Destino (Battaglia Mafia Series)

by Mynx, Sienna

  She nodded they were. Trying to smooth her hair, embarrassed by her state, she escaped the bed, bringing the sheet with her. He’d picked out a plum colored wrap dress and matching bra and panty set. She glanced over at him. He had to rummage through her things to find it.

  “I like you in this. Will you wear it?”

  Mira nodded she would. Picking up her clothes she held her tongue. She wasn’t ready for the day, let alone for how overwhelming his needs had become. All of it could wait. She felt anxious over having a visitor, especially concerning her business. She heard him leave the room as she entered the shower. The warm water against her skin, and the rising steam cleared her head. The night had been strange. She hadn’t forgotten what she’d seen between Catalina and Dominic. She hadn’t forgotten what she discovered when she found Giovanni, the blood on his hands, the pain in his voice. None of it. Not since she left Virginia had her life been so complicated. With Fabiana and Kei she always felt protected, almost sheltered in normalcy. Standing next to Giovanni, as his friend and lover, she felt a greater sense of responsibility. What it meant escaped her.

  After she showered she dried herself, dressed, and finger combed her hair into a messy French braid. She found Giovanni downstairs. He was in his office with large plastic bags picking up the debris from the angry tantrum he’d thrown in the night. Still the room looked like a horror story.

  “Hi?”

  He glanced up. He straightened and smiled at her. “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you. Need help?”

  “I have some men coming to finish, just wanted to get up some of the glass,” he said with a sheepish grin.

  “I have a question.”

  Giovanni glanced her way. Mira stepped forward. “It’s about your sister.”

  He smiled. “She’s really happy you are helping her. The dress will be pretty? Right?”

  “That woman you hired Giovanni, Clara. She’s not working in Catalina’s best interest.”

  Giovanni ran his hands through his hair shaking his head. He really had so much on his mind today he didn’t want to debate the semantics of a wedding. He paid people for this. But seeing her take a genuine interest in his sister and the coordination of this event was endearing so he tried to be patient, “What has she done?”

  “She sabotaged the girl’s dress. You should have seen what she tried to force on her.”

  “Venuto,” he reached for her hand and pulled her to him.

  Giovanni reached for her hand pulling her to him “I think it’s wonderful that you care about my sister and are helping her. I trust you, Bella. And I need a date for the wedding. Will you be my date?”

  “I… okay, but, well this woman.”

  “You and Catalina listen to Signora Clara. She’s a wise woman. Catalina will have a traditional Sicilian wedding, and Clara will see to it. If she objected to the dress, then there must be a reason. My sister will not flaunt fashion over our faith. I want her to be beautiful, can you make sure she is?”

  “I will try. Giovanni, why an arranged marriage? Catalina is so young, why not send her off to school? Or let her fall in love on her own.”

  Giovanni frowned. “Where does this question come from? Has my sister said she doesn’t want to marry Franco?”

  “No. No. It’s just, I didn’t know arranged marriages were still done. I guess it’s my ignorance.”

  He released a gust of a laugh. “Well it’s not always done. But in our family it is. My father arranged this marriage between our families, and Catalina is happy with the choice. Now enough of this.” He kissed her cheek. “You have a visitor waiting.”

  ****

  Fabiana looked up when her friend walked in. She felt her heart sink. Mira smiled sweetly at her, and she looked away. The idea of lying to her made her stomach clench and her heart hurt. She sat silently as Lorenzo introduced the building inspector to Mira and barely listened when they told Mira that their boutique would be closed for the coming weeks until the building is up to code. Her friend asked the usual questions, panic in her voice and face. Fabiana couldn’t speak. She couldn’t say a word.

  “Fabiana? What are we going to do?” Mira asked.

  She gripped the chair, her gaze lifted to Lorenzo and his stayed on her. She glanced over to Giovanni who watched her as well. She should say to hell with them and call bullshit on it all. Grab her friend and walk out. Last night Lorenzo confessed something to her that had her terrified for him, for them all. He needed her help. To save his life she’d have to risk a friendship that meant more to her than anything in the world. What was she to do?

  “Fabiana? What should we do?” Mira repeated.

  “Don’t… don’t panic. This is only temporary,” Fabiana’s voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “I made some calls while you were with,” her gaze shifted to the Don and away. “Giovanni. Angelique is going to bring over your designs. He’s agreed to give us space to work here. Until this matter is cleared up.”

  “You did? How could you do that if he just told us the building was closed?” Mira frowned.

  Fabiana stammered over her answer. “I found out about the problem late in the evening. I um, asked the inspector to come here. I didn’t want to worry you.”

  Giovanni took her hand and kissed it. “I want to help. Let me.”

  “What about our staff? Where will they be?”

  She forced a smile. “Sending half of them to New York and the other half to Milan. We can join them in a few weeks. Setting things up now. See. No problem. We’ll handle it.”

  Mira felt it. Something was off. Giovanni kept her hand in his, and Fabiana could barely make eye contact with her. The inspector needed a translator and again she felt like the only person in the room not in on the truth was her.

  The inspector picked up his hat and situated it on his head. The man said a few more words in Italian to Giovanni and then left. “Are you okay with this? With us staying here?”

  Giovanni smirked and she knew he was. In fact it played right into his request that she stay longer. Mira rubbed her temples, pacing. “This can’t work. This is wrong. It’s wrong.”

  “Bella? Look at me.”

  She stopped and looked at him. His smile melted her anxiety. “I will do whatever it takes to put this in order. Trust me.”

  She glanced to Fabiana and Lorenzo. She had no reason not to trust them. Her gaze returned to Giovanni. Especially him. Her heart had grown fond of him. She nodded. “Well I’m yours.”

  He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. “Yes, you are.”

  He then signaled to Lorenzo to follow him and the men walked out. Fabiana rose to leave behind them. “Freeze. Don’t you dare leave.”

  Fabiana flashed her a pretty smile. She wore her hair in a slender ponytail. She’d chosen a pair of khaki colored capris and a sheer pink shirt with oversized sleeves that were adorned with tiny sequined beads circling her collar. Her friend smiled and stopped.

  “What’s going on? How bad is it? Do we need to find another building to lease? Have you called our solicitor? Teddy?”

  “Hey! Slow down!” Fabiana laughed. “It’s a setback. We can manage it. I can manage it. You know me. When I panic then you panic. Okay?”

  “Mira! There you are!” Catalina hurried in. She and Fabiana froze. Catalina, in an all-white sundress, looked completely virginal compared to the seductress she saw having her way with her surrogate step-brother. “I’ve been looking for you.”

  Signora Clara was on her heels. She scowled at Mira then Fabiana. “I thought we were going to Napoli to your store. So you can finish my dress.”

  “Change of plans sweetie.” Fabiana said. “We will have some things brought here. Looks like you have house guests on an extended stay.”

  “I don’t understand.” Catalina frowned.

  “No worries. I will finish your dress. We can still drive into Naples and check for a few things.” Mira smiled.

  “Great!” Catalina clapped. “The driv
er is out front. Signora Clara is coming too. Come on. Let’s go.”

  Mira touched her messy hair and considered running upstairs for a comb and brush. “We’ll meet you out front. Let us get our purses.”

  Catalina smiled and flounced out. The old woman shot them both a warning glare, turned up her nose, and followed. Mira rubbed her temples. First she had to deal with the mean tempered Don, who could turn into Casanova in a flash, and now her store doors were closed.

  “You really up to doing this dress?”

  “I can’t get out of it, now can I?”

  Fabiana laughed. “Guess not.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Her friend grabbed her hand when she passed. “Mira, trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

  Mira hugged her. “Of course I trust you. Always.”

  Giovanni strolled ahead. When they entered the billiard room he stopped. Dominic waited with Flavio Pricci. Thirty years his senior Flavio was a man of great respect and importance in Sicily, and now within the Cammora. As Giovanni’s consigliere he was the third most important man in the family.

  “Lorenzo?” Flavio stepped toward him smiling. He was of average height, but very cleanly dressed and groomed. He looked ten years younger than his age, and Giovanni knew personally that Flavio had more women than one man should handle. But he remained a bachelor with no kids or entanglements. His focus was and had always been the family.

  “Flavio!” Lorenzo greeted him warmly, kissing both of his cheeks and then giving him a welcoming hug. “I thought you were in Sicily?”

  “I was.” He cut him a sly smirk. “Gio summoned me yesterday evening. Said we might have trouble.

  “Trouble cousin?” Lorenzo feigned shock. “Is it Calderone?”

  Giovanni didn’t answer. He continued to glare.

  “Flavio!” Catalina squealed. She rushed into the office, arms flung wide. She crashed into Flavio causing him to lean back in their embrace. He hugged her tight, cupping her face and kissing her brow. Lorenzo watched as Flavio spoke in Italian to her, soft whispers of how beautiful she was becoming, and how proud he was to hear that the wedding plans were progressing. It was enough of a reprieve for him to turn his focus to Giovanni. For the first time since he’d arrived in the billiard room Giovanni was not glaring at him. His heart raced with indecision. Should he confess? Deny? What would be the preemptive move that would save his life?

  “I knew you’d be back in time for the wedding.” Catalina gushed.

  Mira appeared with Fabiana. Her presence among the women made Flavio’s brow rise. He narrowed his gaze on her. Lorenzo watched, mildly amused. Flavio was old school. Lorenzo suspected he wanted Giovanni free of the entanglements of women, to mold him further into the cold bastard Tomosino was. “You ladies leaving?” Lorenzo asked.

  Giovanni winked at Mira and she crossed the room going to him. Flavio tracked her with his eyes and released Catalina to openly stare at her.

  “Flavio. Meet Mira Ellison. She’s my guest.” Giovanni said.

  Mira extended her hand. “Ciao.”

  After a pause he accepted her hand and kissed her knuckles in greeting. He never spoke. Mira shyly stepped back to Giovanni’s side.

  “She’s going to design my wedding dress!” Catalina proclaimed.

  A light of understanding sharpened the steely grey stare he fixed her with. The old man actually looked relieved. Lorenzo shook his head at the scene.

  “Time to go. We have some things to get before we start today. Are you staying for dinner? Please say yes!”

  He nodded and patted Catalina’s cheek. Mira said something Lorenzo couldn’t hear to Giovanni and he chuckled. He kissed her in front of everyone before the ladies left.

  Giovanni noticed the old man’s reaction to Mira. He’d address it privately. His attention switched to his cousin. Lorenzo met his gaze dead on as if there was nothing to hang his head in shame over. Again anger boiled his gut and made his chest tight. “Leave us. Flavio and I have things to discuss,” he said to the room. Lorenzo looked around, confused at the short reprieve. If Giovanni had learned nothing over the past years, it was that his emotions could never rule him. He let that happen once with the Russians and his men saw his weakness for his father. But his father was gone and that weakness was shelved. He could not and would not show the same irrational rage toward Lorenzo.

  One by one the men left as he requested. Lorenzo was the last to draw the doors to the sunroom shut.

  “They have not found Giuseppe’s body yet. We need to get to that body and make sure it’s never discovered.”

  “So it’s proven. Lorenzo pulled the trigger?” Giovanni lowered to the chair.

  “Dominic’s information is solid. I checked with some of the families in Sicily. Lorenzo and Giuseppe did business. No one knows for how long or for what. Your father is turning over in his grave.”

  “Good. He can make room for Lorenzo when I bury him.”

  “Is that how you would do it? Kill your cousin?”

  “Do I have a fucking choice? If he’s betrayed me, this family, he has left me none.”

  “If? That is the word you must consider before you act. If he betrayed the family. Lorenzo is a hot head, like his mother. She should have been born a man.” Flavio chuckled. He lowered to the chair across from Giovanni and crossed his legs. The gold tiepin sparkled against his all black attire. His salt and pepper hair extended to his neatly trimmed beard, and his grey eyes were vibrant with life and wisdom. Giovanni trusted him above all else.

  Flavio smiled. “You are your father’s son.”

  “My father wouldn’t have tolerated this insolence. He wouldn’t have stood for it.”

  “Your father was a man of great strength. However, family was the source of that strength. Do you think he could have built all that you have without family?”

  Giovanni’s eyes swept the room.

  “No.” Flavio uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “He chose you son. The day you were put in his arms he chose you. He didn’t care about your mixed blood. You are his son.”

  “He tested me.” Giovanni said bitterly.

  “As a father should test a son.” Flavio nodded, and again Giovanni had to accept abuse for love. “He gave you a new name. Battaglia. A family within the Cammora that even the Dons of Sicily bow their heads in respect to. This was no easy feat.”

  “Spare me the history lesson. I know it!”

  “Do you?” Flavio’s gaze lifted as Giovanni rose and began to pace. “History is what we play our hand from. It’s what guides our future. You are stronger because of the men that are sworn to you. Lorenzo’s actions could work in your favor. If you are wise enough to know how to use it to the family’s advantage.”

  Giovanni closed his eyes. He knew Flavio spoke the truth. Still Lorenzo defied him. The only explanation for the alliance to Giuseppe was to feed his greed. How could that go unpunished? Giovanni stopped. He cast his gaze to Flavio. “You want us to go to war with Calderone?”

  Flavio smiled. “Think of it. No more begging the old Don for land purchases. You, Gio, can own the triangle. Genoa, Turin, Milan. All of it yours, unchallenged. And I’m speaking of legitimate business, not the squalor. The Cammora has no reach in northern Italy. This is your way.”

  “A war will mean lives, bloodshed. For what? To make me as greedy as my cousin?”

  Flavio waved it off. “To make you omniscient. It’s time for you to become what your father had been working for. Don Calderone is barely recovering from his stroke. He will act irrationally. He will spill blood first. A war is here, how you win the war is for you to decide.”

  “Lorenzo should not go unpunished!” Giovanni slammed his fist into the palm of his hand. Flavio nodded his agreement.

  “Lorenzo is impulsive and reckless. He’s never been satisfied with the title of underboss. This was bound to happen. I advised you years ago not to give him the gambling houses or the whores to manage. It was too big of a responsibility and temptat
ion for him.”

  “Well, obviously, you were right.” Giovanni mumbled.

  “What you must consider is not the betrayal, Giovanni. We can deal with his flagrant disregard for the rules. See the bigger picture.”

  Giovanni closed his eyes and sighed. “And what of respect, loyalty, honor? How is omerta held sacred without those three?”

  “No kingdom has been built on flowers son. You need a strong foundation, hard muscle, and an unwavering message to all of your enemies that you will control both worlds. Then your enemies will respect you. The men you lead will be loyal to you. And Lorenzo will learn the meaning of honor.”

  “What do I do?”

  “What you must. Tell him what you must. Tighten his leash, and when things settle we revisit this conversation of respect, loyalty and honor. If he must be dealt with, then you put the family in order first.”

  “I want to forgive him, to right this. I don’t know how.” Giovanni said.

  Flavio smirked. “It’ll come.”

  “Send for him.” Giovanni said. “Make sure the women are gone before he enters.” He removed his gun and put it on the table. Flavio stared at the weapon for a moment, and then lifted his dark gaze to him.

  “A cool head, Gio. Remember.”

  “I will try.”

  He watched the old man leave. Waited until he returned with both Lorenzo and Dominic. Tomosino’s boys, as the three of them were often referred as. His father had a hand in the men they all had become. And it was true he could see the best and worst of his father in him and Lorenzo. Today he’d have to rise above his pride for the greater good. One look at his lying cousin and that became an insufferable task.

  “I’ll ask it one time.” Giovanni began. “Careful of your answer. Why did you kill Giuseppe Calderone?”

  Lorenzo heard the door open behind him. He didn’t have to turn to know that Nico and the boys had arrived. Things would get ugly before it settled. He eased his hands into his pockets and gave a one shoulder shrug. “I did it for the family.”