La Famiglia (36 page)

“So she died after giving birth?” Armando asked.

“No. She died two years later,” Mancini said.

“You left her? You returned to Madre and left America. For good?” Armando said instead of asked.

Mancini nodded his head slowly. “I left her.”

“Then why was she killed by Tomosino? You were gone…”

“That I don’t know. All I know is Isabella’s version of things. She said Flavio told her of the contract and that Capriccio carried it out. I had thought my leaving gave her a chance at a life without the burdens I gave her. I provided for her. I thought I had. It confuses me still, what became of her.” Mancini released a burdened sigh. “She was murdered. End of story.” He looked up into his son’s eyes. “Mirabella has to know the truth. She doesn’t know how much danger she is in with this pregnancy.”

“The doctors know, Papa. You have given them all the information,” Armando said.

Mancini clenched his fist. “Giovanni is a selfish bastard. He should have taken her to Rome. Not brought her here. I had to tell Ricci to recommend Buhari in the first place!”

“Yes but when I spoke to Buhari he said that Giovanni and Mira were both made aware of the dangers. The babies could come early, and possibly will. They are going to do weekly doctor visits. I’m told that Giovanni is inquiring about renting a place in Palermo. To be closer to the
ospedale
.”

Mancini looked up.

Armando smiled. “If we take them out of Mondello Giovanni has less control. And I have good news. Francesco Mottola is looking to expand his operations within the
Camorra
. He’s moving in on Giovanni’s territory. I’m sure Gio will strike predictably soon, which will further distract him and Lorenzo. I should be able to get to the women—”

“Yes. But Isabella is out there,” Mancini said. “And she has been plotting against me for years. I don’t want to risk the chaos with Mirabella in so much physical danger. No. No. We are to be cautious until after the babies are born. I will be there for the delivery of my grandchildren,” Mancini smiled.

“And then afterwards I can deal with Giovanni. We can blame it on the Mottola clan. Make the
Camorra
turn in on itself. Our hands will be clean,” Armando said.

Mancini waved off the comment. “This childhood feud between you and Giovanni keeps you distracted. The greater goal is yours sisters. Giovanni is necessary as an ally.”

“How?” Armando snapped.

“The truce keeps the Mafia and the
Camorra
separate. The truce keeps business clean on both sides. Who in the
Camorra
do you trust to adhere to our blood oaths? Open your eyes boy and see the big picture!” Mancini said. He shook his head. “This is why you aren’t ready. Why I fear dying. You have to think ahead, strategy is what you lack! That and proper motivation.” Mancini coughed.

Armando held his tongue.

Mancini reclined with a sardonic smile tipping the corner of his mouth. “It’s time you know another truth. My intention to motivate you properly.”

“How do you intend to do that?” Armando asked.

“The will has been changed,” Mancini said.

Armando sat forward. He narrowed his eyes on his father. Mancini coughed, hacked up phlegm and spat it in a napkin before he spoke again. “If something happens to your sisters or their children. If they walk away from the family and disavow their tie to Mancini then you too will lose it all. Everything is bequeathed to Georgio.”

“Georgio! That runt can’t wipe his own ass without written instructions. Are you fucking kidding me?” Armando shot to his feet. Mancini agreed with his son. Georgio was only made in the Mafia because of blood. His sister’s son was a buffoon, dimwitted, and spoiled. He would shit away their fortune in a year. But he needed to motivate his son and this proved to be his only option. “It’s done,” Mancini said. “I will unite you three. Do what I was a coward to do so many years ago. They are your sisters, and you will protect them if you want to protect the family legacy. If Mirabella loses the babies or stumps her toe it comes out of your hide. Do you understand?”

“This is fucking bullshit! Why would you think I’d do this! Are you insane?”

“I know you, son. You’re full of ego and the prejudices I’ve beat into you since you were a child. I know you as I know myself. This is the only way I can ensure you try to know your sisters and that this family becomes stronger with the three of you.” Mancini began to hack and cough. “Don’t bother with contesting the will. Don’t make claims that I was of feeble mind. I set this in motion three years ago when I brought her to Italy.”

Armando fell silent. He stared at his father in disbelief.

Mancini coughed again. “If you kill Giovanni, you will have to kill Lorenzo. And my girls will be widows. Your sisters will blame you. And if they turn from you, you lose everything. Bring them in and make them family. Teach them our ways. Be a better man than me.”

“I will not. Never! They will never be part of this family!” Armando said.

“Then there will be no family.” Mancini started for the door. He paused. He had never been a good role model, but he did love his son. He glanced back toward him. The ugly discoloration of his attack on him the night prior was on his face. Mancini hadn’t even realized he attacked his child until he returned to his senses and found himself standing over Armando holding the gun. His mind was going, along with his health. What he did now was desperate, and he knew this. But what choice did he have?

“Forgive me,” Mancini said.

Armando said nothing.

Mancini shook his head and walked out.

* B
*

The door opened. Marietta lifted her head from the pillow and looked out past the gauzy sheer veil of the curtain that surrounded her bed. She had fallen asleep in her maxi dress and sandy feet. Tears had streaked her mascara. Her hair had frizzed to the point of a lion’s mane.

“Lo?” she asked. She squinted at the shadowy figure approaching.

“Why are you in here? Everyone is downstairs for dinner.” He drew the curtain to their bed open. He stared down at her with the concern. “What’s the matt—” His voice faltered when he saw what she held out in her hand. He looked at the necklace and then at her with guilt-ridden eyes.

“You told me that you couldn’t find it. You held me all night while I cried over losing my necklace. Do you know where I found it? I found it in your pants pocket. Why did you lie to me?” Marietta asked.

He blinked at her.

The silence between them lengthened. Marietta’s heart raced with panic. Had he intentionally deceived her?
Why would he?
The bruising to his face didn’t look as severe as it did that morning, but it made his features hard and un-shifting. “Answer me, Lorenzo. Why would you want to deceive me about something so important?”

“I-I-I didn’t,” he stammered.

“Liar! You told me you didn’t find it!” Marietta shouted back.

“Wait, sweetheart.” Lorenzo put his hands up. “I didn’t find it when I told you that. I hadn’t found it, is what I mean. But remember I left the room later that night. You see my face. You know I wasn’t in bed with you all night.”

Marietta frowned. “So you found it later and got beat up?”

He chuckled. “The other way around. I got into a disagreement last night with some of the boys. On my way back to the room I found it. I was going to surprise you, but this morning you surprised me. And today has been crazy—it slipped my mind. Of course I wouldn’t hide your necklace. For what purpose? You ruined my surprise.”

Marietta wiped at her tears. “Sorry. I’m sorry for accusing you. I don’t know what came over me. I don’t like being lied to. When I thought you lied I just… I’m sorry, Lo.”

“No one likes a liar,” Lorenzo said.

Marietta crawled across the bed to him. She got up on her knees and stretched her arms up around his neck. “Forgive me.”

“Forgive? There’s no need.” He squeezed her ass. “It was a silly misunderstanding. But it taught me something,” he said.

“It did? What?” she smiled.

“How important this necklace is to you.” He took it from her hand.

She stared at it and was filled with relief. The thought of losing it had uncovered all her fears and feelings of abandonment. “It’s funny.”

“What is?” Lo asked, while he inspected the charm.

“The clasp.” She pointed to it with the tip of her nail. “See there. It isn’t broke so I don’t know why it came off.”

“That is odd.” Lorenzo agreed. “Why don’t we put it up somewhere safe? I know a jeweler. We can take it to him, and he can replace the clasp to make it secure. Okay?”

“Good idea,” she nodded. “Thank you, baby.” She kissed him trying to bring him down on the bed with her. “Mmm, I’ve missed you, baby, come to bed.”

“I can’t, sweetheart. We need to talk.” He pulled her over to straddle his lap.  Of course Marietta loved the position. She wrapped her legs around him.

Lorenzo chuckled. He took her chin. “I need to leave for a day or two. A few days and then I’ll return. Promises.”

“No! Hell no!” she tried to get up but he held her to him, bringing her arm behind her back and pinning it there so she wouldn’t escape him.

“It can’t be helped, sweetheart.” Lorenzo looked her in the eye. His voice was firm and tight.

“The hell it can’t. We just got married. I know you have a lot on your plate but leaving me? Here? I’m not staying here! Where you go I go. Period.”

“Yes you are.” He grabbed her chin a bit forcefully. Marietta glared at him.
How could he do this?
She felt such raw betrayal her voiced objections were choked down with emotion. He turned and maneuvered her to pin her down to the bed. He let her arm go only to bring both wrists up above her head.

“I’m sorry,
cara
. I have some serious business to attend to. I need your help.”

She blinked away her tears. “How can I help if you’re leaving me behind?”

“The
Donna
isn’t well. I was thinking maybe you could look out for her?”

“She has her husband. She has a legion of people to look out for her. Why me?”

He smiled. “She can’t handle stress. Make friends with her. Spend time with her. Keep her relaxed.”

“I’m not a fucking babysitter. I don’t even know her.” Marietta pouted.

“No, Marie, you don’t. But you’re family now, we all are. I want you to start acting like it. Do you understand? I will be gone no more than forty-eight hours and then I’m yours. We’ll see
Sicilia
. Do whatever you want. Visit the grottos I told you about.”

“I can sunbathe like a mermaid?” she smiled.

He bit her chin.

She laughed and her tears sparkled like diamonds in her eyes. She smiled for him again. He kissed her soft. “I am sorry to disappoint my lady. I don’t want to leave you.”

“This is hard, Lo. Being around these people. But I can try. For you,” she said.

“For us?” he said.

“For us,” she repeated.

He wanted his honeymoon as well. If he hadn’t strong concerns about the safety and security of the family he’d pass on this mission. But with the Armenians involved it required his immediate attention. He reached and pulled down her panties with his free hand. He kept her arms pinned above her head with his other hand.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“You know what I’m doing.” He held her stare. Marietta closed her eyes and scooted up a bit so he could angle her sex for the right strike. Penetration was swift. His dick longed for this reunion all day. She gritted her teeth as her sex stretched and accommodated him. Then came that lovely rhythm that made his heart race. Lorenzo pulled down the front of her dress with his teeth and sucked her nipple into his mouth sucking her hard. He wrapped an arm around her left leg and forced it back with the hook of his arm. He opened her up to him and fucked her hard. He loved it. She buckled under him and enjoyed the ride.

* B
*

Giovanni glanced up from his conversation with Dominic when Santo entered the room. He approached Giovanni and kissed his ring. “I’ve been wanting to meet with you all day. They told me about the
Donna
. How is she?”

“Better. Have a drink with me,” Giovanni said.

Dominic left his chair and offered the seat to Santo. Giovanni watched Santo’s every move. His appearance was sweaty, disheveled, not at all like the confidence Santo had shown in the past. In fact nothing he admired in Santo could be seen now in the wake of his failure.

“I spoke to Lorenzo. He gave me insight I wish you had.”

“The Armenians.” Santo wiped the sweat down his face with his hand. Dominic passed him a drink. Santo looked relieved to have it. “I admit to managing things with blinders on. I knew that there was some dissention between the clans. But I never thought anyone would dare stand against you. When I found out what Mottola was up to I had plans to bring him under control.”

Giovanni picked up his cigar. He hadn’t had one in two days. He fired it and took a drag allowing the tobacco to fill his lungs. “How?”