notice him, and then Santo shows up with the sweet offer of being the middleman for a boxer who belongs to the Triad. Neither my money, nor my reputation could move a fight to Napoli. I’m not God.”
“Neither am I, son,” the priest smiled.
“But you have a direct line to him. Don’t you?”
The priest chuckled. “I’m out of the church. I have friends, yes. But I’m not that powerful, Gio.”
“Hmmm” Giovanni slumped back. “Then maybe it isn’t the church alone that you have influence with. Maybe my enemies?”
“Gio…”
“Shut up,” Giovanni warned. “Don’t deny your ties to Bonaduce and the Ndrangheta.”
“I will not deny it. I never have, Gio. I am a strong supporter of peace between all of you. You know the man I am.”
“I think you are a man who can walk away from the papacy, thumb his nose at the covenants of the church, and still dine with cardinals. A man who can sit between the Mafiosi and Camorra and still have respect. And a man who could make anything happen if he put his mind to it.” Giovanni removed his gun from the back of his pants. He set it on his knee. “My wife was taken by the Triad. They can’t move me into position to be so vulnerable. It would take an act of faith. Or maybe a fallen priest with a relationship to my enemies and a thirst for money. What did the Bonaduces offer you?”
“Gio… be reasonable, son.”
He picked up his gun. “Armando, would you mind closing the blinds?”
The priest leapt to his feet. “Wait. Wait a second. Son, my sons, listen to me.”
Giovanni pointed the gun. “Sit your ass down.”
The priest sat. He looked to Armando who was closing the blinds.
“What was the offer?” Giovanni asked.
“Bonaduce wanted revenge. He lives for revenge against you, Giovanni. His son was murdered because of you. So he thinks. He and the Ndrangheta needed to weaken you. They can’t move in to the Campania unless you are out. They handle the drugs in the triangle, and that has stopped since you started buying real estate and working with the officials. Now everyone has to go through you.”
“What were you offered?” Giovanni asked.
“Territory in Rome. I can be of use to you, Giovanni. There’s a woman. She’s working with us. She is the reason your wife is gone. Her name is—”
“Too late.” Giovanni pulled the trigger. The priest was hit in the chest and blown back several feet. He landed flat on his back. Blood pooled from beneath him. Armando dropped his drink. Giovanni stood. He walked past a confused Armando. He opened the door and Umberto walked in. “Get the boys to wrap this up and take a ride as far into Bonaduce territory as they can. Drop the body there.”
“Yes, boss,” Umberto said.
“Gio? Father Nicosia has friends in the church! He’s connected!” Armando said.
“Not your problem. It’s mine. Isn’t it?” Giovanni said.
“I brought him here! This is blasphemous!” Armando shouted.
“I DON’T GIVE A FUCK! THEY CAME FOR MY WIFE. I WILL WALK INTO HELL TO GET HER BACK!”
&
nbsp; “You will have to now!” Armando panted. He paced. He was visibly shaken. Two days ago Giovanni would have never done what he did. Even if he found out that the priest was conspiring against him, he would not have done so. He’d have sought revenge another way. All of his actions would need atonement. But not today.
Giovanni stuck the gun in the back of his pants. “Come with me.” He walked to the door and paused. Armando was looking at Father Nicosia with disbelief.
“Andiamo!” Giovanni said.
Armando followed.
**
“I called the jail. I asked how to schedule a visit. They said Lorenzo and Dominic could only be seen by their legal counsel.” Marietta sat down. “I asked about Carlo.”
“You did? How is he?”
Marietta shrugged. “No one would say. I asked if he had legal counsel, and I was directed to someone else who hung up on me.”
“He’s in deep trouble. I know Gio will have the men out, but Carlo, he’s all over the news. They are calling him a murderer,” Catalina said as she stared into her mug of tea. “Let’s talk to Gio. To ask him what to do.”
Before Marietta could answer they heard Giovanni’s voice. The women got up from their seats and hurried out of the kitchen to the hall. To their surprise the Dons were walking side by side to Giovanni’s office. Armando looked angry, and Giovanni looked angry.
“I wouldn’t believe this if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes,” Catalina said.
“Why? This is a crisis. All of our men are in jail. He’s here to help,” said Marietta.
“No, he isn’t. They’re enemies. They declared war on each other when they were kids, and they have hated each other every day since. Giovanni has to pay for Armando’s help. I don’t know the price, but I know if we rescue Mira because of the Mafiosi, there will be one.”
Catalina walked away. Marietta dropped her head against the wall. She felt fear, deep in her heart. Lorenzo was gone. Her sister was missing. Carlo may be convicted and sent away to prison. And now Armando was here, and though she wanted to believe he came for the right reasons, she had her doubts. Could it be her fault? Could she be the reason the woman Isabella was after Mirabella? Did she bring this woman into their lives when she came to Italy in search of her family? Guilt and grief weighed on her emotions, and dragged her toward the dark space she retreated to whenever she was in pain. She had to fight against it. Be strong. It was hard.
**
“You fucking bastard! I hate you! I hate you!” Mirabella screamed. She was thrown on the bed. She cried out in agony when her foot twisted awkwardly beneath her. She scooted across the bed, but her ankle burned. Kei paced at the foot of her bed. He was angrier than she’d ever seen him. Horrified by all she’d witnessed, and how close she’d come to being murdered, Mirabella scooted back to the headboard.
“You pushed me to this.” Kei pointed a finger at her.
“You’re crazy! You fucking psycho!” she shouted. “Do you think I would ever want you to touch me? Kiss me? I hate you! I hope my husband comes here and cuts your fucking black heart out of your chest. I hope he carves our names into it. Do you hear me? I hate you!” she screamed and wept.
He turned when someone walked into the door. He took the small black case and a folded pouch.
“Kei, wait. I’m sorry,” she backpedaled. “I was scared. He said he was going to kill me. I was trying to get away. I’m not safe here.”
“You’re not safe anywhere once my uncle learns that Bao Zei is dead because of you.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong!” she said.
“You didn’t trust me! You hate me still. That’s your fucking crime. And my uncle knows I would never kill my brother unless I was driven to it.” He came over to the bed and she tried to move away. He grabbed her hurt ankle with his iron hand and twisted it. Mirabella screamed with agony. She kicked and bucked on the sheets. It was of no use. The pain in her ankle stretched all the way up her leg and weakened her.
“You think I’m a monster. But you want to run away to another. How does that make you sane?” he shouted at her. “How am I different from Giovanni? Answer me!”
“Please! Please stop!” she wept.
“How?” he twisted her ankle harder.
Mirabella wept.
He let go of her ankle. He jumped on her on the bed and she fought him. She hit and scratched at his face. He overpowered her. He turned her face to the pillow. She bit down on her lip and drew blood to keep from screaming. She heard him open the case. She didn’t care what he did to her at that point. The pain was her only focus. Then he let go of her face and moved off her. She dared to look up. She felt something cool and soothing on the cuts. Kei gently massaged in ointment. He then began to wrap her ankle tight.
“It’s not broken. You got a good sprain,” he said.
He was insane. And his kindness was scarier than his rage. She couldn’t speak. She didn’t know what to say other than how much she hated him and wished he were dead. She couldn’t believe she ever felt anything for him. And to think she once thought Cedric was her biggest mistake. When he was done he put up the ointments and bandages.
“Take off the dress,” he looked up at her.
She shook her head no. If he planned to hurt her she wouldn’t let him do it easily. He closed the case.
“Then I’ll take it off of you when I’m done.”
Confused she stared at him. He removed a needle and something in a vial. Mirabella knew once he drugged her she’d never escape. “I promise, Kei, I won’t run away anymore. I can’t. Look at my ankle. I can’t stand. I swear I won’t try it again.”
“I know you can’t run. You were the one stupid enough to think you could.”
“Then don’t drug me.” Mirabella pleaded.
Kei walked over to her with the needle.
She moved away from him on the bed. “No!”
He grabbed her ankle and foot. Mirabella screamed. He plunged the needle into the flesh between her toes. “I’m not doing this because you will run. I’m doing it because it’s time to make you want to stay. I tried to convince you. Win back your love. Now I’m going to take it.”
It was the last thing she heard before darkness descended on her mind and all the pain slipped away.
**
Giovanni hung up the phone. The lawyer confirmed that the Chief Inspector was pushing hard on his warrant. And now he had a dead body to get out of Melanzana. Armando paced the floor.
“We’re out of time. The Carabinieri could arrive at my door any minute. My boys are fast but not that fast,” Giovanni said.
“You shouldn’t have killed him here,” Armando said.
“Fuck the priest. I have here the places I know that Isabella frequents.” He handed over the paper to Armando. “Do any of them sound like a good place to hide my Bella?”
Armando scanned the list. “If they left by sea and boat then it has to be Lipari. The Asian wouldn’t go into Sicily. It’s too dangerous for him to head south.”
Giovanni nodded. “I agree. It used to be an orphanage. It’s isolated enough.”
“I can have my men there in a few hours.”
“I need to be there.” He looked at his broken hand when Armando did. “We go in together. First I have to see a few old friends and call in some favors.”
“What about the raid?”
“If I’m successful there won’t be one. I think the raid is bullshit. Isabella is trying to flush my children out of Melanzana. She thinks I’ll move them.”
“Why would she give a fuck about your children?” Armando asked.
“Kei Hyogo hasn’t left for China. He made many threats to me, but the one that I can’t forget is his obsession with my daughter. He took a risk just to see her. He wants to take them both back. I feel it in my gut. Isabella has been being the puppeteer. She’s playing us all against one another. Chaos. And the plan is to take my children. I’m a lot of things, Armando, but I’m not stupid.”
“
You should move them. You don’t want to expose them to a search by the Carabinieri. They’ll turn this place inside out.”
“There will be no fucking raid.” Giovanni paced away from his desk.
“Can I handle Carlo?” Armando asked.
Giovanni paused. “What did you say?”
“You can deal with the release of your men. I want to help Carlo. They are charging him with murder.”
“How do you propose to help? They have his face all over the news as the one who killed Chao Lee.”
“They have a mob fight in a boxing ring. I’ve seen the footage. They can’t tell who did who. I have some favors of my own to call in. Let me do it.”
“Then I’ll ask a different question. Why do you want to?” Giovanni asked.
“I think it’s time we fix past mistakes. Clean slate and all. To show you that I intend to make this right between us, I’m going to release you from any obligation of my help. I don’t want the inheritance returned to me this way, Gio. We work out a deal that is strictly business, but not based on my sister’s life. And I fix the thing that has been between us for years. I help Carlo.”
“You do all of this, and I’m supposed to trust you?” Giovanni scoffed.
“I do all of this, and I can’t see how you won’t. Our fathers were friends. Maybe one day the Camorra and Mafiosi will be beyond our truce?”
Giovanni looked him over. “Okay. Call your men. Get them ready. I’ll get mine. We leave for Lipari in two hours.”
