by Sienna Mynx
Rocco slammed his fist on the desk surface. “I’m an old man. I’ll probably be dead before your first child is born. This is not about me.”
“The hell it isn’t!” Dominic said. “You’re using her to get the family back in the Mafiosi. To take us all the way back to the days where you and Tomosino were boss. That is your dream, Rocco. Not Giovanni’s. Not this family.”
“Giovanni wanted the respect of the Mafiosi. He wanted Mancini’s power. Lorenzo wanted it too. If the boys had worked together they could have it all. The both of them...”
“Lorenzo? Lorenzo? Fuck Lorenzo!”
“Dominic...”
“Lorenzo is a traitor! A rat!”
“He’s blood!” Rocco said.
“You are fucking insane if you think I’ll stand back and watch Lorenzo walk back into this family. I’ll kill him myself.”
“You may have too,” Rocco said. “He’s out there and it’s only a matter of time before he makes a move. We can’t let the family go down. Soon we will have to show strength.”
“Not at the expense of his wife. Not at the risk of everything Giovanni built with the Camorra!”
Rocco smirked.
“You don’t care do you? You don’t care if Lorenzo returns and takes over this family.”
“I care, but I’ve seen a lot, Domi. And I’ve sat in Chianti rotting because my brothers put me there. Now they’re all dead. I’m the one left. Giovanni did not respect me in the past months. He treated me like his father has always treated me, like I’m invisible. Now I’m the only one left who knows the old and new ways. The only one left standing to protect the Battaglia name. Who runs the family can’t be more important than the family surviving. Go have another drink, boy. I’ll take it from here.”
Dominic wiped his hand down his face. He glared at Rocco for a second, and then realized there was no need to further the debate. The war in his family could not be won in a conversation. He would have to step in and stop it. He walked out. He walked so fast, and so determined with anger clenching his gut, he nearly passed the stairwell. Dominic took the stairs two at a time. He rounded them and continued up to the third floor. On his way to Giovanni’s room, he was met with several medical staff members. The entire floor felt like a hospital, cold and sterile. He kept going undeterred and found two nurses inside the room with Giovanni giving him a sponge bath. One kept Giovanni still, while the other cleaned his back.
The women looked up and immediately ceased their duties.
“Leave me with him.”
The women left without a word of protest. Dominic walked over to the bed. Giovanni was turned on his side. He lay facing the door. From the front he looked like any man who slept. Dominic walked around the bed and stopped. The stitching of his bullet wounds to the back were as grotesque as he guessed them to be. They were healing, but the skin was dark purplish red, with splotches of yellow. It was a miracle that his brother lived. Dominic closed his eyes to force the shadows that lingered in his peripheral view away. When he opened them he was with Giovanni only. He tried to speak and couldn’t. He began to pace. First by the window, and then by the foot of Giovanni’s bed. He tried to work it all out, but he was uncertain of every decision he’s made so far. Was he wrong? Was Rocco right? And what was he fighting for if Catalina was gone? One minute he wanted Mirabella to lead them and the next he was questioning her every move. He hated Lorenzo for what he did, but the survival of the family couldn’t be left to Mirabella. Could it? Should it be? If Giovanni died the only living man ruthless and cunning enough to keep them from being wiped away for another clan bosses legacy was Lorenzo. Should the survival of the family be based on forgiving and accepting the treacherous bastard?
“I don’t know what’s going on, Gio. The doctors can’t figure you out. But you’re alive. That means you’re in there. You’re in there.”
Giovanni lay still as a corpse.
“They are after Mirabella. Pulling her apart. She’s devolving. I encouraged it. We all did. It’s how it’s done. And she doesn’t trust me. That’s my fault. The drinking. That’s my fault. She even brought her head doctor here to fix me. But damn it, Gio, she’s in trouble. And I won’t let Lorenzo win. Not for doing this to you. I don’t care what Mirabella thinks, it was Lorenzo who put you here. He did this to the family. He is the true enemy.”
Dominic paced.
“Catalina... I lost her. She’s Armando’s now. She’s gone. But I’m not going to fail you, us, everything we worked for.”
Dominic walked around to face Giovanni. He stared down at the man that he considered a hero all of his life. Giovanni had saved him on more than one occasion. He’d been the rock and foundation of his existence.
“Gio? Gio. Gio,” Dominic said. “Tell me? Do I kill our brother myself? Do I kill his wife and baby and break him forever? How far do I go to make them all pay for what they have done? Wake up and say it. Wake up and say something damn it!” Dominic pleaded.
He let go a deep breath. He dragged a chair over and sat. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Rocco wants to bring Lorenzo back. I think he is plotting to give Lorenzo power. But why? Why would he do it? Knowing that Lorenzo caused the death of Patri. I’ll tell you. Because as long as I can remember Rocco hated Patri, especially after he was sent to Chianti. Rocco can’t be trusted.” Dominic closed his eyes and struggled to put it together. None of the puzzle pieces fit. “Mirabella has Marietta locked away in villa Rosso. She blames her for your shooting. Once Lorenzo finds out, it will force him to be sloppy. And I don’t care how much blood we share between us, I will put Lorenzo down before he walks through these doors.” Dominic sighed again. “Mirabella’s met with the Camorristi. She’s out in Naples now with Tacchini unprotected, and Rocco is whispering in her ear. Telling her she has to do these things—that she can do these things. Using her. If you are in there brother you need to wake up. Before it’s too late.”
Dominic made the sign of the cross before him and then prayed: “Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you, poor banished children of Eve; to you our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes toward us merciful. And after this our exile, Jesus, the blessed fruit of thy womb. O clement, O loving, O sweet Vergine Maria. Amen.”
He stood and leaned over to kiss Giovanni’s cheek. And then he left. The nurses waited in the hall for his departure. They barely looked up at him as he passed them by. Once he reached the end of the hall he was greeted by Sera. The doctor was coming up the stairs. They both paused, unsure what to say.
“Dominic? I was just coming to do some work. I, ah, met the kids today. They are great kids.” Dominic nodded and started to walk down the stairs. She grabbed his arm. He glanced to her. “Maybe we can finish our talk later? Maybe we can talk now if you have the time?”
“I don’t,” he said and left. He stopped halfway down the stairs. He glanced back to see her watching him. Mirabella trusted her. And that trust could be useful to him. “Tonight. I’ll see you at dinner with the family. Then we can talk.”
She smiled.
“Good. I’ll see you then.”
He kept going.
Mirabella stood to the front of Melanzana while the children played around her. The twins chased each other. Eve used her jump rope to show her mother tricks. She waited for another ten minutes before she heard the soft sound of a car engine approaching. The children all froze in anticipation.
The car drove around the circular drive and parked. Leo got out first. Minnie didn’t wait for him to reach her car door. She threw it open. “Mira!”
The older woman smiled as she tried to make it up the stairs to her. Mirabella came down the steps and greeted her with a loving hug. Minnie squeezed her tight. “Oh honey. I am so glad to get my arms around you. I had been calling for weeks before you finally called me back. How are you?”
“I’m better today than I was yesterday.”
“Minnie!” Eve said and hurried down the steps. The twins came after her. Minnie stooped to take all the kids into her arms. Mirabella was amused at how friendly the twins were. They must have remembered Minnie also.
“Belinda, how are you, sweetheart?” Mirabella welcomed the girl into an affectionate hug.
“Thank you so much for letting me come visit. Italy is so beautiful.”
“It is! Leo, later this week you take Belinda down to Marina Piccola. Show her the beaches.”
Leo nodded his obedience and Belinda’s eyes stretched with gratitude.
“She ain’t here to vacation, Mira. She can do just fine with sticking with me. Ain’t that right Bea?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Awe c’mon. She’s in another country. It’ll do her good.”
Minnie rolled her eyes. Mirabella winked at the young girl that she would make sure that she got some sight seeing in. They all started inside the house. Minnie fired off so many questions, Mirabella stopped trying to answer them.
“Why don’t you two go to your rooms and get settled. A day of traveling, and the time difference must have you exhausted. Get some rest.”
Minnie sighed. “I slept on the plane, but I feel like I could sleep some more.”
Mirabella kissed her cheek. “There is so much I have to tell you. But no hurry. Go on upstairs. Leo, make sure they are okay.”
“Sì, Donna.”
“I wanna go with Minnie too!” Eve said.
Minnie chuckled. “Come on, baby. Let’s go.”
Mirabella watched them go upstairs. She glanced to her left and saw Zia watching from the archway of the parlor. She hadn’t stepped forward for an introduction. The old woman stared at Mirabella a moment, and then turned and walked away. Mirabella wanted to go after her, but she stopped herself. She didn’t have the energy. She saw Rocco coming down the hall with his cane, and turned to avoid a conversation with him.
“Mirabella,” he said.
She stopped. She closed her eyes for patience and sucked in a slow breath. Then she put a fake smile to her face and looked back at him. “Yes, Rocco?”
“We have visitors? More?”
“Not visitors, family. My family.”
Rocco frowned. “Now?”
“They are here for the children, Rocco.”
He walked toward her. “Can we talk?”
“I’m tired. I need to make a few phone calls. Can it wait?”
“It can’t. We need to talk about Tacchini. Did you get the answers you needed? About the Bay? And what the Camorristi were up to?”
“No. He was more interested in seducing me into some kind of alliance.”
“You do know you have to be careful.”
“I’m beginning to realize I have to be careful of a lot of things. Scusi, Rocco,” she said and started up the stairs. She went up to the third floor without a backwards glance. She walked down the hall to her husband’s side of the floor. Dr. Singh was on his way into the office she made for him. The other doctor was no longer there. It was decided that Singh was the only one needed to stay behind. She followed the doctor and he looked up when she entered.
“How is Giovanni?”
“No change.”
“Someone on your staff has been talking.”
“No, Signora, I can guarantee it.”
“They have been. And I warned you.”
“Signora, per favore, no one has.”
“I want one nurse. And you. That’s it. Let everyone else go. If something needs to be done, they are called in and screened by my people. But the rest leave. That way if there is another leak on Giovanni’s care I know who to blame.”
“Sì, Signora.”
Mirabella left before his apology started. She didn’t want any excuses. She walked to the room assigned to Sera and knocked on the door. The woman opened it, and looked surprised to see her. “Donna Mirabella.”
“I expect you to join us for dinner.”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Afterwards you will join me and my aunt Minnie for a conversation. There is something I want to explain to you both.”
“Of course.”
Mirabella left the woman standing there staring after her as she headed to her husband’s room. She found him just as she left him. Tired from the day, and still reeling from her loneliness, she kicked off her shoes. She walked over to the bed and positioned him. Then she eased on to the bed and snuggled his body without disturbing him. Alone with him she could finally breathe.
“I miss you, baby,” she said and touched his chest. “I’m sorry for thinking you were cheating on me. I... should have trusted you more. I miss you so much.”
Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. She sniffed. Mirabella closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat. It was slow and steady. She relaxed to the soft melody. She ran her hand down his chest. She kissed his nipple. She began to hum softly to him. And the more she did, the more relaxed she became. Soon she drifted to sleep. She slept with him for a full two hours before she woke. And part of her had hoped he’d be awake looking down at her when she did. But a bigger part of her knew better. She believed less and less of fairytale endings. Giovanni did not move. She sat up and wiped her face. They were alone. Mirabella collected her shoes and left.
The door closed.
Giovanni’s lids fluttered and his face twitched. Two of his fingers moved.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
La Famiglia
The Campania
“Babe! How do I look?”
Carlo glanced up from loading and cleaning his guns. He smiled. She was damn beautiful. The dress he picked out for her fit her slender curves like a glove. “Benissima.”
“What about my tits. Is it too much?” she squeezed her breasts. “I don’t want to look like a whore.”
“What’s wrong with being a whore?” he said and picked up his gun. He squeezed one eye shut and aimed it.
“No girl aspires to be a whore, Carlo. Even if she is one.”
“I like whores,” he said. “They are real women. They own who they are, and don’t give a fuck what the world thinks of them. Like me,” he said and started to put together another gun.
“A lot of those women you admire, were forced into selling their bodies. A lot of those women had no choice. Those women...”
“Those women? Again, you speak of whores as if you don’t know them?” he glanced over to her. She froze on the statement, then smiled for him.
“I know them better than you I’m just trying to explain.”
Carlo stared at her for a moment. “I asked to meet your family, someone who knows you.”
“I’m working on it. I told you I lost my father and my mother, Carlo. I don’t have many friends. The last one I did have faked an overdose in a hotel room. Remember?”
“I remember,” he said.
“So this dress, you like it.”
“The dress makes you look pretty. Not like a whore.”
“I want to look good for you.”
Carlo set the gun down. He stood and stretched. Then he approached her. Adara took a step back.
“No. We’ll be late and I just did my makeup. Carlo. Please don’t!”
“Come here,” he said and went for her. Adara was quick to dodge his grasp, but she didn’t make it to the bedroom fast enough. One powerful swipe of his arm, and she was lifted off her feet and brought up against his chest.
She laughed hysterically. Carlo didn’t have the patience to go to the bedroom. Instead he put her over the arm of the sofa. Adara’s hands landed flat to the sofa cushion. Her pelvis rested against the curve of the sofa’s arm with her ass turned up.
“Don’t worry. I won’t mess up your make up.”
Her panties were dragged to her knees, and his zipper was let down. Before she could anticipate his next move, Carlo was inside of her. Long and short rapid thrusts. His dick slamming into her with precision, stretching her walls, forcing her to quiver below
the waist. She bit down on her bottom lip and moved the way he liked. She heard Carlo groan. She smiled. The minute pleasure took over his raw and lustful urges, the sex between them was better. He moved with such rhythm, the strokes sent her clitoris into distress. Adara pressed her face into the cushion and groaned softly. She’d totally forgotten about her makeup. Together they found bliss, and together they rode that wave to the bitter end.
When Carlo pulled out, she sighed with regret and longing. She glanced back at him.
“I didn’t ruin it,” he said through heavy pants. She stood upright and his seed seeped out, down her thigh. She headed to the bathroom and he followed. As she cleaned herself he watched. He lit a cigarette which she hated, but didn’t say so. He blew smoke through his nose and stared at her pussy while she wiped it with a soapy rag.
“You need help?” he asked.
“No. I prefer you clean up too so you won’t be smelling like sex all night.”
Carlo blew a ring of smoke. A neat trick.
She smiled. “I’m serious. We can’t miss dinner. They’re expecting us.”
Carlo winked and walked out. Adara sat on the toilet and peed. Just as she turned to grab tissue gunfire erupted. The blasts startled a scream from her. She leapt to her feet and pulled up her panties. The gunfire rang out from inside of the villa, and she scrambled to get to the room. Carlo kept a gun in the dresser. Whoever was inside his cottage shooting would come for her next. Everything in her wanted to cry out for Carlo, but she knew better. Before she could reach the bed bullets shattered the windows in the bedroom and the bullets flew everywhere. Adara dropped to her knees. She crawled to the dresser praying for coverage. Two more gunshots, and the eruption of violence ended. She got to the gun. She panted like a marathon runner. She hesitated but forced herself to remember her training and got up with the gun in her hands ready to fire. She whirled around just as Carlo walked in. She could have shot him.
Carlo didn’t stop. He went straight for the phone and dialed. A smoking gun was still in his hand. He said only four words and the meaning was clear.