Destino (39 page)

“I am too.”

Surprised he looked at her. “Why are you sorry?”

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t comfort you.”

“That’s not true,” he said, tossing the hand towel to the sink.

“It is true. If it weren’t, I wouldn’t have had to come out here to find you,” she said before turning to leave.

Reclining back on the sink, he rubbed the tension from his jaw. Catching the remnants of blood on his hand he looked back at the door she disappeared from. At some time during his rage he cut his hand in the palm. He didn’t want to expose her to his world, but his world was inescapable. Giovanni tried to scrub his hands free of the blood and wash away the violence of the night. He was good at being in control, but he failed at maintaining control when his heart was struck. He didn’t know how to be vulnerable to anyone, especially her. “Fuck.” Drying his hands off he walked back down the hall to the bedroom and found her in bed with the covers pulled up over her. Leaning in the doorframe, he watched her.

“Are you asleep?”

“No,” she answered.

“Can I join you?” he asked.

Mira pulled back the covers and extended her hand to him. He walked over to the bed. Standing at the foot of it, he removed his t-shirt and boxers. He eased in with her, and this time she didn’t resist his touching her. “Should we talk?” he asked.

“I don’t want to argue with you, so I’d rather go to sleep.”

He ran his hand over her back to her bottom and kissed the top of her brow. “Then maybe you can let me hold you,” he said pressing into her and kissing her shoulder. Taking his hand he rubbed her hip pushing up her thin gown. Sliding his hand around and upward he massaged one of her breasts, grinding his stiffening manhood into the back of her.

He felt her go stiff, and knew if he pushed for more, she’d resist. So he willed his erection down and held her. Sleep was a welcome event for them both.

“Bella?”

Morning came. His lips brushed hers, and her lids parted to a room full of light. She squinted against the brightness. The bed felt so warm and soft she literally felt as if she were floating. Her vision cleared and his face normalized. Mira raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck. “Mmm,” she said. sparing him her morning breath. He however had brushed his teeth, again, and she could smell his fresh clean male scent. When had he showered? How long had she slept?

“It’s after ten,” he said. “An inspector is here to see you.”

“Me? Why?”

“I went back to the villa and got your things to wear, so you can dress.” He rose from the bed. Clutching the sheet to her breast she looked at him confused. “Why is an inspector here to see me?”

“I think it has something to do with your building.” He buttoned his shirt. “Don’t worry. Fabiana has met with him.” Giovanni leaned over, sitting on the edge of the bed and smiled, his hair disheveled and in his eyes. “Thank you for last night, for coming here. Are we okay?”

She nodded they were. Trying to smooth her hair, embarrassed by her state, she escaped the bed, bringing the sheet with her. He’d picked out a plum colored wrap dress and matching bra and panty set. She glanced over at him. He had to rummage through her things to find it.

“I like you in this. Will you wear it?”

Mira nodded she would. Picking up her clothes she held her tongue. She wasn’t ready for the day, let alone for how overwhelming his needs had become. All of it could wait. She felt anxious over having a visitor, especially concerning her business. She heard him leave the room as she entered the shower. The warm water against her skin, and the rising steam cleared her head. The night had been strange. She hadn’t forgotten what she’d seen between Catalina and Dominic. She hadn’t forgotten what she discovered when she found Giovanni, the blood on his hands, the pain in his voice. None of it. Not since she left Virginia had her life been so complicated. With Fabiana and Kei she always felt protected, almost sheltered in normalcy. Standing next to Giovanni, as his friend and lover, she felt a greater sense of responsibility. What it meant escaped her.

After she showered she dried herself, dressed, and finger combed her hair into a messy French braid. She found Giovanni downstairs. He was in his office with large plastic bags picking up the debris from the angry tantrum he’d thrown in the night. Still the room looked like a horror story.

“Hi?”

He glanced up. He straightened and smiled at her. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. Need help?”

“I have some men coming to finish, just wanted to get up some of the glass,” he said with a sheepish grin.

“I have a question.”

Giovanni glanced her way. Mira stepped forward. “It’s about your sister.”

He smiled. “She’s really happy you are helping her. The dress will be pretty? Right?”

“That woman you hired Giovanni, Clara. She’s not working in Catalina’s best interest.”

Giovanni ran his hands through his hair shaking his head. He really had so much on his mind today he didn’t want to debate the semantics of a wedding. He paid people for this. But seeing her take a genuine interest in his sister and the coordination of this event was endearing so he tried to be patient, “What has she done?”

“She sabotaged the girl’s dress. You should have seen what she tried to force on her.”

“
Venuto
,” he reached for her hand and pulled her to him.

Giovanni reached for her hand pulling her to him “I think it’s wonderful that you care about my sister and are helping her. I trust you, Bella. And I need a date for the wedding. Will you be my date?”

“I… okay, but, well this woman.”

“You and Catalina listen to
Signora
Clara. She’s a wise woman. Catalina will have a traditional Sicilian wedding, and Clara will see to it. If she objected to the dress, then there must be a reason. My sister will not flaunt fashion over our faith. I want her to be beautiful, can you make sure she is?”

“I will try. Giovanni, why an arranged marriage? Catalina is so young, why not send her off to school? Or let her fall in love on her own.”

Giovanni frowned. “Where does this question come from? Has my sister said she doesn’t want to marry Franco?”

“No. No. It’s just, I didn’t know arranged marriages were still done. I guess it’s my ignorance.”

He released a gust of a laugh. “Well it’s not always done. But in our family it is. My father arranged this marriage between our families, and Catalina is happy with the choice. Now enough of this.” He kissed her cheek. “You have a visitor waiting.”

****

Fabiana looked up when her friend walked in. She felt her heart sink. Mira smiled sweetly at her, and she looked away. The idea of lying to her made her stomach clench and her heart hurt. She sat silently as Lorenzo introduced the building inspector to Mira and barely listened when they told Mira that their boutique would be closed for the coming weeks until the building is up to code. Her friend asked the usual questions, panic in her voice and face. Fabiana couldn’t speak. She couldn’t say a word.

“Fabiana? What are we going to do?” Mira asked.

She gripped the chair, her gaze lifted to Lorenzo and his stayed on her. She glanced over to Giovanni who watched her as well. She should say to hell with them and call bullshit on it all. Grab her friend and walk out. Last night Lorenzo confessed something to her that had her terrified for him, for them all. He needed her help. To save his life she’d have to risk a friendship that meant more to her than anything in the world. What was she to do?

“Fabiana? What should we do?” Mira repeated.

“Don’t… don’t panic. This is only temporary,” Fabiana’s voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “I made some calls while you were with,” her gaze shifted to the Don and away. “Giovanni. Angelique is going to bring over your designs. He’s agreed to give us space to work here. Until this matter is cleared up.”

“You did? How could you do that if he just told us the building was closed?” Mira frowned.

Fabiana stammered over her answer. “I found out about the problem late in the evening. I um, asked the inspector to come here. I didn’t want to worry you.”

Giovanni took her hand and kissed it. “I want to help. Let me.”

“What about our staff? Where will they be?”

She forced a smile. “Sending half of them to New York and the other half to Milan. We can join them in a few weeks. Setting things up now. See. No problem. We’ll handle it.”

Mira felt it. Something was off. Giovanni kept her hand in his, and Fabiana could barely make eye contact with her. The inspector needed a translator and again she felt like the only person in the room not in on the truth was her.

The inspector picked up his hat and situated it on his head. The man said a few more words in Italian to Giovanni and then left. “Are you okay with this? With us staying here?”

Giovanni smirked and she knew he was. In fact it played right into his request that she stay longer. Mira rubbed her temples, pacing. “This can’t work. This is wrong. It’s wrong.”

“Bella? Look at me.”

She stopped and looked at him. His smile melted her anxiety. “I will do whatever it takes to put this in order. Trust me.”

She glanced to Fabiana and Lorenzo. She had no reason not to trust them. Her gaze returned to Giovanni. Especially him. Her heart had grown fond of him. She nodded. “Well I’m yours.”

He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. “Yes, you are.”

He then signaled to Lorenzo to follow him and the men walked out. Fabiana rose to leave behind them. “Freeze. Don’t you dare leave.”

Fabiana flashed her a pretty smile. She wore her hair in a slender ponytail. She’d chosen a pair of khaki colored capris and a sheer pink shirt with oversized sleeves that were adorned with tiny sequined beads circling her collar. Her friend smiled and stopped.

“What’s going on? How bad is it? Do we need to find another building to lease? Have you called our solicitor? Teddy?”

“Hey! Slow down!” Fabiana laughed. “It’s a setback. We can manage it. I can manage it. You know me. When I panic then you panic. Okay?”

“Mira! There you are!” Catalina hurried in. She and Fabiana froze. Catalina, in an all-white sundress, looked completely virginal compared to the seductress she saw having her way with her surrogate step-brother. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Signora Clara was on her heels. She scowled at Mira then Fabiana. “I thought we were going to Napoli to your store. So you can finish my dress.”

“Change of plans sweetie.” Fabiana said. “We will have some things brought here. Looks like you have house guests on an extended stay.”

“I don’t understand.” Catalina frowned.

“No worries. I will finish your dress. We can still drive into Naples and check for a few things.” Mira smiled.

“Great!” Catalina clapped. “The driver is out front. Signora Clara is coming too. Come on. Let’s go.”

Mira touched her messy hair and considered running upstairs for a comb and brush. “We’ll meet you out front. Let us get our purses.”

Catalina smiled and flounced out. The old woman shot them both a warning glare, turned up her nose, and followed. Mira rubbed her temples. First she had to deal with the mean tempered Don, who could turn into Casanova in a flash, and now her store doors were closed.

“You really up to doing this dress?”

“I can’t get out of it, now can I?”

Fabiana laughed. “Guess not.”

“Let’s go.”

Her friend grabbed her hand when she passed. “Mira, trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

Mira hugged her. “Of course I trust you. Always.”

Giovanni strolled ahead. When they entered the billiard room he stopped. Dominic waited with Flavio Pricci. Thirty years his senior Flavio was a man of great respect and importance in Sicily, and now within the
Cammora
. As Giovanni’s consigliere he was the third most important man in the family.

“Lorenzo?” Flavio stepped toward him smiling. He was of average height, but very cleanly dressed and groomed. He looked ten years younger than his age, and Giovanni knew personally that Flavio had more women than one man should handle. But he remained a bachelor with no kids or entanglements. His focus was and had always been the family.

“Flavio!” Lorenzo greeted him warmly, kissing both of his cheeks and then giving him a welcoming hug. “I thought you were in Sicily?”

“I was.” He cut him a sly smirk. “Gio summoned me yesterday evening. Said we might have trouble.

“Trouble cousin?” Lorenzo feigned shock. “Is it Calderone?”

Giovanni didn’t answer. He continued to glare.

“Flavio!” Catalina squealed. She rushed into the office, arms flung wide. She crashed into Flavio causing him to lean back in their embrace. He hugged her tight, cupping her face and kissing her brow. Lorenzo watched as Flavio spoke in Italian to her, soft whispers of how beautiful she was becoming, and how proud he was to hear that the wedding plans were progressing. It was enough of a reprieve for him to turn his focus to Giovanni. For the first time since he’d arrived in the billiard room Giovanni was not glaring at him. His heart raced with indecision. Should he confess? Deny? What would be the preemptive move that would save his life?