part0010

THE MOMENT THE WHEELS of the plane bounced off the runway and the jet came to a jarring stop she woke. Marietta lifted her head from Lorenzo’s shoulder and wiped the drool from her mouth. Whatever he gave her for sedation had done its job. This time she found sleep without nightmares. It was very sobering.

“We’re here?” she asked.

“We’re here,” he replied.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Tired, body feels tired,” she sighed.

“Don’t say the words, Lo. I know you are going to do everything you can to bring her back to us. You don’t have to promise me every hour of the day. I believe in you.”

“I’ve never deserved your trust, your loyalty,” he said. “Look at what its cost us.”

“We deserve each other.”

“I don’t want you to lose faith in me like everyone else in the world.”

“Don’t play victim. I can’t stand to hear it in your voice.”

“I’m not. It’s the truth. I have more enemies than friends now.”

“It still doesn’t make us victims,” Marietta sighed. “Every time I think about how things could have been different I’m reminded of the choices we made that got us here. I’m reminded of my choices. And I’m not sorry for them. I did what I had to do to survive, to have you, to have my family.”

“You’re right, cara , we aren’t victims. We’re survivors,” he agreed.

“Don’t mention him—”

“We have to talk about him. What happened on the beach was important. Giovanni failed on that beach, just like we did. Carlo is the most loyal person in the family. Isn’t he? And what he did he do?”

“No. Lo. He wasn’t. That’s what Giovanni will think, but you and I know him.”

“Carlo wanted you to make a choice. To give up your life to save us. He wanted to give you a way out. And I don’t think that was Giovanni’s plan. I could have kept my baby if I let you go. That was Carlo’s plan.”

“That wasn’t a choice! It was a death sentence that he was hired to execute. The choice is we fight back and take what is ours! I’m a true Battaglia heir. Giovanni is a fraud. He always has been. He’s robbed me of everything. That was the choice made for us. I’m going to choose to take back what’s mine and save my family.”

Marietta lost hope. Her husband could never win thinking they way he did. But she could never abandon him. No matter the cost. She reached over and took his hand into hers. She sat there staring out of the plane window at the trees. She didn’t want to talk anymore. It hurt to think of Lorenzo’s failures. The only thing that made her feel a little sane was holding his hand.

The plane taxied around the runway before eventually coming to a stop.

“Let’s go, Marie.”

She unfastened her seatbelt and waited her turn to ease out into the seat. She walked stiffly to the front of the plane. One of the men helped her come down the small ladder. The first thing besides sunshine and heat to greet her was the smell of the sea.

“Where are we?” she asked herself.

“Greece. It’s as far as I could get us.”

“Who’s island?” Marietta pressed him.

“Don’t worry. I have it under control.”

“Is Greece safe? I mean is it close enough to get her back but far enough to escape Gio? Because we have to think like that, Lo. We have to think of her, in everything we do.”

“I know. I am thinking.”

She gave him a weary smile. “Sorry. I’m doing it again.”

“Let’s get settled and then we talk about what’s next. Everything. Feel okay?”

She put her arm around his waist and nodded yes for an answer. They walked over to the car waiting for them. Since her life had turned after she became his wife to a life of luxury the way the lived on the run felt hollow and unstable. The heat and segregation she found in Africa. She now had more of it here. The car was anything but comforting. It had dents everywhere and cracked windows that didn’t roll down to allow air. She felt cramped in the backseat with a man she didn’t know. Lorenzo was in the front with the driver asking questions in a language she didn’t understand. She feared their next stop would be some shack made of straw and sticks. To her surprise it was a very handsome, well structured, one story home.

“This is where we’re staying?” she asked.

“I wasn’t expecting comfort.”

“I don’t give a fuck how far Gio pushes me, I won’t have you staying any place that isn’t worthy of you,” Lorenzo said. Marietta smiled at the gesture. “It belonged to your brother,” he continued. “Catalina said Armando had bought it a year ago and planned to turn the island into a vacation resort.”

“If Gio is back in Sicily and has taken Palermo he has to know about this place,” Marietta warned.

“Maybe, but Armando owns many places like this. Let him look. We won’t be here long.”

“Is it furnished? A kitchen with food to cook?” she asked.

“Let’s see.” Lorenzo got out and came around the car for her. She walked into the villa holding his hand. She braced for the worse. To her relief the worse was not there. The place was clean, and furnished. It was also cool despite the heat outside. She walked around the front area and headed to the back to find a room with a bed and the kitchen to the left of it.

“There are more rooms to the back.”

“It’s perfect,” she said. She turned and gave Lorenzo a smile. “I like it.”

He winked. “I need to see to things. There’s food and drink here. I made sure. Take a bath and relax. I’ll be back before night.”

Lorenzo started for the door.

“Yes?” he answered.

“Phone? Do we have one?”

“No,” he said and walked out. “Don’t worry cara . I have it under control.” He winked and was gone. She was left alone.

The wedding dinner was hosted at Arielle’s. Her garden behind her home rivaled even Mirabella’s. She had managed to capture such romantic beauty on her land. Shadows hung from tall oaks like curtains blocking out the sun for those guests who wandered out of the white tents where the celebration was hosted. To travel from the house to the celebration the guests would take the zig zagging mowed paths through platoons of trumpet-shaped yellow flowers. And become surrounded by a winding ribbon of roses so strikingly red they looked unreal. And the band played on.

The expense did give Mirabella pause. She wondered how much of the financing came from her husband’s pockets.

Mirabella had arrived with the kids. It was customary that the first part of the celebration included the Don’s children. And Eve, along with her brothers always flourished under the attention. With a baby tucked in her arm and her son holding on to her leg Mirabella tended to the kids needs and made sure every belly was full before having Nico and Cecilia take them crying and whining back home. Mirabella had no intention of leaving Giovanni with Arielle.

After passively listening to her husband greet and address the people who vied for his attention, Mirabella excused herself. She returned to the villa in search of a bathroom. Her bladder held little control due to her pregnant state.

“Scusi? Bathroom?” Mirabella asked a young woman carrying a tray of food.

“Right through the hall to your left, Donna Mirabella.”

“Grazie ,” Mirabella said. She slipped past several people gathered. Her focus was singular. But when she entered the hall she realized there were four rooms to choose from and her curiosity began to surface. She strolled pass an open door to what looked like a sitting room and found and paused. She went on. The bathroom, she found, on the second try.

Mirabella relieved herself with such haste she nearly wet her panties. “You are giving Mama a hard time,” she sighed aware of her awkward movements because of her large belly. She wiped, flushed and washed her hands. She knew in another hour she would need to pee again.

She left the bathroom and heard the laugher of two women at the other end of the hall. And for reasons she could not explain she paused at the next open door. She slipped inside. She had no desire to chat up women who constantly gave her polite smiles but hostile stares. The duo passed room felt vibrant with Arielle’s personal touch. Every wall in the room was covered with family photos, and most of them consisted of children. She scanned the smiling and sometimes sad faces of the kids. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. It didn’t feel right that Arielle so easily stepped into these children lives. And she knew the orphaned kids couldn’t all be from Giovanni’s Calderone war. There were too many of them. The kids had to be casualties of the criminal camorra reign over the southern Italy. Arielle had been front and center ready to lend a hand.

Mirabella noticed another photo. It was of several men seated. Giovanni and Lorenzo were the youngest of the gathering. If she didn’t know her husband’s younger image she might have missed it. At the head of the table sat Tomosino.

“That one I hung up two days ago,” a voice spoke behind her. Arielle stood in the doorway. The hostess gave her a polite nod after Mirabella’s startled response.

“For me?” Mirabella asked.

“No,” Arielle chuckled. “In that picture right next to Tomosino is my father. There,” she walked over and pointed. “It’s the only picture I have of him. My mother wasn’t a big fan of Papa.”

“Is that your mother?” Mirabella asked. She noticed a woman in the furthest shadow of the picture bringing a serving tray of food to the table.

“Yes. That’s her. She took care of and fed all the men in la Camorra but she despised them. Especially my father. When he died she destroyed every photo we had of him. This one was missed.”

“Your father was Camorra?”

Arielle nodded. “My father had his own clan back then. A very important man, next to Tomosino.”

“With his death the business went under and so did the power. I did what I could but it was never enough. Not for the kids. My mother started helping displaced kids of the mafia to atone for the crimes of her husband. She taught me that those that suffer the most are always the women and children. And she was right. When Tomosino found out about her efforts he put an end to it. It broke my mother’s spirit. Atoning was all she had for all the evil she’d seen my father do. She’d seen Giovanni’s father do.”

“Sounds like you hated Tomosino.”

“I hated who they were, but I knew Giovanni was different. So I went to him after he returned from America and started working with his father. I asked him to let me finish my mothers work. He agreed. With conditions of course. And so it began. Me. And the kids.”

“Children are innocent,” Mirabella said. “It’s very noble of you to step in that way.”

“You don’t approve?” Arielle asked.

“Do you need my approval?”

“I don’t want to be your enemy.”

“I don’t see how I could ever be your friend.”

Arielle gave her a respectful nod. “You don’t like me and you don’t know why.”

“Oh I have my reasons,” Mirabella said.

“Because of my closeness to your husband?” Before Mirabella could answer Arielle continued. “Back then,” she nodded to the picture. “I told my Papa that I wanted to marry Giovanni. I’m only two years younger than him. In that picture he’s barely sixteen. And my crush was so powerfully strong I did any and everything to be noticed by him.”

“I take it your father said no.”

Arielle glanced to Mirabella. “He said yes. It was Giovanni’s mother who objected. She had more control over Tomosino than tradition or culture. I don’t think it was because of me and my father’s ruthless reputation. Later when Giovanni went to America to be a lawyer I understood. What mother wouldn’t want their son to have a different destiny. To marry an American woman,” Arielle gave her a sideways glance. “Tomosino made a different deal. I was promised to Lorenzo instead. Neither of us accepted that arrangement. So I never married.”

“You think Giovanni is the man promised to you?”

“You aren’t listening to me, Donna. Maybe you want to see or hear something that isn’t there. I am going to do my best to help you see what is true. When I saw him marry you I realized that Gio was never mine. And I’m okay with that. I am. I remembered why my mother felt free even when she was married to a monster. She loved being a mother. And so do I. My purpose isn’t to be a wife. My purpose is to be a mother.”

“I hope so Donna. Can we get pass this and you accept my friendship, because you have my respect,” Arielle said.

“I don’t need a friend. I don’t need enemies either. I see what you have done and I respect it. What I really wish is that there would never be a need for any of it. For these children especially because of my husband.”

Arielle nodded. “I agree. Giovanni is better than some.”

“But is better good enough?” Mirabella asked.

“That is not for me to decide.” Arielle extended her hand. Mirabella looked down at it and then into Arielle’s eyes. She smiled. She took her hand and shook it.

Mirabella left. As she walked out into the gardens in search of Giovanni she realized once again how dangerous and destructive jealousy could be in her marriage. She had to choose her enemies and friends wisely. At this point she decided Arielle was neither.

SHAE OPENED HER EYES . Even in doing so she saw nothing but shadows. However, her vision cleared. In the chair next to her bed sat Jilly. She chewed on her nail and stared at the television which broadcasted some reality show that had been muted. Doris was at the window with her arms crossed; she looked vexed. Shae’s heart dropped the moment Doris wiped at tears on her face. Shae’s hand moved. She opened her mouth to speak but her voice didn’t surface.

Though her drugged state left her numb all over, her heart worked and it burned for answers. The baby, her precious little jewel, did she make it?

“My baby!” she cried out.

Doris and Jilly were startled. Both immediately came to her bedside.

“What happened to my baby?” Shae cringed at the tears that welled in Jilly’s eyes. She clenched her fists and braced for God’s punishment.

“Jewel is fine,” Jilly said. “She’s so pretty. They just took her for a test. She’s coming right back.”

“What test? She is?” Shae looked to Doris. Her friend was at her side holding her hand. Doris too was crying. She squeezed her hand.

“They say the baby had jaundice, nothing serious. But they are bringing her back. Don’t you worry. I’m so glad you’re awake. You did good girl. So good. They had to do a c-section because of something with your womb opening. I can’t remember. But the doctors said you will be fine. And so will she.”

“She is so pretty. So sweet. Like a baby doll,” Jilly said.

“How do you feel?” Doris asked.

“I want to see her. Can you find the nurse? See if they can bring her back. I want to see her.”

“Okay, okay,” Doris hurried out.

Jilly wiped her tears. “I’m sorry, Ms. Shae.”

“Why are you crying? She’s alive. We’re going to be fine.”

Jilly nodded. The tears weren’t common for Jilly. Being tough was a matter of survival for the young girl. Shae had only seen her distressed, and both times were centered on the people she loved.

“Listen, hey, everything is going to be okay.”

“It’s not. It’s not and I’m so sorry,” Jilly said. “Ms. Doris said I can’t tell you. But I have to. You’re my... I love you.”

“I love you too, Jilly. What is it?”

Jilly looked up at her. “I’m sorry Ms. Shae. I was so happy I—”

Shae tried to sit up. It was a wrong move. Her loins felt like they were set afire. She winced. She touched the button to the side panel of her bed and it lifted her a bit.

“Tell me what it is?”

“I had a plan for you and Jewel. To make you a family.”

“What was the plan?”

“That I call Carlo and tell him you had the baby.”

“You what? Jilly? Did you call him?”

She shook her head no.

Shae let go a deep breath of relief. She wanted to tell Carlo. When the time was right. After the baby was born and they were both strong enough to return to Italy to find him. That would probably be a year from now considering how financially broke she was.

“I called the Battaglias.”

Shae’s gaze turned back to the girl. Her heart turned to ice. A cold wave of dread filled her at the mention of the Battaglias. Umberto’s warning and all the fear she had of that family surfaced.

“How could you do that? You don’t have the number?”

“I found your planner. I got the number and then I had a doctor call who spoke Italian—”

“Jilly!” Doris snapped.

Shae looked to Doris who returned to the room. Doris eyes were stretched in horror.

“I told you not today! I told you not to bring it up!”

“Don’t yell at her,” Shae said. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not!” Jilly wept. “It’s all my fault. I should have never called. I shouldn’t have!” Jilly tried to run for the door but Doris caught her and held her. Shae observed them helpless from the bed. When the girls were in crisis they had their ways of calming them. What could the Battaglias have said that would distress Jilly to this point? Did they threaten her? Did they threaten her child? What could have happened from one phone call?

After a few minutes Jilly went still and silent. No more tears. Just hurt and anger on her face. Another defensive measure that would put barriers up between them.

“What happened?” Shae asked in the calmest voice she could muster.

Doris shook her head no and walked Jilly back over to the chair where she forced her to sit.

“She called the Battaglias. Did they threaten her? Threaten my baby? What?”

“Carlo... they told her that today is Carlo’s wedding day.”

Shae blinked in shock. She looked to Jilly who had averted her gaze to the floor. She looked to Doris with wide eyed shock. The news didn’t register. It couldn’t. Her mind and heart disconnected for a brief moment and neither would accept the idea of a wedding to Carlo that didn’t include her.

“Hello mother dear!” the nurse said wheeling in her daughter. “Here she is. Time to meet your precious Jewel.”

The tears streamed down Shae’s cheeks. She couldn’t control it. The nurse lifted her swaddled baby girl up and placed her into the cradle of Shae’s arm. Jewel was sleep, peacefully so. She had a round face and so much hair. She even had Carlo’s widow’s peak.

Shae shook her head smiling and crying. How could she be happy and devastated at once? How? Nothing good in her life ever came to her without pain. It was impossible to understand her heart.

“You were perfect. Every one saw the truth. I’m a lucky man.” Carlo glanced up at her and winked. Adara needed help removing her dress. Carlo was patient with her as he took his time unzipping and unbuttoning her.

“My brother. Luca—”

“He will stay with us if you want. I don’t mind.”

“You don’t?” she asked. “Where would he sleep?”

“On the sofa, for now, until we get a bigger home. He can’t take my place in bed with you.”

She laughed. “No, he can’t.” She pushed down her dress from her belly and hips. Carlo stepped behind her and he helped her with the catch to her half-bra.

“I love you, Carlo. Thank you for welcoming him.” Adara said with a wide grin.

“He’s my brother too. Isn’t he?”

“Well... yes, I suppose.”

“Then it’s decided. Where we go he will go too.”

“I don’t know who this Carlo is, but I like him.” She turned and put her arms around his neck. Her lips brushed his and she fell deeper in love. Carlo ran his hand down the center of her back. His fingertips played a melody along her spine. Even though her belly separated them from a true embrace she melted against him as his strong arms kept her standing and protected.

“Say it, again,” Adara said when her mouth left his.

Carlo’s left brow arched.

“It’s you I love. The way you walk, the way you laugh, everything about you. This body... these curves. I love it.”

“Say it again,” she smiled up at him.

“Ti amo , my sweet wife,” he said.

“I wish I could make love to you tonight. To show you, how much I love you.”

“This right here, right now, is all I need,” he said and traced her ear with the tip of his tongue. “After you give me my son, your body is mine again. No more excuses.”

She giggled. He lifted her in his arms. He carried her as if she were light as a feather. Adara rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She felt like his bride. When Carlo laid her on the bed he kicked off his shoes. He didn’t bother with his shirt, bowtie and suspenders. He spooned her from the back and kissed her shoulder. She felt comfortable when she slept on her side and he didn’t even have to be told. She relaxed as Carlo massaged her belly with his hand caressing up and down her thigh and then around to her belly once more.

“I never thought this would be the ending for me, Carlo. I never thought I could be this happy again. Especially with a family of my own,” she yawned.

“Not the ending, the beginning,” he promised her.

Adara smiled. She closed her eyes and let bliss carry her to sleep.

Carlo lay next to his bride. His hands behind his head. He stared up at the ceiling and listened to her soft snores. The day had gone just as he planned. He even got his blessing from his sister and mother. They loved Adara. And without knowing Adara’s history welcomed her into the family. It was the first time he truly saw acceptance from them both. He should be happy.

If this was what happy felt like he was gravely disappointed. He looked to Adara and felt another pang of guilt. He did care for his new wife deeply, but in the quiet of their life he felt the edginess that had followed any moment of contentment for him. And it bothered him. Though he was uncertain of all the causes for his mixed feelings he couldn’t help but feel that something was wrong. Carlo pushed up from bed gingerly. He found a larger blanket and covered Adara to ensure she was comfortable. And he opened the window to let the fresh night air blow in to keep the temperature cooling.

He then picked up his pack of cigarillo’s and left the room. He made sure to close the door behind him. Tomorrow he would take her to Rome. Giovanni owned a suite in a very exclusive hotel that he intended to pamper her in. He sat down and plucked a cigarillo and lit it with his lucky lighter. With smoke filling his lungs he glanced at the television he had wired to receive illegal cable. Even though he could afford it, his darker nature always encouraged him to take where he should pay. Carlo dragged on his cigarillo and reflected on his future, and in doing so he couldn’t help but think of Marietta and her life at the moment. Soon, his thoughts always went where it often shouldn’t. He closed his eyes and remembered Shae. The edge he felt lessened and he relaxed.

He let her go and she stepped out of her shoes. Her feet were so swollen her toes looked like plums. She felt as if she walked on needles with each step she took.

“Let’s start with a foot massage.” Giovanni offered. He started to remove his blazer then his diamond cuff links. Mirabella went to her dresser and removed her jewelry, except for her wedding ring.

“Carlo looked so happy. Didn’t he?” Mirabella asked.

“He looked well,” Giovanni agreed.

“It’s good for him. It will settle him down like our family did for you.”

Giovanni didn’t answer.

She glanced over to the silver tray where the staff left her messages. There was a folded piece of paper. She picked it up. The message was from one of the servants who tended the phone. It was for Carlo. It said that Shae had delivered a baby.

“Sit down, Bella. I can’t massage your feet while you’re standing,” he said as he sat on the edge of the bed and removed his shoes.

“Gio... read this,” Mirabella took the message over to her husband. Giovanni read it.

“What does that mean?” she asked.

Giovanni didn’t respond.

“A few months ago she called here. Left a message for him. But he was still in Africa. I thought Marietta said it ended badly between them? That they hated each other?”

“I’ll handle it.” Giovanni crumbled the paper in his hand.

“Is this baby Carlo’s? Is it?”

“Possibly,” Giovanni said and got up from the bed. He tossed the note in the small can near the dresser then he peeled off his shirt and hung it on a hanger.

“Did you know she was pregnant?”

“Of course not,” Giovanni said. There was something in his tone that made her doubt his sincerity. Her heart seized with sadness. What had her husband done? She prayed it wasn’t what she knew he was capable of.

“Bella? Don’t worry. I will take care of it.”

“Oh God,” Mirabella sat down. “This isn’t right. Carlo needs to know.”

“For now we’ll keep it quiet. I’ll speak to the staff. No one talks about this baby in America.”

“We can’t do that! He has a right to know.”

“If it was important she would have come to Italy and told him herself rather than leave a phone message. He just married. He’s trying to clean up his act and—” Giovanni voice failed.

“You’re lying. Aren’t you?”

“What?” Giovanni frowned. “Don’t call me a fucking liar!”

“Then you’re twisting the truth. How’s that? Do you not feel anything? Anything?”

“For what you’ve done to him. In Africa.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Giovanni bristled.

“I heard you and that African woman talking. She drugged him. She broke him, for you. And you knew that it would destroy the bond he shared with Lorenzo. Why? Why do that to him? Why drag this out with Lorenzo? What is going on with you, Gio?”

“I have plans for Lorenzo. Carlo chose his path in Africa. I choose his path now. I’m not dragging anything out with my brothers! I’m finishing it,” he said and went into the bathroom. Mirabella sat on the edge of the bed confused.