part0030

Kyra closed the door to her daughter’s room. Her son was with Renaldo’s mother. She didn’t expect him home at all. She walked to the front of their villa and found him seated. He didn’t bother to take off his blazer.

“You’re late.”

“Get dressed. And the baby,” he said.

“We have to go to the Battaglias.”

“Renaldo? No. Tonight should be us. I am so tired of being at their beck and call. I’ve spent months away from our home and almost every night away from you. When does it end?”

“It has ended.” Renaldo sat forward. He put his in his hands. The past few months her husband had been a brick of strength. But she knew better. This was taking a toll on him. How much of his life was he supposed to give? What would be left for her and their children? She walked over to Renaldo. The moment she reached him he pulled her closer. His hands to her ass, his face to her pelvis, he released the burden. She stroked his head and gave him the time needed in silence. In marriage she learned about the needs of her husband.

After a long pause she dared to ask the first question. “Lorenzo?”

“He’s dead,” Renaldo choked out and broke into tears.

“Marietta?” she asked.

“Gone,” he said.

“I didn’t think Giovanni would do it. I really thought Mirabella would save them. I’m so sorry baby.”

“It’s done,” Renaldo sucked down his weakness and held back his grief for a friend he’s loved for years. He had no regrets over what had become of Lorenzo but it cut him to his core.

“Carlo? How bad is it?”

“He’s done, Kyra. There’s not much left to him.”

“That’s not your fault. Renaldo?” Kyra went to her knees. She took her husband’s tear stained face in her hands. “You’ve been a good friend to him. Carlo has always been complicated. This is just part of what he is.”

“What is he?” Renaldo asked. “Because when I look at him I see me. I lost a wife, I nearly lost my family too when she died. I had nothing until I found you. Nothing but this life. When did Carlo catch a break? He is no different than me Kyra. We all have our limits. What will be mine? I almost died once, will I again? And then what?”

“I know, sweetie. I don’t have the answers you need to hear. I’m married to you, not Carlo, not Giovanni, not the Camorra, only you. And I am only in this world because I love you. The day you’ve had enough we will be at your side. I pray every night that the day comes soon. Because I can’t live without you. I can’t.”

He leaned in and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. He held her close. And then came out of the chair to the floor with her. Renaldo kissed her neck and shoulder blade, he squeezed her breast and parted her thighs. His lips found hers again. She pulled her dress up and then helped unbuckle his belt. She wanted him so desperately in that moment it was a physical ache. And she prayed her daughter slept long enough for her to have him.

MARIETTA WOKE. SHE felt so much fatigue from her grief it was hard to lift her head. She rubbed her eyes and tried to adjust them to the dark. It had only been a few weeks since the nightmare of her life began. Still she felt time less and less.

She looked over to her left. Her baby girl slept in nothing but a diaper.

A smile was on her face. Marietta leaned in to be sure. Did babies smile in their sleep? She had never seen such peace and beauty in a child before.

“You would do that as a baby,” her mother spoke.

Marietta looked over to the corner of her room. Her mother stepped from the shadow and smiled at her.

“I know I’m crazy, every time I see you.”

“You’re not crazy sweetheart. You’re in pain. And you need me.”

“You never came to me when I needed you before.”

Her mother nodded. “But I wanted too.”

Marietta stopped speaking with the apparition and returned her attention to Lorenza. Her daughter had stopped smiling. But she lay on her back resting. Marietta slipped down on her pillow and stared at her. “How do I get revenge for you sweet girl? Make them pay for what they took from you.”

“Marietta. That cannot be the answer. After everything.”

She ignored her mother and caressed Lorenza little belly. She leaned in and kissed her.

“You need to start over. Do what Lorenzo asked you. Leave here and not look back.”

“I can’t,” Marietta whispered. “I can’t just forget what was done to him.”

“She has to be your priority. Just as you were mind. I made so many mistakes. Don’t risk anything that would separate you from her again. Don’t.”

“I love her mama; I will do anything for her.”

Mirabella relaxed on her pillow staring at her daughter. She felt some calmness just by having her again. But nothing, not even her mother returning from the dead as her conscious, could settle her heart over her loss. Lorenzo would be avenged. She wasn’t sure how, but she believed it would be as soon as she was capable.

LORENZO HEARD VOICES . Several. He tried to open his eyes and at first found that he could not. So he lay still and listened. There was a discussion being had between two men. And the discussion was in Russian. He wasn’t sure if he were frowning but his confusion was deep. Was hell in Russia?

Then the fragments of his memory began to surface. Giovanni fired his weapon into the bottom of the boat instead of landing bullets in Lorenzo’s chest. Frozen with shock Lorenzo wasn’t sure what the next death blow between them would be. Three Russians came below and seized him. He yelled for his cousin to explain. A black bag was put over his head and he was taken. Either he was drugged or knocked unconscious because he remembered nothing after that.

“Battaglia!” A man barked.

Lorenzo didn’t respond. He lay perfectly still.

“The doctor says you should be wake. I know you are. But if you wish to pretend I don’t mind. I do the talking, because I own you.”

The man heaved a sigh.

“Your Don has sentenced you to me. And though your sentence isn’t as long as I would like, it will give me more than enough time to make you regret ever challenging the brotherhood.”

The man made no sense. And his Italian was so pitiful Lorenzo struggled to keep up with his little speech.

“They sent you with broken ribs, a fractured jaw, and crushed eye socket. We could not save your left eye. However, we will fix you. There is no fun in making you a cripple.”

Lorenzo realized then that his face was wired shut and his eyes bandaged. It was why he couldn’t wake. And though he felt drugged and numbed, he did feel the ache of his missing eye. After the beating in Greece from the Russians he was never able to open his eye.

“Two years, your Don was specific. Two years and our time ends. It will be the longest two years of your life.” The man chuckled. “Rest my friend. I’ll be waiting.”

If Lorenzo could smile, he would. Giovanni hadn’t taken everything from him. And no matter the Russians did, he would get out of this place. He would have his family again. And he’d never give up until he did.

“I told you not to call me that, my last name is not Battaglia. It is Alzaro. I am Signora Alzaro.”

The woman smiled graciously at her. Marietta returned her attention to her daughter who she was spoon feeding pureed carrots. Lorenza gave her a big smile after every serving.

“Forgive me signora but you have a visitor.”

Marietta looked up. When she arrived she met the doctors of this place who were paid by Giovanni to keep her locked up. One of them informed her that arrangements would be made for her to be sent to America. Was it time for her to leave? Was Giovanni stupid enough to believe that putting her on the plane would be the end of it?

She picked up a napkin and wiped her daughter’s mouth. She then lifted her baby girl from the baby chair in her room and kissed her face. “We’re leaving Lola. I promised you we would not be here for long.”

Marietta nodded to the young woman sent to collect her. She was led from her room to the open courtyard. She carried Lorenza in her arms and her baby girl always became jovial when she was near flowers. She could see her little head turn back and forth to see all the colors. Marietta smiled. Her smile soon faded when she saw her visitor.

It was an official from the Carabinieri.

“Signora Marietta Battaglia. At last we meet.”

“Who are you?” she asked.

“Please, allow me to introduce myself. I am Generale di corpo d'armata , my name is Geovani Altoviti. I am here to help.”

Marietta rocked her daughter in her arms. She frowned at first. But after staring into the eyes of the Generale for a moment a smile began to form on the man’s lips that drew one from her own.

“How did you know I was here?”

“I know many things, and with your help I can get you the justice you deserve. May we speak?”

She glanced up to the window. She saw the officials that were under Giovanni’s payroll. The Generale glanced up. “Ah, yes, I’m aware. I won’t stay long. You must leave this place. You must leave their control. If you do, I promise signora, there will be no reason to fear Giovanni Battaglia ever again.”