by Sienna Mynx
They weren’t in the door for a solid five minutes before Giovanni was summoned to Villa Rosso for a meeting. He made her promise him she would return to bed. Instead, she ventured into the kitchen and found Zia. She was at the table trying to feed Eve who kept pushing the fork aside, refusing to release her pacifier.
“She ate, Zia.” Mira smiled.
Zia rose with the bowl and spoon. “But not well. I’m sure. How are you? Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
“I’m fine. I’ve missed you.” Mira walked over, and the two women embraced. She pulled out a chair and took a seat. “Where’s Rocco? I didn’t see him when we came inside.”
“He’s out in the country. He’s very sour. It happens with him sometimes.”
“Rocco?” Mira smiled in disbelief. “I can’t imagine him being sour. He’s so sweet.”
Zia scoffed. “No, Mira. My Rocco is a lot of things, but he’s not sweet. Don’t let the pinches on your butt fool you.”
They both shared a laugh. Rocco was beyond fresh, and it wasn’t something that Zia or Mira ever thought would change. Zia patted her hand. “You gave me a fright. I was really worried for you and the baby. What do the doctors say?”
Mira sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slow. “The doctor told me that the first trimester is where I need to be the most careful. There is a thing called spontaneous abortion that can happen in the first twenty weeks. The doctor said we need to make it past 13 weeks to be safe. But he really believes I’m healthy. Giovanni and I are going to see someone he referred us to in Napoli. He wants us to give it two weeks before the appointment unless the spotting returns.”
“Spotting? Blood?” Zia put a hand to her mouth.
Mira’s eyes watered. “Yes. I was so scared.”
Zia hugged her. “It’s okay. We will pray together. It will be okay.”
“Grazie, Zia. I just need to be home. I hear Catalina is returning today. I’m so excited.”
Zia let her go. “Catalina is not coming home.”
“What?”
Zia returned to the table. She ached over and tried again to feed Eve. This time, Eve spit out her pacifier and accepted what was on the spoon. “She called last night and told me that she will be coming in two weeks. Domi wanted to return to meet with Gio. She left a number for you to call her.”
Mira accepted the number from Zia’s apron with a smile. “Grazie.”
Giovanni hung up the phone. Lorenzo hadn’t returned his call in two days. He dialed Santo and told him to track Carlo down. He needed to get to the bottom of what was going on with them both. The door opened and Giovanni looked up into Dominic’s eyes. The relief he felt brought him to his feet. “I didn’t expect you so soon.”
Dominic entered. Giovanni walked over and greeted him properly. “How was your flight?”
“Exhausting. But I’m here.”
“Sit. Sit and tell me everything.”
“I don’t know where to begin, Gio.” Dominic unbuttoned his suit jacket. He sat down and crossed his legs. Giovanni sat across from him in a chair.
“Start with James Walker.”
Dominic nodded. “Interesting story he told. He says he ran away with Mira’s mother to Philadelphia. The same place I have received the birth records of twin girls from Melissa Ellison.”
“So, he knows of the babies she had?” Giovanni asked.
“Not exactly. Time has stopped for him. He worked for a Sicilian named Manny Cigars. This man ran a bar or club with some Italians. He described him as a mean son- of- a- bitch with a quick temper.”
Giovanni chuckled. “That could be anybody.”
Dominic nodded. “He said Manny had a thing for Mira’s mother. That he set him up to get next to her. Made her some kind of entertainer in his club. She was young, Gio.”
“How young?”
“As young as your mother was when your father took her.”
Giovanni cringed at the comparison. Dominic fed him the truth, no bullshit. So he endured. “And?”
“I asked him for a name. He gave me Mancini. So I did a run with some of our allies out of Brooklyn. They confirmed that Mancini spent time in Philadelphia with the Gambinis. That he owned a club. The story is checking out.”
Giovanni shook his head. “Even if it’s true and my Bella has a twin sister out there, I can’t swallow that she is the daughter of my father’s closest friend. Look at her, Domi. She doesn’t look Sicilian.”
“Doesn’t she? She could be, Gio. And there’s something you don’t know. I spent some time at her company with a man named Theodore Tate. Mira and Catalina call him Teddy. It appears Teddy has a thing for gambling and nose candy. Got in bad with some men in New York. We’re talking serious money. Suddenly, his debt is paid.”
“Let me guess.”
“Mancini. Theodore was summoned to Sicily. Mancini and he worked out the deal that brought the girls to Italy. Don’t you see, Gio? It fits. Mancini is at the root of this.” He reached into his pocket and removed the bracelet. He handed it over to Giovanni. “How else would a baby have something like this put on her wrist? Nothing happens by accident in our world. Not even the women we choose to fall in love with.”
Giovanni stared at the bracelet. His heart hurt. Could destiny and fate be a lie? He truly believed God had sent his Bella to him, healed him. Had Mancini done this to him for some other reason?
“Gio? What should we do?”
“I need answers,” he said, but his voice sounded hollow and foreign.
“Do we visit Mancini for the answers?” Dominic asked.
“Not yet.”
“Then what?”
“Rocco. We go see Uncle Rocco. He said something strange to me the other day. Something about Lorenzo causing trouble with the Mancinis. I could hear it in his voice.”
“What? What did you hear?”
“Fear.” Giovanni said.
*****
Marietta opened the door. She stumbled back; aghast at the sight of a bloody man who smelled like a sewer, being dragged inside. “Get towels and bandages from upstairs. There’s a medical kit in the bathroom. Now!” Lorenzo shouted at her.
She turned and ran for the stairs. They were in Naples now. He promised her they would go to Bellagio but the search for his friend took precedence. For three days, she watched him make calls and pace the floor. He would search the streets at night. Was this the man? Was he dead? Marietta found the towels and the medical kit and then raced back down the stairs. Lorenzo had taken him to a downstairs bedroom. He dumped his dirty, bloody heap on the clean sheets. “Is he alive?”
“Barely. I have to call the dottore. Can you… do something with him?”
“I can try. I’m not a nurse,” she reminded him.
“Clean him up. Make coffee and food. I’m sure he hasn’t eaten.”
Carlo rolled over and vomited on the floor. Marietta stumbled back in horror. Lorenzo threw his hands up in defeat. “Clean it up, please.”
“His vomit? Are you fucking crazy! I’m not cleaning up his vomit.”
“Marietta? He’s a brother to me. I owe him my life. Help me. I can’t let Gio or any of them see him like this.”
She looked back to the drunken man slumped over the bed, continuing to vomit. The stench made bile rise in her throat. “I can try. But you owe me for this one, Lorenzo.”
“Thank you, Cara.” He kissed her forehead and left. Marietta looked over at Carlo, who lifted his head and glared at her. She rolled her eyes and dropped the towels to get a bleach, bucket, and mop.
*****
Mira closed the door. She looked at her watch. It was now seven in the morning, which meant it would be around two in the morning in New York. Zia gave her the number to the hotel and told her to call. However, Mira was relieved. She didn’t want to call the office. She breathed easily, trying to relax. The doctor said that stress could overtake her, but if she paced herself she would be fine. Speaking to Catalina wouldn’t cause stress. In fact, she was bubbling with exci
tement.
“Hello?” A groggy voice answered.
“Hi! It’s Mira!”
“Dio Mio! Mira! How are you? They told me what happened. Domi said you were better. I…”
“Catalina, I’m fine. I’m okay.”
She could hear her exhale in relief. “Mira, I’m so sorry I wasn’t there. I know how scary it all must have been. Is Gio misbehaving?”
Laughter escaped Mira and she smiled so deeply, her cheeks hurt. “He has his moments. He’s really sweet though.”
“There’s much I want to tell you. I only stayed because there is so much to learn. You are going to love some of the wonderful things they are doing, and I wanted to learn from everyone.”
“Were you sleeping? So sorry to call and wake you.”
“Yes, but who cares. I wanted to talk to you. I’ve met Teddy and we’re working together.”
“Good. You can trust him. He’s about the only person there I do trust. Use him to help you navigate the business. Listen to what he tells you. He knows as much as Fabiana did,” Mira smiled.
“He’s great. We have plans to do a working dinner tonight. Can you believe Domi let me stay? He is so wonderful. He should be in Sorrento now.”
“I haven’t seen him yet. He’s probably with Giovanni down in Villa Rosso.”
“Oh? Okay.”
“Never mind our men. Let’s have some girl talk. Start with Carole Montague. I want to know everything about the woman designing rags for my house. Everything!” Mira reclined back into the pillows. Catalina began and she relaxed. It appeared that Carole had been quite busy.
*****
“How is he?” Lorenzo asked.
Marietta washed the blood from her hands. The doctor was with him to tend to the bruises she couldn’t.
Because of his labored breathing, she knew he had at least something going on with his ribs; and the dark bruise on his jaw was bad too.
“Take him to a hospital.”
“No. We care for him here.” Lorenzo answered.
Marietta turned off the water. “Who is this man to you? The truth, Lorenzo.”
“A fallen brother.”
“Brother? I thought you were an only child.”
Lorenzo walked out to the living room area. Marietta caught up with him as he dropped wearily into the chair. “I have to go to see Giovanni soon. You will need to change.”
“Me? Why?”
“I can’t leave you alone with Carlo,” Lorenzo said.
“Not to sound like a parakeet, but again I have to ask you why?” Marietta said.
Lorenzo rubbed the tensions from his temples. “Carlo is a complicated man. He doesn’t get along with strangers. Woman or not, in his state, you could be a target for him. Let him sober up and I’ll deal with him. For now, don’t be alone with him.” His gaze lifted to her. “Do you understand?”
Marietta glanced back to the room. “I can take care of myself!”
A deep chuckle escaped Lorenzo. “Yes, Cara, I’m aware of your skills.” He rubbed the scratches at the side of his jaw. “Tutto va bene, honor my request.”
“Screw him. I don’t plan to go anywhere near the stupid bastard so don’t ask me to clean up his shit again,” Marietta said defiantly.
“Good girl.” Lorenzo clasped his hands together and bowed his head.
She crossed her arms in protest. When she cleaned the man’s vomit and dressed his wounds to the best of her abilities, he cursed her in a vicious tongue. Some of the words he said in Italian she only knew from the ex-cons who worked for her adoptive father. If Lorenzo said Carlo was dangerous in this state, she was inclined to believe him.
“Why no hospital? Why not his family?”
Lorenzo extended his hand. Marietta walked over and he pulled her down to his lap. “He has nowhere to go. The whores he keeps time with would rob him in this state and leave him to his enemies. The men in our family would turn him over to Giovanni. Public drunkenness, engaging in blood fights, this is not acceptable to my cousin for his top capodecina.”
“King B,” Marietta said.
“King?” Lorenzo laughed.
“That’s what your cousin acts like. Some Sicilian King. And his black Barbie doll fashion queen.”
“You speak as if you don’t like her.” Lorenzo frowned.
Marietta shrugged. “I don’t know her. But I know her type. Snooty, pampered, probably never had to struggle a day in her life. I bet when King B saw her fancy ass, he threw roses at her feet and made her his princess. I knew plenty of girls like her when I was growing up. I’ve never had time for shallow bitches.”
“Whoa!” Lorenzo grabbed her chin and snatched her face around. “Listen to me, Cara. You show respect. She is my donna, our donna, a woman that deserves it. Do you understand?”
Marietta frowned. Lorenzo tightened his hold on her chin. “Capsice?”
She nodded, slowly, that she understood.
He turned her face to the left and then to the right. “They are right. You do look like her, a little.” Marietta rolled her eyes.
“You say that because we’re black. Guess you think all Asians look alike too.”
“Don’t they?”
Marietta hit him. He brought her lips to his and spoke against them. “I’ll call Giovanni. Maybe we should stay in and pay him a visit tomorrow? I need to make sure Carlo is well enough to be left alone.”
“I’ll cook you both something to eat. But I want you to know I haven’t forgotten.” She rose from his lap. “You promised me Bellagio.”
He nodded and watched her go. Marietta smiled. Yesterday David Capriccio, or what was left of his body, was found on the train tracks. The news stations said he got drunk after grieving his father. He fell asleep there and a train ran over him. Outrageous! But people either accepted it as truth, or knew better than to question what the truth was. Either way, his death made her an heiress according to Lorenzo. There were legitimate trusts that opened to the surviving kids. That meant her, with David out of the way. American dollars would total close to fifty thousand. Not much. But she had nothing, so it was something.
Lorenzo said it would take several months to sort it out with the courts. She and Lorenzo agreed she’d stay with him, maybe in Bellagio. The idea of a life in Italy was both exciting and a bit off-putting. She looked back at Lorenzo. He sat in a large leather recliner, staring at the door to the room his friend rested behind. Her heart ached for the pain she saw on his face. Whatever Carlo was to Lorenzo, he had to be important. And Marietta decided that made him important to her too.
*****
After a knock at the door, Mira set her book down. She knew Zia would not release Eve back into her care today. The old woman loved her daughter so much, she’d gone straight into mothering mode. Eve would be bathed, fed, sang to, and put to sleep in Zia’s bed. She probably wouldn’t see her daughter until tomorrow. So the knock had to be Rosetta. And sure enough, Rosetta smiled and peeked in.
“Hi. Are you okay? Just wanted to check on you.”
“I’m fine, come in.”
Rosetta entered. “I was with Zia and Eve. She said we have a party to plan. I wanted to ask you if I could help?”
Mira smiled. “Of course you can. It’s our bambina’s birthday. She turns two. But it would be even better if you can help me with another project.”
“Really? Like making clothes?”
Mira frowned, and then laughed. “No. Not quite. I need you to help me enforce Eve’s potty training. Every time she sits on the pot cheer for her, make it a celebration. She likes that. We were practicing before the honeymoon and I want to enforce it again. Zia thinks Eve needs more time. I think you can be a little bit tougher.”
Mira could see the light of excitement dim in Rosetta’s eyes. “Is there something else, Rosetta?”
“Yes Donna. I’m so excited to be here. So grateful, but...”
“Say it.”
“I also want to say thank you.”
“For?”<
br />
“Accepting me, letting me help with Eve after Cecilia had her unfortunate accident. I really do love Eve. I love being here. I was thinking that maybe when you have time, I can start learning some things from you. Like how to sew. I want to learn to make dresses.”
“Really?” Mira asked. “That’s a wonderful idea. I would love to teach you to sew. We can start in a few days. I’m to stay off my feet now. Giovanni insists.” Mira rolled her eyes. “When he’s less protective of me, we will sit down and I’ll take you through the basics.”
Rosetta nodded and grinned. “I can’t wait!”
*****
Giovanni walked in. His wife looked up at him and smiled. Rosetta rose, said her goodbyes and left. Giovanni closed the door softly behind her. “Tired?”
“A little. Sleepy,” she said.
He walked over to the bed. “I wanted to talk to you. I have to take a quick trip out.”
“Out? Today?”
“Yes, Bella. I have to go see Rocco. I will be gone a day. That’s all.”
“Is Domi here?”
Giovanni smiled. “Yes. I haven’t seen Catalina yet, though. I’m sure she will be up to see you soon.”
“You don’t know?”
“Know what?” Giovanni asked.
“She stayed in New York. I spoke to her a few hours ago. She’s coming in about two weeks. In time for Eve’s party.”
“No, I wasn’t aware.”
“Giovanni, don’t be angry.” She grabbed his hand. “She’s happy, let her have this taste of independence. It’s good for her and him. Sweetheart, look at us. Fighting over nothing. Taking our blessings for granted. Catalina worked the arrangement out with Dominic. She’s old enough for this responsibility. He even had some men left with her to keep her safe.”
He swallowed the tightness in his throat and managed to mumble an agreement. Still angry, he set the matter aside for the moment. Bella was right. Things were different for them all now. More than she knew.
