by Sienna Mynx
“I...” Sera began.
“Am I not clear?” Giovanni asked.
“No. You’re clear.”
“Dominic? Maybe you should take the doctor and explain to her how it’s done. I need to speak with Carlo.”
Dominic stood. It looked like the doctor would not. Giovanni stared at the doctor a moment and she got the message. She was led out of the office by Dominic. The door closed and immediately the tension left the air. Giovanni chuckled. He pushed up from his desk and grabbed a cane. Carlo smiled as his boss approached. He was a bit stiff in the legs, but looked remarkably strong for a man who had just spent two months in a coma, and suffered three shots to the back.
“Brother!” Giovanni gave Carlo a hug. He let him go and patted his cheek. “You saved my life. Cut the bullshit. Soon I will owe you and Renaldo more than my wife.”
“It was a tense time for us all.”
“What the hell has happened to your hair?” Giovanni frowned. It was the scar that his boss referenced. Carlo shrugged. “Marietta gave you this? I’m told she hit you and used your gun.”
“About Marietta. Boss, there is no certainty that she shot you.”
“Of course there is. Everyone knows it. You know it.”
Carlo was rendered speechless. Giovanni stared at him for a moment. Then he smiled. “We’ve been through a lot. Since we were kids we’ve had each other’s backs. Right?”
“Yes,” Carlo said.
“But no one had your back like Lorenzo... he’s been more than your friend. He’s been your brother. You have some loyalty to him.”
“We settled this, Boss. The moment I heard the tapes I knew where my loyalties lie.”
“Unfortunately, you will have to prove that to me once again. Because I also know you are fond of her, Marietta.” Giovanni walked around to his desk. “I know I call upon you for the difficult jobs. The ones with the women. The ones we don’t speak of once done.”
Carlo felt the muscles that lined his stomach cinch. He braced for the order but he knew the play. He’d been given tough jobs in the past. He had the knives and blood on his soul to account for it. This was one job he may not be able to see through.
“I have to deal with Marietta. You’re going to have deal with her. And you know why it has to be you, only you.”
Carlo never turned down a hit. And he’s had some pretty bad ones. Especially when he first took an oath of Omertà, and officially became part of the clan. But this job was too difficult to fathom.
“The baby?” he asked.
“Don’t worry, Carlo. The baby will be fine. You will see to it.”
Carlo sighed. “Understood, Boss. Tell me the plan.”
Chapter Forty-Two
The Dilemma
Sorrento, Italy
“I can’t do it! I won’t!” Sera shook all over with fear. Not of the Battaglias, though she knew she should be cautious around this family. She shook with fear over the repercussions she could face in her career. In all her life she’d never done anything unethical, let alone illegal.
Dominic forced her into a room and shut the door. Sera was startled when he blocked her escape. Gone was the complicated lover with a big heart. Before her stood a man she didn’t recognize. The realization that she was trapped pushed her closer to tears, but she resisted. She rubbed her arm where he had grabbed her too strongly and then took a step back.
“Giovanni has made himself clear.”
“I was hired by his wife to give a professional diagnosis of you and her sister. Not this.”
Dominic’s left brow winged up.
“I won’t risk my reputation or jail by agreeing to any of this. How could you even think I would, Dominic?”
“You’ll do it, Sera. And you won’t tell Mirabella, or anyone. That’s how it has to be. I warned you from the very start. This is not a negotiation.”
“I can’t do it! I’m a doctor! I’ve taken an oath!”
Dominic stepped toward her. Sera stepped back, wishing she’d just run from the damn place the moment she discovered Marietta was locked away in that villa.
“You could stop this, Domi. You already told me that that the shadows aren’t there. And I see you’re not drinking. You’re healing. If you do this? You know what that does, how you internalize these things. It’s killing you.”
His hand went to her face, both sides. He held her still. She pushed at his chest, but she couldn’t move him. Dominic drew her closer and kissed her. Sera closed her eyes and allowed the kiss. When it ended, he stared into her eyes again. She could see the beautiful golden yellow rings in his hazel-brown pupils.
“You helped me, Sera. I think you called it transference of rage. The night I left your bed I got in my car and I drove to the top of the Sorrento Peninsula hill. There’s a tiny two-bedroom villa that an old farmer who went bankrupt years ago used to own. My men kept Raffaele there.”
Sera frowned. She wasn’t sure of the story he shared. There was something in his tone that made it eery as opposed to revealing.
Dominic gave her a sly smile. “He was like me, waiting for absolution. It was within my power to give it to him. I could have easily sent him back to his family in Sant'Agnello. Everyone expected me to. And then I realized why I struggled so hard. Why I couldn’t face my actions. Because I had never accepted who I am. You helped me see who I am. I’m Patri Tomosino’s chosen son. Dominic Esposito Battaglia. And I put a bullet in Raffaele for allowing Mancini to take my Catalina away from me. That was true transference of rage.”
Sera wanted to vomit.
“I don’t need to struggle with it anymore. And I don’t need you, Doctor. So you will do what Giovanni asked, or I’ll take you to the top of the Sorrento Peninsula hill.” He pulled her face gently toward him and kissed her brow. Sera didn’t dare let the tears she’d been holding fall. Dominic whispered in her ear. “Say you understand.”
“Capisco,” she said softly. “I understand.”
“Brava ragazza, brava,” he said.
“Belinda? Honey? Where is Minnie?” Mirabella asked.
“Mama? She went to that second house. Villa Rosso.”
“Ah, okay... hi, sweetie,” Mirabella said. She lifted Gianni from Belinda’s arms into her own. “Have the boys been upstairs to spend time with their father?”
“Ah? No. He’s in meetings,” Belinda said as she collected toys that were on the floor. Gino was laid out on the sofa sleep, and Eve was combing Cecelia’s hair. Mirabella glanced to her nanny for an explanation.
“Didn’t you know, Donna? Gio can walk. He came down the stairs on his own.”
“What?” Mirabella said and looked up to the ceiling.
“Mommy! He said he’d come get me when he finished.” Eve chimed in.
“Walk? The stairs? Are you sure?” Mirabella asked.
“He sent the doctor and nurses home. Said he didn’t need them. Sorry, but you were gone so long we couldn’t reach you.”
The news made no sense. The doctors said it was a process. She didn’t expect him to be up on his feet that quick. He had to be pushing himself too hard. This changed everything for her. In fact, she had counted on the fact he wouldn’t be mobile to deal with her plans for Marietta.
“Gianni, go play, honey,” she tried to let her son go. He clung to her tightly, and refused any release. She’d have to take him with her. As she left, she called out over her shoulder to the women. “Belinda, go tell Minnie to come in and see me. I need to talk to her. Immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Belinda said.
Mirabella went up the stairs, and she went fast. She held on to Gianni. She needed to find Dr. Marchetti after she met with her husband. Mirabella arrived at her bedroom door to find it closed. With Gianni on her hip, she slowly opened it.
There was no one inside. “Gio?”
He walked out of the bathroom with the help of a cane, not the walker he should be using. “Sweetheart, what are you doing? Did you come downstairs with no help? With t
hat cane?”
“Where have you been?” he asked.
Gianni bucked in Mirabella’s arms. She had to let the toddler down or he’d drop. He ran over to his father. Giovanni smiled down at his son. “Lil Gianni, look at this hair.”
Mirabella watched them. Giovanni had to sit on the edge of the bed to bring Gianni up and put him on his knee. “Where have you been, Bella?” he asked again as he tickled Gianni’s tummy.
There was so much to report. She could start with the fact that she was pregnant, and he was going to be a father again. Looking at him kissing and loving on Gianni, she knew that the news would heal the rift between them since their last argument. Or, she could tell him that his father wasn’t the only rapist. That his dying uncle was one too. And Lorenzo had a mother he never knew, and was probably Tomosino’s son. No. That wasn’t the best news for this time.
When she was frozen with indecision Giovanni cast his gaze over to her. She needed to say something.
“I went to the hospital. I brought Zia home. She’s sick with worry. She needs to sleep and eat. But she can’t. I know how she feels. When you were shot... I had a hard time too.”
“But Mommy recovered. Didn’t she Gianni?”
The toddler laughed.
Mirabella flinched.
“We have dinner plans tonight,” he announced.
“Dinner? With who?”
“Tacchini. We’re going to Napoli to meet with him. I spoke to him earlier.”
“Wait? What? I... you just got out of a coma. We can’t leave here and go to dinner.”
“I’m fine,” he said and set Gianni down.
“No you’re not.”
“Is there a reason you don’t want me to go? To have this meeting?” Giovanni asked.
“No. Of course not. Gio, I know you saw me hug Tacchini, but it was nothing but friendship. Can we please not do this? We have so many important things to discuss.”
“I agree,” he said. He reached for his cane and forced himself to stand. “And the first discussion will be tonight with Tacchini.”
Mirabella’s heart raced so fast she could barely keep from touching her breast. She didn’t dare break eye contact with him. He was angry and distrustful, and she understood. There was a lot to digest. “For you, Gio, it’s been a matter of hours since you were shot. Your mind thinks it happened yesterday. For me it’s been reality and that’s two months. Two months of needing you, being afraid for you, and trying to save this family. I only did what I had to do.”
“I believe you, Bella. You’re my Donna. I trust you.”
“Do you? Because I feel...”
“I trust you.”
He walked over to her and touched her face. “I need to go into Naples. To show my people strength. They need to see me. Right?”
Mirabella wasn’t sure of her answer so she didn’t speak.
“I want you at my side.” He cupped her lower face with one hand. “Bella mia. Sei la mia anima gemella—you are my soulmate.”
“There’s something I need to do, Gio. Marietta, I’m think we should go ahead and send her to the hospital...” He kissed her. She went silent. “You feel different,” he said and ran his hand down to her ass to give it a squeeze. “You taste different.”
“I’m not different,” she told him and tried to push out of his embrace to pick up their now distressed son.
Giovanni wouldn’t let her go. In fact, his embrace was so tight it was uncomfortable.
He stared into her eyes as if searching for something. “Dinner with Piero, are you excited?”
“What?”
“Did you miss him?”
“Let me go!”
Giovanni’s brows lifted and a sly smile lifted the corner of his mouth. When she picked up her son, and then looked to him again, there was no trace of anger or disappointment. He picked up his cane and managed to walk away without assistance. “We’ll leave here at seven. Wear something pretty, for me and Tacchini,” he said and started back to the bathroom.
Mirabella sighed and left.
Marietta felt stronger. The baby kicked. There was spotting earlier in the morning after she showered. She wasn’t too alarmed. The doctors told her that would be expected if she over exerted herself. The kicking of her little one reminded her often that her baby was alive and well, so she welcomed the soft flutters.
“It’s okay, sweetie. Your aunt is going to help us. The most important thing is that we get out of here. Zio Gio is awake, and leaving is for the best.”
There was a sound below. A door closing. She heard voices. Marietta turned over on the bed and slipped her feet into her slippers. The door opened and Minnie returned, which was odd. Belinda had come for her just a few minutes earlier. But then she knew why. Mirabella walked into the room behind her.
“I have to get you out of here. I’m going to find Dominic and have him move you first thing in the morning. Giovanni wants you to go to the hospital and I found one that will be best for you in Rome”
“But won’t Domi tell Giovanni your plan? Sending me to Rome isn’t what he said?”
“Giovanni only said you had to go to the hospital, to get well. And to be honest no hospital here is better than the ones in Rome. Dr. Sera will have a medical team at the airport waiting for you. She will convince Domi that you are best cared for with her.”
“I’ve caused enough pain between you and Giovanni. He’ll see it as betrayal.”
“I have special news. Something my husband will want to hear. We’re going to dinner tonight. When I tell him, I know he’ll be in a forgiving mood. And like I said, I’m doing what he asked. I’m just doing it my way.”
Minnie smiled and nodded. Marietta felt such a deep relief her entire body relaxed. “Thank you, Mira. You’re right. I need to put my baby first. I swear to you I will from now on.”
Minnie cleared her throat.
“Girls, I know I’ve only been closer to you both recently, but I have to say something.” Minnie took Mirabella’s hand. She then walked over to Marietta and took her hand. She stood between them. “I remember Mary and BessieMae. I remember the love they had for each other. I was just a little girl, and I could see it. They were so beautiful, identical. When they were together, singing in the choir, you’d go to your knees. I remember the distrust they had for one another too. It’s a hard thing to overcome. Mary regretted so many things after her sister died. She told my mother. She regretted never being able to find a way to mend the rift between them. And when your mother died, she had a lot of pain over the things she never got to say. She told my Clyde this. The hardest thing to do is to forgive. You know why? It’s because forgiveness sets you free, and our ancestors have taught us that real freedom always comes at a hard price. You’re sisters. You have survived so much to be here today. It wasn’t easy. Don’t make the mistakes your grandmothers made. Because they were both your grandmothers. Mary for raising and loving you Mira, and BessieMae for giving your mother life. Do you understand how important motherhood is for you both?”
“Both?” Marietta frowned.
“Tell her,” Minnie smiled.
“I’m pregnant,” Mirabella said.
Marietta eyes stretched. “You are?”
Mirabella nodded her head. “And I don’t know how hard this pregnancy will be for me. I know that being pregnant is the most important thing.”
“Does Gio know?”
“Not yet. But when he does he’ll understand why I agreed to send you to the best hospital. Why making sure you have a healthy baby is my priority. I’m not defying him. He’s actually the one who helped me see how important children are. Don’t be afraid. Giovanni has never wanted to harm a child. Ever.”
Marietta pushed herself up from the bed and stood. She faced Mirabella who now looked her in the eye. “I’ll pay the price by telling you the truth. I changed the setting on that gun and walked into that warehouse prepared to kill your husband. And I came here to trick you, use your feelings for me against you
to help Lorenzo come back to the Campania and take over. You aren’t crazy or mean. You did what you had to do, what I would have done in your shoes.”
Mirabella shook her head and rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. Marietta feared her sister would turn and leave at any moment. So she spoke faster. “I’m screwed up in the head, Mira. I never had Grandma, or Grandpa. I had two people who smothered and tortured me for as long as I can remember. I was raised by the monsters to become one. I have a lot of anger and distrust in me, a lot of bitterness and jealousy. Like Lorenzo. That’s why we love each other so completely. We understand each other. We deserve each other. My baby is a chance for both of us to learn how to love unselfishly. I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But out of the two of us, you are the only one who knows how to forgive. And my baby will live because you’re a better woman than me.”
Mirabella’s scowl softened. “I had a plan for revenge. I was going to lock you away and take from you what I thought you took from me. But now I know our husbands were destined for this collision long before you and I ever met. Before you and I were even born.”
Marietta wiped her tears.
“I know by sending you to Rome Lorenzo will come for you. And he’ll fight for you the same way Gio fought for me when Kei stepped between us. I hope you both get the future you deserve. I’m glad we get to say goodbye. I pray one day I meet your child, and we find a way back to each other. But if we don’t, if this ends with us never seeing each other again, I want you to tell your baby, all of your babies, that their auntie loves them and she loves you.”
She looked at Minnie who smiled with tears in her eyes. Mirabella let Minnie go and went to Marietta. She hugged her. The sisters hugged each other and cried. Marietta knew it would be the last time they saw each other. If she managed to escape with Lorenzo, she would never be able to return.
“Tell the kids that their crazy Zia Marie loves them too.”
“I love you,” Mirabella wept. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Mira. I swear to you I do. Forgive me, okay? Someday? Okay?”