by Sienna Mynx
"There was trouble in Sicily. Giovanni's men were arrested. Dominic had to fly and come bring us here."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?" Mirabella pulled out a chair and sat. Cecilia walked in. She froze at the sight of Rosetta. She glanced to her Donna.
"Take the kids, Cecilia. Get them dressed. I think Giovanni has Gino."
"Si, Donna," Cecilia said. "Come, Eve."
Rosetta waited until Cecilia was gone to speak. "Giovanni has moved Papa to Rome. The family is now in Melanzana. He has declared war against your brother."
"No, he hasn't."
"It's true, Donna. I was there at Francesca's when the polizia came for the men. I went to Petro's market across from the boutique, and he told me the Battaglias were now the enemies of the Mancinis. That's why Dominic brought us here."
"Oh God." She put her face in her hands.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been eavesdropping. But when I heard Marietta and Catalina arguing and crying I thought... I figured it had to do with the war between the families. I have many friends at home. And some of our cousins have married into the Mancini family. This is not okay."
"No, it’s not. I need to speak to my husband."
"Donna! Please don't tell Marietta and Catalina I was at the door. They already don't trust me. Give me one more chance and I swear to you I won't do it again. I swear."
Mirabella nodded and walked off the terrace. Her heart beat so fast it was hard to breathe. Giovanni wanted to go to war when he promised her peace. What was he doing?
***
"What did Armando say, exactly?" Marietta asked.
"That he didn't want war. That he came to me because he was trying to find a way to keep the peace."
"He's lying. Damn him." Marietta got up from the bed. She walked over to her window. "He's baiting you. He wants something. What is it?"
"I dunno. He was acting strange. Looking at me like he does." Catalina shook her head. “It’s disrespectful!!”
Marietta glanced over to her. "How does he look at you?"
"Like a man shouldn't, okay. He's done it for years. I hate it. It's creepy."
"He has a thing for you?" Marietta asked.
"I guess, why?" Catalina asked.
"I'm thinking. I'm thinking."
"We have to tell Mirabella," Catalina said.
"No. We can't. She won't keep this from Giovanni."
"She helped me when Dominic killed Franco," Catalina said. "Giovanni could have killed him, but Mirabella stopped him."
"It's not the same!" Marietta snapped. "My sister believes in the so-called 'good' in her husband. She goes blind and deaf to the bad. You and I both know that killing Franco is not as big of an offense as killing your father. Giovanni won't be reasoned with. He won't be stopped. It'll destroy their marriage. It'll destroy all of us when he learns the truth."
"Then we are damned. Because nothing can stop Armando. He won't let Giovanni win this war. He's going to use that tape as a weapon."
"Maybe not. Call him. Now. See what it is he wants," Marietta said.
Catalina frowned. She glanced at the phone. She then looked to Marietta. Catalina couldn't bring herself to do it. Marietta went to the phone. She picked it up. She dialed the number and handed it over. Catalina wiped her tears and reached for the phone. "Ciao? Is Armando there? Please tell him Catalina Battaglia is calling."
She waited and closed her eyes. The wait stretched on forever. Marietta stood over her. She then sat next to her and Catalina shared the receiver. Their heads were together as they listened on the phone line.
"Catalina?" Armando said in his usual smooth manner.
"We need to talk," Catalina said.
"When and where?"
"Not in person. You know I'm back in Italy. I can't see you in person. We need to settle this. The tape. How much money do you want for it?" she asked.
Armando chuckled.
Catalina glanced to Marietta who nodded that she could continue.
"What do you want for it?"
"Ah, that's a better question. I think I should give you the answer in Paris."
"What?" Catalina gasped.
"You're going to Paris. Right? Big show in a few days. It's all over the island. The press. They say you are going to represent my sisters. Right?"
"You want to meet me in Paris?" Catalina repeated.
"Alone, and I'll bring the tapes. Every copy," he said.
"This is a trick. I can't trust you."
"True. But what if you can? What if I am willing to risk my empire to give you what you want?" Armando asked.
"Me? That makes no damn sense..." Marietta elbowed her, and Catalina corrected her tone. "If we are at war with you, then my brother may not agree with me going to Paris."
"Figure it out. Meet me in Paris or I send Giovanni a special gift."
The phone line disconnected.
"He hung up," Marietta said.
Catalina dropped the phone as if it were crawling with spiders. "What kind of game is this?"
"He wants you."
"To sleep with him? Hell no! Never!" Catalina got up from the bed. "I won't betray Domi. I won't sneak behind his back with Armando. It's disgusting. The fucking bastard! Disgusting!"
"Calm down!" Marietta pleaded.
"No! I won't do it!"
Marietta got up from her bed and grabbed Catalina by the face. "Look at me."
"Let go of me!" Catalina tried to yank her hands down from her face.
"Listen! Stop and listen damn it! Lorenzo's life is on the line, and so is Domi's. He'll be caught between Lorenzo and Giovanni. He'll be trapped between them. The nightmare will never end for any of us. Mirabella, think of what this will do to her, to their marriage. She's got to see a head doctor. She wakes up in the middle of the night screaming from nightmares. Catalina, think of my poor baby." She grabbed her hand and put it on her belly. "My baby won't have a father. I can't go through life alone. I can't lose him. Please, Catalina. If there is anything you can do to stop Armando, do it. Please!"
"I dunno what you're saying."
"You do know. Armando is fixated on you. Turn him. Use him. We'll destroy him together. I swear it. I swear it. But right now we play his game. Until Lorenzo can find Isabella and stop her. We play his game."
"It could cost me Domi. Do you understand what you are asking me to do?" Catalina backed away from her. "I've loved Domi since I was a little girl. I finally have him. All of him. We're getting married in November. We're going to have our own family. Even Giovanni has blessed us."
"Yes, I know but..."
"Domi trusts me. He loves me like nobody else."
"Of course, he does," Marietta said.
"And if I hurt him? What then? If I hurt him, I'll lose him forever."
"Stop. I get it. I do. I'm not talking about you and Domi. I'm talking about this family. Think of the secrets we have to live with. Think of the prices we have to pay to keep our families safe. Domi has had to do things he will never tell you about. Ever. So has Lorenzo. He's done things I'll never know."
"So what?"
"Catalina, sometimes we women have to do the same. We'll find where Armando is vulnerable, and we'll destroy him. Together. But let's be smart. You have to get close to him. Okay? Okay? Sex is just one way. Last resort. But whatever it takes we have to stop him."
Catalina nodded.
Marietta put her hand to her mouth to keep from saying more. Her eyes welled with tears as she looked at Catalina. When Catalina found her voice to speak, she turned away to avoid looking at Marietta. "How do I convince Domi to let me go to Paris? Even if he agrees, he won't let me out of his sight."
"I thought of that," Marietta began.
"Of course, you did," Catalina mumbled.
"Lorenzo said that Giovanni wants to take us to America."
"Us who?" Catalina asked.
"Me and Mirabella, with the kids. And he wants to leave soon. This week I think. If he has to do that, then he needs Dominic
here running things. It's the perfect plan. Let's work on Mirabella. Get her to convince Giovanni to let you go to Paris to get away from the drama. It could work. Remember she wants Rosetta to learn the business."
Catalina wiped her tears. She looked down at the phone. She shivered. Marietta went to her and hugged her.
"You're smart, Catalina, you're strong. Armando is no match for you. We can beat him. We just have to get ahead of him. Promise me you will try?"
"Yeah. We have to try."
***
Breakfast –
Mirabella fixed the kids’ plates. Giovanni and Gino had already eaten. He showered and disappeared before they could talk. And now he was a no show at the table. The kids laughed and played with their food. Several of the men were present and ate their bellies full. Zia and Rocco were not. It troubled Mirabella more because Zia rarely spoke or socialized with her. She kept to the children and then to her Bible.
"Morning," Marietta yawned.
Her eyes looked weary, tired. Catalina followed her in the same state. Both of them sat down and barely could look at each other. Mirabella didn't know what they were fighting over. She didn't care. They had much bigger issues if Giovanni was going after Armando.
"Hungry?" she asked the women.
"I'm famished," Rosetta chirped. She had changed into a yellow bikini top and cutoff jean shorts. She put her long raven hair into a ponytail. The first person she approached was Mirabella. She kissed her on the cheek and pranced over to the table. Marietta didn't look her way. Catalina rolled her eyes, but both sat silent.
"What's the matter?" Mirabella sat down. "Someone going to fill me in?"
"Catalina was telling me about Sicily," Marietta answered. Catalina looked up. Rosetta stopped pouring her coffee and stared at the women. "Looks like the men have decided to go to war with the Mafia."
The other men at the table eating picked up their plates and left. It was clearly going to be a women's discussion, and they wanted no part of it. Mirabella clasped her hands together under her chin. "I thought our brother and my husband had made peace."
"There can be no peace," Catalina said softly. "They've hated each other since they were kids. Nothing will ever change that."
"War? Does everybody know what that means?" Rosetta asked. "We won't be allowed back into Sicily. Mondello. Our family home in Palermo and Bagheria will be gone. The Mafiosi will take it. People will die. Our people. Anybody friendly to the Battaglias will die. And they will hate us for it."
"We get it. We know what war means!" Catalina snapped.
Mirabella sighed. "Does anybody know why my husband has done this? Marietta? Has Armando provoked him?"
"Me? You think Lorenzo confides in me? He doesn't tell me anything. From what I know Giovanni wants the territory. He intends to expand the business."
"That makes no sense," Mirabella shook her head no.
"It only has to make sense to Giovanni," Catalina corrected her. "For the record, it doesn't matter what my brother’s reason is. If he has already declared war on the Mancinis, then it's done. What we need to talk about is what we do next."
"She and I have an idea," Marietta said.
"I'm listening," Mirabella said.
"Domi is the key. If Domi has a chance to work Giovanni's affairs, he will find a way to stop this. Or at least a solution that won't destroy our family." Marietta cleared her throat. "Lorenzo said you wanted to go to America. Let's go. Let's get Giovanni and Lorenzo out of the country for a few days, or maybe for a week. You can work on Giovanni. Uh... talk him into being reasonable, to a compromise?"
"And Rosetta and I will go to Paris. We need to keep the business on a good foot. If they start shooting each other in the streets again, the press could be bad for the company. We should leave immediately."
Mirabella nodded. "Okay. Wait. I got to deal with this doctor. She's coming today."
"Bring her with us," Marietta said.
"Who? The doctor?" Mirabella asked. "To America?"
"We're going home. She's your therapist. It's important. So, we take her with us if you want."
"First of all, you can't just take a doctor with you. I'm not her only patient. Secondly, I haven't even met her yet. I just got Giovanni to agree to let her come to the villa today. Besides, I don't even think I need her anymore. Giovanni and I are better. I haven't had my hand spasms in two days. I'm getting better."
"We need to leave for America. Slow this thing down between the men. Agreed?" Marietta asked.
"Agreed," Mirabella said.
"This is impossible. Listen to us. As if we’ve got power. We don't have the authority to stop this. It's going to all fall apart," Catalina said, and her eyes welled with tears. Rosetta and Marietta looked on. "I'm sorry. I need some air." Catalina said and got up from the table. She walked off the terrace toward the back of the villa. Mirabella got up, and so did Marietta.
"I'll talk to her," Mirabella said.
"I can do it, don't stress yourself," Marietta offered.
"Sit down. Eat. I'm not that fragile." Mirabella sighed. She went after Catalina and found her pacing over by the fences. The distress she saw in her sister-in-law was alarming. And Rosetta said she and Marietta were arguing quite a bit that morning.
"Catalina?"
Her sister-in-law wiped her tears and turned away from Mirabella.
"What is going on with you? Are you and Dominic fighting?"
"No, please don't say that." Catalina sniffed. "I... I can't talk about it."
"Of course, you can." Mirabella grabbed her arm and turned her around. "Hey? Look at me. Of course, you can. What is it?"
Catalina opened her mouth to speak and stopped. She stared past Mirabella. When Mirabella's head turned to look back, she saw Marietta was watching them. "What is going on between you two?"
"Nothing, a stupid argument. I'm all right." Catalina sighed. "I need a break from all of this."
"All of what?"
"This! La Camorra. This!" she pointed to the vineyard. “You were kidnapped only a few months ago. Now Giovanni wants to go to war? He could make the few allies we have left our enemies. They will start hunting us again. Try to destroy us. And we can't go back to Mondello or Palermo for years, if ever! It's always drama! I'm sick of it!"
"Shhh..." Mirabella pulled her into her arms and hugged her. She kissed the side of her face. And then she hugged her tighter.
"Help me, Mirabella, send me away. I want to go to Paris. I think Domi may try to stop me. Can you help?"
"I can try," Mirabella said.
Catalina let go of Mirabella and forced a smile. "It's not impossible to change these men. I was wrong. We can do it if we stick together. Right?"
Mirabella smiled.
"Nothing is impossible if we stick together."
Chapter Nineteen
Ghosts
Firenze, Italy
The chilled air from the A/C unit in the room seeped through the blankets and sheets. Carlo wasn't cold. He had the warmest body pressed against him. He opened his eyes when she stirred. Throughout the night she would push him off her in her sleep and roll away. Just like Shae. He'd drag her back into his arms. She'd wake, frown, but do as he insisted. Just like Shae. It must have been strange to her to have a man need such attention and not sex. He didn't care. It was the only way he could close his eyes and not see Shae.
Again she pushed him away in her sleep. The compromise for him was to have her rest on her side with her back pressed against his chest. He was faced with a mass of dark curly hair. She had washed out the pink streaks that she had the night before. That disappointed him. He stared at the curls. He buried his nose into the thick, silky locks and inhaled the essence of the woman in his arms. He relaxed on the edge of reclaiming sleep once more.
Carlo needed his sleep. A chance to just slip into nothingness. He ran his hand down her flat tummy and eased it over the hairy, but trimmed mound of her pussy, before cupping her sex. No piercing. Not like Shae. She stirr
ed slightly and parted her thighs a fraction to grant him the permission. He stopped himself. His instinct of a man was to partake in pleasure. But pleasure for him was different since Shae. A warm body wasn't what he wanted or needed. Shae was all he wanted. He moved his hand away and let sleep take hold of him again. He drifted on the sweet smell of Shalimar.
***
The sun woke Adara. She grabbed the sheet and covered her breasts with one hand while she shielded her eyes with the other. Carlo had snatched back the drapes in the room without a care to the searing glare that blinded her. He walked away from the window, and more sun was revealed to bathe her. Carlo stood by the bed observing her as she scrambled away to the shadows on the edge of the bed. In the daylight, she could see him clearly. He wore dark gray slacks and a matching blazer. A black silk shirt was tucked into his pants, with a Gucci belt fastened around his waist.
"What time is it?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
Adara moved her long ringlet curls from her face. She'd woken only twice in the night to go to the bathroom. Each time he released her with a groan or grunt. And when she returned he pulled her into his arms and buried his face against her breasts, or spooned her from behind with his heavy muscular thigh locked around her legs to keep her close. He even had an erection pressed thickly between her butt cheeks. However, besides a few touches and feels, he never once tried to have sex with her. Not once.
Carlo pulled out his money clip from his pocket. He fingered several bills and tossed a fat stack of them onto the top of the bed. "Buy yourself something decent to wear. Get something to eat. I don't know what time I'll be back."
"I'm not staying here. I have clothes at home. Thanks, but no thanks."
"What kind of whore doesn't want to get paid?" he asked. His brows lowered over his penetrating gaze. Adara glanced to the money and then him. She struggled to keep her pride in check when she found her voice to answer.
"What do you expect me to do? Hang around here after last night? After what I've been through? I don't know you. I don't trust you. And the money, what are you paying me for? We didn't even do anything but sleep last night."
