by Sienna Mynx
“I tell you my name. Kane. Hurt? Are you?” Kane asked.
“Just my side.”
“Then let me see it,” Kane demanded.
Belinda glanced to Leo who nodded. The whole scene was strange enough for her to obey.
Kane touched her tender spots and Belinda winced. Leo refused to speak in English. He spoke harsh and fast to the old woman, and Belinda could hear the anger in his voice.
“You scare him, he takes you back to his boss and that Black Donna with these bruises and it will cost him his life. How it happen?”
“I... ah, an accident. The door flew open.”
Leo stared at her.
“Accident eh? You fine. You smell like piss, but you live. Clean up in there. Take fresh shirt and joggers from the laundry pile that look close to the clothes you wear. Make sure they do. Make sure.”
Belinda looked to the clothes. She then realized the woman wasn’t folding laundry. The clothes were strange because there were too many of them in varying sizes. And around the room were emptied suitcases and purses, wallets left behind. She glanced to Leo and he nodded that she should follow the old woman’s orders. She plucked a shirt and pair of jean shorts that looked similar to the ones she had on. She went into the bathroom. Behind the door she listened as the woman fussed at Leo for bringing her there. And then the language went from English to another and she no longer understood the tongue lashing he received. She did her very best to groom herself. There was nothing she could do about the scratches to her legs and arms, but she didn’t look as tattered as before.
When she came out of the bathroom Leo was alone. And he paced.
“I check door,” he said.
“So?”
“Nothing wrong with door.”
“I told you—.”
“You lie to me? Why?”
“Take me home.”
“Why you do this?” he asked.
She stood there barely recalling her actions. It happened so fast she couldn’t remember the moment before.
“Why! If boss sees you I am buried. Do you understand?”
“You mean dead?”
“Yes! Buried. Dead! Me.”
“Because I have a scrape on my arm Giovanni will kill you?”
Leo paced with his hands to his head. “I want no trouble. I deserve no trouble. I work hard. I do the best. I want no trouble.”
“I didn’t do anything to you Leo. I did it to myself. I’ll tell Giovanni that. I’m not scared of him.”
“And that is too me!”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I’m responsible. I pay. Not you.”
“I said I’m sorry.”
He shook his head and looked at his watch. “We must go.”
“Wait. Wait!” she pleaded. “Why aren’t we friends anymore? You don’t talk to me, and you stopped letting me tutor you.”
“No school. Not for me. Boss don’t like it.”
“Giovanni can’t tell you that you can’t go to school. And why doesn’t he like it?”
Leo sighed. “Not friends. Okay? I work... that’s all. Not friends!”
“Why?”
Leo refused to answer.
“Oh, screw you. Fine! You’re boring any way.” She pushed past him and went out the door. Leo was on her heels all the way down the stairs. The moment she came to the lower floor she paused. Now there were over thirty people gathered. All of them silently watching and waiting—none of them looked friendly.
She glanced back to Leo. He gave her a gentle shove to continue for the door. She went out the door and left the strangeness behind. Once they were inside the car Belinda didn’t bother to try to talk to Leo. She was too embarrassed to make the effort.
Sorrento, Italy
“BELINDA? WHAT HAPPENED?”
She glanced up from reading one of her favorite romance books. Kyra stood in the room with a look of horror on her face. Belinda lowered her feet from the chair and set the book down. At first she didn’t know what the question was in reference too. She had sewing lessons with Kyra later that day, but it wasn’t even lunch time.
“Huh?”
“Your leg? That bruise. It’s awful?”
“Oh?” She hadn’t noticed how it had swollen and changed to a purplish yellowish color. “Ugh? I bruise so easily.” It looked as if someone hit her with a baseball bat. “This? I fell down the stairs, going to the cellars to get a bottle of wine for one of the cooks.” The lie rolled off her tongue so smoothly that she almost believed it to be the truth. The encounter with Leo had come and gone without a single question from anyone. She hadn’t seen him since. He just disappeared. He didn’t even resume his duties as night watchmen outside of Mirabella’s door.
“Let me get a look at it.”
“Seriously, it’s fine.”
Kyra forced her to stand. She inspected the bruise and discovered a few others. She sure as hell didn’t want her to see the one on her side.
“You fell?”
“It’s dark down those stairs. I missed a step and splat!”
Kyra looked up at her. She then looked to the bruise again and then stood straight. “Does Mirabella know?”
“Oh God. Please don’t tell her. It’s not that serious.”
“Alright. I came to tell you that I must take my son to a party. I won’t be able to do our lesson today. Jamie should be returning from Milan next week. I’m thinking we can go back with her. Visit Mirabella’s factories and do some work there.”
“Will we need bodyguards?” she asked.
Kyra chuckled. “It’s safe, we should be fine.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“You met Renaldo and he was... a guard for Giovanni, right? Wait what is his job again?”
“He’s security for Giovanni.”
“Oh, yeah, security. Like Leo is for the Donna?”
“Uh, I guess.”
“Can I ask you another question?”
Krya smiled. “You haven’t really asked the first question.”
“Why do the men... act funny. Like they can’t eat, speak, think without permission?”
Kyra narrowed her eyes on her. “It’s not an act.”
“Then what is it? A job requirement.”
“I’d say so.”
“That’s stupid. Why?”
“Is this about you and Leo?”
“Oh, no, not really, no,” she stammered.
“I see the way he looks at you. And how you find reasons to talk to him.”
“We were just friendly and now we’re not,” Belinda pouted.
“Does the Donna know about your friendship?” Kyra asked.
“No. She doesn’t pay me much attention.”
“That’s not true, she’s been busy with Rocco’s death and the things going on in this family. But don’t ever think she’s not paying attention. I think you should talk to her about Leo.”
“No. He’s acting like he’ll get in trouble and we haven’t even done anything.”
“Talk to her. Mirabella is really understanding. Give her a chance.” Kyra stepped away. “I’m taking the baby with me, so I might be staying with my mother in-law tonight, after the party. Renaldo will be working. I’ll see you tomorrow probably.”
“Okay,” Belinda said. She paced the floor thinking of her next move. If she was to be sent away to Milan, then she sure as hell wanted to go with someone who she would have fun with. She left the reading room and went down the hall to where the children were playing. Cecilia gave her a smile as she read a book to Gino and Gianni. Both boys sat on a mat completely enthralled by the story she read. Eve was over at a work table coloring with her crayons. Belinda waited for Eve to look up. When she did she put her finger to her lips so that Eve would remain quiet. Eve nodded. Belinda gestured with the same finger for her to come to her.
Eve got up with her coloring book and walked over to Belinda. Cecilia observed but she didn’t object. The moment Eve was within reach
Belinda took her by the hand and led her away. She found an empty bedroom to take Eve into.
“Belinda!” Eve grinned. “Wanna see the picture I drew for Papa?”
“Yes, let me see.”
Belinda sat down, and Eve climbed up on her lap. She studied the picture. The little girl had a way of coloring in the lines. She found that quite impressive.
“This is really good.”
“Grazie!” Eve grinned.
“I have a question for you Eve.”
“Okay?”
“Do you know Leo?”
“Si, Leo, Nico, Umberto, Renaldo, Carlo, Eduardo, Pierro, Daleo and—”
“Okay, okay, don’t name them all. It’s Leo I want to talk about.”
Eve frowned. “Did he do something bad?”
“No, he’s my friend. And I want to surprise him. The thing is I never see him around much Eve. I can’t figure out where he goes at night. He doesn’t sit outside of your mommy’s door anymore.”
Eve blinked her blue eyes at her. Belinda had to find a more relatable way to get information from the kid. She tried a different approach. “You ever play spy games?”
Eve shook her head no.
“Do you know what a spy is?
Eve shook her head no. “Well, these games are really fun because we do it in secret. No one knows. Okay. You can’t tell anyone.”
“I want to play.”
“The first game is called find out the secret the person doesn’t want you to know. You and I are going to find out where Leo goes at night.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Listen Eve. Pay attention. I want you to spy. Follow him around. Listen to what people say. Find out what you can about him.”
“Why don’t we ask him?” Eve asked.
Belinda rolled her eyes. “For a smart girl you can be so stupid at times.”
Eve frowned. “I’m not stupid.”
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. You’re really smart. Maybe that’s the way you play the game. Ask Leo where he goes at night but make up a story about why you want to know. Don’t tell him that we’re playing the game. Get it?”
Eve grinned. “Tell a lie.”
“Well—”
“Okay! I can lie. I can do it! What’s my prize?”
Belinda bit down on her bottom lip. “I’ll let you hang out in my room. Play with my things. Remember my things in my jewelry case I told you not to touch? If you do this, you can touch it all you want.”
“I want another prize. I want you to make Papa stay home with me.”
Belinda eyes stretched.
“You want that? I can't make him stay.”
“Tell a lie, like me. Tell a lie to Papa and make him stay home. Adults lie all the time.”
“But...I can’t do that.”
“It’s what I want.” Eve hopped down from her lap. She picked up her coloring book. Belinda observed the little girl curiously. Was she trying to hustle her?
“I’m gonna get Leo’s secret tonight. You get my Papa for me. Tonight.”
And then she was gone.
Belinda shook her head and laughed in the empty room. “I guess I was wrong Eve. You’re not stupid at all.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sono tutto tuo... Se sei tutta mia
I'm all yours... If you're all mine
Nightfall...
MIRABELLA USED THE loofah sponge to scrub in the sudsy bathwater across her skin. And once done she dropped the sponge into the tepid water and relaxed. Soon her pregnancy would prevent her from taking baths. After the day she had she couldn’t survive another moment without it. She slid down the sunken curve of the tub and her toes wiggled up from the other end. Her eyes closed.
Submerged in bathwater with only the tops of her breasts and her rounding tummy revealed Giovanni could not resist her beauty. A better husband would have given her some space. But he needed her desperately. He had to join her. Mirabella had taken the time to pin her hair up in a messy bun at the center of her head, leaving wisps of hair around her temples, ears and some fine hairs on her neck. His Bella’s pure heart and love was his salvation. Nothing had really changed between them. Not that he could tell.
She looked up as if she was just sensing his presence. He began to undress. The tub was long and wide enough for the two of them. He eased into the cool water with her and wished for more heat. But he didn’t complain. This was her bath and he was intruding.
“We have a visitor,” he said.
“We do? Who is it?”
“A boy, his name is Auturo Santoro. He’s the grandson of Don Santoro.”
“Don Santoro? Don Santoro... why does he sound familiar? Is he the one from Puglia, the Camorra south of us? Isn’t he our enemy?”
“He’s working to prove to me that he isn’t.”
“Why is his grandson here—”
“He was going to stay with Arielle for a few days. The child became distressed, so I decided to bring him here.”
She narrowed her pretty eyes on him. He had promised that he would not see Arielle again. He had to break that promise more than once. In fact, instead of coming home to her he had spent half the day at Arielle’s with his men plotting their next move. Arielle was part of his life, his business life. It wasn’t personal.
“Why are you seeing her, Gio?” Mirabella asked.
“This has nothing to do with me and her. There was never a me and her.”
“You told me you were done with her.”
Giovanni frowned. “Done with her? She’s no threat to us. I never had anything with her.”
“Oh God, the hypocrisy. What’s good for the goose is never good for the gander. Is it Gio?”
“Be reasonable. This is business.”
“To hell with your business, this is our marriage!” she tried to get out of the tub, but he grabbed her arm. Water splashed over the edge of the tub.
“Aspetta un attimo—wait a minute. Our marriage? She’s business. An employee. Not my fucking whore. She deals in children. That’s it.”
“Children? Do you know how that sounds?”
“That’s not what I meant Bella...” he sighed.
“Tacchini was business. Just business! And you killed him for it.”
He let go of her arm and stared at her. She would dare throw Piero Tacchini’s name in his face. Mirabella didn’t break her stare. “Even the thought of a friendship with me and another man drives you into a rage, but I ask you to stay away from a woman you have a past with and you dismiss it. What does that say about us, about me for putting up with it!”
“Arielle, is a gem. And I use gems—”
“I don’t care! You killed Tacchini in front of me. You made me... you made me go through that and I said I was over it, but damn it Giovanni how can I be? Ever?”
“Are you still having the nightmares?”
“Don’t change the subject!”
Mirabella sank back in the tub across from him. She wiped at her tears. He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t speak because he was still filled with resentment over her connection to Tacchini. He couldn’t even summon enough sympathy for what he’d put her through to apologize.
“Tacchini is our enemy, he was our enemy. I did what we do to enemies.”
“Let’s just drop it.”
“I don’t traffic children. It goes against everything I am as a man, as Padrino. Arielle’s home is a safe place for children. Auturo is with me for a reason I won’t explain but he is a guest not a prisoner. When I saw the child didn’t take well to her I brought him here to make sure he was comfortable. That is all Bella. On my life that is all it ever is.”
“You kidnapped Santoro’s child? Say it.”
“Grandchild.”
“You kidnapped him?” she insisted.
Giovanni rolled his eyes.
“Just say it Gio.”
He nodded. “I took him. Does it make it easier to accept? Hearing me say it?”
“How long will he be wit
h us?”
“Until the party.”
“Party? What party?”
He smiled.
“What party, Gio?”
He stroked her foot under the water. “You will need to throw one for me. Invitations have been sent.”
She shook her head. “You really are something.”
“That’s why you love me,” he teased. It was her turn to roll her eyes.
“Will you make sure the child’s comfortable?”
“He’s a baby. Of course, I will.”
Giovanni picked up her foot by the ankle. She relaxed for him while he gave her a needed massage. “I hear that Belinda is staying and Minnie has left.”
“She’ll do some apprentice work with Kyra,” Mirabella sighed. “That feels good.”
“Did you know she had an accident?”
“Huh?”
“Jumped out of a car or fell out of it. While Leo was driving.”
“Wait, what? No. That didn’t happen.”
“It did.”
“Who told you that?”
“Doesn’t matter. I keep my eyes on my girls. Is she going to be a problem, Bella?”
“No. I’ll find out what happened, but she won’t be a problem.”
“How about you?” Giovanni glanced up from her toes.
“What kind of problem can I be?”
“My little working woman,” he said and lowered her foot then picked up the other.
“Aaah, so you want to know if I plan to return to work?” she asked. He was now massaging the middle of her foot. He could feel the tension coil and release under his command.
“Are you?”
“Can I?” she countered.
“If I said no?” he wiggled her toe, “Will you be mad at me?”
Mirabella chuckled. “I won’t be mad. All you had to do is ask me before making a decision.”
“I’m asking,” he countered.
“Then my answer is simple. I’m not ready. I’ve bowed out of the Milan show. We have Christmas coming. Then comes our anniversary, and Eve’s birthday is shortly after that. Oh! And let’s not forget the baby. The doctors want me to be careful about the baby. Not too much stress.”
“Work used to bring you joy not stress.”
Mirabella laughed. “You don’t pay close enough attention, Gio. I’m always stressed before a new season or fashion line.”
