Page 216 of La Dolce Vita

Giovanni walked toward the waiting car. He caught one final glimpse of his wife as she tried to settle down their son. She nodded her understanding to him, and he smiled. He got in the backseat and was driven away. Umberto was behind the wheel.

“Welcome home Boss,” Umberto said.

“What happened?”

“Mateo Benicia, he has her.

“I know that. How the hell did my men get caught up in a fire-fight with the Benicia’s unaware?” Giovanni asked.

Umberto gaze flickered up to the rearview mirror. It was the only answer Giovanni needed. Everything he suspected about his alliance with Benicia had proven true.

“Are you okay?”

“Flesh wound,” Umberto said. “I can still pull the trigger.”

“And Carlo?” Giovanni asked.

“He’s alive.”

“Dead?”

Umberto sighed. Giovanni knew the young man hated to deliver the news. “Leonardo, Damiano, Sergio, Aldo, Tony, Pasquale, Dino.”

Giovanni rubbed the stress from her brow. Next to Giovanni on the back seat was a little case. It was brought to him and tonight he hoped to put it to good use. The drive was long and silent. He had plenty of time to digest the news. Benicia phoned him in America. The bastard said he had Isabella and wanted to hand her over.

Isabella was being held in the historic municipality of Nola. The place was located between the plains of Mt. Vesuvius and the Apennines. At night there was little but the moon to guide the way through the sleeping hamlet. The streets were deserted. The only light was from their car as it cut through the darkness and guided the way. There were risks with every reward. And he'd taken plenty by going into Benicia territory with only one of his men tonight. The show of strength and resolve before his enemies was needed. He was vulnerable to them. Now they had to know he was strong.

The car swerved to a parking slot before a six-story building. It was the tallest of all the buildings on the block. Umberto turned off the engine. He glanced back to Giovanni.

"This is the place, Boss." Umberto got out of the car. Giovanni picked up the gun left for him in the back seat and the case. When Umberto opened the car door, he stepped out into the night and tucked the gun to the back of his pants underneath his blazer. He stared at the building.Were they at the correct place?Nothing stirred. And then there was movement. Not from the boarded up door. But from his right. Benicia and twelve of his men approached from around the side of the building. The men were armed.

"Salve!"Benicia said with arms extended for a hug.

Giovanni greeted him with a handshake. "Where is she?"

"Inside. Of course. Waiting on you," Benicia gave a nervous chuckle.

"She knows I'm here?" Giovanni asked.

Benicia looked over to one of his men. He then returned his gaze back to Giovanni. And the glint of humor in his eyes was clear and present. "I'd say she's been looking forward to this meeting for a long time. Asked for you repeatedly."

"Andiamo,"Giovanni said.

"We treated her well. Made sure she was comfortable and alert," Benicia prattled on. Giovanni followed their escorts. The Benicia clan didn’t search him or Umberto for a weapon. If they wanted him dead, which Giovanni suspected they did, they could do it easily no matter what guns they carried.

The men were led to the side door and inside. The place was dark. A single source of light bled out an open door. It was the beacon of truth he marched toward. Inside the room they found Isabella. She was seated. Her hands were bound and out of sight behind her. The sash or gag that was used to cover her mouth had slipped out and hung around her neck. Although her dark hair was disheveled, and her face was flushed with anger, he saw a resemblance that stunned him. The earliest memories he had of his aunt Isabella surfaced. How could a mother and daughter who never knew each other look and act so much alike?

A hint of triumph sparked in her dark eyes. Giovanni respected an opponent who played the game to the very end.

"What took you so long?" Isabella asked.

Giovanni glanced to Benicia. He wanted privacy. The Benicia clan, every man under their boss, left the room. He and Umberto remained with Isabella.

"Where's my brother? He's not here to face me?" she asked and moved her head from side to side to try to see around him. "Or is he hiding behind you like always? The coward!"

"Your brother could give a shit about you."

"Father always said you had tunnel vision. Didn't know you were both blind and stupid." She tossed silky dark hair from her shoulder as if she were seated on a throne instead the chair of death. The corner of her mouth tilted up in an evil smile as her gaze narrowed under her long lashes and fixed on him only. "This isn't the end, Giovanni. Not for you. This is the beginning."

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