by Sienna Mynx
The location his wife chose to host the event was a small municipality between Sorrento and Piano di Sorrento. La Marinella. It offered breathtaking views of several islands along the coast and the bay. His Bella had decided to host the event at a three-hundred-year old place called villa di Claire, which was perched above the Marinella beaches at the edge of the cliffs. From the long winding drive up to the mansion he could see the lanterns, lights, and balloons on the outside terraces facing the gulf of Naples.
The driver parked. Two men on staff hurried to the car to be the first to open the door. Giovanni stepped out with the sun in his face. The dark lenses of his sunglasses shielded his eyes. It was a black tie affair. He'd managed to shave, and Mirabella had ordered his men to deliver a tailored suit to villa Rosso for him to wear. It was made of the best Italian silk, and even the diamond cufflinks she added were to his liking. Often he was reminded of how talented his wife was at dressing not only women but men.
"Boss?" A young earner by the name of Albirto, who always had a toothpick hanging from his mouth, pushed aside the two valet men to be heard. "Catalina hasn't arrived. The Donna wants everyone inside. She told me to keep my eye out for you and to bring you..."
"Andiamo," Giovanni said.
Albirto nodded and walked with his chest puffed as if he were to be respected. Giovanni followed him up the steps. And as soon as stepped inside several invited guests approached to greet him or strike up conversation. It took him a full ten minutes to make it past the pleasantries. Soon he entered the hall where the party would take place.
Villa di Claire had once been a simple farmhouse, but in 1765 by an Italian sculptor and painter named Viktor Claire Vitale. The story went that Viktor fell drunk upon the property with a young village girl. They had wild passionate sex and in the morning he found she had disappeared. Sober and mournful over his debauchery he spent several hours repenting at the local church. Soon after he created the infamous Joshua at the Battle of Jericho painting that was later given to Pope Gregory XVI as a gift. However, he could never forget the young girl who had awakened his passion and inspired him to do such wonderful art. He bought the property and spent ten years of his life building and rebuilding on it as a testament to his devotion. He had hoped that she’d see it and return to him. But instead it became a monument to his talent and madness. Since his death the place had many different owners. It was a favorite of Giovanni’s youth to sneak into the gambling houses his father kept in the cellars. And when he was a man a new owner turned it into a restaurant. Giovanni found it perfect to seduce women in the private dining room and then whisk away to one of the bungalows that were down on the beach. He was certain his Bella didn't know that history.
Inside Giovanni stood under high cathedral ceilings. A massive crystal chandelier illuminated the entryway, though natural light from the evening sun poured in from every angle through the ceiling to floor windows. Viktor's madness could be seen painted on the ceilings. It was art as expressive as Michelangelo and as introspective as Leonardo. All of it depicted the beauty and serenity a man could find if he allowed himself to be trusting of the love of a pious woman. Wait staff served smiling guests for a sit down dinner, and then the large open doors led to the party area out on the terraces. It appeared to him that over two hundred people were in attendance.
“Giovanni,” a man said from his left.
He glanced over. Don Tacchini stepped forward. Giovanni brows lifted. He hadn't expected him.
“You were invited?” Giovanni chuckled and greeted him with a friendly hug. "I thought you were still in Sicilia?" The embrace their shared was genuine. However, it served another person. To send a message to the other clan bosses watching. Giovanni had a powerful friend in Tacchini.
“Congrats to la piccoletta, I wouldn’t miss her special birthday.”
Giovanni nodded. "No one should."
“How are things?" Tacchini asked.
"Moving forward on my end."
Tacchini gave him a sly smile. "We’ll talk again soon.”
The Don and his men walked off. Giovanni watched them go and then turned his gaze back to the clan bosses and their wives, many businessmen, politicians, and friends of the family who were all present. He swept all of their faces in search of his wife. Then he heard the laughter of his children. Eve danced around in a yellow dress with ribbons attached to her long braids, grasping a large cone of ice cream. His sons wore bowties, vests, and tweed knickers. They too were jumping and playing as Cecilia worked to keep them from spilling their treats on their clothes.
"Where is my wife?" he asked Albirto who had followed him in.
"She was here, Boss... oh, there she is," he pointed.
Giovanni gaze swiveled over to his right. He was unprepared for the woman he saw. Mirabella had cut her hair to her nape in a blunt style with long bangs that covered her brows and reached just above her long lashes. It was straight and flat like that of a goddess. She wore a black sequined dress that was fashioned in her famous wrap around style which was snugly crossed over her breasts and tied tight around her trim waist. The fabric dropped from the curves of her heart shaped hips and parted to the front revealing her shapely leg all the way up to her thigh when she walked. It sparkled like black gems covered her skin. A diamond the size of a grape hung from a platinum chain on her neck and stopped between her separated breasts. The dress was a signature look for her. It reminded him of another time. When she was a woman he was desperate to know to love.
***
Mirabella barely heard Senator Banfi's joke. "Scusi. Giovanni's here. I need to greet him."
"Wait." The senator was forward by touching her arm. Every man knew she was never to be touched. "You are a very beautiful woman Mirabella. Lovely," the Senator said. She nodded and discreetly stepped away.
“Scusi, Donna, Catalina has just arrived." One of the assistants told her.
"Okay, okay, get me a microphone." She hurried over to her children. She swept Gino into her arms and took Gianni by the hand.
"Come, Eve," she told her daughter. “Papa’s here!”
Cecilia took the ice cream from Eve, and she followed her mother as told. She brought the kids over to the table reserved for the family. Marietta and Lorenzo were missing. Rocco didn't attend. And Vito was ill, so much of the family remained in Sicily. Still, a few of the aunts and cousins were present, including Zia. Gianni ran over to his father who had stepped over with his eyes trained on her. Mirabella put Gino down and ignored Giovanni's intense stare. She accepted the microphone.
"Attenzione, everyone. The birthday girl has arrived. Please stand. When she enters, and her blindfold is removed we will all yell è una sorpresa--it’s a surprise! Ready?"
Many people clapped and were immediately shushed by the staff as they didn’t want to give it away before she entered the ball room. Giovanni stood. He winked at her. Last night he disappeared, but he returned before she woke. And he was there at her side now. The night would be special for all of them.
***
"Domi? Seriously, where are we?"
She held her hands out in front of her like a blind woman. She could smell the sea in the air, and feel the dying rays of the sun on her face. She also smelled the sweetness. The air had a flavor to it. It was a homey aroma akin to roasting meat and baking bread. In her mind, she envisioned a restaurant, but she couldn't imagine one in Sorrento that would warrant such secrecy. They hadn't traveled long enough to have gone to Napoli.
"Careful," he said with his hands on her hips as he guided her steps by walking behind her.
"Can I take off my blindfold if I promise not to open my eyes?" she asked.
"No," he said and kissed her cheek. "Now you are at the steps. There will be seven or eight of them. I have you."
"Oh? Okay?" she said and put her hand to his that rested on her hip. She stepped up but had to pull down the hem on her short dress to keep it from slipping dangerously high. Dominic insisted she wear black tonight. He told
her to be beautiful for him, and she was. She felt like his princess. And the diamonds he bought her made her sparkle like one.
"Last step," he told her.
Catalina nodded. He took her hand instead of guiding her like a blind woman. She could smell the difference from outdoors to indoors when they entered. But the silence was confusing. She turned her head to Dominic when she spoke. "Where are we?"
His hands went to the slipknot behind her head and loosened it. The blindfold slipped.
"È una sorpresa!" yelled the crowd. Many used hand crackers to pop and snap, each released black and silver confetti which rained over the tables and floated everywhere.
Catalina gasped. Her eyes stretched, and her hand went to her heart. Never in her life had she been so caught off guard. Dominic hugged her from behind, and she grinned. It was a surprise. For her!
Tanti auguri a te
Tanti auguri a te
Tanti auguri a Catalina
Tanti auguri a teeeeeeee!
The applause was louder than thunder. Catalina tried not to cry. And then she saw her brother and Mirabella approaching. The kids ran to her and hugged her legs. She thought everyone had forgotten. But they did this? For her?
Giovanni walked over. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her face. She hugged her brother so tightly. She loved him with all her heart, even more of her heart than she knew to be possible. She couldn't let go. She held on to him and felt her self melting with happiness.
"I love you, do you know that?" he whispered in her ear. "You're my first love piccoletta. And I'm so proud of you, of the woman you've become."
"I love you too, brother," she wept. He lifted her chin. He kissed the tip of her nose. "Make me an uncle soon, eh? A godfather?"
She laughed and hugged him. It had been so long since she was held by Giovanni. She forgot how safe and loved his embrace made her feel. He let her go so that Mirabella could hug her.
"Come here," Mirabella said. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."
"You did this? All of this? How? When?"
"Shh! Enjoy. Do you think I would forget the most important day of the year?" Mirabella let her go and grinned.
"You look beautiful, look at you!" Catalina said of her sister in-law’s transformation. "Isn't she beautiful, Giovanni?"
Her brother tossed up Gino in the air and mumbled his reply. "The dress is too short."
"Don't listen to him," Mirabella chuckled. "You need to greet your guests. Go on, Domi, take her around."
Dominic stepped up, and Catalina hooked her arm around his. He led her over to the first table, and she glanced back at Mirabella who beamed with happiness. She loved her family. She made her way through the crowds and was kissed by so many people that she was certain her blush had rubbed off both cheeks. Tables were lined with gifts for her. And one had so many envelopes of cash that two of Giovanni's men stood next to it, armed with guns. Not since her wedding to Franco had she had so much attention focused on her.
The music played outside. A DJ booth was set up. She could see that the festivities would go all through the night. She was ready to party until she dropped.
***
"No. No. I dun no want it, Mama! Nooooooooo!" Gianni pushed the fork away.
Mirabella worried over his lack of appetite lately. He was the last child of hers to leave the breast, and he did so with much protest. A month ago she and Zia had decided to take away the bottle. Gianni was cranky and less agreeable when it came to meals, even if he had his cup and all his favorite foods.
She glanced up to the other kids who were eating with no problem. Maybe she should take him outside and give him his cup to settle him down. As if reading her mind Giovanni reached for Gianni and picked him up out of his chair with one arm. She hated when he was so rough with them. He put him on his lap and began to feed him from his plate. Apparently, her husband was silently observing the tug-of-war between mother and child. Gianni ate every bite his father fed him without complaint.
"Thank you, Gio," she mumbled.
"Relax, Bella, you have put on a great party," he said. He reached over with his free hand and touched her thigh. He leaned over and she leaned in. He kissed her cheek.
“Boss, ah, I need to speak with you,” Albirto said.
“No. Go away,” Eve replied.
Giovanni chuckled, but Mirabella didn't. She couldn't believe her daughter's reaction. The rule at home was that Giovanni was not to be disturbed at dinner time. Apparently, her daughter thought it applied here.
“Eve, behave,” Zia admonished her niece. Eve pouted.
“Cosa c’è--what’s wrong?” Giovanni asked.
Albirto wasn’t sure how to respond. The attention at the table had shifted from their dinner meal to him. He glanced to Mirabella when he spoke. “It’s, uhm, Don Armando Mancini is here. He said he was invited.”
"What? No, he wasn't. Gio? I swear he wasn’t!” Mirabella made to stand.
“Sit down,” Giovanni said and continued to feed his son. Mirabella sat. He glanced up. “Welcome him.”
“Giovanni? Why?”
He ignored the question. Gianni smiled for his father and Giovanni kissed his jaw and fed him some more. Mirabella glanced at the other clan bosses. Wasn't this breaking some rule? Didn't the Mafiosi and the Camorra refuse to break bread with each other? She was leery and a bit anxious.
There was commotion up at the front of the door. Several guests were on their feet to greet someone. And then she noticed why. Her brother Armando Mancini walked in with two of his men. They were searched, and several clan bosses got up from their tables to go over to greet him. Armando took his time having conversations. But his gaze shifted a few times to the family. Eventually he was escorted to the table by Giovanni's men. Mirabella wished Marietta was there. She would know how to handle the situation.
"Happy birthday, princess," Armando said and removed a small white satin box with a pink ribbon from the inside of his blazer. Catalina looked over to her brother first, and then to Dominic, not sure of how to respond. The silence at the table made Mirabella’s heart beat faster. Was this the moment Giovanni would explode? Have Armando humiliated or worse, dragged from the building and shot?
"Open it, Nippy! I wanna see it!" Eve clapped.
Giovanni stopped feeding Gianni and looked to his sister and nodded that she could accept the gift. Catalina did so, but Mirabella could tell she was uncomfortable. "I'll open it later. Grazie, Don Mancini."
"Giovanni. Mirabella, Dominic," Armando smiled and then walked away.
"I didn't invite him," Marbella said again.
"It's a party, isn't it, Gianni?" Giovanni said and tickled his son. He then looked over to Mirabella. "Mama did a good job," He said and leaned over and kissed Mirabella on the lips. "Grazie, Bella, for making it special for our girl."
"Thank you, Giovanni," Mirabella said and wiped the lipstick from his mouth.
"Grazie, Mommy! I love the party!" Eve said. “Are we gonna have cake?”
"I love you too, baby! And yes!" Mirabella smiled.
"Grazie, Mama!" Gino said as he ate his bread.
Mirabella blew him a kiss. "Thank you, baby."
"I want to dance!" Catalina said. "Domi, come dance with me. It's time to have some fun."
Mirabella noticed that Dominic didn't hesitate. He wiped his mouth and pushed back his chair and helped his fiancée. Catalina sashayed at his side as they headed for the terrace where plenty of people were celebrating.
"Dress is too short," Giovanni grunted again as he kept eating.
Mirabella chuckled. The party was going great. And possibly Armando and Giovanni were finding common ground. She hoped Marietta made it soon so she could join the fun.
Palermo Sicilia –
Three Days Earlier
"Ciao, mia sorrella, it 's nice to hear from you," Armando said. He signaled for Ignacio to leave him. His consigliere closed the door.
"Ciao," Mirabella said.
“How are you? Ma
rietta said you were doing better? Are you stronger?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Listen. I need to talk to you," Mirabella began.
"Ah, to ask for another favor? Like the one I granted Sofia? Like the one I granted for your husband," he chuckled. "Every time you or Giovanni want to talk I'm asked for another gift of patience or favor. They ought to call me Santa Clause."
Mirabella didn't respond.
“Che cosa?”
“I want you to stop seeing Rosetta," Mirabella said.
“Seeing Rosetta?" Armando asked. "I don't get this term? What is the secret American meaning of 'seeing' someone?"
“I know you two have been sneaking around. Her mother called me. Vito is ill, and she needs Rosetta to help her. She says there are rumors that she's been visiting you in Palermo. Rumors that I can't have getting back to my husband.”
“What makes you think he doesn’t know?” Armando asked.
“You’re still breathing aren’t you?”
Armando laughed.
"Rosetta is a young girl. I prefer women," Armando lit his cigar.
"I am serious. Stop meeting with her. She's very impressionable and--"
“Lonely?" Armando asked as he exhaled smoke. "I hear you've banned her from the family. What future does she have stuck here on the island with me? She doesn't have a husband. All of her cousins are married with their own families. It's not me you should be worried about, Mirabella. Her wandering is not my fault."
“Are you implying it's mine?" Mirabella asked.
"You're the Donna. Catalina travels the world. A little fashion designer in your image. Rosetta? She doesn't have the opportunity to be a seamstress for the local shopkeepers here. A night in my bed is a reward to her."
"Bed! You're having sex?" Mirabella asked.
"I'm a man, dear sister. We men like sex."
"I'll handle my family. You just stay away from her."
"Va bene, no more sex. No more 'seeing' Rosetta. I'll keep my distance. Give Giovanni my respect, and Marietta my love. Oh wait, isn't la piccoletta’s birthday approaching? Should I send her a gift? Or can I ask you for a favor to attend?"