La Famiglia (Battaglia Mafia Series) Read online

  “I risked a lot by coming. I can’t stay long. Can we do this now?” Giuliani popped his collar and dusted invisible lint from his suit. Dominic looked to Santo who gave him the same look of irritation. Appeasing this one wasn’t appealing to either of them. No matter how he was viewed by the Mottola clan, to Dominic and Santo he was no more than a bug beneath their shoe.

  “Welcome to Villa Mare Blu. We have food and wine for you. You are in good hands.”

  “I thought I might see Giovanni, speak to him alone,” Santo interjected.

  Dominic shook his head no. “For now can you just see to our guest?”

  “Follow me,” Santo said to Giuliani.

  * B *

  “Bella?”

  “Mmm?” Mira said as she wiped Eve’s mouth. Her daughter tried to push her mother’s hands from her face. Eve reached again for the pastry on her father’s plate and brought the sticky dough to her mouth. Eve had been eating and drinking since she sat at the table. A healthy habit taught to her by Zia. Which meant plenty of poopy pampers or accidents today if Mira wasn’t careful of her potty schedule.

  “I like your idea. Take a walk today, a short one to the beach with Eve. Leo will accompany you.”

  Mira sat back. “It would be good for me huh? I think so too.” She looked down the table at Marietta. “I’d really like to try to get to know Marietta better. I’m so embarrassed over Catalina’s outburst. It was awful.”

  “She’s not interested, Bella. Why force it? Just you and Eve should go. Tonight if I finish early I might take you into the village for dinner. There are more things we need to discuss.”

  “We’re having a celebration dinner tonight? Remember?” Mira reminded him.

  Giovanni sighed. “Right. I forgot.”

  Eve blinked at her mother. She chewed and rested against her father’s chest. Giovanni and several others looked up when Dominic walked into the room. He stood with his hands clasped in front of him. Giovanni pushed back from his chair. He lifted Eve in his arms and kissed her. He then handed a disappointed Eve to Mira and put her on Mira’s knee

  “No, Papa!” Eve shouted. The tears were immediate.

  Marietta looked down at the screaming kid.

  “Cara?” Lorenzo whispered in her ear. “Make a friend. Go talk with the Donna.”

  “What? No. Where are you going?”

  He kissed her lips. “Business. I’ve been gone for months. I will be gone most of the day.”

  “What about the grotto? I thought we would spend time together?” Marietta asked.

  “We will. Please. For me. Be nice to the Donna. She really is a sweet lady. Make me proud.”

  “Shit,” Marietta said under her breath. Lorenzo and Carlo both rose from their seats. The men walked out without explanation. The other men at the table, hired to protect the family, stood and took their drinks or whatever was left unfinished on their plates and walked off too. It left only Mira, Marietta, and Rosetta.

  Mira cleared her throat. “While the boys go play why don’t we go for that walk?”

  “I’m not feeling well,” Rosetta said.

  “What? Are you okay?” Mira asked.

  Rosetta pushed back from her seat. “Headache, I will take something and lie down.” Before Mira could object the young girl walked out. Mira watched Rosetta go. Eve stopped crying and hugged her mother’s belly. Mira stroked her daughter’s back, and Cecilia finally arrived. She had returned from her trip to visit her family in time to be a godsend. Eve was harder to manage for Mira now.

  “Marietta. I hate to keep harping but the beach is nice and well, I need the exercise. Will you join me?” Mira asked.

  Marietta gave a thin lip smile. “Sure. I’d like too.”

  Mira exhaled in relief. The woman was a hard one to impress upon. “Awesome.” She set Eve down. Mira pushed up from the seat and Cecilia was at her side. “I will go change her and meet you down at the beach.”

  “Yes, and get her little play bucket. We can let her have some fun in the sand.”

  “Sí, Donna,” Cecilia said.

  Leo walked in. He was often her shadow. She preferred him to carrying her gun. She still couldn’t bring herself to warm up to the weapon even after learning how to use it. Mira started out of the terrace down the steps. Marietta was right behind her. With Mira’s slow walk her guest caught up quickly.

  “So where are you from?” Mira asked.

  “Chicago.”

  “I love Chicago,” Mira said. “Very yummy city. Some of the best food on the planet.”

  “I agree. Where are you from?” Marietta asked.

  “Virginia. Left home when I was a seventeen. Enrolled in Parsons in New York and that became my home, until I arrived in Naples,” Mira said.

  “The press has some wild stories about your life, girlfriend,” Marietta shook her head. “I read you were kidnapped. That your husband murdered your friend Fabiana and you killed an assistant of yours to run away from him. Then he forced you to marry him and—”

  “None of that is true,” Mira said softly. She stared down at her belly as they walked. She smoothed her hands down the swell. “My story with Giovanni is complicated. I admit that. But I never killed anyone and my husband did not kidnap me.”

  “But he is a killer? Right?” Marietta asked.

  Mira glanced over her. “As much as your husband is,” she answered.

  Marietta laughed. “Good one. You got me there.”

  Mira smiled. “Is there a reason why you don’t like me?” she asked.

  Marietta stopped. Mira turned and looked at her. The wind blew her hair and dress forward.

  “Why do you say I don’t like you?” Marietta asked.

  “Because I got that impression the day I met you. And today, I can tell. I’m curious. What makes you dislike me?” Mira asked.

  Marietta shrugged. “Nothing personal. Girls like you and I never got along.”

  “Like me?” Mira asked.

  “Uppity, snooty, pampered, like you,” Marietta gestured toward her.

  “I’m none of those things.” Mira started walking away again. Marietta joined her. “I grew up on a farm, an apple farm. We were so poor every day there was something on the table made out of apples. Even our chickens tasted like apples.”

  Marietta laughed. “Damn that is poor. I hate the country,” she shivered. “I’m a city girl all the way.”

  Mira shrugged. “I like the city too. My grandparents were both dead by my senior year. I had nothing, no family. A guy I dated was pretty abusive in high school so I had to get away.”

  “Physical abuse?” Marietta paused.

  Mira glanced up at her, she then averted her gaze. “I don’t talk or think about him. There are many ways to be abused. Trust me.”

  “Wow. You don’t strike me as the kind who would take any shit from anybody like that,” Marietta said.

  “I have my weaknesses, trust me.” Mira forced a smile. “But I’m strong too. I remember the day I sat in the library and filled out an application to Parsons. I was shocked when I got a scholarship. The rest is history.”

  “Well, I was a whore and a stripper in Chicago,” Marietta said.

  It was Mira’s turn to pause. She looked over at Marietta and frowned. “You were?”

  Marietta laughed. “According to my adoptive-mother a stripper had to be a whore. It is written in the Bible somewhere I think.”

  Mira smiled. “Interesting career choice. You don’t strike me as a stripper.”

  “I love to dance. Really dance.” Marietta nodded. “But I never had sex for money or nothing crazy. I just like to be free, and dancing does that for me.”

  They arrived at the beach. There were three steps to take down to the sand. Leo hurried closer to help. “Here, let me help you.” Marietta volunteered and Leo stepped back.

  “Thank you,” Mira smiled. “Boy it’s a nice day today.”

  “It is,” Marietta agreed. “I can’t wait to see more of Sicily.”
<
br />   “Is it your first time here?” Mira asked. She had to grab on to Marietta’s arm to steady herself as she walked out across the lumpy sand.

  “Yeah it is. But I think I’m going to like my new life in Europe.” Marietta smiled. “Here take my hand, I can help you.”

  Mira smiled. “Thank you.”

  Mira noticed how pretty she was when she smiled. She wanted to know more about Marietta.

  Giovanni watched the sister’s step out on the sand from the balcony. Lorenzo walked up behind him. He stepped to his side and observed. “Strange seeing them hand in hand. Strange and beautiful,” Lorenzo said.

  “I could kill you for bringing that woman here,” Giovanni replied.

  “Look at them, Gio, twins. What if something happened to you and Mira? Would you want your sons separated the way they were?”

  He did look at them, and they were beautiful. He refused to see it in Marietta. Hated her on sight for having a bond to his Bella. But Mira had lost so much when Fabiana died. What kind of cruel bastard was he to deny her this?

  “When will you tell Mira the truth?” Lorenzo asked. “I only ask because I will have to then tell Marietta.”

  “Soon. Let them spend time together, bond. Then we will sit them down and explain. My way.”

  “Of course, Gio. I won’t interfere any further. We go at your pace,” Lorenzo nodded. “I hear Giuliani and Santo have arrived. Trouble with Mottolas?”

  “Yes,” Giovanni said in a terse voice.

  “Then it’s good I came home.” Lorenzo dropped his hand on Giovanni’s shoulder. “No one believes in protecting this family as strongly as I do. You need me, cousin, let me help.”

  Giovanni cast a sideways look to Lorenzo. He had missed him, and like men the grudges between them were easily settled with an apology. He embraced Lorenzo, who hugged him back. “You will help me reunite the women. We do it together and Mirabella never knows that I came between them. Agreed?” Giovanni asked.

  “Yes, cousin. Agreed.” Lorenzo patted his back with a sly smile.

  Giovanni let him go. Lorenzo threw his arm around his shoulder and they walked back to join the other men. “Now let’s talk business.”

  “Does that beach house belong to the Battaglias?” Marietta pointed to Serenity.

  “It sure does.” Mira smiled. “The only villa directly on the shore. Guess that’s why it’s raised for the tide. We call it Serenity.”

  Mira glanced back. Cecilia carried Eve on her hip and a beach blanket, toy bucket and shovel in her arms. Eve waved at her mother. She wore a yellow swimsuit. Mira blew her daughter a kiss.

  “Do you want kids?” Mira asked Marietta.

  “Can’t stand the little fuckers.” Marietta answered. She glanced back at Eve and realized her comment was crass. “Sorry. No offense.”

  “None taken. I never wanted kids either. Then woke one day and found out I was pregnant. Now I can’t stop making babies.” Mira laughed. Marietta smiled.

  “Mommy!” Eve hurried toward her in the sand. She fell to her hands and knees. Mira walked over to her and helped her stand while Cecilia and Leo spread out the blanket over the sand.

  “Once they are your babies, your attitude toward them will change,” Mira said. Marietta observed as Mira guided Eve to the edge of the blanket. The toddler dropped on her chubby knees and started immediately to shovel sand into the bucket. It took Leo and Cecilia both to lower Mira to the blanket. Marietta looked up at the sun boiling hotly in the sky above. If it weren’t for the breeze they’d bake. Still she burned easily and she considered the fact that she needed to return to get some sun block for her skin.

  “C’mon, join us.” Mira waved her over.

  Marietta glanced toward the villa. From the beach she could see the upper levels. Lorenzo was nowhere in sight. Maybe she was wrong about the black Barbie. She did seem nice. However, a sit and talk session on the beach with her and her kid would bore her silly. But she made a promise to Lorenzo. It was possible the sacrifice would prove to him that she could be a supportive wife. Marietta walked over and found a spot to plop down. Though they were on the blanket she felt sticky grains of sand over her arms and legs. She pulled her maxi dress up to wipe off.

  “Tell me about you? Any brothers or sisters?” Mira asked.

  “None. I was adopted,” Marietta said.

  “Oh. That’s nice,” Mira replied.

  “Actually it wasn’t. And not to be rude I don’t want to discuss my personal life.”

  Mira nodded. “Making conversation. I understand.”

  “I do have a question,” Marietta had only one. And when that snotty bitch Catalina threw her jab earlier it made the question burn like a hot coal in her gut.

  “Go ahead. Ask?” Mira said. She managed to help Eve turn over the sand in the pail. Without water the sand did little to stick. Cecilia came over and took Eve by the hand and grabbed the bucket. She walked the baby to the sea.

  “Fabiana was your business partner?” Marietta asked.

  “Yes. She was like a sister to me. I loved her very much.” Mira answered.

  “Lorenzo mentioned her. He said she died. He blames himself.”

  Mira didn’t immediately answer. She covered her brow with her hand and watched her daughter. Marietta believed it to be a stall tactic. After all she was chatty Kathy just a minute earlier. Marietta tried a different approach. “How close were she and Lorenzo to marrying?”

  Mira lowered her hands to her belly. She turned her gaze to Marietta. “Fabiana loved Lorenzo. But my friend had a habit of always loving complicated men. Guess she and I are the same on that score. Personally I never thought he loved her as deeply.”

  Though it was insensitive of her Marietta smiled. She didn’t like the idea of her husband carrying a torch for some dead woman.

  “You’re smiling?” Mira said. And for the first time Marietta saw Queen B flash anger toward her.

  “Oh I’m sorry. I wasn’t smiling because your friend’s dead it’s just—”

  “Let me be clear on something, Marietta. I never thought Lorenzo loved anyone more than he loves himself. He’s the most selfish man of them all. And he is the reason my friend is dead. He’s no catch, honey!”

  “The explosion was an accident,” Marietta tossed back.

  “It was a hit. A contract hit on his life. There are no accidents in this life,” Mira said.

  “You blame Lorenzo? How does that make sense when he serves your husband? Like he’s some king or something.”

  “It makes sense because Lorenzo plays games, he lies, he—” Mira stopped herself.

  “Fabiana’s death was the most devastating event in my life, and trust me I’ve had a few. I saw my best friend die. She was blown to pieces in front of my face,” Mira’s voice faltered with emotion. “I can’t get the image out of my mind. I’ve never seen a person die before. And I never want to again.”

  “Hey? You okay?” Marietta asked.

  “I have a pain… a cramp.” Mira grabbed her side.

  Marietta got to her knees. She touched Mira’s arm. The man who watched them was at their side in an instant. “Maybe we should get you back to the house.”

  “Help me stand,” Mira wheezed.

  Marietta stood. She and Leo helped. As soon as Mira was on her feet a blood spot could be seen to the back of her all white summer dress. “You’re bleeding. Oh my God!” Marietta gasped.

  Mira nodded. “Don’t panic. It’s okay. Get Cecilia and Eve. I’ll be fine.”

  “Fine? You’re bleeding. We need to—” Marietta stopped as Leo half walked, half carried Mira back across the sand. She wasn’t sure but the woman looked to be in the last stage of her pregnancy. Blood could not be good. She turned and saw Cecilia running up the sand. “We need to get back to the house. Something is wrong with Mira—er the Donna.”

  “Sí, andiamo!” Cecilia said. Marietta snatched up the blanket and Cecilia hurried up the sand with Eve in her arms. Marietta was close behind.

/>   10.

  Giovanni wiped his hand down his face and exhaled to quell some of his anger. He was tired of the discussion. He let his gaze sweep the faces of the men gathered. His inner circle stared back. “If we cut off the head of the snake it still lives. We will need another to reign in and organize what is left of the Mottola clan.”

  “And you think Giuliani Mottola is the man for this job?” Dominic asked.

  “If I put him in power he’s mine.” Giovanni drummed his fingers on the desk surface. “But is he strong enough to control the Mottolas? That is the real question.”

  “What about Santo?” Lorenzo interjected.

  “At the very least Santo shouldn’t be over the triangle any longer,” Carlo added.

  Giovanni looked over to Dominic who shook his head no. He returned his gaze to Lorenzo and then Carlo before he answered. “Santo is another matter. I need to see him. Then I will decide on the triangle.”

  “They wait for you. I made sure Giuliani was well received.” Dominic said.

  “Boss?” Renaldo charged inside. “It’s the Donna, she’s not well.”

  Giovanni was up and around his desk in seconds. He and the others walked down the hall to the stairs and up. He met Catalina on the step.

  “How is she?” he asked.

  “She’s had some bleeding. I’ve already called the doctor that she told me. He said he’d be here within the hour. I think we should take her to the ospedale, Giovanni. Blood? What the hell is going on?”

  “Is she cramping?” he asked as he rushed with hurried steps to her room.

  “I don’t think so, not anymore.” Catalina glanced back at Dominic and then looked at her brother. “Why aren’t you listening to me? We need to get her to the ospedale.”

  Giovanni rushed inside the room. At her bedside was Marietta. He paused a second at the sight of the woman comforting his wife. Marietta stepped aside and he went to Mira who was upright and resting against a stack of pillows.

  “I’m fine. The doctor will be here and he can decide if I go in. The cramps stopped,” she said with tears in her eyes. “This is normal right? I mean it’s part of it right? Nothing is wrong right?”