La Famiglia (56 page)

“No, but you are lost. When she wakes we do whatever it is to make it right.” Catalina rose from her kneel and hugged him. Her brother hugged her back from his chair. She felt his sadness when she held him to her heart. She wished their mother were alive. The only other woman who could help Gio see the good from the bad was her mother. But Madre was dead. So she would have to do the job. And she vowed to do just that.

“Before I go I wanted to give you this.” She reached into her pocket and removed a pearl rosary. “It’s Mama’s. I brought it with me because I heard the twins were born too soon. I want you to pray. Do you hear me? Keep it with you and pray.”

He took their mother’s rosary and kissed the cross. Catalina stroked the side of his face. She kissed his brow.
“
Nel nome del Padre, e del Figlio, e dello Spirito Santo. Amen.”

“Amen,” Giovanni said.

* B
*

“Avanti,”
Mancini said.

Armando opened the door to his father’s private reading room. He blinked in surprise to see Marsuvio drink his scotch and walk upright to the desk for another pour. The old man poured more than a swallow in his whiskey glass and turned with it raised.
“Salute!”
Marsuvio tossed back the scotch.

It was as if the man had received a jolt of youth after their visit. The energy and drink was risky if not suicidal behavior considering the medication his father was on. “Who gave you that?” Armando demanded.

“Shut the door.” Mancini replied with a broad smile.

He did as he was told. His father set the whiskey glass over to the desk and then walked slow and steady to the reading chair in the room. “I just got off the phone with Buhari. They are running more tests. I was right! She did have a stroke like her mother. I was right all along!”

“And this makes you happy?” Armando frowned.

“No! It makes me right. I knew Gio was wrong for her. That he’d harm her. And this is proof.” Mancini’s smile broadened. “My daughter can see firsthand how dangerous and inept he is.”

Armando sighed and held his tongue.

Mancini’s smile faded. “But I’m at fault too. I should have done more to prevent this.”

“How could you, father? You gave the doctors the information. You even hired a specialist to work with their doctor. You did all of this behind Giovanni’s back. What else could you have done?” Armando reasoned.

“Plenty. Instead of warring with Gio I could have told him the truth. But with Isabella out there, my hands are tied. It doesn’t matter now. The damage is done.” Mancini leveled his gaze on his son. “You saw your sister today.”

Armando rolled his gaze away. “She’s not my sister. She’s your bastard.”

Mancini chuckled. “A feisty bastard isn’t she? Her name is Marietta. I knew it the day she was put in my arms that she was the stronger of the two. A father knows these things!” Mancini wiggled a finger at him. “Just as I know you are weak.”

“I’m not going to listen to this.” Armando turned to leave.

“Did you see her? She knew who I was.” Mancini slapped his chest with pride. “I could see it in her eyes. They’ve told the women. That means we need to act. I want to see my daughters. I must have access to them now. I want you to meet with Giovanni and Lorenzo to arrange it. Do you understand?”

“They threw us out of the
ospedale
. Neither one of them are open to it. I could force the issue. If you like,” Armando said.

“I can’t have the girls come to me by force. Damn him. No. No. No. Let Mirabella recover. Buhari says she should wake soon. He thinks in two weeks the babies will be well. He predicts it. As soon as she is recovered you meet with Gio and barter a deal. Promise whatever is necessary to make the meeting with my daughters happen.”

“But?”

Mancini put up his hand. “Don’t worry. I won’t hold you to any of it. Giovanni’s life is still on the table—after your sisters have come to me. Until this happens you don’t strike at Giovanni or Lorenzo.”

“And my inheritnce?” Armando asked.

“There will be only one family standing. Mancini,” he said. “Tomosino’s legacy will be crushed. Every Battaglia man owes me his life, for what was done to Lisa,” Mancini smiled. “Giovanni will pay. I promise you this.”

“My inheritance, Papa. We need to talk about the will. It can’t stay this way,” Armando said.

Mancini’s gaze lifted. “What about Isabella?” he asked.

“We believe Isabella is in
Sicilia
.” Armando said.

Mancini paused. “She’s here? Why are you just telling me this now?”

“I just learned it. She was seen just this morning. I have someone on it. I’ll have her soon.”

“Good. Finish the job I asked of you and we will discuss your inheritance.” Mancini grinned.
“Cin-cin!”
he said and tossed back another drink. “Have some, it’s time to celebrate!”

* B
*

The doors opened and Mira was wheeled into the room. Giovanni watched as they transferred her to the bed. The doctor stepped inside. He waited until the nurses finished with the doctor before he asked. “How is she?”

“Her body is stabilizing. We see no lesions or brain damage.” The doctor looked back to the bed and Giovanni’s gaze returned to Mira as well. “The rest is on her. She’s recovering. We must wait.”

“You saved her life. You knew how to respond, how to help her. You saved her life.” The doctor smiled. The man expelled a deep breath of relief. Giovanni turned and looked him over. “That’s because you knew about her mother. Didn’t you doctor?”

“I don’t understand?” Dr. Buhari said.

“Mancini has been one step ahead of me this entire time. He knew Mira was here. He knew her condition before I told him.”

“I don’t know a Mancini.” Buhari vehemently denied the accusation.

Giovanni smiled. “Now you insult me by lying to my face.” Giovanni continued. “Mancini said something to me today that I only just now considered. Do you know what that was?”

The doctor’s gaze lifted. He’d seen fear on a man many times in his life. Even from a small child as his father ruled over his men and brothers with an iron fist, he’d seen others cower. Today the doctor didn’t look afraid. He looked petrified. “Mancini said to me that he owns this
ospedale
and everyone in it.” Giovanni stepped closer. His face was barely a breath away. “Are you
his
?” he asked.

Buhari swallowed. He didn’t dare make a move.

“
Rispondetemi,”
Giovanni said.

“
Don
Mancini contacted my office. He gave me her mother’s medical history. I’ve only given him basic updates. The information helped us treat your wife.”

Giovanni patted the side of the doctor’s face hard. He grabbed the man by the throat. “You saved her life so you have yours. If you want to keep it you will stop all communication about my wife and her condition with Mancini.”

“Understood. Understood,
signor.
”

A nurse entered and quickly made a hasty exit. Giovanni shoved the doctor away. The man left the room without delay. Giovanni returned to Mira’s bedside. He dragged a chair close. He pulled the rosary from his shirt pocket and wrapped the pearl strand around his fist. He had to breathe in and out several times, very slowly to calm down. He lowered his head.
“
Nel nome del Padre, e del Figlio, e dello Spirito Santo. Amen,”
he began, and the door opened. He turned and saw Father Chris enter. The timing was uncanny. He hadn’t seen the father since his wedding.

“Gio,” the priest said. He walked over and they embraced. “
Cardinal Callori di Vignale
called me. Why didn’t you, son?”

“I haven’t had a chance to think,” Giovanni said.

The priest smiled. He glanced to Mira. “How is she?”

“Not well,” Giovanni sighed.

“I want to christen the twins, here, now. And we will bless her.”

Giovanni was so grateful. He wished it to be a different occasion but even he couldn’t deny that his wife and children needed the father’s blessing as did he.

“Come, son, we will get through this together.”

16.

Sleep stole away his mission to never take his eyes off his wife. He blinked and discovered he slept with his head buried between his folded arms on the bed. The touch on his shoulder jostled him. He lifted his head and glanced back over his shoulder. Dominic stood there. He wore a grey tailored suit and a sad smile. Giovanni had to blink again to be sure. He saw Rocco in his overalls and plaid shirt standing at his side. Zia was on the other side of the bed. She wept, kissing Mira’s face, fixing her sheets, begging her to wake up in Italian.

Giovanni had never felt so relieved to see everyone. He stood with the help of Dominic, weak from lack of sleep and eating. Dominic patted him on the back. “So things fall apart when I leave huh?” Dominic chuckled

The two embraced. “How is she?” Dominic asked.

“She should wake soon. They brought her out of the induced coma. We have to wait and see.” Giovanni’s gaze swiveled back to the bed.

“The rest of the family is here. Zia wants a prayer circle. Let them take care of her and
la
bambini
. You and I should go for a drive.” Dominic grabbed Giovanni’s face. “You haven’t eaten, Gio. Have you?”

“I’m not leaving her,” he said emphatically. He broke from Dominic. He reached over and brushed Mira’s brow with the back of his hand. He had to compete with Zia’s touch. She was kissing and stroking Mira’s face, whispering to her. Giovanni again realized how wrong he was to keep her from Zia. “I have to be here when she wakes.”

He didn’t care what anyone said. He wasn’t leaving anything to chance. Mira had to open her eyes and see him first. See he was there, and he loved her.

Dominic stepped close. He kept his voice low so Gio only heard it. “
Per favore.
You need to step outside and have a conversation with me. It’s important, Gio,” Dominic said.

Rocco came over and Giovanni smiled at his uncle. He hugged him. “Go with Domi, Gio. We are here now.”

The door opened and the women in his family entered. His aunts and cousins, older and very spiritual had all come. Zia began giving orders to them. He’d seen them do this before. As his mother lingered near death they prayed for her. She lived for weeks instead of days because of the sheer will of the family not to let her go. And now they would pray for Mira. It should help.

“Now, Gio,” Dominic insisted.

With reluctant acceptance Giovanni walked out of the room. He reeked from lack of sleep and tears. He could smell himself. A shower would do him some good. There had to be a place in the hospital to take one. He stopped and signaled for Renaldo. “Go back to Mondello, have Catalina pack me a fresh suit, all my things to shower and change.”

“Yes, Boss.” Renaldo turned and left. 

“They gave me this room. I didn’t sleep in it. We can talk here.” Giovanni walked a bit stiffly. Sitting up all night as he watched over his wife had wrecked his back. “I want Eve brought here. She should be close. So when Bella wakes she can see her. Bring her.”

“It might frighten the child to see her mother this way, Gio. I would advise against it.”

His head hurt. His thoughts muddled. “Right. Yes, you are right. I guess I need to clear my head. I’m not thinking straight.”

“You haven’t slept since this began,” Dominic said. “I got the call from Santo and came immediately. Things are not good, Gio. The
`Ndrangheta
has pulled out of our agreement. They are aligned with Bonaduce yet they still think we are we blind to it. I’ve left Santo in the
Campania
. We now have the
Polizia di Stato
in our yard. The Prime Minister has not returned my call. My contact says that they have the bay under surveillance. They are building a case for trafficking and tracking what we have allowed the
`Ndrangheta
to export. So we must stop all shipments immediately.”

Giovanni flinched. The last thing he needed was the Mafia Criminal Investigation Unit digging into his affairs. Dominic continued, “Mottola is gaining support in the
Camorra
. Everyone is on edge. The clan bosses blame us for this division, the investigations, the
`Ndrangheta
, all of it. You were right to bring everyone to
Sicilia
. Home isn’t safe anymore.”

“Bullshit. No one chases me out of the
Campania
. Mottola will pay for this. I’ll take the life of every man who stands with him.” Giovanni sat down on the edge of the bed.

Dominic said nothing. They both knew that war was just what the authorities hoped for. The best way to infiltrate his organization would be the chaos.

“The women know the truth, Domi. My Bella knows I lied to her. She knows Patri ordered her mother’s death. She knows everything.” Giovanni lifted his gaze. “That’s why she refuses to wake. I think she’s given up on me, on us.”

“Gio—”

“Marietta told her. I have no idea how Marietta found out, but she told her,” Giovanni said.

“I might have an idea.” Dominic said.

“How?”

“Catalina took Marietta to Belina. They sat up in the private rooms and dined with Mancini’s men.”

“She did what?” Giovanni asked. “Who drove her to Belina?”

“Doesn’t matter, Gio. The damage is done,” Dominic said.

“It does fucking matter!” Giovanni stood. “Which of my men drove them to Belina? Leonardo? Right? He was the one that took them to Palermo. I want him brought to me.”

Dominic shook his head. “Gio, it’s happening.”

“What’s happening?” he asked.

“You. Look at yourself. Who gives a fuck if it was Leonardo? Who gives a fuck? He only did what he was told. Mancini got to her, because we didn’t tell them the truth,” Dominic said.

Giovanni rubbed his brow. “I don’t need you reminding me of my mistakes, Domi.”

“You need to be thinking clearly!” Dominic shouted. He paced like a caged lion. “You need to keep us from repeating the mistake we made with the Calderones.”

The rare occasions when Dominic was bold enough to shout at him always got Giovanni’s attention. “So now I’m insane? You motherfuckers keep throwing Calderone in my face!” he kicked the chair next to him. He picked it up and threw it into the wall. He turned on Dominic. “I regret nothing I did to the Calderones. Nothing!” Giovanni pounded his fist into his hand. “I will get a handle on things. I just need Bella… I need her… to be okay. And then…” He paused. He cut Dominic a glare. “Give me a couple of days, a week. And then I’ll deal with the
Camorra
.”

Dominic nodded his head in respect. Giovanni knew Dominic was right. He knew the state of things with the
Camorra
would weaken him if he didn’t act. But nothing, not even his own fucking empire, could take him away from Mirabella. Not until he was certain she and his
bambini
were okay.

“The clan bosses have been told of Mira’s delivery. Everyone is giving you respect, Gio. But we will have to settle this matter with Mottola, swiftly. Let’s discuss it after Mira wakes,” Dominic conceded.

Giovanni glanced back at him. “Meet with Lorenzo and Carlo. They have some information on the Armenians. Yeremian is pleased with how we helped him solve his problem in Armenia. He can be an ally against Bonaduce and `
Ndrangheta.
”

“I’ll speak with him. I heard that Mancini paid you a visit. Here? I’m sure that didn’t go over well,” Dominic said.

“He thinks I don’t know his game. He wants Bella to recognize him as her father. The minute she does he’ll try to end me, separate us. He has no intention of letting his daughters remain married to Battaglia men. As if he has a fucking say in the matter. What I don’t understand is the timing of everything.” Giovanni sat on the bed.

Dominic eased his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “It could be his death. The man doesn’t have much time left.”

Giovanni shook his head. “If Mancini was the one to tell Marietta the truth then he wouldn’t unleash her on Mirabella knowing her medical history. I could see it on his face when he laid eyes on Marietta. He hasn’t had contact with her.”

“You think Armando is undermining him? Trying to stir chaos between our families so he can keep control of his father?” Dominic asked.

“Possibly. But in my gut I feel we are missing something. Question Marietta. Find out exactly how she learned the truth and who told her. There’s something we don’t know, Domi. I feel it.”

“I think you should rest, Gio.”

Giovanni tried to rise. Dominic gently pushed him back. “Lie down. Twenty minutes on your back will do you good. When Renaldo returns with your clothes you can shower. Zia Josefina has brought in food for you. I’ll have it brought here.”

Giovanni wanted to protest. The moment he reclined in the hospital bed the battle was lost. His lids slipped lower and lower. “If any thing happens? If she stirs have them wake me. Immediately,” he yawned.

Dominic patted his shoulder. “Rest, brother. I’m here. I’ll take care of everything.”

* B
*

“Christo!”
Carmella exclaimed. She turned directly into Lorenzo. “You scared me Lorenzo.”

Lorenzo dropped his hand on the stove and trapped her near the counter. “Fixing breakfast are we?” he asked. He stared into her eyes. The exchange was brief. She immediately looked away. Lorenzo lifted her chin and brought her gaze back upward. “Well? Are you?”

“Huh? Yes. I thought everyone needed to eat, especially little Eve. She was so upset yesterday. Pardon,” Carmella said and she tried once more to escape. Lorenzo touched her hip and prevented her from leaving. He kept his hand there. She looked down at his touch and back up into his eyes.

“You and I haven’t had time to catch up. I hear you still fuck Armando Mancini?”

“That’s a lie!” she said. She pushed her way out from under him and moved over toward the block of knives near the sink. Lorenzo smirked. He watched her with semi-amusement. The other half of him was prepared to snap her neck if what Marietta said about her proved true.

“Is it? A lie? So you deny it?” Lorenzo asked.

“Our families are close. I work for Gio and I work for Armando. I have for years. And there have been rumors that I fucked them both. For years.” Carmella tossed back.

“At one time you did,” Lorenzo said.

“We were kids. What you and Armando conspired to do against Gio forever ruined any chance of my having him. You think I don’t know what you did? What you are? Gio may not see through your fake loyalty but I do! I know you have been jealous of him for years, and have constantly undermined him.”

“So says the whore,” Lorenzo plucked an apple from the fruit bowl and bit into it. Lorenzo stepped toward her. “The past is the past. Giovanni never gave a shit about you.”

“That’s not true! I was his girlfriend!”

“You were his first piece of ass!” Lorenzo chuckled. “As I recall you played a dangerous game between the boys.”

“Your fault!” she shot back.

“Me? I didn’t spread your legs. You did. Or have you forgotten?” Lorenzo chuckled.

There was no quick comeback. Carmella cast her gaze down. Lorenzo recalled the debt Giovanni had to pay for having Del Stavio make Dominic his little charm necklace. Armando wanted his girlfriend. Giovanni refused to give her up, fought Armando in the street to keep her. Made all the boys fight Armando’s boys every day after school. That was until Lorenzo met with Armando secretly behind his cousin’s back and made another deal. He wouldn’t war with them over pussy. Giovanni was too soft on girls, and love. Together Armando and Lorenzo set Giovanni up to see Carmella for the whore they knew she’d eventually become. Carmella gave her soul to Armando. That was her choice. He could give a shit that she could never live with it. Lorenzo bit into the apple as he glared at her.

“What do you want?” Carmella asked.

“I’ve heard you’ve been quite the little helper for the
Donna
. Fixing her tea?”

Carmella paled. She opened her mouth to deny it. Nothing escaped. Lorenzo slowed down his chewing and watched her. He took a threatening step toward her. “Are you spying on us for Mancini?”

“No,” she said.

“What was in the tea?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she answered.

“That’s a lie, Carmella. You know Battaglia men don’t like to be lied to,” he smirked.

“I don’t know what your wife saw but it was nothing!” Carmella protested.

“I never said my wife saw anything,” Lorenzo replied. Before she could bolt he grabbed her by the throat. He threw the apple into the sink hard enough for it to split. Carmella gasped. Her eyes stretched with horror. “What was in the tea, bitch?”

“I didn’t do it. I swear it. I couldn’t do it. Armando threatened my mother and brother. He left me no choice. Please, Lorenzo. Please don’t tell Gio. He’ll never forgive me.”

“You shouldn’t fear Gio,” Lorenzo tightened his hold on her throat. “You should fear me.”

Carmella wept. “I didn’t tell him anything. I knew nothing. Just how she was. That’s it. I don’t know anything. I’m so sorry.”