by Sienna Mynx
They landed without incident and bypassed any customs agents without a word. A caravan of vehicles waited for them. Carlo boarded the one with the women and the children. Abedi kept staring at him and he kept avoiding her stare. When they arrived at Melanzana old and new friends greeted him.
The men cheered. They began shooting their guns in the air after Carlo’s arrival. Because of Melanzana’s isolation the gunfire would die in the wind and not alert people in the hamlets. Still, it was too much. And Lorenza was barely calmed by her caregiver. He looked over to the baby and then Dhakyia. “Do not speak a word unless spoken to.” He then looked to Abedi. “Especially you. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Carlo. I understand.”
“I will send you both to Naples after your stay with the Battaglias. You will be given the money you were promised. And the papers.”
“My family? My brothers?” Dhakyia asked.
“Dominic Battaglia will keep your promise. They will all be paid. As we agreed.”
Dhakyia nodded her head in thanks. Abedi smirked. It was clear to Carlo she wanted what was promised to her and that wasn’t money or papers. She wanted him.
He opened the door. Umberto lunged at him first and hugged him. The other men surrounded him. He had to accept the welcoming. Most of the young men were either handpicked by him, or Lorenzo.
“Is it true! Did you kill the bastard!” Umberto grinned.
Carlo gave a half smile. The men stepped back and Dhakyia appeared with the baby in her arms. Abedi followed. The sight of the women did give them pause. It was, however, the sight of little Lorenza without Marietta and Lorenzo that offered the proof the Battaglia boys needed. Carlo had fulfilled his mission. Or so he let them believe.
“Boss is waiting! He’s waiting!” Umberto grinned. Carlo helped the women and kept them close. Little Lorenza now sucked a pacifier. Together they went through the doors and down the hall to the parlor. It was there he found Giovanni seated with Mirabella. She was at his side. Carlo was shocked to see the Donna was pregnant.
His shock was nothing close to hers. Mirabella gaze volleyed between the women and then focused on the baby. She stared only at the child.
“Things did not go as planned,” Carlo greeted them both.
“Is this Marietta’s baby?” Mirabella stepped forward.
“Yes, Donna. It’s a girl,” Carlo said.
Mirabella walked over to Dhakyia and took the baby gently into her arms. The child peered up at her while sucking her pacifier. “My sister? Is she... dead?”
“No,” Carlo said. “She’s not.”
“Then how?” Mirabella asked.
“Give us a moment Bella.”
“But Gio you promised—.”
“A moment, take the baby and make sure she is okay.”
“This is Dhakyia, she’s the child minder,” Carlo said. Dhakyia nodded. “This is Abedi, she is one of many who helped your sister.”
Mirabella stared at the woman called Abedi for a moment as if not trusting her. Then she nodded respectfully and asked the women to follow her. Giovanni sat with his elbows to his knees. Carlo tried to think of the best way to explain.
“He’s not dead, is he?” Giovanni asked.
“Boss—.”
“Answer the question.”
Dominic arrived as did Nico. The men walked in and sat silently. Carlo was forced to face all of them. “It went to plan. He took the bait, he came. I had eyes everywhere, but he hid pretty well. And I... I let them go through with their escape plan. I met them on the beach. When I got there he had Marietta in his arms. I couldn’t take the shot. And then... he got in the water and I saw him. I saw the way he looked at me holding his baby. I thought for a moment he would do the honorable thing. Chose his family over his life. But he froze. He wanted me to do it. To make him some kind of hero for them. To be the monster so he wouldn’t be the coward.”
“Of course, he did,” Dominic said. “Let me guess? He left the baby, right there on the beach?”
“Silence Dominic. Carlo is speaking.” Giovanni answered.
“Boss, you wanted him to suffer. I saw it. The look on his face when I held his child. I heard it in the way Marietta screamed for her baby. A bullet for them both would have been mercy.” Carlo said. “They haven’t escaped. Not really.”
“Can I speak?” Nico asked.
Giovanni glanced to his trusted enforcer. He nodded.
“Carlo makes sense. Lorenzo should die here. On his knees before all of us. To pay for his crimes you need to be the one—not Carlo. And not on some foreign beach.”
“Think of the years lost with little Evie because of Lorenzo. You weren’t there for her birth, for her first steps, to be held. This is justice,” Dominic agreed.
“For now,” Giovanni said. He returned his gaze to Carlo. “I’ve never liked the idea of being a spectator in this war. What you did, defied my orders, but it gave results.”
Carlo let go the deep breath he held. He didn’t expect forgiveness. He felt like he had aged twenty years in just those few minutes. He wiped his hand down his face.
“Go home,” Giovanni said.
Carlo frowned. “I need to see to the women. Take them to Naples and—.”
“No, you need to go home. Someone is there waiting for you.” Giovanni said. He stood. The others watched in silence. Carlo was confused by the order. He had nothing and no one. Giovanni grabbed him by the face. “You gave me three months of your life. You are loyal, and you are a good friend. And I respect you. I also know you didn’t let Lorenzo go to make him suffer. You spared Lorenzo because you love him. The last of your brothers, eh?”
“You’re wrong—”
Giovanni’s grip on Carlo face tightened. “Non parlare così a tuo padre.”
Carlo fell silent.
“I know what brotherhood feels like. You made a choice on that beach when you spared his life. You chose Lorenzo over me.”
Carlo could not deny it.
“I understand that choice. I’ve made it before. But by taking his baby from him, you did to him what no man forgives. You stood between him and his child. Whatever bond you shared is now severed for Lorenzo. You are his enemy like me. He comes for me, Carlo, he comes for you. What choice will you make then?”
“The right one. The only one,” Carlo said.
Giovanni hugged him. He hugged him tight and patted his back. “Go home, and know your Don gives you his blessing.”
Carlo frowned.
Blessing? For what?
Giovanni let him go. The others stared at him as if they knew something he didn’t. Was there an assassin waiting for him? The boss was too calm. Too lenient. If an assassin waited for him he’d let the bullets fly. He was road tired, and weary. He had little left to fight for.
“So, Carlo walks unpunished?” Dominic asked.
“He has a future. He’s going to understand Lorenzo and me in ways he never imagined. He’s a father now.” Giovanni went to the bar and poured himself a drink.
“How?” Dominic asked.
“The girl, the whore he kept, Gio’s little secret agent.” Nico explained. “She came here. She’s pregnant with his bambino.”
“Adara? Is that true?” Dominic eyes stretched. “Holy shit!”
Giovanni returned with his whiskey glass and sat down. “Fatherhood changes a man. Carlo deserves this happiness.”
“I’m a father,” Dominic announced.
Nico looked up. Giovanni stared on. Dominic didn’t waver. “Catalina, her baby is mine. I’m going to marry her and raise the child.”
Giovanni cut his gaze over to Nico who stared at Dominic as if his head had rolled off his shoulders.
“Does Catalina know this?” Nico asked.
“Gio. You said bring her home. I’m going to Sicily tonight. I’m bringing her and Zia back.”
Giovanni sipped his whiskey. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“Cos'hai detto?” Dominic sat forward.
�
��My sister is her own woman now. If we want in to her life we need to let her invite us in. It’s her choice, Domi.”
“No. It’s not. She’s mine, and she’s coming back. You promised!” Dominic said. He got up and walked out of the parlor. Nico stared at Giovanni.
“He’s fine, Nico,” Giovanni waved off the matter.
“She’s carrying another man’s child. A Mancini. That is a lot of pride to swallow, Gio.”
“Dominic is his own man now, too. And nothing we say will stop him from believing in Catalina. Besides, it’s time for piccoletta to make her own rules. I owe that to her.”
“I have a question for you, Gio.”
“Ask it,” he said and tossed down the last of his whiskey.
“Did you send Carlo to kill Lorenzo or to let Lorenzo go?”
Giovanni chuckled.
“How is Dominic consigliere and not you?”
“You couldn’t pay enough to take that job.” Nico joked.
Giovanni nodded in agreement. He sat there for a moment deciding on the answer he’d give. And then he decided to be truthful. “Lorenzo is playing at war. I’m not. The only piece on the board left to remove is his bond to his true brother, Carlo. I sent Carlo to Africa to teach them all a lesson. Carlo and Lorenzo’s brotherhood is done. Mirabella and Marietta’s sisterhood is done. That baby being here with me guarantees it. Now. It’s time for me to kill my cousin myself.” Giovanni gave an empty glass salute to Nico.
Nico’s smile faded. “I thought he was your brother?”
Giovanni gave a deep chuckle. “That’s a lie the old man tried to shove up my ass. He’s never been my brother. And I’ll prove it.”
Nico nodded in agreement. “Cin, cin.”
MIRABELLA WENT IN SEARCH of her husband. The care-minder named Dhakyia was escorted to the car by Leo. She had thought Abedi was on the terrace where she left her. But she wasn’t.
And then she heard Giovanni’s voice. He and the woman were together. In the solarium. Mirabella stepped to the door and peered inside at them and listened.
“Where did you send him?”
“Doesn’t matter. Our business is done.” Giovanni answered. He watched as Abedi paused to admire his wife’s blue roses. She touched the petals and drew out the conclusion to her visit the point of irritation.
Abedi eyes locked on him. “My brother told me you were a complicated man. But you aren’t. Most men aren’t. Carlo is different. You know that don’t you?”
Giovanni didn’t bother to answer. Abedi’s brother was a trusted and useful ally. He had heard strange stories about his sister and her beliefs.
“I did what you asked. I seduced Carlo. I helped him turn on his demons. Weaken. But I found out he’s not the weak one. He’s the leashed one. If he were his own man how much braver would he be?”
“He’s a Battaglia man, that’s who he is, who he will be.”
“Aaah, Battaglia. Your kingdom.”
Giovanni shrugged.
“Carlo’s stronger than you give him credit for. I think I’m going to stay in Italy and tell him who you really are. Help him take off the leash.”
“Ah, every woman thinks taming the beast is the way to control him,” Giovanni chuckled. “All of you want to tame Carlo. Yet, you claim I’m the one who has control issues.”
“I think Carlo has a veil over his eyes. He’s loyal because he doesn’t trust himself, or his choices. I think you keep him that way because you fear him.”
Giovanni chuckled. “Are you threatening me?”
“I have a proposition.”
Giovanni took a step toward her. “Our business is done. And that means your business with Carlo is done. Disappoint me and I will disappoint your brother and burn everything your family has gained from my generosity to the ground.”
Abedi laughed. “I don’t care about them.”
“I’ll be sure to deliver that message to Busara.”
Abedi’s smile ebbed, dimmed, then vanished. There was very little a person with nothing feared. But every person who thirsted for power feared something. Giovanni knew who the real power in Abedi’s clan always was. Her brother and father were just the veils she used to cover over others eyes. She didn’t want Carlo, she wanted more power.
“Have you met Busara?” Abedi asked.
“No one has. Isn’t that the point?”
Abedi gave a respectful bow. “Naelewa, I now understand. Disappointments are not needed between friends. And my family considers you a valued friend.”
“Until I’m not,” Giovanni said.
Abedi approached Giovanni. She pressed her hand to his chest. Close to his heart. Her palm eased down with a seductive caress. She leaned in and spoke her next words so close to his mouth they warmed his lips like that of a kiss. “Your demon is one I’d like to meet someday.”
Giovanni removed her hand. “It already belongs to another woman.”
“My time with the Battaglias was to short,” Abedi pouted. “I wish I had met Lorenzo. You’re so much fun.”
“There you are,” Mirabella walked into the solarium. Giovanni glanced at his wife who fixated on their guest. “The men are waiting to take you into Naples. Everything has been arranged from there.”
“It was nice to finally meet you, Don Giovanni. Asanteni.” Abedi said and dismissed Mirabella on her way out. Mirabella glared at her husband.
Giovanni put his hands up in surrender. “I haven’t done anything.”
“You’ve done plenty, Gio,” she said and left.
“GO AWAY, MARIE,” HE said drinking from the bottle.
Lorenzo was found in the parlor that faced the back of the estate. Marietta didn’t know what the room was for before they arrived. The room itself had been emptied of furnishing. In fact Armando’s home felt empty of life. Now she knew why.
In the past they talked about sacrifice. They talked about the distance they’d go to protect their family. And she had no idea she would care. Maybe it was the loss of her daughter that made it so unbearable.
She wasn’t sure.
She couldn’t process much.
She felt everything.
“I’m sorry, Lo?” she said. “I shouldn’t have hit you. I’m sorry.”
He didn’t respond. He kept his back to her as he faced the tall window that had no curtains. She could see mountains in the distance beyond him. Not even her voice made him respond.
“Are you okay?” she placed a hand on his back.
“Am I?” he replied.
“I dunno?”
He cast his gaze over his shoulder. “Maybe you should get some rest, Marie, you’ve been through so much. I got a few calls to make then I’ll come and join you. You should be hungry now, right?”
“Hungry? Zia just told you that Tomosino is your real father. Did you hear what I heard?”
“It’s a lie,” he said. “Zia’s here to fuck with me. She’s sent here by Gio to get in my head.”
“But why this lie? About your mother? About Tomosino?”
Lorenzo chuckled. He tossed down more Scotch. “Don’t you get it. Giovanni is a master manipulator.” Lorenzo tapped a finger to his temple. “I fucked up with Giuseppe because I wanted Patri to love and respect me. I did all of this to get my mother’s respect. And then all of a sudden we find out that she’s not my mother. That Tomosino is?” Lorenzo laughed. “I know Gio. He’s manipulating everyone. It’s not going to work. He’s not going to turn me against myself.”
“Lorenzo!” Josef shouted.
Marietta turned to see the Australian who travelled with them watching and listening. She was offended by his presence. And concerned by the lethal look Lorenzo gave him. Her man was pumped up on simmering rage and she knew it could explode.
“Leave us alone!” Marietta warned.
Lorenzo put his hand to her shoulder. He kissed her head. “Rest. Fight with me later. Okay?”
“What I said... calling you a liar and cursing you... I didn’t mean it.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m your tough guy. Remember?”
“I love you. If you had to kill Armando... I understand.”
“I had to do it,” he assured her.
He kissed her brow. “Go rest. I’ll bring dinner to you.” He walked out with Josef. Marietta hugged herself and stood in the room alone.
“WHAT IS IT? ANY NEWS on Carlo? Has he left Africa?” Lorenzo asked.
“Bloody hell mate!” Josef turned and shoved Lorenzo so hard he was pushed into a plant. Lorenzo would have retaliated if he hadn’t noticed the strangeness in Josef eyes. The man had tears on his face. Josef clenched his fists. He paced and shook his head.
“This is you. This is all on you! Not me. This is your doing!”
“What the fuck?”
Josef walked off. Lorenzo went after him. He tried to keep up but fell a few paces behind. He’d had a shit show of a day what could have Josef so damn distressed. Instead of asking he followed. They entered the billiard room. Several men waited. They stood in a circle. At first they didn’t even seem to notice each other. They stared at a box at the center of them.
“What the fuck is that smell?”
Josef wiped his hand down his face. “Go. See for yourself. See for yourself!”
The men stepped back. These were Alik’s men. They were left behind to help Lorenzo keep order in his territory. They were the best of his men. And they served Lorenzo well in Africa. Now they all stood in stunned silence, red-faced, and angry.
The box on the coffee table was three feet wide and three feet tall. It had tape on the sides that said fragile. This package was for him. Sent to him by Giovanni in the same fashion they’d sent many packages over the years to their enemies. In the same fashion he delivered the body parts of Giovanni’s cousin Wolfie.
It could be his daughter.
Lorenzo put his hands to his head. He felt the cold dread in his gut turn to frost. If he found his daughter’s lifeless body what was left of his sanity would snap. He knew this at his core. But if his wife learned of their child’s death he’d lose her in an instant.
The men watched him.
As if in a trance he walked over to the box and open the lid. Lorenzo stared down at the decapitated head packed in dry ice. He reached inside and removed it. Giovanni had sent him a present. One none of them expected. He’d taken the head of Alik.