by Sienna Mynx
“I see. And how do you know Lorenzo?”
“Gio?” Lorenzo interrupted.
“I asked the lady a question. Let her answer it.” Giovanni cut his gaze up to Lorenzo.
“We met because of David Capriccio.”
“I hear he’s dead.” Giovanni took a sip from his glass. Neither of them spoke. “I saw you at my wedding. Did Lorenzo invite you?”
“Yes. He asked that I come. It was a, uh, beautiful ceremony. You have a nice family,” she said, glancing to Lorenzo as if her answers were rehearsed. Lorenzo gave the woman a nod of encouragement. It set Giovanni’s teeth on edge.
“My wife is American. Do you know her?” Giovanni lowered his glass. Lorenzo put a hand to Marietta’s shoulder and it seemed to soothe her. She forced a smile when she spoke.
“No. I’ve seen her on the news. I don’t know every American, ah, there are many Americans here in Italy.”
“I have a question for you, Marietta. I will need you to be honest with me. I will only ask it once. If I later find out you were not truthful to me, I will be displeased. I’m not sure if Lorenzo has explained what it means to displease me.” He glanced to his cousin. “Does she understand?”
“She knows who you are, Gio,” Lorenzo answered.
Giovanni smiled. He touched her chin and lifted it with a single finger. She didn’t turn away; she boldly met his gaze with her own. Giovanni studied her face and saw more of his Bella in her. “Good. Then you will answer me, truthfully.”
“Okay.” Marietta asked. “What’s your question?”
“Did Marsuvio Mancini send you to Italy to fuck my cousin and distract him so you could get closer to my family?”
Both of them went still. He sensed their trepidation as a predator would when stalking his prey. He waited for Marietta to respond, her wide-eyed stare never breaking from his. “I fucked your cousin because I wanted to. I don’t know any Marsuvio Mancini.”
“Grazie,” Giovanni said. “You may go.”
She rose. Lorenzo smiled at the woman and whispered something in her ear. She nodded and walked out. Giovanni’s heart felt so heavy, he had to walk around the desk to find his seat.
“Gio, I know I owe you an explanation. I didn’t want to trouble you with the Capriccio and Carmine affair until we were sure Mira was well…”
“Bullshit!” Giovanni shouted.
“Okay. It’s bullshit. The truth is, I wanted to help her. And I did. Capriccio tried to kill her. He was stealing from you. Carmine got caught in the crossfire. I can explain it all. Rocco’s paranoia about Mancini is ridiculous!”
“And you will explain yourself. Tomorrow on our flight out.”
“What?” Lorenzo frowned.
Giovanni put his face in his hands. He could hear Lorenzo take a seat. He was so damn tired, he didn’t have the energy to go through it all again. But he had to. Dominic entered the room and Giovanni glanced up.
“What is going on? Can someone please tell me?” Lorenzo asked.
“The woman you have with you is Mancini’s daughter.” Dominic answered.
Lorenzo didn’t look shocked. Giovanni narrowed his eyes on him. “So you knew?”
“I suspected.” Lorenzo said.
“Why?” Giovanni asked.
“Rocco mentioned his name. She has…”
“This.” Dominic held out the bracelet that belonged to Mira. Lorenzo accepted it. He stared at it for a long moment. Then looked up to Giovanni.
“Yes. She wears it as a necklace. The clasp on the chain broke. But it’s hers… wait, this says Mirabella?”
Giovanni nodded. “Mira is Mancini’s daughter.”
Lorenzo laughed, smiled, and then looked around at them both for the punch line. “Are you sure?”
“No. That’s why we’re going to Sicily. To be sure. Get the necklace from her. Leave her at your place until we…”
“I can’t. I can’t leave her behind, Gio.”
Giovanni frowned. “And why is that?”
“Carlo is staying at my place. And I promised her I wouldn’t.”
“Then you will break that promise. We leave in the morning. Do it.”
“Are we sure? Could this be a mistake? They can’t be sisters.”
“We don’t know for certain.” Dominic answered. “We will go to Palermo and find the answers. She is not to know any of this, Lo. Do you understand?”
“I understand. Gio, I had no idea. But you must know that Capriccio worked hard to keep her from uncovering who her father was. We don’t know if Mancini is aware. If we go there and tell him, we could be getting ahead of ourselves.”
“He knows. Mancini was why Mira and Fabiana came to Italy. That motherfucker has been plotting this day for a long time. It’s time for us to understand why.”
*****
Dominic left Villa Rosso and headed for his room. He hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours. Every minute of wasted sleep was coming down on him. As he turned the corner, thinking of what tomorrow would bring, someone in the dark called his name. Dominic looked back to see Rosetta smiling. She was in her robe and night dress. She hadn’t bothered to tie it so the thin material revealed her voluptuous curves. Even her dark nipples peeked under the fabric.
“I thought that was you. I heard you were back. Is Catalina here?”
When she stopped before him, Dominic closed her robe. He brought the belt around to tie it securely. “Why are you walking around at night exposed? Cover yourself.”
“Oh, I just wanted to get something to eat. No one saw me.” She blushed, but stepped even closer to him. “I was looking to talk to Carmine. Do you know if he came back to Melanzana?”
Dominic sighed. He rubbed his eyes, deciding to spare Rosetta the news. “Go to bed.”
“You look tired, are you okay?” She put her hand to his chest.
“Go to bed,” he mumbled turning and she caught his hand. Dominic cast his gaze back down to her.
“If you need anything, Domi, my room is down the hall from yours. A coincidence huh? Just let me know okay?” She smiled sweetly. “Good night.” She squeezed his hand.
He stared into her eyes and she backed away from him. “Oh, and when you see Carmine, tell him to call me!” she giggled. He shook his head and started back to his room. He’d tell Giovanni to send Rosetta back to Palermo. He didn’t need her type of energy around the men. It was a disaster waiting to happen. He should know. Many nights like these, a young Catalina tempted him in the same way. He was weak, but grateful. The thought of Catalina made him smile. Once behind the door to his room, he went to the phone and dialed her hotel room.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Are you busy?”
She yawned. “Hi sweetie. No. I was just relaxing after work, getting ready to turn in to bed. What time is it there?”
“After midnight.” Dominic said, dropping on the bed.
“Mmm, I miss you, Domi.”
“I miss you too. How are things?”
“Good. I spoke to Mira. She sounds so happy. It’s like life is sweet for all of us now. Don’t you feel it?”
“Yeah. I feel it,” he lied.
“Domi?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Tate invited me to an event. After hours, it’s at his place with the staff. He said it’s where the industry people come together and socialize. He wants me to represent Mira. What do you think? Should I go?”
“What do you think?” he asked, his lids sagging, his thoughts fading.
“I think I should go. I really do believe they should see our family positively. I get the impression from those at the office that they think we have kidnapped Mira or something. It’s weird. We should be social.”
“Whatever you say, babe. I trust you,” he yawned.
“Oh, Domi, you sound so tired. Get some rest. Call me tomorrow. I will see you soon. Ti amo!”
“I love you, Catalina. Good night.”
He hung up and turned over, too exhausted to remov
e any of his clothes. With her voice in his head and heart he smiled, and let sleep overtake him.
*****
“That was weird.” Marietta said, following Lorenzo into the room. He had been in a mood since they left the palace that King B and his black stuck up queen ruled over. She didn’t appreciate the nasty comment tossed at her, or being dragged to him in the middle of the night. “Are you going to talk to me?”
“No. Not now. Can we just get some sleep?”
She grabbed his hand and stopped him from undressing. “What is it? Why does he think that Mancini paid me to come here? The one who might be my father?”
Lorenzo took her face into his hands. “I am going to move you to a hotel tomorrow. To stay for a night or so until I return.”
“Return? From what?”
“Business. Day business. I will go and return quickly. But you don’t have to stay here. I can check you into a hotel and you can relax.”
“Wait a damn minute. I’m not going to a hotel. What’s changed between you and me that you are kicking me out?”
“Huh? How did you make that leap?”
She backed away. “I want to know what it is you are keeping from me. And don’t stand there and say it’s not my concern. It has something to do with me. I can feel it. I saw the way your cousin looked at me.”
Lorenzo shook his head in exasperation. “I can’t talk about it. Not now. I’ve asked you to trust me before, and you know I trust you, Marietta. You have the secret to my life. Don’t you?”
She knew his reference to secrets were tied to his dealings with that Giuseppe man who had Giovanni’s father killed. “I would never tell anyone.”‘
“I believe you. That’s why you and I are a team. We believe each other. So that means you trust me always.”
“But…”
“Always!”
She walked over and sat next to him. “I’m not leaving. I’ll stay here with Carlo until you return.”
“Not a good idea, sweetheart.”
“I can take care of myself. Or have you forgotten?”
Lorenzo sighed. “I’ll call in one of my men to stay as well. Just to be safe.”
“If he’s that bad…”
He put a finger to her mouth silencing her. “We are all that bad. Never forget that. Capisce?”
She nodded.
“Can we get some sleep? I want to hold you.” He rubbed her thigh. “In silence.”
“Is that all you want?” she asked with a sheepish smile, scooting back on the bed. He rolled on top of her and kissed her. “Lorenzo, whatever it is, if it has something to do with my father or mother promise me you will tell me.”
“I promise.” He kissed her.
She kissed him back, melting beneath him.
*****
Mira opened her eyes. The room smelled of his cologne. She smiled, turning under the covers. Expecting to find his warm body next to hers. But she was alone. Confused, she sat up slowly and looked around the darkness. His sports coat was there and his shirt. He had to be near.
Without delay, she left the bed. On the chaise was her robe. Mira put it and her slippers on before checking the bathroom and Eve’s room. He wasn’t there. When she stepped out of their room, Leo was there. He looked up and smiled, sleepily.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
“Answer me. Where is he? Villa Rosso?”
Leo shook his head.
“What? Is he in the kitchen? I don’t want to spend the night searching this place.”
“I believe he went to the cellars an hour ago.”
“Cellars? For wine?”
“He goes there some nights. I saw him take his boxing gloves.”
“Grazie.”
“Donna… I’ve been told to watch you. I can go and tell him you need to see him.” He caught up with her.
“No. I’ll find him myself.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Mira waved him off and kept for the stairs. “Go to bed Leo... get some rest.”
“I…”
“I mean it.” She stopped. She pointed back toward the empty hall. “Go. We all need some sleep after the week we’ve had.” Leo typically stayed up until midnight and then another came for him to retire. The rotation was constant, even in their home. It was ridiculous to be under constant watch. Giovanni slept with a gun on the nightstand. Men patrolled the grounds, the roof, and the gates. When would it all end?
Leo gave her a wary smile. When she turned to go down the stairs, he followed. She shook her head and ignored him as she went down the stairs. There were two wine cellars in Melanzana. She prayed he was in the one closest to their wing. When she descended the stairs she was careful of the cold stony curves and the darkness. Leo followed so closely that if she missed a step, he’d probably cause them both to break their necks with some daredevil move to be helpful. Thankfully, the light to the bottom of the stairs gave her enough luminance to manage her way. And when she arrived below, she heard him instead.
“Where is he?” She glanced around the closets of wine, not sure where the grunting noise was coming from. Leo reached for the string to the ceiling lamp. More light filled the claustrophobic space.
There were rooms in the cellar she’d never ventured into. Taking a chance, she tried two doors to find more tall shelves of wine racks. The third was the big payoff. She looked to Leo and he had already started to climb the stairs to leave her to it. He knew this was where Giovanni was, but wouldn’t dare tell her. Showing her kept him from his boss’s wrath, she supposed. He had completed his mission in delivering her safely.
Inside, Giovanni pounded a punching bag, ruthlessly. He was shirtless, his arms working hard and fast as he swung his left then right fist into a punching bag. He caught the moving bag and then started to assault it again. Mira silently closed the door behind her and turned to observe him. Giovanni kept his head down and bobbed left and right with deadly earnest. He had worked up a sweat. It glistened over his broad shoulders, and muscle- packed biceps and forearms.
He stopped.
“Why aren’t you in bed?” he panted through hard breaths. He held the bag, waiting for her to respond.
“You heard me come in?”
He started throwing punches hard and fast. The bag released a warning hiss of air and rattled on its chains. For a minute, she worried that he’d put his fist threw it. She’d never seen such force come from him. Each deadly blow was punctuated by grunts from the effort.
“Sweetheart?”
Giovanni hit the bag, harder, harder, and harder.
“Stop! What is wrong with you?”
He caught the bag, panting. He held it and went still. Mira wasn’t sure if she should approach. Anger, or what she thought resembled something closer to fury, had charged the air. Like a dark cloud it engulfed them both, building a force field around him that kept her back and him from turning to face her.
“I was waiting for you upstairs. Why don’t you come to bed? Sleep it off. Whatever it is.”
Giovanni didn’t move.
“Or we could talk,” she took a step toward him. “Talk to me…”
“Go to bed.”
“Not without you…”
“Damn it, Bella! Do as I fucking say and go to bed!” he shouted.
Mira put a hand to her brow.
“Stay away from me tonight. I need to be alone. You can’t be near me now.” He wheezed, holding the bag as if he needed it to remain standing. His head was pressed against the cracked leather. His shoulders rose and fell with his staggered breathing.
“I can’t do that, sweetheart. You’re down here like some wounded lion.” Mira forced her legs to move. She couldn’t stop her heart from hammering hard and fast in her chest. But she made her legs move. She stopped behind him. Slowly, she placed her hand to his back. He stiffened. “You’re my wounded lion. If you’re hurt, so am I. No matter what, we’re in this together. Talk to me.”
Giovanni turned and glared at her. She reached for his face and he dodged her touch.
“Why can’t I touch you?”
“Because I don’t want you to!” He walked away from her. Hurt she blinked after him, shocked. No matter what, he never pushed her away so abruptly. Not like this. It felt as if his anger was directed at her.
“What have I done?” she asked, trying not to sound too pathetic.
He put a glove under his arm and pulled until his hand was freed. He did the same with the other. All the while, he kept his back to her, effectively ignoring her. He didn’t correct her, say it was him not her, nothing. This felt different. Her blood pounded in her temples, her face grew hot with shame. She resisted the urge to cry over his rejection. Turning, she walked to the door. He said nothing and that hurt even more. Mira paused, and then marched back inside. He was seated on a bench with his face in his hands. Mira slammed the wood door behind her, hard. The loud smack made his face lift from his hands and his gaze level on her.
“I’m your wife. Your life partner. I’m not your enemy. But if you keep this up, you’ll close doors between us that should always be open.”
“And what?” he shouted her down. “What will you do, Bella? Run away? Take my bambina, and the baby in your womb and hide from me? Who will it be next, Bella? Kei isn’t here to help you this time. Who will help you run?”
“Why are you saying this to me?”
“Why!” he shouted at her. “Look at us. You never wanted this. Not really. I forced our meeting. Our dating, our fucking, was all forced on you by me!”
“Stop!”
“From day one, you didn’t want this. You and your fancy friends, your classy life, you never wanted to be my bride. I even forced you to introduce me to my own fucking daughter! None of it was because you wanted… me.”
“Are you insane? How dare you!” she shouted at him. “Look at me! What am I now? A woman who exists for a family forced on me, or your friend, your lover, your wife! I’ve given up everything for you!”
“By force!”
“For love! Love! Love, damn it!” She burst into tears. “You said you forgave me.” She shook her head, stepping back. “You never have. It’s too much, Giovanni. I can’t keep making up for the past. I won’t do it.” She turned for the door. “I hate you for bringing this between us again!”
