by Sienna Mynx
***
Marietta paced. It had been almost thirty minutes since Lorenzo left. Nothing she tried worked. Not the tears. Not the threats. Not the hysteria. She literally went to her knees begging him not to go. But he did. And now she had another worry. She might have put them all in more danger. Armando and his men had left Sicily and arrived in Napoli. He was there and waiting for her call. Her brother had come to Italy, even under the threat of the power struggle between him and Giovanni to protect her. He'd come.
The show of brotherly love and the stress of Lorenzo and Giovanni's war made her stupid enough to have faith. Now as she sat alone in the dark, she realized the irony. Armando could kill both Giovanni and Armando and destroy them all. He could have his final revenge. And it would be her fault. If Lorenzo and Giovanni were meeting alone, they were going to be ambushed.
What had she done?
Headlights cut across the window. Her heart leaped with joy. Lorenzo had come back. Marietta raced for the door. She flung it open. She couldn't see much with the glare of the headlights focused on her. But she didn't need to. It had to be him. No one else knew where they were.
"Lorenzo!" she said and covered her face with her hand. The person got out of the car. They walked around the car, and she frowned. It was Carlo.
"What are you doing here?"
"Where is he?" Carlo demanded.
Marietta saw the gun in his hand. She'd forgotten to bring one out of the house. She ran for the door, and Carlo ran after her. Just as she turned to slam the door and lock it, he forced it open. She stepped back quickly. "Get out!"
"Where is he?"
"I'm not telling you anything!" she shouted.
Carlo put his gun behind him to the back of his pants. He showed her his hands. "I don't want to hurt him. I came to help."
"Liar!" she shouted through her tears. She kept backing up. The gun was in the kitchen. She'd left it in the kitchen.
"Where did he go?"
"How did you find us? How?"
"I've been his best friend all my fucking life. It took some time, but all I had to do is think of you."
Marietta frowned.
"What?"
"Think of where he would take you. Protect you. Do you even know what this place is? We called it the Lemon House. Belonged to our friend’s mother. He was killed years ago. She died only a few months ago. Lorenzo kept the place up and checked on her regularly. She was always kind to him. He said he felt at peace here. If I can find this place so can Gio. Now tell me where he is."
"He left!" Marietta began to cry. She paced away. She put both hands to her face. She had to calm down. It wasn't good for the baby. But she was terrified. Lorenzo could get killed tonight. If he did, she would never get over it. Never.
"Where did he go?"
"To meet Gio. He's a fucking idiot!" she shouted. "He thinks he can reason with him. Convince him to forgive and forget. He's going to get killed."
Carlo nodded in agreement. "Tell me where they went. I can get there and..."
"I'm going with you."
"No," Carlo said.
"Yes! Gio won't listen to you. He won't. But me. If he sees me. He won't kill him." Marietta hurried to get her shoes.
"That's a stupid plan. Lorenzo would never want you to be in danger. And neither do I!"
"They are both in danger!" she said and rushed to the kitchen to get the gun. Carlo followed her. "I called Armando. He knows where the meeting is. They’re going be ambushed!"
"Why did you do that?" Carlo asked.
"I was scared. Terrified. I needed help. Now help him."
"Tell me where they are," Carlo demanded.
"No. I'm coming with you. You don’t have time to call your men. We have to go now! I'm coming with you!" Marietta marched past him and out the door. Carlo had no choice but to follow.
***
The door to the cottage opened. A woman smoked a cigarette. She stood there with the inside light as her backdrop, and her silhouette was all one could see in the dark. Giovanni waited. The woman flicked the cigarette, turned and walked back inside. That was the signal.
Giovanni got out of his car and slammed the door. Typically he wouldn’t park on the street, but his time was short. He dashed across the street and went to the cottage under the cover of darkness. No one knew of his arrival. A meeting he’s kept for over five years with Tacchini always occurred here. A meeting he never missed. When he went inside, he drew his gun. He closed the door.
“Sono qui, Giovanni,” Arielle said.
The kitchen was to the back of the cottage. He could smell the creamy fragrance of cooking sauce and hear the boiling water for pasta that was on the stove. When he entered, he found Arielle cutting vegetables with a large butcher knife. She always fixed a meal when she knew he was coming. He rarely ate. But it was her way. She glanced back at him and smiled. She was still beautiful. Her dark raven hair, her olive skin, and trim figure. She was the woman his mother had once whispered he would marry. He never felt anything but friendship for her. In fact, during and after their courtship he never slept with her. He wished she would have found a husband. The men that came and went from Arielle’s life never appreciated a woman like her.
“Tacchini just left,” she said.
“How is she?” he asked.
Arielle smiled. She shook her head and didn't answer. When the Calderone war began, he gave an order. Everyone living with the name of Calderone would die. He blamed them all for Mirabella’s death. And he slaughtered their families. But not the kids. Giovanni could not, and would not kill women and children.Though everyone believed he did.
Arielle and Tacchini were the only ones to know his plan. He didn’t share it with Dominic or Lorenzo. He had the survivors relocated. The living descendants of Calderone didn’t know it was Giovanni who spared their lives. They believed Tacchini and his clan saved them and kept them in hiding. The truth was he didn't want credit. He felt shame then, and he did now. The survivors, only women, and children were moved to Turkey, and Armenia. All were warned never to return to Italy.
Arielle had taken to an older girl. Mentored her. Giovanni had paid for her schooling and when Arielle told him the girls wish, only wish, was to join law enforcement and seek revenge against him and his clan he understood. He watched from the shadows as she made history and entered the Italian Special Services to one day do his beckoning.
“She’s deep cover Giovanni. Assigned to one of your enforcers. It’s dangerous for her.”
“Who?” Giovanni asked.
“The Butcher,” Arielle said.
Giovanni frowned. Carlo was lovesick over the ‘pink lady’ in America. How did he hook up with Adara? It made no sense.
Arielle put a plate of food before Giovanni and a glass of wine. “It’s dangerous for her. The Butcher is a dangerous man.”
“Are you sure it’s Carlo.”
“I spoke to her last night. She’s in Sorrento, staying with him. She actually sounds like she is taken with him. If you can believe that!”
"If Carlo finds out she’s an agent he’ll kill her. This was bound to happen. Eventually she would enter my world. After I deal with Lorenzo I want a meeting. It’s time she met me.”
Arielle eyes stretched. “She might not be ready to learn the truth of how you two are connectede. She still has so much anger and rage over the loss of her family.”
“She’s in my world. She belongs to me. I’ll protect her and end this thing with her and Carlo before it gets out of hand. There is something you will need to do.”
“Tacchini explained it to me. I will give her the information.”
“Will she tell the General?” Giovanni asked.
“She’ll tell him. I’m sure of it. She likes working for the Carabinieri.” Arielle said. When he glanced to Arielle, he saw tears in her eyes. Adara was what they called gems in the underworld. Young women and men who infiltrated the police state and gained the leverage needed to keep clan bosses like Giovanni
out prison. Giovanni wasn't invincible; he just made sure the deck was always stacked in his favor. The only problem was that Adara didn’t know she was Giovanni’s gem. Not yet. And she would soon learn it would be a lifetime assignment.
Arielle. "I will make the call tonight. Giovanni, you will have your revenge on Isabella and the drugs will stop polluting our shores. I can do it. Let me."
He nodded. “Grazie Arielle, for everything.”
Later –
Giovanni hadn’t visited the old factories in years. It was now Carlo’s playground. Giovanni saw the car parked and waiting for him. It was not one he’d known Lorenzo to drive. But he sensed his cousin was near. He removed his gun, Danny Boy, from under his blazer and started toward the building. His eyes swept left, and they swept right. There was no sign of Lorenzo.
When he entered the warehouse, he had to wait for his eyes to adjust to the dark. The place reeked of unidentifiable smells. Rats scampered and glared at him with beady red eyes, from the corners and crevices of the bottling machinery. Giovanni kept his gun at his side.
He walked the line of the factory, and his gaze swung left and right. He didn’t see Lorenzo. But his gut said he was there.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” he heard him speak. He turned and raised his gun. There was no Lorenzo. The voice echoed from the left and the right.
“Where are you?”
Lorenzo stepped out from the left.
Giovanni swung the gun in his direction and first. Lorenzo ducked and sparks flew off the machinery Giovanni hit.
"Gio! Wait! I came here to talk. Give me the chance."
Giovanni smirked. "Why should I give you anything?"
"For our family. One chance. Here me out! Please brother." Lorenzo was braver than he thought. He stepped forward without a weapon in his hand. It didn’t mean he didn’t bring one with him.
“Are we going to talk, or are you going to shoot me without hearing my side?” Lorenzo asked.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Giovanni said and leveled the gun at him.
“Danny Boy. You brought him for me?” Lorenzo asked. "You're going to kill me with that gun?"
Giovanni looked at his gun. He had told Lorenzo many times of what Danny Boy meant to him. What it represented. He had never thought he would one day turn it on him.
“I was an idiot. I was a jealous, greedy, idiot. You heard the tapes. I wanted to spare you from that.”
Giovanni chuckled.
“What I mean to say is I wanted to stop this. You and me standing against each other than with each other. I was drunk through most of the conversation. I was angry at Flavio and Patri. I felt...”
“I’ll make sure your wife and kid are looked after. I swear it.”
“Gio... wait!”
Giovanni shot him in the leg. Lorenzo dropped to all fours in agony.
“Stay on your knees when you speak to me. That’s where you belong,” he said.
“Don’t do this. I made a mistake.”
“A mistake? A mistake! Because of you, Patri bled out on the streets. Because of you, mia madre died from grief. Because of you, I wiped out an entire family of Calderones!” he shouted. “I lost my wife. I missed the birth of my daughter! You got Fabiana killed...”
Lorenzo shook his head. “I fucked up.”
“You did more than that. You proved to me that we were never brothers. Never.” He aimed the gun at the top of Lorenzo’s head.
“This isn’t the life we were supposed to have.” Lorenzo looked up at Giovanni. “La dolce vita. That’s what Patri promised. That’s what we created. I am loyal to you. I’m here because I know there’s a price to pay. I’ll pay it. But don’t take me from my family. Don’t make my son grow up without me. Gio. Have mercy.”
“There is none. Not for you.”
Ten Minutes Earlier --
“Drive faster!” Marietta shouted.
The speed of the two-seater sports car was already dangerously pushing the needle over. She didn’t care. She felt it. They didn’t have much time.
“When we get there you stay in the car.”
“Will you protect him?” Marietta asked.
Carlo didn’t answer.
“If Gio is going to kill Lorenzo, will you stop him?” she demanded.
Carlo kept driving.
“Carlo!”
He glanced over to her, and she saw the truth in his eyes. He would not. He wasn’t going to protect Lorenzo. He was racing to get there to protect Giovanni. That’s what they all wanted. To be the most loyal to Giovanni. Even to their own peril.
“Remember years ago when you told me that Lorenzo killed Carmine?” Carlo asked.
“I never said that,” she shook her head.
“You said it. You said it, and I didn’t believe you.” Carlo said. “Today Giovanni told the same story. And I didn’t want to believe him. But it’s the truth. Isn’t it? Lorenzo has always looked out for Lorenzo. The only exception he’s ever made was for you.”
Marietta looked away. Carlo took her gun from her. She had no weapon. He was far too strong and mean to stop. She glanced back to the backseat. Carlo's car was a mess. Metal tool boxes and oil stained seats. On top of the junk she saw something useful. A tire iron.
“That’s what I thought,” Carlo mumbled.
“Lorenzo has always looked out for you. How many times did he bail you out? Pick you up and clean you up. He’s been there for you!”
“He’s a traitor. He’s a liar. And he’s not worthy of you,” Carlo said.
“What did you say?”
“I’m saying you deserve better,” Carlo said. Only two cars parked side by side. Carlo cut off the lights and the engine. The moment he did they heard the gunshot.
“Lorenzo!” Marietta gasped.
“Stay here!” Carlo got out of the car. Marietta reached back and grabbed the tire iron. She didn’t think She couldn’t. She grabbed it and got out of the car. Carlo was running toward the warehouse. He must have heard her coming behind him. He stopped and glared at her. She hid the iron behind her back. “I said stay in the car! Go now!” Go back to the car!”
When he turned again, she swung the tire iron like a bat. She hit him on the side of the head near the temple. He dropped unconscious. She didn’t know if he was dead or alive. She didn’t care. She picked up the gun he dropped. It was the same Beretta that Lorenzo had trained her on. She switched the firepower to a rapid fire instead of a single shot. And then she ran inside.
***
Lorenzo looked up at his cousin. The pain in his leg was hotter than a fire poker pressed to his skin. Tears glistened in Giovanni's eyes. And he knew. His cousin was going to kill him. He'd gambled with his life and lost. His child would never know him. Marietta would never forgive him. There was no turning back.
"You will take care of her, and my baby?" Lorenzo asked.
"I swear it."
Lorenzo nodded. "Okay. Okay."
Giovanni aimed the gun at his face. It was then Lorenzo saw Marietta. She had a gun. At first, he thought it was a dream. A premonition of some kind. Some last vision before he died. But his beautiful wife pulled the trigger, and he knew the nightmare was real. Giovanni was shot in the back and shoulder. The gun Giovanni had misfired. His cousin fell on him and knocked him back. He turned him over. Not believing what he just saw. Not believing that Giovanni was shot. Marietta stood there with the smoking gun still in her hand.
"You shot him?" Lorenzo said.
"He was going to kill you!" Marietta wept.
She dropped the gun. Lorenzo checked Giovanni’s neck for the pulse. He couldn’t find one. "We’ve got to get him out of here."
"He's dead? Is he dead? Is he dead!" she asked. "Oh my God! Did I kill him?"
"How did you get here?" Lorenzo struggled to lift Giovanni, but his leg gave out. He was wounded and weak. And Giovanni was losing blood rapidly. He was dying.
"Lo, we have to go! Now! Before Carlo wakes up."
; Lorenzo glanced up this wife in shock. Carlo brought her? How did Carlo find them? He couldn’t focus on that. Giovanni was nonresponsive. He could feel his life slipping from him. He summoned as much strength as he could. He picked up his cousin and half dragged him out to the door. Marietta tried to help. It was too late. Armando and his men were outside with guns loaded.
Marietta ran to Armando and hugged him. He cupped her face and whispered something. The scene was beyond Lorenzo’s understanding. The tension caused a loud ringing in his ears as if he’d explode. And he looked down at Giovanni. There was more blood. Blood was everywhere. He staggered and collapsed again. He dropped Giovanni next to Carlo.
***
Carlo’s blurred consciousness cleared. He heard shouting. He tried to move, but the crushing blow to his head crippled him with pain. He tried to focus, but his vision swam and clouded over as if he were dragged under water. Lorenzo yelled at someone to let his wife go. Men grabbed Lorenzo, and he struggled with them. They pulled a shouting, cursing Lorenzo away. Carlo squinted. He could see headlights and he could hear Marietta crying and pleading with someone. And then he heard feet approaching. Someone stood over him. He played dead.
"They’re dead, Boss," a man said.
"Let's go," another man replied.
Car engines sounded, and car doors closed. Carlo could hear the people all speed off into the night. He opened his eyes and sat up. It was then he saw who lay next to him. Giovanni.
He reached over and shook Giovanni. He didn’t move. He dragged himself to Giovanni and put his finger under his nose. He felt his breath.
"Hang on, Boss. Hang on!"
epilogue
"He's been shot," Dominic said.
Mirabella was shaken awake. "What? Who's been shot? Lorenzo?"
"No. Gio. He's been shot. I got the call from Carlo. Get dressed. We have to go."
