Cosa Nostra

by Emma Nichols

  “Who is he working with at the DIA?”

  Patrina pursed her lips and shook her head as she looked up. “I don’t know, but I swear I will find out for you, bedda.”

  Maria gritted her teeth. “Alessandro.”

  Patrina nodded.

  Maria took a gulp of wine and swallowed. “What did you want from me?”

  Patrina hesitated. “If you and I are leading our businesses, peace will be restored, Maria.”

  Maria’s lips curled upwards, and then a frown stopped her from smiling. She shook her head. “You want me to clean up for you.”

  Patrina broke eye contact. She reached for the glass and turned it fitfully. “Some people are just bad for business, Maria. You know this.”

  “Why don’t you feed him to the Italians? Chico will be heading this way if his debts aren’t paid, and he doesn’t take disrespect too well.”

  Patrina’s skin paled. Maria nodded. “You’re worried he’ll take you out as well as Alessandro?” Maria raised her eyebrows. “You’re probably right.”

  Patrina’s hand was trembling, and she lifted the glass unsteadily to her lips. The look of terror in Patrina’s eyes touched Maria. Loyalty? Love?

  Whatever it was, it was a curse.

  “Please, Maria, help me. It serves both our families to restore peace.

  If Chico infiltrates our ranks, there will be devastation.”

  Ruining the Amato’s business was preferable to taking lives, but Patrina was right about the fact that they were solid when working as a united front in the same way her father and Don Stefano had been. A united front made it more difficult for outsiders to infiltrate.

  “Alessandro is refusing to pay the debt, Maria.”

  “Then his demise will come sooner than he thinks.”

  Patrina lowered her head.

  Maria shook her head. “To think Beto took two bullets for that fat pig. He deserves everything that’s coming to him. If the Italian’s don’t take him out, you should, Patrina.”

  Patrina’s hand trembled around the glass as she whispered, “And I will die, too.”

  She looked up at Maria, revealing the soul that Maria had once known intimately. Maria fought being drawn into Patrina’s world. If Patrina died, that wasn’t her problem. Why the fuck did she still care then? She walked to the window, put her hands on her hips, and took a long deep breath. Alessandro was Don Stefano’s only nephew and likely to be voted in as the next Don. If the finger for Alessandro’s death were pointed in Maria’s direction, Stefano would come for her. Maybe Alessandro was working from Stefano’s orders to kill her father. Patrina could be way out of the loop. Her father had said that Stefano had lost his way. Maybe he had lost his way enough to order the hit and get Alessandro or one of his men to deliver it. Alessandro picking up the leadership of the Amato clan wasn’t an option Maria could live with. If Patrina died, Stefano would find another thug who he could direct from his cell. Having Patrina at the head of the Amato clan was by far the safest solution for them all. Fire burned in her belly. If Patrina didn’t take the hit on Alessandro, she would have to. She looked into Patrina’s eyes and saw fear. “I hope for your sake that the Italian’s get him.”

  “Will you help me, please, bedda?” Patrina went to Maria and pulled her into an embrace.

  Maria stood stiffly as Patrina’s hot breath touched her neck. “Now, please leave my house, and never come here again.”

  Patrina took a step back. The opening of the gates on the CCTV

  camera drew Maria’s attention and as she looked at Patrina, Patrina was looking at the camera. Fuck.

  “I thought I could smell her perfume,” Patrina said.

  She looked at Maria with a faint smile. Maria saw the sadness in Patrina’s eyes deepen. “You need to leave.”

  “Please help me?”

  Maria looked away. “I will.”

  Patrina stepped through the door to the beach, and Maria watched her walk across the sand to the motorboat resting on the shoreline.

  As the boat sped out to the cruiser, Maria took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Wave after wave of tremors spewed through her gut. Her hands shook, and her legs felt weak. She moved around the room, and the

  environment felt disconcertingly unfamiliar. Her privacy had been invaded.

  She felt violated by Patrina and not for the first time.

  She went to the bathroom and set a bath to run, then returned to the kitchen and filled a bowl of biscuits for Pesto. He followed her to the balcony. She patted his head as she set down the bowl. The sea danced in quiet nonchalance with the sand, creating faint strips of white at the points where they became one and as she inhaled deeply, the consoling taste of the sea came to her. The familiarity brought a little comfort, and she went to the front door just as it opened.

  Simone grinned broadly. “I brought food.” She held up the bags in her hands.

  Maria smiled and held out a steady hand. “I missed you.”

  Simone slipped her fingers between Maria’s and clasped their hands together. She leaned into Maria, who remained steadfast.

  “I missed you too,” she whispered, and then her lips met Maria’s in a lingering kiss.

  Maria slid her fingers tenderly across Simone’s cheeks as if exploring her for the first time, eased from the kiss, and moved her thumb across Simone’s warm lips. “I ran you a bath.”

  “I made us food.” Simone indicated to the bags, then looked into Maria’s eyes. “How was your day?”

  Maria smiled and ignored the question. “The food smells good.” She peeked into a bag and inhaled, her stomach still turning acid following the earlier disturbance. But she couldn’t tell Simone she had no appetite.

  “Smells really fantastic. What did you make?” She looked at Simone who was looking at her, fully aware that she hadn’t answered her question and smiled. “My day was busy. More importantly, how was yours?”

  Simone glanced towards Pesto who jumped up as he reached her.

  She ruffled his neck. “I felt watched all day.” She looked at Maria and raised her eyebrows.

  You were. “I know. It won’t be forever. Come and have a bath with me, and then we can eat.”

  Simone’s eyebrows rose and fell, and a spark flashed through her eyes. She took the bags into the kitchen and then went into the bathroom.

  “How was Roberto?” Maria asked as Simone undressed. Simone looked to the ceiling. Maria slipped the dress over Simone’s head and

  trailed a fingertip across her breasts. The texture of Simone’s skin transformed, and Maria’s breath hitched.

  “He seemed a little distant. He’s been busy.”

  Simone’s voice was fractured with the distraction. and she groaned as Maria’s arm brushed against her. “I have my guys watching him, making sure he’s safe. You don’t need to worry.” She smiled, looked quickly to the rising suds, and stepped into the bath.

  Simone climbed in and faced Maria. “He’s working very long hours.”

  Maria reached up and stroked Simone’s face, leaned forward, and tugged her closer. The water rose up and broke in a wave. She kissed Simone tenderly, enjoying the warmth of the feeling that floated inside her.

  When she eased out of the kiss, she looked into Simone’s eyes. She needed to address the confinement issue Simone had hinted at.

  “You can’t wander around town every day, Simone.”

  Simone lifted her eyebrows and thinned her lips.

  Maria ran her thumb over Simone’s cheek. “Not at the moment. You need to stay here where you will be safe.”

  Simone looked down and ran her fingers through the water. “Will it always be like this?”

  Maria shook her head. “I know it feels that way. I can keep you safe here.” The image of Patrina standing at her window came to her, and an icy chill trickled down her spine.

  “I know life is difficult, but I can’t hide forever, Maria. I can’t live like that.”

  Maria nodded. “I know. It’s
just for a little while. Pesto will enjoy the company, and I’ll get Giovanni to teach you to fish. I’ll spend time here, so we can go diving. We can go tomorrow, see if Octavia is around. Think of it like being on holiday again.” She was blabbering. That was new.

  Simone tossed soapy bubbles at her and laughed. “You’re very convincing, Maria Lombardo.” She pressed her soapy fingers to Maria’s lips. “I love you.”

  Maria kept her eyes closed until the intense emotion subsided, and she had sealed Simone’s words in a box and placed it in at the back of her mind. Later.

  26.

  A rush of adrenaline jolted Maria awake. She lay still for a few minutes, her eyes wide open, her heart pounding, and her mind adjusting to her surroundings. Hot, soft flurries of air waved up the back of her neck.

  Pesto’s bark resonated a short distance away. Her mouth was dry and swallowing cramped her throat. She blinked, sighed, and then relaxed her weight into the mattress. She closed her eyes and smiled at the heady scent that lingered from their lovemaking. Simone moved, and Maria turned and looked at her. So angelic. She slipped her arm under Simone’s neck and snuggled her into her shoulder.

  Simone moaned into Maria’s chest, “Morning,” and then hooked a leg over Maria’s waist.

  Maria teased her fingertips over the line of Simone’s hips, though her thoughts still raced from the vivid dream that had propelled her from sleep. She eased Simone’s leg from her body, kissed her head softly, and slipped out of bed. Simone groaned and buried her face into Maria’s pillow.

  Maria put on a robe and ambled to the kitchen. The broken lock caught her eye, and she sighed. She checked her phone. No messages. She took the coffee beans from the shelf, loaded them into the grinder and released the rich chocolate aroma, then set the machine to percolate. Pesto stretched on his front paws and came to greet her with his tail wagging. She opened the beach door to let him run and stepped onto the cool sand.

  Giovanni strode up the beach towards the villa. She could tell by the speed and length of his pace that he brought news she didn’t want Simone to hear. She jogged to meet him.

  “What’s up?”

  “Vittorio’s been shot.”

  “Shit.” She lifted her chin, turned her head to the side, and took a pace back. How the fucking hell had Vittorio got shot? She looked into Giovanni’s eyes. “Is he okay?”

  Giovanni tilted his head. “He will live, thanks to Roberto.”

  She frowned. “What the fuck happened?”

  “He took Roberto with him to decommission a fleet last night.”

  Her eyes narrowed further. She glanced towards the closed door of the villa. Pesto was chasing along the beach. “And?” she said, watching the dog paddling.

  “Vittorio took out the Romano brothers. They were working out of a garage on the industrial park. Thank fuck he took Roberto with him otherwise he would be the one dead. Gavino sunk a bullet into him before Roberto finished the job. Roberto torched the place and took Vittorio to Doctor Danté. He’s in hospital now though. He should pull through, but it’s not clear what the impact is. He might have nerve damage.”

  Maria pressed the tips of her fingers tightly to her scalp, Patrina’s plea for them to work together as a team screaming in her head. “It’s a fucking mess.” The words slipped through her teeth on a sigh.

  Giovanni turned and looked out to sea. “They needed decommissioning, Donna Maria, not just their fleet.”

  “I know. It’s okay.” Maria sighed. The situation was far from okay.

  The feeling that time was running out had woken her in a near sweat, and it hadn’t been from the joy of Simone lying next to her in the bed. Alessandro wasn’t going to take this, and the first place he would point the finger was in her direction.

  “The police found what was left of the two trucks of wine and tobacco at the workshop. They were in the process of loading a delivery.

  The ‘Ndrangheta will take credit for the hit and burning down the workshop as payback. With Alessandro refusing to pay them what he owes, it’s a natural response. They think Gavino was moving up the ranks too quickly.

  ‘Ndrangheta don’t like that. They believe in earning the right to lead.

  Respect is important to them. At least we have that in common, eh?” He laughed lightly.

  Maria nodded and gritted her teeth. Pesto ran to her with a stick and dropped it at her feet. She launched it up the beach and watched him run. At least Giovanni had cleared up the mess. The ‘Ndrangheta’s reputation would only benefit from this scenario. “Good work, Giovanni. Well done.”

  He looked towards the villa. “Will you both stay here today, Maria?”

  She smiled. “We’re going to go diving.”

  His smile slowly disappeared. “We should still expect repercussions.”

  She nodded. “Alessandro is being elusive. How is Roberto?”

  “Roberto is professional. He’s fine.”

  Maria’s eyes shifted to the villa. “She’s not going to like that he’s involved.” That was an understatement and another problem that haunted her nights now.

  “No.”

  Maria tilted her chin upwards and closed her eyes. How could she tell Simone her brother had just killed a man? If Simone discovered the extent to which Roberto was now involved, Simone would never speak to her again. The box in the back of her mind was fast overloading.

  “Is there anything I can help with?”

  She looked to Giovanni then to the villa. “Wait here.” She jogged back to the house and returned to him with Simone’s passport. “I need alternative documents. Driver’s license, everything.” She handed him the passport. “Can you get that back to me by the end of the day?”

  He nodded.

  “Can you get the restaurant to send over something special for dinner? About eight.”

  “Yes.”

  Maria looked out to sea, to the edge of the cove. Careless, Patrina had said.

  “When are you going to tell Simone about Roberto?”

  She breathed into the pressure that compressed her ribs. “Soon.”

  “I’ll sort out the documents.” He started to walk away.

  “Giovanni.”

  “Yes, Donna Maria.”

  “Can you get the locks on the beach door changed, please?”

  He frowned.

  “Patrina paid me a visit last night.” She indicated with her eyes to the right-hand side of the cove where it opened to the sea, where the Bedda was moored.

  His posture stiffened. “I’ll get the locksmith out here while you are diving. And either me or Angelo will monitor the cove.” He looked up to the high cliffs to their right and pointed. “From up there.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.” She could only hope it would be enough.

  27.

  Yawning, Simone blinked into the early morning sunlight, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the moment of gentle warmth that caressed her face.

  The sun would burn too fiercely to be savoured later in the day. A rhythmical thud already caught her attention, and she turned to watch Maria sparring. She leaned over the banister on the veranda, and her spine tingled in light waves. She sipped her coffee and found it hard to swallow. Maria danced with the athleticism of a panther and jabbed her gloved hands with the precision of a golden eagle attacking its prey. A light sheen glistened on her toned shoulders and arms, and the beads of sweat on her forehead trickled down her temples. So sexy. The thrum between Simone’s legs increased, and she cleared her throat and looked out to sea. It did nothing to curb her lust. She sipped her coffee then returned her attention to Maria.

  Maria puffed out a short sharp breath with every blow in a rhythmical pattern that she delivered with precision and power. She displayed graceful strength, an unrelenting determination, and ardent self-discipline as she continued to throw punches. Watching Maria, an airy feeling fluttered in Simone’s chest, and the pulsing beat lower down her body that Maria had not long satisfied, cried out for release again. She co
uld still taste her, the silky softness that wetted her lips and the precise touch that lit a fire across her skin and shivered its way inside her.

  There had been a difference in their love making last night that Simone couldn’t explain. A sensual depth and an intensity as if it were the first and last time that they would be together. There was an appreciation of every slow moment, every delicate touch, and every lingering look. Maria had been unhurried, tender, and attentive. Slowly, Simone had trailed her fingertips over Maria’s firm abs, and Maria’s muscles twitched and shaped as they constricted and released. Seeing Maria in bliss, Simone’s heart had raced, and then Maria’s cries of pleasure had sent electric waves tumbling through her.

  Maria landed a final punch on the bag then danced on toes with her arms hanging loosely at her side. Simone smiled. “You look hot.”

  Maria rubbed her forearm across her brow and puffed deep breaths.

  “I am.”

  “I didn’t mean that kind of hot.” Simone raised her eyebrows and chuckled.

  Maria smiled. “Come and have a go.”

  Simone shook her head. “No thanks.”

  Maria tucked a glove under her arm and freed her hand, then pulled off the second glove. “Come on, I’ll teach you.” She ran onto the veranda and swept Simone into her arms, then gave her a sweaty, lingering kiss.

  Simone complained as she laughed and batted her away. She looked into Maria’s bright eyes, thumbed the crystal beads from her brow and across the top of her lip, then kissed her deeply. Then she pulled out of Maria’s hold, and Maria helped her squeeze her hands into the gloves.

  Simone grimaced. “Yuk, they’re disgusting inside. They’re wet.”

  Maria laughed and held out the second glove. “Come on.”

  She ran back to the bag and stood next to it. Simone ambled towards her. Simone threw a punch that landed like mist on a leaf.

  Maria’s lips curled softly upwards, and she tilted her head. “Really.

  You can do better than that. And again.”

  Simone landed another punch that skirted off the side of the bag.

  “Stay focused on where you want to hit it.”

  Maria looked as though she was taking this seriously and indicated for Simone to try again.