by Sienna Mynx
“It’s not. It’s not and I’m so sorry,” Jilly said. “Ms. Doris said I can’t tell you. But I have to. You’re my... I love you.”
“I love you too, Jilly. What is it?”
Jilly looked up at her. “I’m sorry Ms. Shae. I was so happy I—”
Shae tried to sit up. It was a wrong move. Her loins felt like they were set afire. She winced. She touched the button to the side panel of her bed and it lifted her a bit.
“Tell me what it is?”
“I had a plan for you and Jewel. To make you a family.”
“What was the plan?”
“That I call Carlo and tell him you had the baby.”
“You what? Jilly? Did you call him?”
She shook her head no.
Shae let go a deep breath of relief. She wanted to tell Carlo. When the time was right. After the baby was born and they were both strong enough to return to Italy to find him. That would probably be a year from now considering how financially broke she was.
“I called the Battaglias.”
Shae’s gaze turned back to the girl. Her heart turned to ice. A cold wave of dread filled her at the mention of the Battaglias. Umberto’s warning and all the fear she had of that family surfaced.
“How could you do that? You don’t have the number?”
“I found your planner. I got the number and then I had a doctor call who spoke Italian—”
“Jilly!” Doris snapped.
Shae looked to Doris who returned to the room. Doris eyes were stretched in horror.
“I told you not today! I told you not to bring it up!”
“Don’t yell at her,” Shae said. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not!” Jilly wept. “It’s all my fault. I should have never called. I shouldn’t have!” Jilly tried to run for the door but Doris caught her and held her. Shae observed them helpless from the bed. When the girls were in crisis they had their ways of calming them. What could the Battaglias have said that would distress Jilly to this point? Did they threaten her? Did they threaten her child? What could have happened from one phone call?
After a few minutes Jilly went still and silent. No more tears. Just hurt and anger on her face. Another defensive measure that would put barriers up between them.
“What happened?” Shae asked in the calmest voice she could muster.
Doris shook her head no and walked Jilly back over to the chair where she forced her to sit.
“She called the Battaglias. Did they threaten her? Threaten my baby? What?”
“Carlo... they told her that today is Carlo’s wedding day.”
Shae blinked in shock. She looked to Jilly who had averted her gaze to the floor. She looked to Doris with wide eyed shock. The news didn’t register. It couldn’t. Her mind and heart disconnected for a brief moment and neither would accept the idea of a wedding to Carlo that didn’t include her.
“Hello mother dear!” the nurse said wheeling in her daughter. “Here she is. Time to meet your precious Jewel.”
The tears streamed down Shae’s cheeks. She couldn’t control it. The nurse lifted her swaddled baby girl up and placed her into the cradle of Shae’s arm. Jewel was sleep, peacefully so. She had a round face and so much hair. She even had Carlo’s widow’s peak.
Shae shook her head smiling and crying. How could she be happy and devastated at once? How? Nothing good in her life ever came to her without pain. It was impossible to understand her heart.
“TODAY WAS PERFECT,” Adara said. She kept her hand to his shoulder as he removed her left shoe. Then balanced her weight as he removed the right.
“You were perfect. Every one saw the truth. I’m a lucky man.” Carlo glanced up at her and winked. Adara needed help removing her dress. Carlo was patient with her as he took his time unzipping and unbuttoning her.
“My brother. Luca—”
“He will stay with us if you want. I don’t mind.”
“You don’t?” she asked. “Where would he sleep?”
“On the sofa, for now, until we get a bigger home. He can’t take my place in bed with you.”
She laughed. “No, he can’t.” She pushed down her dress from her belly and hips. Carlo stepped behind her and he helped her with the catch to her half-bra.
“I love you, Carlo. Thank you for welcoming him.” Adara said with a wide grin.
“He’s my brother too. Isn’t he?”
“Well... yes, I suppose.”
“Then it’s decided. Where we go he will go too.”
“I don’t know who this Carlo is, but I like him.” She turned and put her arms around his neck. Her lips brushed his and she fell deeper in love. Carlo ran his hand down the center of her back. His fingertips played a melody along her spine. Even though her belly separated them from a true embrace she melted against him as his strong arms kept her standing and protected.
“Say it, again,” Adara said when her mouth left his.
Carlo’s left brow arched.
“It’s you I love. The way you walk, the way you laugh, everything about you. This body... these curves. I love it.”
“Say it again,” she smiled up at him.
“Ti amo , my sweet wife,” he said.
“I wish I could make love to you tonight. To show you, how much I love you.”
“This right here, right now, is all I need,” he said and traced her ear with the tip of his tongue. “After you give me my son, your body is mine again. No more excuses.”
She giggled. He lifted her in his arms. He carried her as if she were light as a feather. Adara rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt like his bride. When Carlo laid her on the bed he kicked off his shoes. He didn’t bother with his shirt, bowtie and suspenders. He spooned her from the back and kissed her shoulder. She felt comfortable when she slept on her side and he didn’t even have to be told. She relaxed as Carlo massaged her belly with his hand caressing up and down her thigh and then around to her belly once more.
“I never thought this would be the ending for me, Carlo. I never thought I could be this happy again. Especially with a family of my own,” she yawned.
“Not the ending, the beginning,” he promised her.
Adara smiled. She closed her eyes and let bliss carry her to sleep.
Carlo lay next to his bride. His hands behind his head. He stared up at the ceiling and listened to her soft snores. The day had gone just as he planned. He even got his blessing from his sister and mother. They loved Adara. And without knowing Adara’s history welcomed her into the family. It was the first time he truly saw acceptance from them both. He should be happy.
If this was what happy felt like he was gravely disappointed. He looked to Adara and felt another pang of guilt. He did care for his new wife deeply, but in the quiet of their life he felt the edginess that had followed any moment of contentment for him. And it bothered him. Though he was uncertain of all the causes for his mixed feelings he couldn’t help but feel that something was wrong. Carlo pushed up from bed gingerly. He found a larger blanket and covered Adara to ensure she was comfortable. And he opened the window to let the fresh night air blow in to keep the temperature cooling.
He then picked up his pack of cigarillo’s and left the room. He made sure to close the door behind him. Tomorrow he would take her to Rome. Giovanni owned a suite in a very exclusive hotel that he intended to pamper her in. He sat down and plucked a cigarillo and lit it with his lucky lighter. With smoke filling his lungs he glanced at the television he had wired to receive illegal cable. Even though he could afford it, his darker nature always encouraged him to take where he should pay. Carlo dragged on his cigarillo and reflected on his future, and in doing so he couldn’t help but think of Marietta and her life at the moment. Soon, his thoughts always went where it often shouldn’t. He closed his eyes and remembered Shae. The edge he felt lessened and he relaxed.
“I NEED TO GET OFF MY feet. They hurt so bad.”
He let her go and she stepped out o
f her shoes. Her feet were so swollen her toes looked like plums. She felt as if she walked on needles with each step she took.
“Let’s start with a foot massage.” Giovanni offered. He started to remove his blazer then his diamond cuff links. Mirabella went to her dresser and removed her jewelry, except for her wedding ring.
“Carlo looked so happy. Didn’t he?” Mirabella asked.
“He looked well,” Giovanni agreed.
“It’s good for him. It will settle him down like our family did for you.”
Giovanni didn’t answer.
She glanced over to the silver tray where the staff left her messages. There was a folded piece of paper. She picked it up. The message was from one of the servants who tended the phone. It was for Carlo. It said that Shae had delivered a baby.
“Gio?”
“Sit down, Bella. I can’t massage your feet while you’re standing,” he said as he sat on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes.
“Gio... read this,” Mirabella took the message over to her husband. Giovanni read it.
“What does that mean?” she asked.
Giovanni didn’t respond.
“A few months ago she called here. Left a message for him. But he was still in Africa. I thought Marietta said it ended badly between them? That they hated each other?”
“I’ll handle it.” Giovanni crumbled the paper in his hand.
“Is this baby Carlo’s? Is it?”
“Possibly,” Giovanni said and got up from the bed. He tossed the note in the small can near the dresser then he peeled off his shirt and hung it on a hanger.
“Did you know she was pregnant?”
“Of course not,” Giovanni said. There was something in his tone that made her doubt his sincerity. Her heart seized with sadness. What had her husband done? She prayed it wasn’t what she knew he was capable of.
“Gio?”
“Bella? Don’t worry. I will take care of it.”
“Oh God,” Mirabella sat down. “This isn’t right. Carlo needs to know.”
“For now we’ll keep it quiet. I’ll speak to the staff. No one talks about this baby in America.”
“We can’t do that! He has a right to know.”
“If it was important she would have come to Italy and told him herself rather than leave a phone message. He just married. He’s trying to clean up his act and—” Giovanni voice failed.
“You’re lying. Aren’t you?”
“What?” Giovanni frowned. “Don’t call me a fucking liar!”
“Then you’re twisting the truth. How’s that? Do you not feel anything? Anything?”
“For what?”
“For what you’ve done to him. In Africa.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Giovanni bristled.
“I heard you and that African woman talking. She drugged him. She broke him, for you. And you knew that it would destroy the bond he shared with Lorenzo. Why? Why do that to him? Why drag this out with Lorenzo? What is going on with you, Gio?”
“I have plans for Lorenzo. Carlo chose his path in Africa. I choose his path now. I’m not dragging anything out with my brothers! I’m finishing it,” he said and went into the bathroom. Mirabella sat on the edge of the bed confused.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Love and Life in la Camorra
Palermo, Sicily
CATALINA FRESHENED up her bedroom. Since she fired Bionca, she was left to tending to her room alone. The staff was never allowed to pass through the door. She didn’t mind. She preferred the tasks to keep her active and focused on more than her problems. After removing the linen and compiling all of her laundry she felt a sense of accomplishment. Then she heard a soft knock on her door.
“Come in,” she said.
The door opened. She didn’t bother to turn. Only Zia came to visit her now. “How about we have cappuccino in the solarium this morning? Before we pick tomatoes? I want to talk to you about Giovanni’s visit. You’ve been keeping to your room since his visit earlier this week—”
Catalina’s head turned to the answering silence.
The pillow in her hand dropped to the floor.
Dominic stood before her. He didn’t seem the least bit disappointed or affected by her shock. And Catalina was so rocked at his sudden appearance in her room she couldn’t react.
“I think a cappuccino sounds good. I wanted to let you know that I’m here.”
“Here? In my house? Why?”
“Zia had to leave this morning. She’s headed to Sorrento.”
“But? She would have said something.”
“She’s returning with Mirabella and the children. Mirabella wants to have the baby in Sicily.”
“I don’t care. Zia wouldn’t leave me alone.”
Dominic’s smile was slight to his lips. “You aren’t alone. I’ll see you downstairs.”
She watched him leave before she found her voice and demanded he do so.
Sorrento, Italy
MIRABELLA TURNED OVER and hugged Giovanni. He kissed her closed lids and then her nose. She relaxed in his embrace.
“You sleep well?”
“Yes, I, oh no!” she pushed him away and sat up. “The baby!”
Giovanni grabbed her wrist. “Cecilia has Lorenza. She woke when you were sleep. I took her to Cecilia’s room.”
“Room? I thought Cecilia and Nico had gone back to Sicily?”
“They’ll leave later today. Right now she’s taking care of the baby until your surprise arrives.”
Mirabella smiled. “What surprise? I told you I don’t need any strangers in this house. I can handle Lorenza. Actually I prefer too. Until we get her back with Marietta.”
“Then you agree with me?”
“The baby will be born in Sicily. I agree.”
Mirabella grinned. She squeezed him and hugged him tightly. He had shaved for the wedding but his goatee was welcoming and sexy. She stroked his jaw. “I’m surprised you’re here. No trips to Puglia? No meetings in Rome or Naples? No Russians to chase? No Santoro’s to spar with?”
“I’m here. The men are handling things. La Camorra is under control and Palermo is ours. Peace is here Bella, in time for our little one to arrive.”
She kissed his lips. She didn’t bother to ask about Lorenzo and Marietta. What she didn’t know was a safe place for her after that little discussion they had regarding Carlo. He dropped his forehead to hers and kept his hand to her hip when he spoke. “I think I want to know what we’re having.”
“You do? But we agreed to wait.”
“I know. It’s not that I can’t wait. I don’t think we need too. Not anymore.”
“You really want to know?”
Giovanni nodded. Mirabella rolled to her right side. She reached for the drawer on the dresser and removed the doctor’s envelope. He’d sent her latest results from her tests and said the sex of the baby was included. She’d forgotten to tell him. Now she was glad he asked.
“What’s this?” Gio took the envelope from her and held it up.
“Our baby. The sex.”
“You opened it?”
“No. I didn’t want to know. Besides. I kind of already do.”
“What do you think we’re having?”
“A boy,” she said. “I feel the same as I did with the twins. Same cravings and everything.”
“I think it’s a girl.”
“You said that before. It would be great to have more girls in the family.”
Giovanni ripped open the side of the envelope and pulled out the letter that was folded three times. Mirabella moved from her snuggled spot next to him to give him room. Giovanni read the doctor’s note on her health and the tests. He did so silently. And she stared at his face and not the letter to see his reaction. His lip reading froze, and then a smile tipped the corners of his mouth.
“What? What does it say?”
“A girl. I was right.”
“I knew it!” Mirabella exclaimed.
Giovanni
tickled her until she nearly peed herself.
“You did not know it! Say it! Say I was the one that was right! I was the one that knew it!”
“Okay! Okay! You knew it.” Mirabella shouted to the ceiling.
Giovanni let her go. She laughed against his chest. He held her in his arms. He was right. She didn’t know but she had prayed for a girl. God had answered her prayers.
“A girl. We’re having a girl, Gio. What should we name her?”
“I’ll know when I see her,” he said and stroked Mirabella’s hair.
“Me too,” Mirabella said and closed her eyes. “I guess we should get up.”
“Let’s stay in bed today, for as long as we want. Me and you,” he said.
“Really?” Her eyes flashed open.
“For as long as you want Bella.”
“Grazie, Gio. Ti amo .”
Palermo, Sicily
CATALINA HAD GROOMED her hair into a slender ponytail. She wore a maternity green and white polka dot shirt and a pair of tan shorts. She made no effort to jazz up her looks and had only put lip gloss on because her throat and mouth kept going dry. When she emerged from her room she found Dominic exactly where he said he would be. He sat at the table in the solarium sipping his cappuccino, reading a paper. He didn’t look up but she knew he heard her enter.
Catalina took a seat in the chair opposite him. She glanced at her favorite pastries in a basket at the center of the table. She lost all desire for food.
“Why has Zia been avoiding me?”
“I wasn’t aware she was.”
“She has been. Ever since Gio visited. She’d even started taking her meals in her room. And now she’s gone? Why? What happened between them? And why can’t she face me?”
“There’s no conspiracy.”
“Bullshit!”
Dominic folded the paper. He looked her in the eye. “Did you not ask Giovanni for this place. For permission to raise your son in Palermo as a Mancini instead of back in Sorrento as a Battaglia?”
“Yes, but—”
“There are no buts. If you want the life Catalina, then I have to make it happen.”
