Destino (45 page)

“Still mad at me?” his hoarse voice croaked.

“I need to get up. It’s morning, and today is your sister’s big day.”

“The day doesn’t start until I say so,” he said lifting and turning to his side. She looked away, and he drew her face back by her chin. “I am sorry that I wasted three days of our time together. Sorry I disappointed you. Coming home to you, it’s how I want it. Don’t go.”

“I have to Giovanni.”

“Then promise me you’ll come back?”

She glanced at him. His request wasn’t about her leaving his bed, but her leaving him. Despite her determined will not to, she smiled and he smiled. “I promise.”

“Vabene,”
he kissed her again. “So the dress is done? And my sister gets married today.”

“She does. How do you feel about it?”

He put his arm behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. “Proud.”

Mira hated the secret she carried. After three days with Catalina and no evidence of her straying toward her surrogate step-brother, she was convinced the young girl had intended to marry and fulfill her role as wife to her new husband. Whatever past she shared with Dominic was done. So she kept her mouth shut.

“I have to shower. I need to be upstairs for her fitting.”

He glanced over. “When do you plan to leave for New York?”

“In a few days. Fabiana’s arranging it.”

He rolled onto her. “I’m going to miss you.” He said, and she dropped back on the pillow. Giovanni eased down and under the covers forcing her thighs to part. His face went to her center, and she gasped loudly once his tongue pierced and thrust deeply. She dropped her hand on the top of his head covered by the sheet and thrust her pelvis upward. Pleasure rolled through her body like an electric tide, and she rolled her ass, enjoying the soft licks and nibbles he put down there. Maybe she could delay it a bit longer.

****

Mira knocked twice before sticking her head in to check on Catalina. She found her asleep in her bed. “Morning,” she whispered.

Catalina sat up.

“Today is your wedding day. How do you feel?”

“Excited,” Catalina stretched up out of the covers.

“I need you to come upstairs with me so I can fit you for your dress.”

The light of joy in Catalina’s face made Mira smile as well.

“My brother here?”

“He is.”

“You know he loves you.”

The statement hit her hard. Just a week ago Catalina rolled her eyes every time Giovanni touched Mira’s hand. Now she sat in the middle of the bed grinning at her.

“Where did you get that from?” Mira gave a nervous chuckle.

“He’s told you, hasn’t he? That’s how our men are. When they feel it, they say it.”

“Catalina…”

Throwing back the covers Catalina escaped the bed and approached her in her long cotton gown; Mira took note of the serious look on her face. “I know my brother. I saw how disappointed you were the past few days when he was gone. Don’t punish him for not being here. I can’t explain it other than to say, you have to understand that he does this sometimes. It’s about who he is.”

“We’re friends Catalina, and I do understand.”

“No. You’re more than that now. He introduced you to our family.” Catalina’s eye stretched. “Do you understand what it took for him to do that? What it means?”

“Let’s go try on the dress.” Mira turned for the door, but Catalina got in front of her again. “He can be a stubborn man I know, but he really is a good person, a kind person too. Giovanni does a lot of good things. Don’t you let anyone tell you different. He takes care of families, and he… he gives to the church, and he takes care of Lorenzo and me even when we disappoint him. He’s a good man. He deserves… someone to take care of him. I will have my husband and home of my own soon. He’ll be in this house with these men, and no one…” Her voice choked with emotion. “He’ll be alone.”

“This is between your brother and me. Our future is for us to decide, don’t worry over it.” Mira stroked her arm.

Catalina studied her for a moment. “It’s none of my business, but you must know that my brother is a catch. All the girls want him. You met Gabriella didn’t you? I saw her talk to you. She’s his ex, the only one he kept returning to. We all thought he would eventually marry her. And maybe Giovanni did too, until he met you.”

“I don’t want to hear this.”

“He dated her for three years and never brought her into our home. She attended family events outside of Sorrento with him, and she took me shopping in Paris. We went to New York together. He has given her gifts and…”

“Stop. It’s none of my business.”

“Bullshit!” Catalina snapped. “It is your business. These women will dig their nails into him and fight you hard to be at his side. You must stand firm in your feelings for him if it’s what you want. Gabriella is spitting mad. My brother dismissed her in front of her family. Three years and she’s done everything to win his heart, for nothing. He meets you for a few days and he brings you here to meet our family and me. He cares deeply for you. He sent a message. I think you’re the only one here that doesn’t know it.”

Mira sighed. She threw her hands up. “What do you want me to say?”

“If you decide to be his girlfriend you do it with the kind of loyalty and devotion that changes how you love a man like Gio. Don’t judge him harshly, and don’t make him feel guilty for who he is. You become part of this life. Don’t make him think you will be his if you don’t intend to stay. Giovanni deserves to be happy, and if you don’t want to be the one to do it, then let him know now.”

Mira opened her mouth to speak and Catalina hugged her. “He really is happier now with you. I see it. He’s a good man.”

She hugged her tightly. “I believe you.”

A few knocks before the door opened and Giovanni looked up to see Lorenzo enter. He paused from drying his hair, a towel around his waist. He stared at his cousin. The bruises over his face hadn’t healed; in fact they’d darkened to purple and yellowish swelling around both eyes.

“What is it?”

“Welcome home.”

“I’m in no mood. Leave.”

“Gio. I haven’t heard a word in three days. I know something is going on. How bad is it?” Lorenzo closed the door.

“Where’s Giuseppe’s body?” Giovanni asked. The question stopped Lorenzo in his tracks. “Answer me.”

“Bellagio, I drove it out of the Denelli place deep into the hamlets near the cliffs. I buried him and abandoned his car. No one will find the body.”

Giovanni tossed the towel. “The old man doesn’t believe his son is dead. He continues to order his men to search. Angelo however, called a meeting of several families and I was not invited. It’s only a matter of time before he strikes. Without the body surfacing, I’m not sure who will align with him. I am certain that Angelo believes it to be you that killed Giuseppe.”

“Then send me back to Bellagio. Fuck it, I can face Angelo. I can draw them away from the family.”

“How selfless of you.” Giovanni shook his head. “I’ve had to deal with the Nigerians. They’ve interceded with our deal with the Irish. Our guns are gone. Do you understand the ramifications of your actions now? The longer I delay the guns being delivered to Sicily the more incompetent we appear.” Giovanni tossed the damp towel and glared. “You will stay the fuck out of my sight until after the wedding. I don’t want or need your help.”

Lorenzo wiped his hand down his jaw. “You can’t always do it alone, Gio. You have to trust someone.”

Giovanni gestured with a flick of his hand under his chin to fuck off. Lorenzo stormed out. Pacing he tried to calm himself. The guns gone, the Nigerians demanding a new deal. Things were falling apart. And he felt powerless to stop it.

The Wedding

Putting down the comb, she inspected herself in the mirror. She’d chosen to wear a green dress that wrapped sweetly around her curves and crossed over her ample bosom. She made it for the wedding, for him. Cut from a special silk fabric it flowed to the floor and parted with a tasteful split when she walked. Her hair had to be worn straight. She had no time to curl it after working out the thickness, so she trimmed her bangs and made sure they measured evenly across her brow and framed her face like that of an Egyptian goddess. Putting on the 2 ct. diamond earrings in each ear, she then reached for her jewelry box and removed the matching solitaire necklace on a thin platinum chain to put on her neck. Just then she heard the door open and looked up in the mirror to see who stepped inside.

Giovanni appeared wearing his black and white tux. His dark hair was groomed away from his face and his blue eyes had a clear crystal blue hue to them under long thick lashes. She smiled at his reflection in her mirror. The man in a tux was breathtaking. Together they made quite a pair.

Struggling to put her necklace on she communicated with her eyes, beckoning him to come closer.

“Let me help, Bella.” He stepped behind her, and his fingers brushed her hands. Mira allowed it. Once done he scooped her hair in his hands and lifted her long mane to reveal her neck and back. “You know I love to see you in this dress, and this color,” he said, gazing down at her backside. “Will you ride with me to the wedding?” he asked. “It’s what I want.”

She glanced up at him in the mirror. “I intended to.” She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You look devastatingly handsome too.” A kiss brushed her lips from his, and she relaxed against his body. “Maybe you can come to New York with me?” she said.

Giovanni held her. “Come with you?”

“Yes. I have some business to attend to, and I can show you the city, the way you showed me Italy. I…” Mira bit on her bottom lip. “I don’t know how long it will take before my return, and I’d miss you terribly while I’m gone.”

“Then stay.”

“Giovanni.”

“You can conduct business here. Call in the people you need. Haven’t I brought your dress making materials here?”

Mira chuckled. “I’m a business woman, a successful designer. My business is more than cutting fabric. Don’t be so stubborn. When was the last time you took a vacation? Come with me Giovanni. Let’s discover what this is between us.”

He ran his hands down her back, and she pressed in on his hard frame. “I already know what this is between us.
Amore
. I love you,” he whispered.

She offered him another kiss; it was deep and plunging. Capturing her breath and pushing back from their passion she panted. “I love you too.”

She felt him stiffen. He drew back and frowned down at her. Mira smirked and nodded that she felt the same.

“You sure? What about your time table?”

“When it’s love, it’s love.”

“Yes, Bella. I’ll visit New York. We’ll work it out.”

Mira felt the pressure in her chest lessen. She had to admit love this time wasn’t as stifling to her as it was with Kei. The passion between them was real.

“
Andiamo
.” He took her hand and led her from the bathroom. She barely had time to grab her faux emerald beaded clutch purse. They left in his chauffeured Mercedes limo. Sitting next to him, he kept running his hand over the soft feel of her skirt pushing the hem up so he could touch her inner thigh. She wore garter stockings, and when he discovered them, the lovely blue of his irises melted to a darker lustful color. Mira teased him with a wink and offered no resistance to his exploration, as she was used to him feeling her whenever they were alone. She listened as he spoke in Italian on the car phone installed in the back of the limo. Again she mentally vowed to learn Italian. The drive south of Sorrento wasn’t long. The chapel, according to Giovanni, was over five hundred years old. Regal and beautiful, she stared up at it in wonder.

Dominic walked down the front steps of the church when they left their cars. Men were everywhere. When Mira looked at Dominic, she found a dull sadness reflected in his brown eyes. Maybe it was her head, because she knew of his love for his surrogate sister, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the day would be a difficult one for him. He gave her a curt nod and addressed Giovanni. “Everyone’s inside Boss, I’ll hang back to make sure we have no trouble.”

“Nonsense Domi. It’s our girl. Our sister is marrying and you will be at my side to see her married.” Giovanni released Mira’s hand to kiss both of Dominic’s cheeks and embrace him in a brotherly fashion.

“If it’s okay with you, I'd rather make sure no one disturbs the service. It’s equally important, no?”

Giovanni frowned. Mira cleared her throat and ran her hand down his back. “We should get inside. You need to see Catalina before she walks down the aisle.”

Giovanni hesitated. “Something wrong I should know?”

“No, Gio. It’s her day, and I want it to be perfect.” Dominic forced a smile.

Giovanni patted his shoulder. He captured Mira’s hand and led her up the steps.

“You will join me up front.” Giovanni said to her as the doors opened and every face in the chapel turned to look upon them. There had to be over six to eight hundred people gathered. She froze. He pulled her hand, and she found the strength to walk inside. Catalina’s words surfaced. This was a commitment he too was making by walking her down the purple, carpeted aisle in front of his people. There was no turning back.