Amore (55 page)

“Lo? What’s the matter?”

“Are you pregnant?” he asked.

“Huh?”

“Pregnant,” he repeated. “Are you?”

“No. I dunno, maybe,” she said.

“Because you’re trying to get pregnant?” Lorenzo asked. “We fuck all the time now, Marie. And you’re trying, right?”

“What the hell is the matter with you? It’s an act of nature. I can’t predict when it’s going to work, Lo.”

“Why? Why can’t you predict it, Marie? Don’t you know your own body?” he stood and kicked the chair back. Marietta took a step back. “I thought all women knew when they could become pregnant? Do you keep track. Mark it on a calendar, Marie?”

“Stop being an asshole! Get the hell out of here and sleep in another room if you’re going to be like this!” Marietta said. Her vision clouded with fresh tears. Lorenzo seemed unmoved. This was different. He wasn’t drunk. He was angry.

“Why are you mad?” she asked. Had the men told him about the argument? They couldn’t have. Did they?

“I’m going to ask you only once, Marie. I want the truth. Do you take birth control behind my back?”

Inside of her head she screamed and screamed the answer. Marietta let go a nervous chuckle. It was her only defense. Lorenzo arched a single brow to her humor. This was not a question to laugh at. What other reaction could she have? Tears wouldn’t work. Honesty wouldn’t work. She smiled. She stepped closer. “Lo? Why would you even ask that?”

Mirabella and Catalina had warned her of this moment. The back-up plan was simple. The three of them would ban together against any accusation of her fucking Carlo or taking contraceptives. She made a mistake. She would make it up to him. He didn’t need to know the truth. Especially since the majority of what Shae said were lies. He didn’t deserve that level of betrayal.

“That’s not an answer, Marie,” Lorenzo said.

“No,” she said. “I would never do that to you, us.” She touched his face. “You trust me right? With your life, Lo.” She ran her hand slowly down his neck and then over his chest. “It’s me, baby.
Cara.
Look at me. Have you ever seen me take anything? I wouldn’t do it.”

He closed his eyes. Relief washed over her. Marietta hugged him. She put her face into his chest and silently prayed once his arms folded around her and he completed their embrace. In an instant she was swept up in his arms and carried to bed. He lay her down gently. He kissed her belly first. He ran his hand softly over the flat surface. Marietta lay still. She closed her eyes and squeezed them tightly shut. He had to believe the lie. Just this one little lie, and she would not tell any other.

Lorenzo didn’t ravage her body as he often would after one of their more explosive fights. Instead he rested his head on her belly and snuggled with her. Fully clothed he laid this way on top of the covers. She stroked the top of his curly head. She was only able to restart her heart when she heard his light snoring and knew he was asleep.

Marietta smiled.

**

“Vieni qui!”
Carlo said.

Ringo didn’t move. Arturo shoved him and forced him to walk. Soon after the shooting, Ringo fled. Carlo sent the boys after him. They brought him to the beach near the bay. When Ringo didn’t walk fast enough, Carlo marched over and grabbed the boy by the neck. Ringo gasped.

The tractor rumbled. It’s cranky engine drowned out Carlo’s voice. This part of the land was near a few ruined buildings, and perfect for a burial since the construction would cover the area with concrete soon. The sea wasn’t too far ahead. The long arm of the machine reached and dropped its claw in to the earth and dug up large clumps. They would bury Eduardo here. They would leave no traces of him.

“I want answers!” Carlo shouted over the noise.

“I had nothing to do with it, boss,” Ringo wheezed. Carlo let go of his throat and Ringo took several steps back. He bowed his head in shame. Running was an act of cowardice. It was also an act of the guilty.

Carlo looked to the men. “Make sure no cars are on the road until this is done.”

The men nodded and walked off. Carlo shoved Ringo and forced him to walk. Soon they were on the beach, headed toward the sea. Though the night was darkest near the water, the moon glowed like the sun in the sky. There was plenty of moonlight cast over the bay. Carlo kept his gaze trained on Ringo. The kid was shaking with fear.

“Start talking. Why did Lorenzo kill Eduardo?” Carlo asked.

“He… we…” Ringo’s voice faltered.

“What happened?” Carlo demanded.

Ringo shook his head no. Carlo understood his fear. Many feared Lorenzo. And he outranked them all.

“Dica!”
He grabbed Ringo by the collar and delivered slaps to both sides of his face.
“Dica!”

“The women. The Donna asked it of us!” he shouted. “To lie. To be silent. I told Eduardo to keep his mouth shut. He thought if he told Lorenzo the truth he’d get respect.”

“Explain!” Carlo shoved him. Ringo fell to his butt. He looked up at Carlo in fear. He spoke fast.

“They fought. The women fought. The American one with the pink hair and
signora
Marietta were trying to kill each other. Eduardo and I were in the house. We heard the screams upstairs. We ran in and found them fighting. Catalina was trying to pull them apart.”

Shae left him without even a fair goodbye. He knew something happened. He figured Marietta had told her his sins and she finally realized he was not her wounded bird, but a monster. So he accepted her truth for now. He had already thought of how he’d visit America and find Shae again.

“Go on. Finish the fucking story.”

“The pink hair lady, she said she heard you. She saw you in the hall kissing Marietta. She said Marietta and you were having an affair. She said… Marietta was on birth control because she didn’t want to get pregnant and caught with a baby she didn’t know who it belonged to.”

“This is bullshit! Are you sure Shae said these things?” Carlo asked.

Ringo nodded his head yes.

“What did Eduardo tell Lorenzo?”

“The Donna met with us. She told us to never speak of the incident. The pink hair lady said she lied. She was upset and it was words of anger. But Eduardo thought the birth control part of the tale was true. He said it explained why
signora
Marietta wasn’t pregnant. He thought if he exposed her to Lorenzo he would be rewarded. I told him not to. I remember when I got a package for Lorenzo and gave it to him, how he put a gun in my mouth and threatened me. No disrespect but he’s a psycho. I told him not to. I called you to tell you about the pink lady leaving. I didn’t want anything else to do with it.”

Carlo remembered the time when Ringo and Carmine were at his place, and Lorenzo walked in with a gun and beat Ringo. He never really understood why.

“Eduardo didn’t listen. He said he would not say anything against you, but he would tell Lorenzo this thing of birth control. I think it’s why Lorenzo killed him.”

“Get up!”

Ringo refused.

“Up!” Carlo extended his hand. He helped Ringo stand. “It was a lie. A stupid fight. I have never betrayed my brother. Never slept with his wife. And she is not on birth control. You forget everything about this. If Gio asks, Domi, anyone, you play dumb. You know nothing. Do you hear me, Ringo?”

“I do. I understand. I have already forgotten,” Ringo said.

“Go back to Sicilia for a few days. I’ll tell you when it’s safe to return.” Carlo reached in his back pocket. He pulled out all the money he had on him. He handed it over to Ringo, who took it and nodded. “Wipe your fucking tears before anyone sees them. Be a man. Go stay with Ciro until I’m ready to leave.”

“Grazie.”

Ringo ran as if the devil was after him. Carlo looked to the sea. Shae saw through him. She was right to leave him behind. He turned and started back toward the rumbling engine of the tractor. In the dark of night they would bury Eduardo and the secret of the kiss. Tonight he vowed never to cross that line again.

**

The phone rang. Isabella’s head lifted off his chest. “That’s him.”

Santo sat up and so did Isabella, she covered them both with a sheet. He reached over after the third ring and picked up.

“News?” asked Kei.

“Giovanni is suspicious. He knows you are out of prison, and he’s tried to confirm your whereabouts.”

“What else?” Kei asked.

“I say it’s time you take her. He’s got the men heavily guarding the women. However the Donna and little Eve will be visiting Our Lady of Lordes church about her attending school. It’s the perfect time to grab them both.”

“I want the boys dead,” Kei said.

“I’m not a baby killer. I told you—”

“Kill the boys and deliver Mira and Eve. And then our business is done. Non-negotiable.”

The line clicked off.

“Well? What did he say?” Isabella grinned.

“I’m not a fucking baby killer!” Santo threw the phone across the room. “I’ll get my revenge on the Battaglias, but I’m not killing Giovanni’s sons.”

“Slow down. Why be upset? You are a man who will do anything to have what he wants. Kei Hyogo still doesn’t know that he is half-blind because of your order to have his eye carved out of his head.” She laughed.

“How do you know that?” Santo frowned.

“Oh,
caro
, I know many things about you,” she smiled. The agitation he felt pitched. “Kei believes he’s in control but is he really? We are loyal to our cause. Not his. Correct?”

“Cause or no cause, I won’t kill children for him or you.”

“Wait!” Isabella put a hand to his chest to keep him from rising. “Don’t lose focus. If you can’t kill the boys bring them to me. I’ll see that it’s done.”

“Get off of me!” Santo left the bed and paced the floor. “What is wrong with you? Killing
bambini
? What kind of woman are you?”

Isabella smiled like a hungry serpent. “What kind of man are you? In your feelings about two half-breed brats? The bigger picture, Santo. Stay focused on the bigger picture. We aren’t doing this for Kei. You break Giovanni and the clans will feed on themselves. The plan has always been to give you control. I have the money, the influence, and the men to make you king. You tried with Mottola and you failed. Giovanni is a weak man, and yet your
Camorra
calls him
capo di tutti capi
. You must hit him hard. The best strike is to take his sons. You cut out their little hearts out, you break his. After Mirabella and his daughter are gone, he will be on his knees. He will give it all over to you. We stick to the plan.”

He grabbed his pants and pulled them on. Isabella laughed at how hurriedly he dressed. She sounded wicked. And when he dared to look at her again her beauty had faded. She was pure evil. “I’ll deliver Mirabella and that daughter the psycho is crazy about. I’m not killing his sons. You want those kids dead, you find a way to do it.”

“Whatever you say.” She shrugged. “I have plans for them all.”

He walked out with his heart lodged in his throat. Giovanni was like a brother to him. He’d been stripped of everything. Reduced to a trash collector in the
Camorra
. The boss of all bosses deserved this misery. But there were lines to never cross. Killing children was where he drew his line. No matter what the sacrifice he wouldn’t make that one.

Morning –

Lorenzo opened his eyes. He had a cramp in his neck that reached down to his spine. Marietta was wrapped up in his arms. Her naked body pressed against his. At some time in the night he removed her negligee and made love to her. He now lay with her with no pants or underwear on, just his button down shirt and blazer.

He moved. She curled up tighter on him. Lorenzo didn’t want to let her go. Last night was a blur. The motherfucker Eduardo had the nerve to speak against his wife. Make him question her. The hell he spiraled down into at the thought of Marie betraying him was the darkest place he’s visited in his soul. He loved her. It wasn’t the average kind of sweet kisses and sweet promises love. It was much deeper. His love for Marietta consumed him. It kept him balanced. And though he fucked up regularly in presenting that love to her, it was the purest love he’s had in his life. Each day he obsessed over their future, their life, and the perfect family dynasty he wanted them to have. God gave him a second chance after he sinned against Patri Tomosino. He gave him a third chance when Marietta agreed to be his wife. And then God visited and gave him another. Mancini’s legacy could be his for the taking if he played everything right. He was close to having it all.

Lorenzo felt no guilt. He knew he was right to put a bullet in the
leccaculo
. After he showered he’d explain himself to Giovanni before the other men spread the news. He reached over and grabbed the blankets. He dragged them up and covered her. Marietta smiled but didn’t fully wake. She was most beautiful when she slept. He kissed her brow and eased off the bed to not disturb her further. Later he’d have one of the men go get her another diamond bracelet from their private jeweler. It would make up for his falsely accusing her last night.