Page 221 of La Dolce Vita

"What did you do?" Carlo asked.

"I can't get into it over the phone. You're my friend. My only friend. I need your help."

"Where?" Carlo asked.

"Meet me in Pimonte. There is afrazionicalled Luidi. Meet me at the cliffs. You can't miss it."

Carlo hung up.

ChapterThirty-Four

Torn Apart

Sorrento, Italy

"Hi, can I uh, sorry for calling so late. Can I speak to Kyra please?" Catalina asked.

"Who is calling?" the woman asked.

"Catalina Battaglia."

She had a box of tissues on the bed, and so many discarded with tears and snot they covered the blanket. She sniffed and blew her nose. The fast rhythmic beat of her heart had her hands trembling and bottom lip quivering. She waited. If she could talk to Dominic, she'd convince him to come home. She had to try.

"Catalina?" A man answered.

"Renaldo? Ah, hi, I was looking for Kyra."

"She's asleep. And so is Domi," Renaldo said. "Isn't that who you really want to speak to?"

Catalina bit back her temper and her tears. She closed her eyes and tried to ease calm into her voice. "I only want to talk to him."

"No. And that's not for him. That's for you. He's not in a good way."

"He needs me. I don't know what he told you but--"

"He's not in a good way, Catalina. When he is ready, he will call you."

"Call me? Who are you to say that to me? Renaldo! Don't speak to me like I'm a child! I'm a fucking adult. I'm his fiancée. I demand you put him on the phone! Now!" she yelled until her voice went hoarse.

He hung up.

"Arrrgghhhh!"

Catalina threw the phone. It felt as if every blood vessel in her head exploded and her eyes burst into tears. She screamed with heartsick fury. The door to her room opened. She rolled away from the invader and was quick to wipe her tears. Since her arrival and retreat to her bedroom, her aunts had been up trying to feed her.

"ZiaJosefina,vattenne!I told you not to come in here. I'm not hungry."

"Catalina?"

The sound of Mirabella's voice was too soft and gentle to be believed. Catalina’s head turned, and she double blinked. Like from a dream, Mirabella had appeared in her room.

"Mirabella?"

"What has happened? Are you okay?" Mirabella closed the door with alarm. “Honey, I could hear you screaming in the hall.”

"No! Nooooo!" Catalina ran around the bed, and Mirabella met her in the middle of the room. She hugged her tight enough to break her if she was as fragile as they believed. Mirabella squeezed her back. "I'm in trouble. Domi has... he's gone. He hates me. I'm going to lose him. I've lost him. Please help me!"

"Stop. Calm down. Wait, breathe, breathe," she said and forced Catalina to let go of her. She held her back and stared into her eyes. "Look at me. Listen to me."

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