La Sposa (45 page)

Theodore rose. He leaned forward on the desk.
“Lunch. Let’s go. You have to eat. Think of it as a chance to pick
my brain for anything you want to know. Besides, I miss Mira. You
are the closest I’ve been to her since she disappeared. I want to
hear more of her life.”

Catalina did not eat or entertain men outside
of Dominic. It was disrespectful. However, this was work. Only
work. “I guess it will be okay.”

“
I know a great Chinese restaurant.
You haven’t eaten in New York until you’ve had Chinese. Come
on.”

She rose and grabbed her coat and purse.
Theodore headed for the door and she followed. Lunch sounded like a
great idea.

*****

Dominic waited. He itched to leave and get to
a phone. Instead, he had to wait for his next meeting. And the
entire time, he played back every detail of Melissa Ellison’s life,
as told by James. If Mancini was here, and part owner of the club
then it would mean he was likely, Mira’s father. It would explain
the Del Stavio bracelet, and the cover-up. And another connection
surfaced from the recesses of his mind. When Mira and Fabiana
arrived in Napoli, they opened business in a building leased to
Mancini by Tomosino. It infuriated Giovanni enough to send him out
to demand payment from the ladies. This was how they met. His
stomach clenched as the bitter truth sank in deeper.

The door buzzed and opened.

Dominic looked up to see Kei, Mira’s ex-lover
enter. He was shackled by the wrists and feet. His head was shaved
bald and a white gauze with medical tape covered his left eye. He
glared at Dominic with his good eye. Kei walked over to the desk
and sat down.

“
You know who sent me,” Dominic
said.

Kei said nothing in return.

“
As you see, Giovanni has again
shown mercy and spared your life. Here is what is expected in
exchange. Attorneys will come as a courtesy, to have you sign over
all rights to House of Mirabella’s. If you do so, then our business
is concluded.”

Kei smirked. He said nothing.

“
Another thing between us that must
be clear. If you ever try to contact Mira or see her again, it will
be considered an act of war. You are to rot in whatever hell they
sentence you to, with no further thought of her.”

“
You tell that coward of a boss
that I am a patient man. I’ve already signed over the contracts
with my attorneys. Mira has her business free and clear. It is the
final act of love I will show her, and she will someday know it.
I’ve also agreed to the extradition back to China. The Triad is my
family now—that is why I am able to keep one eye in this prison
instead of two. Something else I have to be thankful
for.”

“
Our business is done.” Dominic
said, sitting back in his chair.

“
Not quite,” Kei replied. “When I
come for him, he will watch as I take and destroy everyone he
loves. Starting with the bitch who sat back and let him carve out
my heart and the last of the love I had for her.”

Dominic clenched his fist. “Watch your tongue,
China man.”

“
One day, year, I don’t care if
it’s a fucking decade, I will settle all debts owed to
me.”

“
So, you’ve learned nothing?”
Dominic said, eyeing the guards to calculate how much time it would
take for him to snap the China man’s neck before they were on
him.

“
Oh, I’ve learned a lot. It’s Mira
and her pretend gangster who have learned nothing. But they will.
This, I vow. You have woken the dragon.” A sliver of a smile
creased his mouth. He then said something in mandarin that Dominic
couldn’t understand. However, the tone he used when he said the
words were as lethal as the tension they now shared.

Dominic looked on with seething contempt. If
the guards weren’t in the room, he’d show the bastard the meaning
of respect.

“
How is Little Rabbit? She has a
birthday in a few weeks. Tell her Poppy has not forgotten her, she
is still my love.” Kei rose and started away, but stopped under the
arch of the door. He cast a look back at Dominic with his good eye.
Not a word passed between the men but it was clear to them both, no
matter where they sent Kei, the two of them would meet
again.

It was a mistake to let this one live. He
would have to warn Giovanni.

Chapter Twelve

Morte
- Death

The smell of fresh coffee, baking bread, and
cheese woke him. Lorenzo struggled with fatigue. He had spent a day
travelling on the roads to Milan, then the night making love to
Marietta. He felt hung over and bone tired. Still, the delicious
aroma of breakfast forced his sagging lids to part. His nostrils
flared and he inhaled deeply. Whatever the fuck it was, it smelled
damned delicious. He sat up with a deep groan.
“Marietta?”

He was alone in bed.

“
Marietta!” he shouted.

No answer.

“
Shit!” He grabbed his robe and put
it on. Walking out of his room he went to the stairs and then down.
As soon as he entered the open dining room, the fresh aroma of
breakfast seized him. His stomach clenched. Lorenzo strolled into
the kitchen and found her at the stove. She was removing what
looked like cubes of bread baked with mozzarella and sliced
tomatoes.

“
Morning. Hungry?”

“
What’s this?”

“
It’s called breakfast, silly. Did
I tell you how much I love this kitchen!” she grinned.

Lorenzo smiled. “A woman that cooks. After my
heart, are we?”

“
I think I already have it.” She
shot him a challenge in her lovely smile. Lorenzo looked away,
uncomfortably. Even if it were possible that he could love a woman
again, he wouldn’t dare say the words aloud. His mother’s curse had
driven every woman he cared about from his life. Fabiana was the
last lesson he’d had in love. No, he’d make her his woman, keep her
with him for now, but never love.

“
Uh oh, did I say something wrong?”
Marietta half-joked.

“
No.” He leaned over to taste some
of what she offered on the spoon. He chewed with a smile, and then
swallowed and spoke. “I think we should let David think you are
missing, gone…”

“
Dead?” she finished.

Lorenzo paused over the word. Marietta
shrugged her shoulders. “It’s what he wanted, for you to kill me.
I’m sure he expects my body to wash up in Lake Como.”

He nodded, taking another bite. “I have a
place in Bellagio. Well it belongs to my cousin now, but I have use
of it. After this is over, I want to take you there.”

She glanced up. “Sounds nice. I’ve heard
Bellagio is beautiful year round.”

Lorenzo continued. “I have a meeting this
morning, and then business later. I’ll come back around lunch.
Before tonight is over, the war between you and the Capriccios will
be done.”

“
About my father? The man who isn’t
Capriccio? Will you get that answer for me as well?”

Lorenzo rose and walked around the table. He
pulled her to him and she came willingly. He couldn’t believe she
accepted the good and bad of him with such ease. Not many women
would. And not many women would ask for the death of another the
way this one did. It came from her easily, as if asking him to
bring home a slab of meat from the butcher. Damn, she turned him
on. He kissed her nose. “I’m a man of my word,
Cara
. You
will see.”

“
It’s hard to believe I’ve only
known you for three days. It feels like we’ve known each other all
my life.”

Admittedly, he had to agree. He kissed her
again. She pushed him off. Quickly, she moved the pot of burning
prosciutto off the gas flame. “It’s ruined!”

He chuckled. “I like it that way.”

Marietta shrugged. “Good, then this is yours.
I’ll make me some more.”

The phone rang. Lorenzo walked across the
kitchen and picked it up.
“Pronto?”

“
Santo has a problem. I sent a
package through his business. He’ll be busy for the day with the
carabinieri
.”

“
We don’t turn those fucks on our
own people, Carlo!”

“
How the hell else did you expect
me to delay him? I’m leaving to head to Milan.”

“
What? Why?”

“
It’s time you clued me in on what
the fuck is going on. Enough of the secrets.”

The phone line disconnected.

“
Shit!” he slammed the phone back
on the wall.

“
What is it?”

“
Let’s eat. I got to run out
soon.”

*****

Mira entered first, but Eve shot around her
legs running for the television room where her toys were left. When
Mira glanced back at Giovanni, he gave her a tired smile. Mira wore
the shirt she slept in, made love in, over her torn dress. Her
shoes were in her hand. She needed a hot shower desperately.
Rosetta came out of the television room, eating. “Hi! You’re
back!”

Giovanni headed toward their room.

“
Come to Mama, Eve.”

Her daughter did as she was told, bringing a
doll with her. “I’m going to give her a bath and get her changed.
Can you entertain her afterwards? Giovanni and I need to get some
sleep.”

“
But it’s almost eleven in the
morning,” Rosetta frowned.

“
I know. I’m tired. So is he,” she
nodded in the direction of her parting husband.

“
Then let me bathe Eve. The chef
cooked so there is plenty to eat. You can heat up something for you
and Gio.” Rosetta took Eve’s hand. Mira smiled. They ate a quick
breakfast on the yacht so she wasn’t terribly hungry. When she
entered the room, she paused. Giovanni hadn’t slept much out at
sea, but now he was out cold on the bed, in his clothes. She walked
over to him, removing his shoes from his feet. She went to the
windows and drew the shutters shut to darken the room. And then she
located the phone. She unplugged it from the wall. When she walked
back out of the room, Rosetta was chasing Eve who was now
bottomless and frisky.

“
Rosetta.” Mira placed the phone on
the lamp table. “For the next couple of hours we aren’t to be
disturbed. Okay?”

“
Okay.” Rosetta scooped Eve up, who
was kicking and fighting her to be free. Mira winked. She turned
and went back in and closed the door. Quickly shedding her clothes,
she went to the bed and climbed on top. Giovanni immediately rolled
over and dragged her to him. She snuggled against his warmth and
returned to sleep.

*****

Silvio Negali greeted him at the door. Lorenzo
ducked his head to walk in. At the table sat David Capriccio. On
top of the table were two duffle bags filled with money. Giovanni’s
money. David glanced up with a wary look. Lorenzo still wore the
battle scars from the fight with Marietta three days ago. David
tried to show no reaction but Lorenzo sensed his
curiosity.

“
Did you count the money?” Lorenzo
asked Negali.

“
It’s all there.”

Lorenzo picked up a stack of
lire
bank
notes and fingered through the bills. He nodded that it had better
be and zipped the bags up, placing them off to the side of his
chair, to handle business.

“
So glad we can get this meeting
started,” said Negali.

“
Are we prepared?” Lorenzo
asked.

David nodded. “I, yes, we are. However, there
is a bit of a problem. A legal matter with, ah, a woman. Her name
is Marietta Leone and she…”

“
I know who she was. She’s your
sister.”

David blanched.

Lorenzo chuckled. “And she is no longer an
issue for you or me,” Lorenzo replied.

David looked relieved, the stupid fucker.
Silvio’s questioning gaze bounced between the men. “Is she
withdrawing her petition with the magistrate?” David
asked.

“
I said, she’s no longer an issue.
Gone. There will be no contesting the business we need to conduct
today. I assure you.” The piece of shit almost said thank you.
Lorenzo narrowed his eyes on him and held him in his
glare.

“
What of the Nigerians?” Lorenzo
asked.

“
Yes. I’m curious about that answer
as well.” Santo walked into the room.

Lorenzo cringed. He forced himself to look
back over his shoulder. Santo gave him a respectful nod before
stepping to the table. The bastard had come. He patted Lorenzo on
the shoulder and nodded a greeting to the other men. “I’ve been
asked to sit in on this meeting. Make sure things are in
order.”

“
Benvenuto!”
Silvio
exclaimed. “
Non problemo!
Let me get you copies of the
contracts.”

David Capriccio looked frozen before both men.
Lorenzo would have no further chance to squeeze the
prick.

“
How did you know the meeting was
this morning?” Lorenzo asked Santo, tightly.

“
Gio knows many things. You
understand how it works.
Ciao
,” Santo extended his hand.
“I’m Santo Kimmatore.” David accepted his handshake. Silvio
returned with a stack of documents. He brought them to
Santo.