part0017

LEO AND ROLANDO STOOD shoulder to shoulder. Leo wished they stood back to back. His eyes could not track all of the unseen surveillance around them. Airports were a hotbed for the authorities. And since the cooling of the Mafia wars the polizia had enough energy to focus on the movements of the Battaglia men.

Palermo was no different.

“Are they late?” Rolando asked.

“They’ll arrive soon,” Leo replied to the scared gangster in training. He glanced to Rolando and cut his eyes away. Men who had also travelled with the women to Paris had done so without incident. The arrival of the ladies in Sicily had to be handled personally by him. The Donna had given birth. It was a special and sensitive time for the Battaglias.

“What do you think about Umberto?” Rolando whispered.

“I think nothing.” Leo scanned the faces of the Arma dei Carabinieri. The men in uniform paced in the luggage terminal with dogs on leashes and guns. The people scurrying pass them meant nothing. He sensed that their elevated presence was due to Giovanni’s station in Palermo.

“Did what?” Leo frowned, once again dragged from his thoughts.

“He found out the truth and he killed—”

“A word of advice tadpole, accusing a capu of killing another capu in the family is an irreversible accusation and the most serious of charges. One you should never make no matter what you know, no matter who you trust, no matter what you’ve seen. Capisce ?”

Rolando double blinked.

“Put on your sunglasses. You look like a frightened rabbit.”

Rolando did as he was told.

“I meant no harm. I give my life to the Battaglias.”

“Yeah, yeah, we all do.”

Leo liked the kid but he wasn’t sure why the runt was suddenly thrust ahead of other more disciplined and deserving earners. His mouth ran like a faucet. And he was too young to be of any use to him. Rolando was one of the recruits that even Giovanni said should be sent back to primary school. But Carlo insisted on the kid. For whatever reason, the boss was far more lenient with Carlo lately. Especially when it came to the bullet in Umberto. That should have been the end of Carlo. It was not. Umberto’s death came as no surprise to any of them and even those who were there to dispose of the body didn’t speak of the injustice done to the high ranking capu .

“You excited to see her?” Rolando asked.

“Who?” Leo answered with a yawn, before checking his watch.

“You know who I’m talking about. I’ve heard about her, but never seen her up close. She’s the one you’ve been sneaking away to visit in Milan and—”

Leo delivered a backhanded slap with his fist to Rolando’s face. It caused the young man to stumble backward with a nose bleed. To a passerby it could have looked like an accident. He was swift in his reaction to shove Roland toward the vendor booth of cigarettes and newspapers.

“Scusi ? A napkin for my friend,” Leo said. “He suffers nosebleeds.”

The vendor handed over several napkins and eventually a small white towel. He saw what Leo did but preferred to be accommodating rather than accusing. Leo pushed the wipes on Rolando who did his best to recover from the hard smack. Leo glanced to see if his attack on the kid went noticed. It had been. Two officers smirked at him, they didn’t move on him. Not yet. But he’d made a mistake by giving them a reason too.

“You are a chitter chatter tadpole aren’t you? Always watching, and talking?” Leo seethed.

“Apologies, Leo. I meant no—”

“What I do in my personal time is no business of yours.”

“Si, si, si, I understand.”

“She and I are friends. I know she will want to see the Donna and tour Sicily. I, ah, thought to take her on a short drive. It is not personal. None of this is ever personal.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Rolando waved off the explanation as if there was no need.

“Do you ever wonder why the boss has never been arrested?”

Rolando eyes stretched.

“Even here in Sicily, time after time, we tadpoles swim around and get scooped in the net. We’re herded to the jails like sheep for the slaughter. Some of us are smart enough to not get caught. Most of us aren’t. But never the boss—he goes untouched. Always. Do you ever wonder why that is? Why those fucking Carabinieri rats pace, instead of approaching us like men? Why they wait for weakness, any sign of it? Do you?”

“It’s their failure. The capture of tadpoles that are never disobedient. The true test of manhood has been our survival. Our existence is their failure. So learn the lesson. Learn to be silent and you grow from the tadpole to the frog. Or be Umberto. Fish bait.”

Rolando again nodded his head repeatedly. The kid pointed. “Here they come.”

Leo let Rolando go. The women approached. Kyra’s baby girl was on her hip. A toddler now she could easily be walking at her side. Jamie, the woman who used to be a man, wore a bright fuchsia pink pantsuit that complemented her curves and flattered her copper brown skin. She carried the baby bag and pulled the luggage. It was Belinda who looked the most beautiful of the three. She wore a jean skirt and yellow shirt with matching pointed toe high-heel shoes. Her hair wasn’t in braids any longer. It was silky and parted on the side so some of it covered the left side of her face. She stared directly at him. Leo was glad he wore his sunglasses so his bulging eyes of adoration couldn’t be seen. He’d missed her. It had been six days since he was last able to hop on a train and steal away for a day or two to be with her. He couldn’t wait to taste and hold her again.

“Leo!” Belinda said.

She waved happily and then rushed over to drop her bag and greet him with a hug and kiss in front of everyone. Her tongue slipped in so effortlessly and she tasted so womanly that he forgot his audience including the Carabinieri. Leo drew back from his lapse of weakness. After all he’d just told Rolando that there was nothing but a platonic relationship between the two of them.

“I’ve missed you, handsome,” she said. The tips of her fingers caressed the scarred side of his face.

“The Donna had the baby,” Leo coughed out.

“How is she?” Belinda pulled her arms down from around his neck and glanced back at the others staring.

“It’s a girl. They’ve named her Leeza MiaBella.”

“My beautiful Lisa,” Belinda translated.

“Very good,” Jamie winked. “Leo’s a good teacher.”

Leo removed his sunglasses. “You’ve been practicing without me?”

She showed him a conversation translation book. “Two months and I can understand the basics. Speaking it is still hard. Jamie has been teaching me French too. Wait. Wait. Let me try. Okay. Here goes. Non vedo l'ora di dimostrartelo stasera a letto ,” she said and rubbed Leo’s chest. She said she couldn’t wait to show him in bed that night. Jamie roared with laughter. Kyra did not.

“That’s enough Belinda,” Kyra said. Kyra’s attention was fixed on the bleeding boy next to Leo. “What happened to him?”

“He walked into a wall. Maldestro, ” Leo replied.

Rolando put his hand to his nose and turned away.

“Well, that’s that. If Belinda isn’t going to show you all her goodies right here boys, I suggest we leave.” Jamie teased. She gave a nod to the Carabinieri who were now gathering in a small watchful group with their assault rifles. The men agreed and got the luggage and led the way.

“You hear it too, huh Boo-Boo?”

The puppy crawled over to her. They slept in a giant bed, alone. Auntie said that whenever she visited her house this room would be hers. Auntie also said they could decorate it any color she wanted. Mommy kept promising her a room of her own. But every time she started on it she got distracted with something or someone and it never got done. Eve stretched her arms up above her head and yawned. In this room she felt all grown up.

“Buongiorno Boo-boo, did you sleep good?” she asked.

The puppy leapt on her and knocked her over. Eve was tickled and not by the licks. She was tickled by the love. At least with her puppy she felt all the attention and adoration she needed.

“Evieeeee!” Her aunt Catalina called out.

The sound of her name over the baby cries startled her. She yanked on her covers and discovered another yellow stain. Boo-boo frolicked around her happily. “Ut-oh. You peed the bed again. Again! Boo-boo! This is Zia Catalina’s house. I begged mommy to let us stay here and not Bagheria. Now Zia Catalina will be mad at you.”

“Eve?” Catalina said from the other room where the noisy baby was kept.

“Here I come auntie!” She flipped off the bed. Her puppy leapt. She hurried out of the room and slid in her stocking feet nearly pass the door. Boo-boo was right behind her. Eve found Catalina changing the noisemaker. And her brothers were running around half dressed. It was always the same. Always.

“Wanna be my little helper?” Catalina smiled.

And just like her mother, Zia Catalina expected Eve to be nothing more than a caregiver for the kids.

“No. I. Don’t. I thought you were calling me for breakfast?” Eve pouted. “I want my mama. Where is she?”

“She’s coming here today. And guesssssssssss what?”

“Che cosa? ” Eve answered.

“She’s bringing home your baby sister. Isn’t that cool?”

“Already?” She glanced to the baby on the changing table and then to Catalina. She then glanced to the baby once more.

“Do you want to help auntie?”

“Just this once. The boys have had their baths and I put clothes on them. See? Can you help them put on their shoes?”

“Where’s Zia?” Eve asked.

“She’s getting the best breakfast you ever ate ready. You’re at my house so we can have anything we want. All of your favorites!”

Catalina put a hand to her hip. “Biscotti, faggotino, macedonia, sugo di frutta! ”

So many sweets piled in one breakfast made her squeal with delight.

“What else? Can I have cereal?”

“Yes. The American kind!”

“Really! Like when I was in America?”

“Yep. I had the cooks get it just for you.”

Eve ran around in circles and danced about. The twins stopped playing and watched her curiously. Then they too began to celebrate. Eve laughed with her brothers. She grabbed their hands and they made a circle. They kept spinning until Catalina told them to quit. Eve doubled over with laughter.

“My little princess is a big girl so she is going to have a big breakfast. Oh, and guess what? Belinda and Kyra are coming to visit today. Jamie too.”

“Really?” Eve clapped. “To your house or to my house?”

Eve missed Belinda a whole lot the past two months. She had so little to do and no one to play with but her brothers. Even playing with the fire wasn’t as fun anymore.

“When? When are they coming here?”

“Soon. Now do you understand? We need to get ready. So can you help auntie?”

Eve gaze swept over the baby who no longer cried. And then she looked to her brothers one last time. Her happiness dimmed. No matter how many sweets they had for breakfast it wouldn’t change anything. All of the kids would come before her with Mama and Papa. Especially the new baby. She knew her mother didn’t hurt her feelings on purpose but it felt intentional. No one cared about her for long. Not even her favorite aunt.

“Eve?” Catalina said as she lifted Lorenza into her arms. Her aunt kissed the baby all over her face and Lorenza seem to giggle in excitement.

“Yes auntie. I can help you with the children. Can you help me?”

“Help you do what, cara ?”

“Papa. Can you help me see Papa alone? To talk to him. He so busy, and he doesn’t stay for long. I need a meeting. A sit down.”

Catalina smiled but Eve didn’t. She stared at Eve for a long moment. Eve feared the answer would be no. Then Catalina smiled again. “You miss him?”

Eve gave her a slow shake of her head. “It’s business. Papa understands business. I have a... deal to make with him.”

“I remember when I was your age. I had Domi to look after me but I’d wait all day for Gio to come home. I’d miss him. Do you know why?”

“Because your Papa is the best at making you feel special. The very best. I think I’ll remind him that he needs to work at the job more. Since you are our very special Evie.”

“I want a meeting!” Eve stomped her foot. “I’m not a baby. Tell him he has to have a meeting with me that is all. My own meeting. He knows how it’s done.”

When Eve eyes welled with tears her aunt’s mocking laughter faded. She frowned. “You’re serious?”

“I will make sure the meeting is scheduled as soon as possible. Promise.”

“Grazie, auntie. I will help you too. Let’s go you turtles! ” she said to her brothers. “We need to get ready. Papa and Mama are coming home!”

A SHARP JOLT OF PLEASURE surged through her and she quivered from her thighs to her buttocks warmed by the remaining heat from the cooling engine. Belinda grabbed her breasts and squeezed them tighter. Leo flipped her. He ripped his condom off and tossed it in the grass. She was crushed against the car as he began to thrust into her raw. Her hands went flat to the hood. Her cheek pressed against its hot surface. She gasped repeatedly for air. The sound of a car could be heard passing by on the road. They were not seen. Leo had driven through the dense forest and parked in a shaded spot crowded by the leaves and branches of thick bark trees. However, the nook remained the perfect hideaway for stolen pleasure. He kept moving until she heard bells.

Leo slowed his pelvic thrusts to a stop. He kissed her back and slapped her right butt cheek.

“Ciao ?” Leo answered.

Belinda turned and looked up at him curiously. She fixed her clothes the best she could as Leo spoke fast in the flip mobile phone. She understood very little of what he said. He ended the call with a hard grunt of disappointment.

“We must go. They say the Donna will be there soon.”

“Five minutes,” she said and reached for him.

He shook his head and swatted her hand away.

“No?” she pouted.

“I need longer. I want longer.” His gaze lowered to her pressed together thighs where they crested up to her sex.

“Then take five minutes. You’re the boss, At least with me.”

Leo smiled. His disfigurement lessened when he smiled. She had grown to love every blemished part of his face.

“I’ve missed you,” he confessed.

“It’s only been six days. Remember?”

“Paris? Yes, I remember Paris. I show you my memory. Take you to dinner and dancing. We tell the Donna and all is approved.”

“Really? You still think they will keep their promise and let us date without restrictions?”

“We’ve been honest.”

She fixed her jean skirt that was gathered up to her waist and glanced to the ground for her underwear. “They don’t know about you frequenting Milan and meeting me in Paris. They don’t know about our calls every day and every night since I left. They sure as hell don’t know I’ve fallen in love with you.”

Leo brows lifted in surprise. Belinda squatted and looked under the car for the panties. She didn’t see them.

“Love? You are in love?” he asked.

“You aren’t?” Belinda said with her hands to her hips.

He slowly nodded. “I love you.”

“Okay, first time we said it out loud. We’re in love. It’s settled.” Belinda chuckled.

“The boss knows everything. Even though I stay discreet he knows. He’s the boss.”

“Come, my lover,” he said and pulled her to him. He spun her around and smacked her bottom. She laughed. Belinda hurled herself at him once more. She threw her arms around his neck and held on. Face to face she was able to look into his chocolate brown eyes and see the man beneath. She’d changed in so many ways these past months. They’d changed together. She’d never met a man so intoxicatingly loyal and genuine in her life. She loved his strength and fearlessness, it made her feel safe.

“The world feels different. For the first time I feel free. Thank you.” She brushed her lips across his.

“For what?” he asked and ran his hands over her curves.

“For not giving up. For making me a woman.”

“I’ve done this?”

“You have done all of this.” She put his hand between her thighs and made him touch her wet and sticky sex. “Don’t you feel it?”

He looked down at her breast and then slowly up to her lips as his finger inched inside her. Belinda gasped in time to receive his kiss. “Five minutes, please Leo,” she pleaded.

“Ten,” he grunted. He pulled his finger out of her and took her hand. He led her to the backseat of the car. She went in on her hands and knees. Leo came inside behind her. He was on her in an instant and inside of her even sooner. Belinda bit down on the leather seat flopped down upon as his erection power drilled her from behind.

They would take all the time they wanted.

EVE HELD ZIA’S HAND . Her brothers were in the arms of men who worked for the family and the others stood around patiently awaiting the car’s arrival. Eve glanced up to Zia who looked down at her with a smile. Where had Zia been? She wondered. The question made her think of more missing adults in her life. Where was Uncle Lorenzo and TiTi Marietta? They were gone for a long time. Where was Uncle Carlo? He’d been missing too. People kept coming and going but the real family she loved disappeared.

“Here she comes, your baby sister.”

“She’s not my baby sister,” Eve replied. “She’s just Mama and Papa’s baby sister.”

Eve gaze fixed on the three cars driving along the long path to Zia Catalina’s home. She felt her tummy start to hurt and wasn’t sure of the strange pain. Did she have to go to the bathroom? She just went. Eve squeezed Zia’s hand and stood perfectly still. Catalina had said that Belinda would come to visit, but Eve hadn’t seen her. She’d waited all morning. Now mommy was home with another crying baby.

“There she is Eve! There!” Zia said.

Eve saw nothing. Papa got out of the car and went around to the other side. Her brothers clapped stupidly. Didn’t they know that the baby would replace them too? She snatched her hand down from her Zia and crossed her arms. And then Nico arrived from one of the cars. He came from nowhere. He lifted her up in his arms and she could swear she was high enough to touch the sky. “See mama, Evie?” Nico asked. “Look who she has with her.”

“Yes!” Eve grinned as he tickled her. “I see! I see!”

Nico chuckled. He held her in the way that made her feel like Queen Sheba from her picture books. She could see everything on Nico’s shoulder. And when her mother looked up their eyes met. Eve waved at Mama. Mirabella winked at her and smiled. Papa smiled at her too. Suddenly Eve didn’t feel so invisible. How could she? Nico made her the tallest person in the world. Maybe having a baby sister wouldn’t be terribly awful.

After the family went inside and everyone was surrounding the baby Eve grew bored with the celebration. She decided to explore her Aunt’s home the way she liked to do exploring in Melanzana. It was her hope to find a box matches she could take to her room to play with.

Eve stopped at the sound of his voice. It was her father. He stared down at her with a stern look. Did he know what she was up to?

“Catalina tells me you want a ‘meeting’?”

Eve blinked as if caught with her hand in the candy jar. Her father walked over and picked her up before she could give him a proper answer. He carried her down the hall. They went into an office that was similar to the one at home. Giovanni walked over to the chair and sat. He put Eve on his knee. He kissed and tickled her. She had to squirm to get free of his playing.

“Not like this Papa. You go there! To the desk,” Eve said.

Giovanni frowned. He looked at the desk and then at her.

“I want my own meeting with you. A real one.”

“Va bene lucciola ,” he said. Eve went to the door and closed it. She hurried over to the other side of the room to pull a chair over to the front of the desk. Her father sat behind it. All her life she had attended meetings like this. Seen people talk to Papa about their problems and see him resolve it. This was her turn. He wasn’t just Patri , he was Padrino .

Eve got up on the chair. She could see him from her seat. He sat forward and put his hands on the desk.

“Tell Papa what you want to speak about?” he said. His face rested between his thumb and pointer finger.

“The family,” Eve began.

“I’m the first baby,” Eve said.

“I was here first. Right?” Eve asked.

“Then I should be the boss. Over the children.”

“Boss?” Giovanni chuckled and dropped back in his seat.

“Papa, look at all the children. They all little. Need help from me and Mama. They cry and don’t listen. I have to help but no one cares about my feelings.” Eve put her hand to her heart. “I have feelings too, Papa.”

Giovanni’s brows lowered with concern. Eve didn’t know if he was mad at her or if he didn’t believe her so she hurried with the rest of her request. “I am the oldest so I am boss. I will help Mama but you have to help me. Stay here with me. Be with me and play with me too. Not just the babies. I go first and then the babies. It’s fair.”

He nodded. “You go first. I understand.”

“Good. I am glad we had this talk. I want to help Mama, but she has to remember my feelings too. So you talk to her, okay?”

Giovanni got up from his seat behind the desk and walked around it to face his daughter. He looked like there were tears in his eyes. Now Eve knew she had done a bad thing. If she hurt Papa’s feelings she would be sad too.

“Did I say something wrong?” Eve asked.

“No. It’s not you, lucciola . It’s Papa. Papa has been gone too often and he didn’t remember that his firefly had feelings until now. It’s all Papa’s fault. I should’ve known.”

“Know what?” Eve asked.

“That my lucciola is growing up.” He reached down and picked her up from her chair. He held her up in front of him and then he brought her into his arms and hugged her. “You come first Evie. You’re my very first love.”

“I am?” she asked in shock as she hugged his neck.

Giovanni held her firmly to his chest. “My very first baby. And I will not forget the blessing. I am so sorry my little firefly. I am very sorry.”

“It’s okay, Papa.” She touched his cheek. “We talked. We agree. It will be okay,” Eve said and stroked his face.

He kissed her cheek. “Do you want to go for a drive?”

“Really? Where?”

“Down to the beaches. Let’s do it. Now,” Giovanni said.

“But what about Mama? Does she want to come?”

“Mama needs rest and the family is here to take care of her. So we should go have our own fun. And get sweets, too. How does that sound?”

“Yes!” Eve held her father’s face. She kissed his nose. “I love you so much. You’re a good Papa.”

“And you’re a good Evie.”

Her father carried her all the way out of the house. He didn’t put her down. He didn’t stop to say anything to the babies in the house. He carried her to the car and put her inside. Eve was able to sit in the front seat. Though she couldn’t see quite over the dashboard she could see enough. And when Papa was behind the wheel driving she felt so happy. They went to the beaches and Papa took off his shoes and rolled up his pants to kick the water with her. He bought her the biggest lollipop she’d ever seen. And a gelato that was purple and pink. They even stopped to look at the dogs fighting over a tossed out piece of meat. It was the best day of her life.

When they came home she was sleep. But Papa didn’t just put her in the bed. He stayed in her room and watched television while she slept next to him. He was the best Papa. Eve woke the next morning to find him sleeping next to her. She felt so happy.

THE FAMILY WAS PRESENT . Everyone was excited over the new baby. Mirabella, however, just wanted to sit and sleep. In that order. But she smiled and she showed grace under the strain. Catalina had opened the Mancini home to receive her family. Mirabella wanted to give her the respect and honor of being the host so that’s why she agreed to staying at her sister in-laws instead of Bagheria.

The only man permitted to touch her was Giovanni when he was present. With him gone Nico stepped in and took his place. Her daughter slept like an angel in the crook of his arm. Eventually the ceremonies of greeting and being greeted by family won out. She found a comfortable chair in the parlor. Her sons came to her first. Both of her boys had grown so much. And they changed every day. She couldn’t figure out where Eve and Giovanni had disappeared too. After all, they were in Sicily and not Sorrento. She was very concerned when they left the gates of the Mancini Estates.

“Mirabella? She’s beautiful.” Kyra said.

Mirabella smiled. “How was Paris? Milan?”

Kyra took a seat next to her.

“Paris was great. The press is salivating over the big reveal. I think this is going to be huge. The best relaunch ever.”

Mirabella looked down at her angel and knew soon a feeding would be needed.

“I wanted to talk to you about Belinda,” Kyra said. Jamie and Catalina arrived to join the conversation. The kids must have scattered with Zia and their aunts. There was no Belinda among them.

“Where is she?” Mirabella asked.

“Out for a drive with Leo,” Kyra said.

“They’re lovebirds,” Jamie added.

“Who?” Catalina asked.

“Belinda, and Leo,” Kyra confirmed. “She’s done really well Mirabella. Really well in the school you sent her to. And he’s been to visit. A few times when we were in Milan and even flew out to Paris a week ago.”

“I see,” Mirabella said. “Not surprised. Giovanni mentioned it.”

“He did?” Catalina gasped. “Since when does my brother approve?”

“Since he lost you,” Mirabella smiled. “Belinda is the least of our concerns now.”

“Speaking of concerns. Since we’re all here, and the new baby... she’s so precious,” Catalina smiled. “I have to ask.”

“Marietta?” Mirabella answered.

Catalina gave a slow nod. “Lorenza is with Zia right now. She’s so sweet. I know Marietta must be going crazy without her.”

The women all remained silent waiting on Mirabella to speak.

“We’re mothers,” Catalina started again.

“Not all of us,” Jamie chuckled. “The one thing I gladly leave to you ladies.”

“I understand what you’re asking,” Mirabella spoke.

“Do you? You said Gio has changed. Softened. Right? Look at us. We’re in Sicily in Mancini’s house celebrating the birth of another member of this family. We’ve all changed. Maybe, just maybe it’s today that you find a way to get my brother to see another way.”

Mirabella stared at Catalina. Her gaze slipped over to Kyra and then to Jamie. They all stared back at her with expectation in their eyes. She then looked down at the daughter she brought into the world. The one who carried her mother’s soul.

“Maybe—” Mirabella began.

“Sorry I’m late!” Belinda rushed in. “We had a flat tire.”

The women all looked at her and her flustered state. She hadn’t bother to run up the zipper on her jean skirt. Jamie was the first to laugh. The others all found themselves unable to not join in. Belinda looked around confused.