La Famiglia (35 page)

“Gio has been called away. I’m here.” Lorenzo smiled. Santo looked him over. Giuliani’s gaze volleyed between the men. “I have a few questions for you, Giuliani.”

“I’ve told Dominic all I know.” Giuliani answered.

“I’m not Domi or Gio. Ask Santo,” Lorenzo said. “Domi’s a man of reason. I’m a man of instinct. And what I think is that you told Domi all that you wanted him to know. All that a rat like you could say to protect and serve your own personal interests. Now sit your ass down you Mottola runt. We shall go over the details of Chiaiano, my way.”

The man did as he was told. Lorenzo chose a chair. None of the other men did. Santo looked on. Lorenzo hoped he’d say or do something for him to take his balls as well. But he held his tongue. So he focused on Giuliani.

“Why Chiaiano?” Lorenzo began.

Giuliani looked around. “I don’t understand?”

“We are dividing a lot of Battaglia territory for the clans in the
Campania
. Mottola is the strongest clan next to ours in the
Camorra
. He can have top pick. Instead he goes for the region clearly under-developed. Why?” Lorenzo asked.

“He is a madman. There has not been a
capo di tutti capi
in the
Camorra
in over sixty years. Giovanni has too much power and it worries the other clan bosses. When Giovanni took down the Calderone family and moved into the triangle it made my cousin nervous. They don’t believe he is cleansing his business.”

“What do they believe about Gio?” Lorenzo asked. “Look at me when you speak, Giuliani. Santo won’t help you.”

The man sweated profusely. He wiped his hand down his face and wiped the wet stain onto his pants. “Ah, er… I… they think he is undeserving of the title. That he wishes to change the
Camorra
to the traditions of the
Mafioso
, like the Sicilians. They believe he is partnering with the
`Ndrangheta
to seize more control over the clans. It’s what Mottola is telling the other bosses.”

Lorenzo cut Santo a look. “And you have heard none of this?”

Santo stared at Lorenzo with a stoic face. Lorenzo’s gaze then shifted over to Dominic. “We need to pay a visit to Mottola. A sit down. A personal one.”

Dominic nodded. “Giovanni said you can decide on this one. Take Carlo and Nico.”

“Wait!” Giuliani spoke up. “He’s not there. He has travelled to a place just outside of Turkey to meet with the Armenians. He won’t return for another week or so. That is why I was able to come here for this visit.”

Lorenzo sat back and considered the news. He then leaned forward when he spoke to Giuliani, keeping him locked in his sight. “This business with the Armenians, are we talking an alliance with Yeremian?”

Giuliani’s voice was shaky, his gaze shifted from one man to the next when he spoke. “I don’t know who he meets with.”

“This means Mottola doesn’t want just Giovanni’s territories he wants his friends as well.” Lorenzo glanced to Dominic. “This is good news if we act now. We can pay a visit to Yeremian and see if he is aware that his interests are now being divided within the
Campania
.”

Santo cleared his throat. “I want to be heard in front of Giovanni before we act on any information.”

Lorenzo laughed. “I’m home, Santo. You will be heard in front of me and Gio,” he smiled. Santo did not. He returned his gaze to Giuliani. “Giovanni will meet with you tonight.” He turned and left.

* B
*

Marietta returned to her room hopeful. But when she found it empty her heart dropped. It had been over five hours. Dinner would be served soon. Lorenzo had better be back by then. She was sick of wandering these halls in search of him. The sideways glances of the women, the snarky attitude of one in particular was wearing her down. And she was growing a bit anxious over the news of Mirabella. Since the incident on the beach she’s felt a reoccurring soreness in her pelvis, possibly sympathy pains.

If Marietta were honest with herself she’d have to admit she liked Mirabella. Especially when Mira showed her bitchy side in defense of her dead friend Fabiana. There was a quiet strength to Mirabella that Marietta would have never guessed from her surface beauty and poise. This she could respect.

Around the room were castaway clothes. Marietta had asked that no one clean their room. She didn’t want strangers going through her things. And she didn’t quite trust the Battaglias not to snoop. Besides she was Lorenzo’s wife and this was their domain. She would keep it tidy.

The Battaglias didn’t trust her. Lorenzo warned her they might not. In his life it was wise to be leery of strangers. The family and staff seemed to watch her as if she was some thieving whore Lorenzo brought home off the streets. Marietta walked around the room picking up his clothes. Her hubby was the biggest slob. Marietta stooped and picked up his trouser pants. A gold chain dropped out of the pocket.

She stared at it for a moment. When she bent to retrieve the necklace she touched the charm and her hand froze. Marietta picked up her precious jewelry and inspected the necklace with such relief tears clouded her vision. But slowly her smile began to fade. Lorenzo told her he didn’t know where it was.
Why was it in the pocket of his pants? Why lie about it?”

She tossed the clothes to the bed. She checked to see if the clasp had broken once again. It was intact. What did that mean? Marietta clenched it in her fist and looked around his and her things. No matter how she tried to understand his deception it made no sense.

Lorenzo had plenty of explaining to do.

* B
*

Catalina waited in the hall. When she saw Dominic approach she walked up to him. “I want to talk to you.”

He glanced at her and then passed her without a word. She caught up with his steps. “Now, Domi. I’m serious. I want to talk to you now.”

He walked into the room he occupied when staying at Villa Mare Blu. She followed him and closed the door.

“Are we over?” she asked.

“I said we were,” he answered.

“And you mean it?” she asked.

“I meant it, Catalina. We’re done.”

“How could you say that to me? After everything we’ve been through. How?” she demanded.

Dominic sighed. “It’s because of everything we’ve been through. I need a break. You need a break. If we don’t take one we will lose each other for good.”

“We already have. You called off our engagement!” she shouted at him.

“I did not!” he said through clenched teeth. “You did when you went to Gio behind my back.”

“I’m sorry, Domi. Forgive me. It was a mistake. I make them sometimes. Don’t punish me like this. I can’t take it,” she choked down her emotion and tried hard not to cry. “I’m not going back to Milan. Not until Mira has the babies. That’s two and half months away. We can work on us. Together.”

Catalina couldn’t breathe. Each time she tried her chest went tight and her lungs became restricted. She approached him. “Please, I’m begging you.”

“Stop it, sweetheart,” he forced her hands down from his face. “We’re done.”

“Please.” She touched him again. He grabbed her by both her arms and yanked her forward. There was such raw hurt in his eyes she believed he suffered too. “Please,” she brought her trembling lips close to his. They brushed over but he drew back from her kiss. “I love you, Domi, I’ll do anything. I swear it.” He loosened his hold on her. She broke free to wrap her arms around his neck and claim the kiss.  She felt his resistance soften. Dominic forced her back up against the wall causing the picture to their left to fall off the hook and the glass to shatter when it hit the floor. Catalina gasped as he forced her up the wall, his hand stroking her between her thighs as he licked and sucked her neck.

She smiled through her tears. She laughed. “Yes, baby, yes, Domi! Yes!”

The door opened to his room and he released her before undoing the zipper to his pants. Dominic looked back and Catalina quickly fixed her dress and brought it down.

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry. Forgive me. The
Donna
’s here. Giovanni needs your help, Domi. I knocked.”

“The hell you did!” Catalina hissed at Rosetta.

Dominic walked out of the door. Catalina’s heart raced. She still had tears on her face. And Rosetta’s smug smile made her boil with fury. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I know you did this on purpose.”

“Oh please. Everyone knows that you and Domi are not to fool around in Giovanni’s house. How was I to guess you were in here begging for sex?”

“That’s a lie!” Catalina shouted at her. She charged at Rosetta to strike her.

“It’s the truth.” Rosetta stepped back. “And here’s something else, Catalina. Dominic deserves better. You’re going to lose him. Not because of me, but because of you.” Rosetta smiled and walked out. Catalina double blinked. She sat down because her legs felt weak. What happened between her and Dominic wasn’t the forgiveness she sought. It was lust. Feeling desperate and lost she closed her eyes. Maybe he was right. Maybe she did need time to live outside of his protective shadow. But how could she when loving him was all she’s ever desired until now? Could she ever let Domi go?

* B
*

“Too much fuss over me. I’m fine!” Mira said at the bottom of the stairs. The family had her boxed in. Before she could ask Giovanni to confirm it, he swept her up in his arms. “No. Giovanni, put me down! I’m too heavy. Don’t!”

Her protest didn’t matter. Giovanni carried her effortlessly up the stairs and a troop of his men followed him close in case he wavered. Mira smiled at the determination on his face that made his jaw thrust forward and his lips tightly pressed. She knew she weighed a ton but he’d never let any of them see his struggle. And he did as he intended, he carried her directly to bed. So many people gathered in their bedroom she felt claustrophobic.

“Are you okay,
Donna
?” Nico asked.

“Do you need anything?” Renaldo asked.

“Should we move her downstairs to make things better?” Dominic asked Giovanni.

“What did the doctor say?” Leo asked.

Question after question was tossed her way. She exchanged a look with Giovanni and he nodded that he would handle it. “That’s enough!” he shouted. The room silenced. “She’s fine. I will tell the family what is going on in a minute. Right now everyone out! Out!”

Those gathered started to walk out. Giovanni stopped Dominic last. “Lorenzo and the others?”

“We have more information. Lorenzo was pretty good at getting it for you.” Dominic said.

“Really?  Give me an hour and bring Santo in. I want to speak with him personally.”

Dominic nodded. He walked out.

“Where is Eve? Is she with Cecilia?” Mira asked, she scooted back into her pillows.

“I believe so. I’ll bring her to you in a moment. First we need to talk about what the doctor said. What it means.” He sat on the edge of the bed. “I should have taken you to Rome. The best
ospedales
are in Rome. I should have never insisted that we come here.”

“I think our doctors have it under control,” she reasoned.

“What if I move you to Palermo? Bring Zia here and get us a place close to the
ospedale.
The closer we get to the due date. What about that?”

“I like that idea,” Mira said. She tried to keep the fear from her voice.

“Hey, come here, baby,” she said.

Giovanni went to her and she put his face to her breasts. He was careful not to put any pressure on the babies. She felt calmer when she relaxed him. And she knew he was afraid. The entire family was afraid. “I intend to stay in bed. No designing, no nothing. Can you bring the television in here?”

“I can do that, Bella.”

“Good. And I can rest. If you promise me a foot and back rub every night I’ll be extra relaxed. Think you can do that for me?” she chuckled.

He lifted his head and his eyes glistened with tears. “I promise.”

“We will be just fine, sweetheart. I promise you,” she reassured him.

“I love you,” he said.

“I love you too. With all my heart.” She smiled.

* B
*

“Well? What is it?” Mancini asked.

“She had an attack of some kind. Dr. Buhari has put her on bed rest.” Armando informed him. He stood and walked around his desk “The doctor says if it gets worse she could hemorrhage and die.”

“Her mother had the same problem,” Mancini said. “By the time I found her she was near dead. The doctors had to deliver the twins early.”

Mancini remembered the blood, and how badly Melissa suffered through the birth of their daughters. He feared her death more than the loss of life to his little girls. Ironic that she was the one lost to him eventually.

“Interesting that they share the same issue,” Armando said.

“Lisa was out of it for days. The doctors weren’t sure she’d recover. I wasn’t sure. When she did come through it I trusted the wrong people to care for her. I shouldn’t have abandoned her.”