Part 18 (1/2)
”How bad is it?” Carlo asked now on edge with excitement.
”Best explained in person. How long before you can travel back? We're in Sicily, Villa Mare Blu.”
Carlo mulled the question over. The giggling, f.u.c.king, chasing ruckus had ceased in the other room. He could think clearly, breathe easily. He smirked at the idea of crus.h.i.+ng a Mottola with his bare hands. ”Tomorrow. I can be there tomorrow night or Monday morning at the latest.”
”Good. See you then.”
The phone line disconnected. Carlo dropped his head in his hand. He closed his eyes and thought it over. ”f.u.c.k this s.h.i.+t.” He tossed the covers aside and found his pants. He put them on and left the cabin. He pounded on Lorenzo's door. ”Need to talk to you!”
A few seconds pa.s.sed and Lorenzo was at the door in his boxers, he looked sweaty, disheveled. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d still had an erection. Carlo rolled his eyes as Lorenzo pulled on his d.i.c.k. ”What is it?” Lorenzo emerged with a lopsided grin to his face.
”Home. We got trouble. I need to head back. We're done.”
”Wait!” Lorenzo stepped fully out of the room he closed the door. ”What kind of trouble?”
”Mottola. I think Santo has f.u.c.ked up. Who knows? Gio wants me home to discuss it.”
”When?” Lorenzo asked.
”Huh?”
”When does he expect you?” Lorenzo panted.
”Tomorrow night.” Carlo started back to his door.
”Good. Slow down.” Lorenzo walked up behind him. ”We're coming.”
”We?” Carlo asked.
”Me and Marietta. Today we get married and tonight we leave for Sicily.”
”No. f.u.c.k no, man. Gio wouldn't-”
Lorenzo pushed him back into his room and he had to shuffle his feet to keep from tripping over them. Lorenzo closed the door so Marietta couldn't hear them. Carlo guessed he wasn't aware of how thin the walls were on the boat.
”It's a perfect idea, Carlo. She's my wife as soon as the sun rises and we get the priest on the boat. Think on it. Gio needs me too. When I show up with her he'll have to settle things, accept Marietta. Tell the women the truth so I can leave this f.u.c.king exile.”
”Or he'll cut your throat and mine for disobeying him!” Carlo said.
Lorenzo chuckled. ”Trust me. I know what I'm doing. Gio's weakness is Mirabella. This plan will work. If he wanted Marietta dead he would have ordered it. He's trying to buy himself time. Well time has run out. We're coming home.”
Carlo slapped his head. ”f.u.c.k, Lo, you're playing with our lives and hers!”
Lorenzo glared. ”I know what I'm doing! Are you in with me or not?”
* B *
Giovanni walked outside in bare feet across the ebonized hardwoods of the belvedere that extended from their bedroom. Here the beach could be seen and felt. A sweet ocean breeze cooled him as the sun boiled in the sky at such an early hour. Mira was always most beautiful in the morning with their daughter. And it was a tradition that they dined on the terraces or on the balconies of their vacation spots. Her hair puffed about her head like a lion's mane. When she wore little makeup and didn't work tirelessly to straighten her hair, her beauty was personified.
While he slept she had their daughter's highchair brought inside the room. Mira sat at a white linen clothed table with Eve on her left. She fed their daughter what looked to be warm cereal.
”Morning,” Mira said. ”You okay? You were tossing and turning last night. You said Chiaiano in your sleep. What is that?” She squinted at him and used her hand to protect her eyes from the bright rays of the sun illuminating her face. Bathed in sunlight her brown skin glistened with a golden tan.
”Chiaiano? I said that?” he plucked a strawberry and tossed it in his mouth.
”Yes. You did. What does it mean?”
”It's a village in the Campania. Nothing to worry over.” He kissed her forehead. He took a seat next to her at the table. A fruit tray and a fresh pot of coffee waited for him. ”You know I dream of you when I sleep, Bella.”
”Papa's lying, Eve.” Mira fed her daughter another scoop and Eve hit her hand on the tray with an approving grin over the taste.
Giovanni eased his feet out from under the table and felt a sharp sting. ”f.u.c.k!” he yelled. Mira and Eve both glanced over. He lifted his foot and brought it to his lap. ”d.a.m.n splinter.”
”You need to wear shoes. You are constantly walking around here barefoot,” Mira said.
”I don't need shoes,” he scoffed. He concentrated on lifting the tiny sliver of wood from his toe.
”Well do it for me. You rub those calloused feet of yours over mine and I swear I have scratches in the morning.”
”What are you talking about, woman?” he glanced up.
”Your feet. Put on some shoes, rub some lotion on them when you get out of the shower,” she said.
”Or my wife could take care of my feet. Make me feel like her man.”
”Me? Take care of your feet?” Mira frowned. ”You mean wash your feet?”
Giovanni chuckled. ”Jesus did so for his apostles.”
”So I'm Jesus?”
He winked. ”As close to G.o.d as I've been in a long time.”
Mira shook her head smiling.
The moment pa.s.sed between them with shared laughter. And then she saw a scowl deepen the crease between his brows. Mira's head turned and she looked in the direction he stared. Dominic and Catalina walked along the beach, hand in hand. They were headed back from some place. They laughed and talked together looking more in love.
”Did they spend the night in our beach house?” Mira asked.
”No.” Giovanni answered in a tight voice. ”One of the other beach villas I'm sure. After I specifically forbade it-”
”You talking about the rule at Melanzana? Oh stop,” Mira said. ”Look at them. They're happy. Let them be happy.”
The request fell upon deaf ears. The look in her husband's eye said he would not be tolerant or forgiving of this infraction. Giovanni then dismissed the lovebirds. ”I have business today. So I'll be tied up. What will you do?” Giovanni asked as he took a sip of his coffee.
”Spend time with the girls. Speaking of, what about my proposal yesterday? You said you would think about it. I know you're busy but I need an answer.”
”You disappoint me, Bella,” Giovanni answered.
”What? Why?”