by Sienna Mynx
“Don’t be. It’s okay,” he promised.
She clung to him, and her heart rate slowed. "But if you kill Lorenzo..."
“Listen to me Bella. Look at me.” He cupped her face. She gripped his sides. She looked up into his heart.
“Hang in there with me. Please. Trust me.”
“I’m going to lose you. I feel like I'm losing you. I need the man I can trust to be human, and to forgive us. To forgive himself. Where is he?"
“Look at me. I’m right here?”
She dropped her head onto his chest. “The anxiety is back. I thought I was cured. But its back.”
"Last night I scared you. I hurt you, and Catalina. Bella, look at me. I let you down. I’m sorry."
She shook her head. "Minne called Gio. Cutters dead." She looked up into his eyes to gauge his response. He looked as if she had said it was raining outside. No emotion."
"Did you kill him?" she asked.
"Yes. I killed him."
Mirabella bit back her tears. "He was nothing to me, Giovanni. Nothing. But you killed him, why?"
"I don't know. The thought of him, of you being in pain. It was a reflex reaction."
"Reflex? Your reflex is to kill?"
Giovanni didn't answer.
because he insulted you."
"The last time a stranger came between us, it was Kei, and you let that threat walk away. Now you're going to kill Lorenzo. He's your brother. I don't care how you see it; he's your brother. And you can't find an ounce of mercy in you for him. I saw how you looked at Catalina. You don't throw away the people you love!"
"I haven’t thrown away my love for you. It's all I'm surviving on now. All I have left."
She dropped her forehead on his chest. "I don't know what to do to help you Giovanni."
"Yesterday was my very worst. The very worst. Today I want to do better. But I can't do it without you. Come with me to find Domi. Help me, Bella. If you can't, then we don't have a marriage. I need you," he said and kissed her.
She stopped his passion. "Okay. Okay. I'm fine. I'm sorry too. I know what we are. What you are. I just. It's just sometimes... I don't know. It's too much at once, at times."
"How do you feel? The anxiety?”
“Better. Much better. I'll come with you to get Domi," she moved out from against him. He had her pinned to the washing machine.
"Let me get changed."
"Bella?" he called after her.
"Yes?"
"I love you. You're right. I didn't have to kill Cutter. I killed him because I wanted to. I don't want to kill Lorenzo; I know the cost. But I may have to. I will learn to accept it. And so will you.”
She wiped her tears and left.
***
The drive to Renaldo's was the most uncomfortable ride she'd taken. Giovanni didn't speak. He held her hand but didn't look at her. And sadly she couldn't look at him. The villa was connected to several. A block of them. They faced away from the sun, so flowers bloomed along the neighborhood in an array of colors. It looked like a happy place to raise a family.
Giovanni got out of the car. He came around to her side of the car and opened the door. She let him help her. He kissed her hand. "We'll talk to him together."
"Okay," she said.
He looked relieved to have her support. He never let her hand go. Not once when they walked toward the door. Kyra and Renaldo came outside. They both appeared concerned.
"How is he?" Giovanni asked.
"Not good," Renaldo said.
"He won't come out of the room," Kyra said.
"How are you?" Mirabella hugged Kyra. "You look beautiful."
"Ready to have this baby. I miss everyone. I feel like a prisoner. Thank you, Don Giovanni, for letting Renaldo take off work to be with me. I really appreciated it."
"You and the baby are what's important."
Mirabella was surprised. She had no idea that Renaldo was sent home to care for his family.
"Come in!" Kyra said. Mirabella continued to hold Giovanni's hand.
"He's been here all night?" Mirabella asked.
"Yes, and Catalina called. I told him and he went to meet with her this morning," Kyra said.
"Is my sister here?" Giovanni asked.
"No. I don't know what happened, but he came back here upset. He hasn't left the room since."
"Take us to him," Mirabella said.
Giovanni dropped her hand. She looked back at him. He seemed hesitant to go forward. "We'll talk to him together, Gio. Like we planned."
Why her husband was reluctant she didn't quite understand. Maybe he hadn't realized how badly things were for Domi. Or maybe he was uncomfortable with Renaldo and Kyra witnessing his consigliere’s weakness. It was always about appearances with these men.
Together they went to the door. Giovanni opened it for Mirabella. She walked inside. Dominic lay flat on his back staring at the ceiling. The curtains were drawn, and the light was out. His depression was so heavy she could smell his tears and sorrow in the air.
"Domi? It's me. Mirabella."
His head turned. He looked at her and then Gio. He sat up. He wiped his face when Giovanni walked inside. "Ah, what are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" Giovanni asked.
"I, ah, just got back, ah, in town, so, ah, I came, ah here." Dominic put on his shoes. He looked up at Giovanni for approval.
"We know, Domi. We know what Armando did to Catalina. We know about Lorenzo, too." Mirabella said.
“Lorenzo?”
“The tapes. There are tapes of Lorenzo bargaining with Calderone. To kill Patri.”
“Catalina was telling the truth?” he asked.
Mirabella glanced to Giovanni. Dominic wiped his hand down his face. “She told me that she was trying to get tapes. I... I didn’t believe her.”
“It’s the truth. Marietta and Catalina came up with the plan.” She could see him trying to look around her to read Giovanni's reaction. She got in between them. "You need to come home. We need to face this as a family."
"Who were the men that were supposed to be watching Catalina?" Giovanni asked.
"That doesn't matter now, Gio. Does it? What is important is we bring Dominic home and deal with it in a family way. Renaldo and Kyra have been gracious. But this is a family matter. Right?"
Giovanni nodded. "Of course, Bella."
"I didn't know about Mancini. I didn't know." Dominic said.
"Neither did I, Domi. Bella is right. What we didn't know changes nothing. What we do know is what's important. Where is Catalina?" Giovanni asked.
Dominic dropped his head. "I told her it was over between us. I told her I never want to see her again."
"She knows you don't mean that," Mirabella said.
"This time it's different. This time I do. I can't face her now. I just can't," Dominic said.
Mirabella looked back at Giovanni with concern. "We are not casting Catalina out of this family. She's in danger if Armando has her in his sights."
"She chose Armando," Dominic said.
"NO! She chose you. But your stupid pride won't let you see that. She's family. What the hell is wrong with you two? No matter what she did, she doesn't deserve this. Not from you, Domi. Now get the hell up and let's find our girl. Now!"
Dominic nodded. He got up and picked up his wallet and keys. "I can meet with you, Giovanni. Go over this thing with... Lorenzo?"
"We need to find Catalina and bring her home. We'll figure everything else out later."
Mirabella went to Dominic and hugged him. He was slow to respond, but eventually, he hugged her back. She could see the way Giovanni looked at him as if his weakness disgusted him. She chose to ignore it. He needed her to be here for Domi because he didn't know how to be.
"Let's go."
Mirabella left out of the door first. Renaldo and Kyra waited in the living room. "We're going home. Thank you for looking after him. He'll be fine."
Dominic walked out with Giovanni. He nodded
his gratitude and mumbled the words.
"Call me the moment the baby comes. I want to be there. I can't wait." Mirabella said and hugged Kyra. When she and Giovanni were in the car, and Dominic was following them in his, she reached for his hand. He pulled her over to him instead.
"Grazie, Bella," he said.
"Dominic looks depressed, Gio. Let's get him some help in the search for Catalina. Okay?"
"Where do you think she went?" he asked.
"I don't know. But if we don't find her it will be trouble."
"This is my fault. I’m the one that threw her out of the family. I can’t get my head around what she’s done. I need you to find her. Bring her home. And then we’ll talk about what happens next. This thing with Armando, it’s not a casual thing Bella. He’s using her to get to me."
“And it’s working,” Mirabella mumbled.
"It’s not that simple Bella. You have to understand.”
“What I understand is I’m your wife. And you need me. You all do. I’m not going to lose my family over this. I won’t.”
He took her hand and lifted it. There were no tremors. But they both knew she was not well. The battle for the survival of their family would be a stressful endeavor for the both of them. But she had his love. And it was going to be enough.
"Okay," he said and put his arm around her. She hugged him and closed her eyes. She said a silent prayer for them all.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Death of a Battaglia
Sorrento, Italy
Marietta listened at the door. She heard enough. Lorenzo told Giovanni that he wanted to meet at the old lemon and olive oil factory. Catalina and Mirabella often referred to it when they spoke of Franco. The conversation ended. She hurried and left. She waited for him in the living room. He walked out looking flustered.
"So, he's going to meet you?"
Lorenzo nodded.
"What time?"
"Ten, tonight," Lorenzo said and sat down.
"Are you sure you want to do it this way?" she asked.
"He sounded different. Like he wanted to meet, to talk."
"Or did he just sound like a man who pretended to want to speak so he could kill you?" she asked.
"Marie."
"It's an evil plan, Lo. He is not going to forgive you. He isn't. He isn't!"
"I have to face him like a man. Not ten years later after I've been hiding my family like a coward. A man. I have to do it now. I know my cousin. He can be reasoned with. He can."
"You're going to bet your life on this?"
"Yes," He kissed her. Trust me. I'm going to shower and lay down. Can you fix me something good to eat?"
She stood from his lap. "Like the last supper?"
"Very funny," he chuckled and smacked her rear. "Be back, love."
Marietta didn't wait for Lorenzo to go upstairs. She went straight to the room with the phone. She had thought Mirabella crazy at first for suggesting she call Armando. But now she knew differently. Lorenzo couldn't be convinced any other way. She needed help.
"This is Marietta. I want to speak to my brother. He's in Napoli? Really? Did he leave a number for me? Grazie"
To her surprise Armando had arrived. Now she had to make the decision to betray her husband's trust and call his mortal enemy. She decided to save his life.
***
"Are they sleep?" Giovanni asked.
Mirabella put a finger to her lips. She nodded. The family had exhausted the kids. After plying one child from a cousin’s arm, and another from an aunt, she herded them all upstairs for their baths. Their tummies were swollen with fresh pasta dishes and pies. Gianni didn't even want his pacifier. She gave them their baths and put each to bed. She and Giovanni left their room. She closed the adjoining door to her bedroom.
"Have you heard anything about Catalina?" Mirabella asked.
"Domi and the men are looking for her. She's probably at a friend’s house."
"She doesn't have friends," Mirabella said. "Just us."
"Where's Rosetta? Josefina is panicking. I’ve had six people come to me so far. She says Rosetta snuck out of here. I don't see how that's possible," Giovanni said.
"You think they are together?"
"Dominic told me that Rosetta was the one to call him and tell him that Catalina was sneaking around with Armando. I doubt those two are friends right now."
"I'm worried, Gio. Too much is happening, and fast."
He took her hand and forced her to sit on the chaise lounge in their bedroom. He sat next to her. "They'll find Catalina and Rosetta. I don't want you to worry. The Amalfi isn’t big enough to hide them."
"What are you planning to do? About Lorenzo?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"You aren't angry anymore. Drinking. You have a clear head."
"Do you love me?"
"Yes," she said.
"As much as you did yesterday?"
"Yes."
"As much as you did the day we were married?"
"Yes."
"Sei la mia vita -You are my life," he said. He brushed his lips over her closed lids. He grabbed her breast and squeezed gently. She wore a very loose fitted blouse. She removed her bra when she came upstairs to bathe the kids.
Sex was the last thing on her mind. She was so wound with stress she felt like she'd come out of her skin. But what she felt when he kissed her and spoke to her like this, she couldn't quite explain. A mixture of desire and frustration. Part of her was still so very angry at him for what he'd done to Catalina. Part of her wanted to protect him. Lock the door to their room and shut the world out. Keep him for her and the kids. Never let anyone harm or hurt him.
"Stay with me. She brought her mouth to his. She kissed him. "Stay," she pleaded.
He needed something from her. Something real and lasting. Mirabella slipped her tongue into his mouth. Her hand glided over his chest. She wasn't letting him set the pace for their lovemaking. She stood in front of him and began to undress. Giovanni smiled. He touched her thigh, and she knocked his hand away.
"Not yet."
He nodded. She glanced back at the nightstand and saw the clock said it was eight in the evening. She'd keep him going all night if she had to.
Mirabella pushed down her jeans and stepped out of them. She removed her shirt and stood before him in her panties. "You may touch me now," she teased.
He ran his hands up her thighs. He forced her to take a step and then two. She looked down at him, and he lifted his gaze to meet hers as he pulled down her panties. Once past her hips and thighs, they dropped to her feet, and she kicked them off. Giovanni kissed the mound of her sex. He lifted her left leg and dropped it over his right shoulder. Mirabella closed her eyes as his tongue did all the work.
He dragged in the steamy scent of her and swirled his tongue around her moist clitoris. It grew harder and harder with every flick. Just like the erection he could barely contain behind his zipper. She watched him just as avidly, with her flower open for him to lick and love her. She had to grip his left shoulder and hold on as his tongue swiped between the lips of her sex and plunged into her juicy hole. But as soon as he felt her melting insiders and tasted them as well she stopped him. Surprised and turned on, he tried to force her to stay. Instead, she went to her knees. She worked fast to unlock his belt and unzip his pants. His erection had already forced its way out of the opening of his boxers. Mirabella yanked on his pants and boxers to bring them all the way down to his ankles.
The first thing she did was slide her tongue down the underside of his shaft, before drawing the head of his dick in between her lips. Giovanni groaned deep in his throat. His head dropped back and his eyes closed. He fixed his hips and drove his cock into her mouth. She relaxed her jaws and tongue to let him glide several inches inside. The sounds his dick made as she sucked him from the tip to the midpoint were lewd, wet slurping sounds that drove him crazy.
His groin tightened painfully hard, and his balls shriveled as she work
ed her magic. No matter how masterful his wife became at sucking his dick over the years, it never compared to what he really wanted. He struggled with patience. Her lips latched around him, and she sucked him deeper into her mouth. In his mind, the wet heat he felt was the soft pussy between her thighs. Should he come? No. No. No. He needed to use restraint. Though part of him would love to spurt his seed down her throat.
He pulled her off him.
"Gio! Wait, we aren't done."
"No, we aren't," he said and brought her down to the floor. They were too far from the bed to try for it. And he was working on pure sexual adrenaline. The moment she parted her thighs, and he lay there, the moisture between the lips of her sex glazed his cockhead. It sent a shiver up his spine. Working his hips, he screwed into her in slow, shallow circles. Mirabella hooked her legs higher and tightened them around his waist. Giovanni felt himself weakening with desire.
"Non posso vivere senza di te - I can't live without you," she said.
Giovanni worshiped her body. The perfections and imperfections. He fucked her harder and harder while he licked the valley of skin between her breasts. And finally, her control broke. His gaze rising to hers, he saw her lashes fluttering, and her tongue glides over her top lip as she moved beneath him. So sexy. Her pussy walls pulsed, and she climaxed as he released his seed deep into her womb. He dropped on top of her, completely wasted.
Mirabella stroked his back. He turned over to his side, and she turned with him. They stay partially joined. And then his flaccid cock slipped out of her. He held her to him on the cool hardwoods.
"Mmm, that was so good," she said and kissed his sweaty chest.
He didn't respond. Mirabella lifted her head and looked at him. He had what she could clearly see was a hint of a smile on his lips. She reached up and touched his face. "Sweetheart. Let's get into bed."
"What time is it?" he wheezed.
"Doesn't matter. Come to bed with me. Let me take care of you," she said.
He looked at his watch. He frowned. "I need to shower."
Before she could stop him, he let her go and went to the bathroom. Mirabella turned over and closed her eyes. She betrayed him by telling Marietta to turn to Armando. Especially considering what Armando had done to Domi and Catalina. But it was the only devil she knew who could stop the man she loved. Now it was out of her hands. Whatever happened next, would change their lives forever.
