by Sienna Mynx
“You need to be safe. You need to stay well. Carlo... I’ve heard him with the doctors. He’s trying to take your baby early. Make them deliver the little one too soon.”
“What?”
Dhakiya put her hand to Marietta’s belly. “The doctors are refusing, but if you get upset there would be no need for the refusal. The baby will come early. Don’t think of this place as a prison. Think of it as a sanctuary.”
“I’m not that weak. I can’t be. My baby needs me to be strong. Lorenzo needs hope, he has to be losing it. Thinking I might be dead. I want to talk to him. Dhakiya, have Carlo come see me. Today. Now. Please.”
Dhakiya shook her head as if to refuse but Marietta grabbed her arm and pulled on it hard. She glared at the young woman whose hijab covered her hair and the lower half of her face.
“Do it!”
The young woman nodded that she would obey.
TWO MEN GREETED HIM. Carlo nodded as he passed them by and twirled the toothpick in his mouth to the other side. Dhakiya stood by the door where Marietta was locked inside. He again wondered what the rest of her face looked like beyond her veil. She had the most beautiful eyes. Deep brown ringed in long silky black lashes. They were almost hypnotic to him. Dhakiya gave him a nod of respect.
“Is she ready to see me?” he asked her.
“She’s ready. But... she’s in a sensitive state.”
“I’ll be gentle,” Carlo smiled.
He opened the door and went inside. Marietta sat on the edge of the bed. The moment he entered she stood up. She had cleaned up nicely. Her long curly hair was now covered in a large turban at the top of her head and she wore a dress that he knew it had to be something Dhakiya provided. It was long in the sleeve and hem but complimented her expanding figure.
“You wanted to see me?”
“It’s Christmas Eve.” Marietta smiled prettily for him. “The best time of the year. We always loved this holiday at Melanzana.”
“Not me.”
“Oh C’mon, Carlo. Loosen up. Even you went to Mass with us.”
Carlo said nothing. He watched as she kept turning her wedding ring on her pinky finger where she now wore it because her fingers were so swollen.
“I was thinking. It’s been several months since he’s heard from me. And he has to be believing the worst. You and Giovanni control him because of me and the baby... right? How long do you make him go without hope? Carlo. Think about it. If he hears from me it will make him want to do anything to keep us safe. One phone call. A Christmas call. A gesture of goodwill maybe? Or whatever Giovanni wants. One phone call that you can listen too.”
She ended her plea with another shaky smile. Carlo ran his hand back over his newly grown locks of hair.
“How’s the baby?” he asked.
“Carlo please... I’ll beg. I’ll do anything.”
He studied her face and then his eyes went to her swollen breasts and belly. He liked to see her not so smug and desperate. It was a fitting punishment in his mind.
“I’ll call Giovanni,” he offered.
“You will?”
Carlo gave her a sly smile. “It’s Christmas. The boss may be feeling the spirit. One never knows.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“You’ll owe me,” Carlo winked and then walked out of the door. He looked to Dhakiya and gave her a nod of approval. The young woman nodded her allegiance to him in return.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Un buon Natale - A Merry Christmas
Mancini Palazzo - Palermo, Sicily
LORENZO SAT IN THE dark. He stared at the written message on the small card he kept sealed since Marietta gave it to him. It was from her doctor. Written across it was the gender of their baby. His first born. It was Christmas. The day she loved the most. Before his life turned to shit they had made plans for the holiday. They were going back to Bellagio. To await the special arrival of their child in the villa he owned near Lake Como. She’d cook his favorite American dishes and he’d put the crib together. For the first part of the child’s life they would live there. He’d travel of course, but Marietta wanted to nest in a home that was all her own. Why hadn’t he found a way to give her that? He should have done more to give her the world.
There was a knock at the door. He set the card down and exhaled the smoke trapped in his lungs. The person entered after the third knock.
“You have a call, boss.”
The man left. The calls came to the front of the villa, and like Melanzana they were answered by the staff, transferred to his men and then screened before being put through. The only call that they were certain to push to him without hesitation were either from the Armenians or Giovanni. On Christmas day he had no hope of it being Giovanni.
He tossed the cigar into the ashtray and got up from the chair. Maybe his luck would be better than shit.
Doma, Tanzania - Africa
MARIETTA’S PALMS AND underarms sweated. She nervously paced as a phone was wired for her room with a little speaker box. Carlo gave the orders. Men delivered equipment and left without even pausing to glance her way.
“Is it going to happen? Really? Is it?” she asked.
“I told you Gio approved.”
“But why? Why would he approve?”
“To fuck with Lorenzo I suppose,” Carlo said as he tested the line.
Marietta nodded. The explanation made sense. She just had so little faith in her plan she had to keep repeating it silently in her head. “Yea, that makes sense.”
When she heard a dial tone her heart nearly burst from her chest. She held her baby-belly feeling the little one stir with excitement as well. The risk was great. It could cost her, her life. But she was desperate enough to think her plan could work. She had no other choice. In a few weeks if everything went well her baby would be born. If Carlo was already trying to find ways to bring her childbirth sooner she had to take the chance.
“Have a seat,” he said.
Marietta nodded. She sat down like an obedient schoolgirl. Carlo preferred to stand. Marietta’s eyes traced the phone extension cord to the jack in the wall. It was closer to her than Carlo. The window of opportunity was very small, but doable.
Carlo dialed the number. Marietta closed her eyes and rubbed her belly to calm herself. She barely listened as Carlo informed the manor who was calling. And she was surprised to learn that Lorenzo had returned to Sicily. The news meant his plan worked. He was forcing Giovanni to bow. Her inner thoughts of dialogue silenced when his brisk, harsh voice barked into the phone.
Marietta’s eyes flashed open. Carlo smiled. He nodded.
“Lo? Lo? It’s me, Mariet—.”
“Marie!” Lorenzo voice screeched high. “Cara, where are you? How are you? The baby?”
“Merry Christmas,” she said.
“Marie! Marie? Are you and the baby okay? Tell me what’s going on?”
“Yes,” she smiled. “I’m fine. The baby is still in my belly growing. Every day it’s growing. They... they have me with doctors to make sure the baby is okay Lo. Don’t worry, please.”
She could hear a deep sigh of relief escape her husband. Carlo stepped back from the table he leaned against the door and watched her. With Lorenzo on speaker phone he could hear everything. He didn’t seem concerned about what she had shared.
“I’ve been so fucking worried,” Lorenzo said. “I can’t believe I’m hearing your voice.”
“Carlo is with me. I asked him to let me make this call and he made it happen. For Christmas.”
“Is Carlo there now?”
“Yes, but Lo...”
“Carlo? I know you hear me, motherfucker. Lo giuro sulla mia santa madre, e tutti i suoi figli! Anything happens to her and my child I will gut you first! Like a fish!”
“Lo! Stop! Listen!”
“Quando sarà finita, ti ucciderò! Let her go, or I swear on Christ I will kill you! Do you hear me, motherfucker!”
“Lo! Stop!” she shouted.
Lorenzo stopped ranting and cursing. He was breathing hard. Pain throbbed in his temples and his chest.
“Please stop,” Marietta pleaded. “We don’t have much time. I need you. Please.”
“Marie?”
“It’s Christmas. All I wanted to do was talk to you.”
“I’m so sorry cara,” he said.
“It’s okay Lo. I believe in you. I know you will find me. I will keep our baby safe.”
“On my life I will find you before the baby comes.”
“I love you. I wanted this to be your Christmas gift. To tell you that we’re alive, and we believe in you. We know you will find us... because we are in a hospital in Tanzania Africa! Find Mirabella’s doctor she sent us here—.”
The phone cord was ripped from the wall. Marietta didn’t finish her warning but she gave Lorenzo as much as she could. Carlo glared at her. Inside she recoiled. Was this it? Was this the moment Carlo would show her why they called him the Butcher?
“Well done, cara,” Carlo said as he wrapped the phone cord around the speaker box. And picked up the phone. “You did fine.”
“What do you mean I did fine?”
“You and the baby have a merry Christmas.”
Dumbfounded Marietta didn’t at first gather the meaning by his calm departure. That was until it was too late. The door closed, and the truth fell on her like an anvil. Giovanni had granted her Christmas wish because he knew she couldn’t be trusted. He knew she’d tell Lorenzo what she could to send him on his mission of rescue.
“Carlo? Wait!” she screamed. The lock to her room was engaged. She heard the final click. “Carlo! Carlo! Don’t hurt him. Don’t hurt my Lo! Please!” she got up from her chair and pounded her fist on the door. She beat at it with all her fury. “Carlo!”
Melanzana, Sorrento Italy
“È NATALE! È NATALE! È Natale!” the kids sang. Eve had hyped the boys up. Mirabella wasn’t sure that they knew what the holiday meant. They were just three. But they danced around with their sister as if they did. Gino took to the celebrating. He grabbed his brother’s hands and rocked side to side to make Gianni dance too.
It was becoming a problem to dress them.
“Can I go downstairs now, mommy?” Eve was at the door. She had on her Christmas dress with no underwear.
“No Evie. Find your panties and put them on.”
“Okay!” she stumped off to her room.
“Okay!” Gianni repeated.
“You two are getting too big for nappies. We must do better on the potty. Okay?” Mirabella said, and fastened Gianni’s jeans. The toddler nodded.
“Gino, come to mommy.”
He took off running into the other room instead of obeying her. There was a knock at her door.
“Come in,” she said and got up from her stooped position on the floor.
Belinda stuck her head inside the room. “You wanted to see me?”
Mirabella stared at her. Belinda entered the room and closed the door. She had taken out her waist length braids. Her hair was cropped very short. She wore it in a small afro-style. With her dangling earrings she looked quite beautiful and more natural to Mirabella.
“I’m really upset with you. And you know why.”
“I wanted to explain. You left so quickly I didn’t get a chance too.”
“So, you know what you did was wrong?”
“It was a stupid lapse in judgement. I really didn’t mean any harm.”
“Don’t ever do anything like that with my children again. Do you understand?”
Belinda nodded.
“If it were up to me your time in Italy would be over. In fact, I wanted to send you home today.”
“No, please don’t.”
“Why do you want to stay? You’re so bored, so bothered by any and everything. You can be all those things in Apple Grove.”
“I just want to get out and live my own life. That’s all. I made a stupid mistake. I am sorry I didn’t get a chance to explain,” Belinda pleaded.
“All done, mommy!” Eve announced. She had put on underwear and put a pair of her undies on Gino who refused his training undies as well. “Can we go now? To open presents? Pleeeeassseee?”
Mirabella laughed. Belinda did too. She picked up Gino who immediately tried to escape her hold. “Can you put shoes on the kids. They will want to go outdoors after they see what Santa brought.”
“Santa?” Eve eyes stretched. “He was here? Does Papa know he came in our house and he’s not home?”
“He sure does. Papa said it was okay that Santa come while you were sleeping. But he only left toys for those who are good. Were you good?” Mirabella asked.
“I was mommy. I really was. I did my very best. Except that one time.”
Mirabella pulled on Gino’s knickers and put on his shoes. Eve was bursting with excitement. It was torture to keep her waiting another minute.
“All done. Let’s go!”
“Yes!” Eve said and ran for the door. Eve threw it open and ran out.
“Wow?” She really is excited said Belinda.
“It’s a first Christmas for her without Rocco, Lo, Marietta, Gio and Catalina. Zia isn’t here either. I think she thinks they will all be downstairs gathered around Santa. Let’s make it special for her.”
“I really am sorry. Eve is a sweetie. I hate that I caused the drama. It’s my final lesson I swear.”
“Your final apology,” Mirabella warned her as they walked out of the room each of them carrying a twin. “I told Giovanni. He will want to speak with you and Eve on the matter. He’s not impressed with things you’ve done Belinda.”
“I’m so stupid.”
“Let’s not beat this into the ground. It’s Christmas I want you to enjoy it.”
“Hear that Gino. We’re going to have so much fun,” Belinda said.
“Sono Gianni!” the toddler said.
Belinda eyes stretched. She laughed at her mistake. Together they went down the stairs to the screams of delight from Eve and the barking of a dog. Mirabella entered the parlor and found Giovanni seated by the tree with Eve on his lap and his daughter holding her puppy.
Gino and Gianni both fought the ladies to free them. The toddlers ran to their father with excitement. Also present was Kyra and her family including Renaldo, with Nico and Cecilia. Dominic sat in one of the chairs watching the kids. It was more of a Christmas than she had hoped for.
“Merry Christmas, Bella,” Giovanni said with a wink. “The family is all here.”
Mirabella smiled. The kids dove on their father and he hugged each one. It was Eve who was the most excited about her puppy. She put the little dog down and chased her around the room. All of the presents surrounding the tree were ignored. Seeing each other was the biggest gift they could have hoped for.
“YOU HEAR FROM CARLO?” Giovanni asked.
“I just spoke to him,” Dominic said.
They walked to the terrace where a brunch was to be served for the family. Dominic strolled at Giovanni’s side with his hands clasped behind his back. “You were right. She did exactly what you said she would. She told him where to find her.”
“Then Lorenzo will be on the hunt. Where have you moved the doctor?”
“Switzerland. I left breadcrumbs. We’ll be ready for him.”
“We do it my way or yours?” Giovanni asked.
Dominic frowned. “Of course... I only—.”
“You went after Catalina,” Giovanni said.
“I only made sure we had an inside person with the Mancini’s. Someone to look out for her.”
“I’ve activated a gem with Lorenzo. Catalina, she is protected. You went after her for you. This arrangement Umberto tells me about includes a house servant named Bionca. It’s risky.”
“It’s a risk we have to take. Bionca can get close to Catalina, she can give us daily reports on her. It’s the best option. I made a call.”
Giovanni poked Dominic’s chest. “This is your on
e and only call. If you do anything that backfires and puts Catalina in danger, I’ll bury you next to Lorenzo.”
The threat wasn’t a death blow. There were several ways to be buried in their world. Giovanni could strip Dominic of everything and they both knew it. Dominic nodded his obedience. He had gone a bit far with pulling Bionca in. Any and everything was necessary to help Catalina. Now he had another plan and he was scared to share it.
“The Armenian woman is with Catalina. They think she could be trying to poison her.”
“They?”
“My sources. The Russians found Armenians who had stories to share. One of them knows the woman and said she’s a threat. She’s the woman that worked for Shae in America. The one that started the drama with Carlo and his woman.”
Giovanni nodded. “And she’s close to Catalina?”
“Yes. That’s why I did what I did. I needed to be sure. And I am. Now I need your permission to deal with her. My way.”
“You?”
“Catalina is... mine, Gio. She always has been. It should be me.”
For a long pause Giovanni stared at Dominic. He understood the doubt and distrust. Dominic had crashed and burned in front of the family in times of crisis. And he was sorry for it. He was sorry for his weakness, his inability to forgive Catalina. He was sorry for everything. “I love her Gio. I don’t care about the baby, or what has happened between us. I only care about her. I want her to come home. To be with me, us. I want to protect her.”
“Then you have to care about the baby. He is my nephew no matter who the father is.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. I will love the child as my own. It’s Catalina. She needs us.”
“You must be careful. I don’t want Lorenzo to suspect anything before I can put my plan into action.”
“I will go there tomorrow and take care of it, then go to Switzerland and deal with the doctor.”
Giovanni dropped his arm on Dominic’s shoulder and playfully punched him in his chest. “Did you see my Christmas gift for you outside?”
“The Ferrari? Yes. I saw it,” he said in a dry tone.