by Sienna Mynx
“I have to find her. Me. Not Lorenzo or Domi. Me. Now tell me, Rocco. Where is she?"
“If you want to find Isabella, you have to think like her. An outsider, avenging a father she thinks she never had. Sound familiar? She has resources and money. That has to come from our world. But who is out there left to fund her crazy mission? Who hates you enough to do it?”
Giovanni wiped his jaw and considered it. “She 's closer to home than any of us think.”
"She's running on emotion and borrowed time. She can’t keep slipping away from you," Rocco said.
"I forgive you, uncle. I don't think it's wise to trust you," Giovanni said.
"I have no cause. I'm old; I'll die, and there will be nothing left of me but dust. No son, no legacy, nothing but a broken hearted wife I never deserved. What will be your legacy? Killing Isabella is necessary. But holding on to your power can only be done if you clean out the clans. Take complete control." He raised is the cane and pointed it at Giovanni. "If you do that, the target on your back will never go away. You understand?"
"I'm going after it all, Rocco. Not just the Campania. I'm taking the Mafioso with me. I’ve already planted the seeds. Armando Mancini is living on borrowed time. He thinks I want his father’s legacy. I want what I’ve always wanted since I was a kid. I want him dead. Once they are all dead, Mirabella will be safe."
"Foolish," Rocco said. “Maybe Domi’s plan is better. Maybe there’s time for you to walk away? Give your family a different life.”
"I don’t need your approval. You're my uncle, and I love you. But hear me, old man. I will find her, and before I cut out her tongue, she is going to spill every secret. If I find out you have kept anything from me. Banishment is the least of your worries." Giovanni said.
Rocco turned on his cane and walked off.
“There is nothing left to say,” Rocco said.
***
“Of course, this place would have a wine cellar," Marietta mumbled. She rubbed her hand on the side of the wall and felt for a light switch. There wasn't one. It wasn't completely dark below, so there must have been a window somewhere down there. Still, the steps were covered in shadows. She had to be careful.
Marietta began to descend. Lunch could not proceed without a glass of wine. Though she doubted Lorenzo would make it back in time to join them. She'd have a nice bottle for him when he did return to celebrate.
"What are you doing down here?" a man asked.
Marietta glanced back to see Carlo step down off the last stair.
"You following me?" she asked.
He smiled.
She smiled.
"Miss me?" he asked.
"How was your trip?"
"Don't you already know? I'm sure Shae told you the moment she got rid of me," Carlo said.
"She didn't get rid of you. Don't say it like that. Shae is in a lot of pain. I think--"
"I don't want to know what you think about her. It's a private matter between her and me. So don’t pretend that you give a shit." Carlo walked over to her and took the bottle from her hand. He held it up to the light to read the label. "Good year. I'll let you know how it is," he said and started back toward the stairs.
"I’m sure you would know," she chuckled.
He stopped. He looked back at her, and she didn't see the playful amusement he typically wore in his smile. He looked angry.
"You think I don't know my wine?" he asked.
"Huh?" she frowned.
"You think I'm a fucking idiot. Low life? You and her. Just some lackey to the boss, and your husband. Without a fucking mind of my own!" He threw the bottle at the wall and it splattered magenta stains over the surface and floor.
Marietta didn't flinch. She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes on him. "Is that supposed to scare me?"
"You should be scared. And her." Carlo turned to leave.
"You want to know what I think of you Carlo?" she called after him. He paused on the first step. He didn't look back, but she knew she had his full attention. "I think you more than anybody would know a good year. I think any year you survive without bullshit thrown at you in life is a good year. And there haven't been many of those for you, have there?"
He stared at her.
"Don't come down here and take your problems out on me. We're friends, Carlo. If you want to talk about her, about what happened in Vegas between you two..."
"I don't," he said.
She sighed. She walked over to him, and he stepped back. She touched his chest and he stilled. She put her hand to his jaw. "She thinks we have a connection because we kissed. Because I was drunk and weak and tried to hurt Lorenzo by seducing you."
He knocked her hand from his face.
"Our connection isn't physical, Carlo. We have feelings for each other because we understand each other. People look at me, and they see what I'm not. Only you and Lorenzo see who I am. And neither of you turn away from it."
He frowned.
"I can see you, and him, and not the way they see you both. I see who you are. Who you really are. And guess what Shae saw through you to. That's why she fell in love with you. Because she saw the man that I see."
"I'd never betray your husband," Carlo said. “And contrary to what Shae thinks I would never betray her for you. I wanted her. Only her. Now it’s too late to prove it.”
"I feel the same way about Lorenzo. But it doesn't mean I don't care about you, Carlo. That I don't want you to be happy..."
"Stop it!" he stepped away. "Stop trying to get in my fucking head. I'm over it! You hear me? This back and forth bullshit between you and me. It's not cute. I lost her. And no one knows how that fucking feels!"
"No you stop!" she grabbed his sleeve. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop wallowing in your pain when life shits on you! Shae loves you, Carlo, enough to let you go. Are you’re so damn blind that you couldn't see through that in Texas?"
"What?"
"I said she loves you…"
"How the fuck did you know she's in Texas? You told me you didn't know where she went?" he asked.
Marietta bit down on her bottom lip. She looked unsure of her next choice of words so she didn't speak.
"You knew all along? Didn't you?"
"We have a friend. Someone who came up the way we did. But she didn't like living the hard street life. She wanted to save the world. She moved from Chicago to Texas. She opened a girls home. When Shae left you she called me for her information. She said she needed help. She thought Sharlene could help her."
"And you didn't tell me? You had me wasting weeks running around Vegas and Reno? You fucking knew?"
Marietta took a step back. "She didn't want you to know. I figured you'd give up in Reno and come home."
"It wasn't your fucking decision!" he shouted at her.
"Shae put your happiness over hers. Because all she’s ever known in her life is misery. She wanted to fix herself, first. I respect that.”
"No. You fed her insecurities, you helped her run from me. Not for respect. Because you're a meddling bitch that's jealous of her!"
"Fuck you!" Marietta gasped.
Carlo advanced on her. He opened his mouth to speak, and Marietta winced. She suffered an odd sensation beneath her navel. It felt as if something fluttered. Her hand went there, and she looked down in shock.
"What's wrong?" Carlo asked and his anger switched off immediately. "The baby?"
"Shhh!" she said.
Marietta closed her eyes. She held her breath, and she waited. Maybe she didn't feel it; maybe it was her imagination.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I think... wait... I think... yes... yes... it's the baby."
"What?" .
She grabbed Carlo's hand and put it to her stomach. After a few seconds, she felt the little one inside of her kick.
"Madonna!" Carlo exclaimed.
The baby kicked again.
"Is that... the little one?" he asked.
She laughed.
&nb
sp; "Yeah! Feel her? Do you?" she asked.
He nodded that he did. "Make it do it again?"
"It's the first time she kicked. The very first time."
"She? Lorenzo says it's a boy?" Carlo asked.
"I'm the mother, and I know what I'm having. It's a girl."
"Make her do it again," Carlo smiled. He went to his knees. He held her hips and pressed the side of his face to her belly. She knew it was inappropriate, but inside her heart, she knew he needed that connection. Part of her knew he was right. She told Shae to run from him, encouraged her, because deep inside she was jealous. And that made her a cruel bitch. She stroked the top of Carlo's head. They fell silent and waited. Then her baby kicked a little hello for him. And it was stronger this time. Her child sent a warning to them both to break up the intimacy.
Carlo chuckled. He kissed Marietta's belly and laughed. His gaze lifted to hers.
"I can't believe I felt that," he said. "I've never felt anything like it before."
"Do you want children?" she asked him and continued to stroke his head.
The spell broke. He got up from his knees. Before he turned to leave, she grabbed his hand. "You do want children. Don't you? Shae knew that. She can't have babies, Carlo. And that's not her fault. She thinks it's some kind of punishment for all the things she did wrong in life. She loves you. But she could never give you what you needed. It hurt her to let you go. I'm sorry for you both."
He had tears in his eyes. Marietta was shocked by them. She’d rarely seen him express any emotion other than anger or drunken elation. The first time she saw his pain was at his brother's funeral, and she never got close enough to him.
"I love her. It should have been enough," he said. "Has Lorenzo felt the bambina kick for him?"
"Not yet. You're the first person," she said. "Don't tell him. He... wouldn't understand."
"It was disrespectful," he said. "It won't happen again."
"I can't believe it happened like that? My baby. A little human being is growing inside of me. I think this is the very first time I felt like a mother. Weird. Isn't it?"
"A little Marietta," Carlo smiled. He kissed two fingers and pressed them to her belly. "You are going to be a good mother."
"And one day you will have children of your own, Carlo. That's what I want for you. A family, a real one. So you can stop chasing the brothers you think you lost."
Carlo shook his head.
"I'm a fucking man. I know what I need. Who I want. I put my heart on the line and told her. And she... she didn't believe me."
"You could fight for her. Go back to Texas and fight for her. I know she’s still in love with you. No matter what she says.”
Carlo removed a ring from his pocket. Even in the dark shadows of the cellar, it sparkled. He held it out to Marietta. "Vegas has a church on every street corner. And jewelers. Rings, lots of rings everywhere. I bought this, one night. It's a pink diamond. Who the fuck knew they had diamonds that were pink? I put it on her finger. She said she would be my wife. Come back to the Campania with me. She made fucking promises. And when I woke she was gone. A letter to say goodbye and gone. There is no fight left in me for her. I'm done fighting for people who don't want me." He looked into Marietta eyes. "And wanting a women I can never have. It's over."
He tossed the ring to the floor, and it rolled over to a crate of wine. Carlo went back up the steps taking a bottle of wine with him. Marietta stooped and picked up the pink diamond Cartier engagement ring. It was beautiful. Pink, or strawberry as Shae would say, was her favorite color. It must have hurt her friend deeply to leave him and this sweet offering of love behind. She felt sorry for them both. And even more grateful for what she had with Lorenzo. Maybe you only got one shot at real love. She was lucky.
Her stomach held another tickle. She smiled and rubbed her belly as she stood upright. Lorenzo was going to be so happy to feel their baby kick.
***
Palermo Sicilia –
"Ciao, Catalina!" Rosetta said. She walked out from the back of the boutique rubbing the nervous sweat that slicked her palms down the sides of her hips. Her cousin stood there at the door. Two men, tall and muscular in dark suits stood behind her. Both wore sunglasses. They didn't look familiar. Did Giovanni hire more men into the family? Was it always a requirement that they be so sexy? Rosetta smiled for the men. But when her gaze returned to her cousin she knew it was a mistake. Despite her nervousness, she approached and greeted her cousin properly with a kiss to each side of her cheek.
"I've been waiting," Rosetta said.
The men who accompanied Catalina walked through the boutique around racks of clothes and jewelry displays to the back of the shop. They then did another sweep to the front. The girls waited. One spoke to the other, and they nodded to Catalina that everything was safe. The two then stepped outside. How on earth would Armando get past them?
"Where's Francesca?" Catalina asked.
"Who? Oh? Yes. Francesca had to leave to pick up Jabari. There was an accident at work."
"Is everything okay?" Catalina asked.
"I dunno. I think he got hurt. She was concerned. Told me to wait for you. She said she would call."
Catalina stared at Rosetta, and it made her uncomfortable. Catalina had eyes like her brother. When angry the blue would turn into a dark shade of violet. To Rosetta, their eyes looked more like the color of indigo. Very odd. The eyes of the Battaglias didn't just see you; they saw through you. The intensity would make the Pope squirm. Rosetta wasn't lying, but she did have an ulterior motive. It was best to half confess it now.
"I thought it would be great if I stayed behind and we spoke. Alone."
"Why talk to me? You've already talked to the Donna." Catalina put a hand on her hip. Rosetta’s gaze went from Catalina's snide smile to the sparkling diamond choker around her neck, and the bauble of a diamond on her ring finger. She battled with keeping her envy from her voice. In doing so, she lost the ability to give a quick reply. Giovanni had always spoiled Catalina. It was whispered in the family that one of those fancy shopping sprees he took Catalina to in Milano is where Giovanni first saw the Donna and fell in love with her. Rosetta thought that was romantic and sad. It was romantic because she believed in love at first sight. It was how she explained her undeniable attraction to Domi. But it was sad because everything came so easy for Catalina when Rosetta had to scrub floors and live modestly after her husband was killed and she returned to live with her parents. Giovanni gave her family an allowance, but it was never as grand as the one he spent on the spoiled la piccoletta.
Catalina had crossed over into the life they dreamed of as little girls. When Catalina became the head designer for The House of Fabiana's she only wore red. Rosetta kept magazine clippings of her. Catalina traveled the world. She'd been to America, and Paris, and Spain. She'd also visited Prague. And to top it all off, she had the devotion of Dominic. Rosetta couldn't wait for Ms. Perfect to get knocked off her pedestal.
There was a commotion outside. Men shouted. Men yelled, and sirens could be heard. Catalina turned and cast her gaze to the store window. "What the hell is going on?"
Rosetta walked over. "I don't know."
The girls peeked out of the store window. The Carabinieri had their guns drawn and were shouting at the men hired to protect Catalina.
"Are they crazy?" Catalina went to the door, but Rosetta stopped her. They watched as the two men who were supposed to guard her and the driver of her car were forced into the back of police cars. Shopkeepers came out of their stores to gawk.
"They're arresting them," Rosetta said. "Stay out of sight. Remember this is Mancini territory."
"Bullshit!" Catalina shrugged off Rosetta's touch. "They wouldn't dare arrest Giovanni's men. They know better!"
"You saw it. Didn't you? Stay here. Let me go across the street and call Tito and Angelo to come get us," Rosetta said. "Until we know what's going on, I don't think they should know you are in here."
"Why
across the street? Call from here." Catalina glanced back at Francesca’s office.
"Because that over there is Cornesi's store. He works for Armando Mancini. If he saw you arrive, then he could tell the Carabinieri and send them in here for you. It's best to know what is going on. Right? Let me speak with him. Just stay here. Trust me. I'll only be a minute. Lock the door behind me."
Catalina shook her head, confused and insulted. Rosetta didn't give her a chance to think through the scenario; she dashed out of the store and across the street. She looked back once. Catalina watched her from the door. If this plan failed, Rosetta knew Giovanni would be ruthless in his punishment of her. Armando told her to look for his signal and to act. She prayed this was it.
***
Catalina turned from the door and headed to the back of the boutique where Francesca’s office was. She picked up the phone and paged Dominic. She knew they were in Chianti. A page from her always had him scrambling to call her back immediately. She hung up and called the vineyard.
"Ciao? Is Domi, there? It’s Catalina?" she asked.
"Cia,o Catalina. I think they are all here, let me see," One of the men who worked for Rocco said. She didn't remember his name but had met him once or twice. Catalina sighed. Giovanni was going to blow his cool when he found out about the disrespect to his men.
Catalina heard the door open and close to the front of the store. She frowned, having remembered to lock it. Rosetta must have her own key.
"I'm back here, Rosetta!" she said with her hand over the phone.
"Catalina?" the man asked on the phone.
"Yes? Is he there?" she asked.
"No, but Giovanni is. I can get him for you. He's outside with Rocco."
"Ah...uh, no. I don't want to upset my brother. I'll page Domi again." Catalina hung up the call immediately. Giovanni would raise the devil if he knew she was in Sicily. Especially since she forgot to tell Dominic about the change in her travel plans.
"Rosetta? Are they on their way?" Catalina asked and put her hand to her brow. No one answered. "Rosetta?"
Armando stepped inside the office. He closed the door behind him. Her heart sank. Her throat went dry. Never, not ever, had she been with Armando Mancini alone without her guards or others close by. He stared at her with that sly smile to his lips, and she couldn't find her voice. Not many men could hang a suit the way her father and brother did. They'd enter a room, and immediately everyone knew they were someone of importance. Armando was one of those men. He looked strong and powerful in his gray suit. Shoulders were thickly muscled like a descendant from Goliath in a suit and tie. His hair was dark and silky. Tucked behind his ears, it reached his collar. The only thing different about him now was the goatee mustache. She couldn't see his eyes behind his dark sunglasses, but she knew they were focused on her. The phone rang in the office. He glanced at it and so did she.
