Page 237 of La Dolce Vita

"I will protect us. I swear. Trust me. Please, Marie. This is the best way."

***

It was morning. Renaldo knocked on Dominic's door. There was no answer. He knocked again. He reached for the doorknob to turn it, to check on him, but his wife's voice stopped him.

"He's not there."

Confused, Renaldo looked back at Kyra. She stood in the hall in her house robe. She was so swollen with pregnancy the weight gain was in her face, neck, hands. Even her small feet. Still, she was beautiful to him. She wore her hair in long single strand braids that went to her waist.

"Why are you on your feet? Go rest."

"He's gone."

Renaldo looked back at the door. He opened it and saw the bed was made, and the room was empty. "When did he leave?"

"Not sure."

"Where did he go? Did he say?"

Kyra sipped her tea. She couldn't look him in the eye.

"Kyra?"

"I love you, Renaldo. As much as Catalina loves Dominic, maybe more if that's possible. If I lost you, I wouldn't want to live."

"This isn't about us."

"It's about love. They love each other, Renaldo. And right now they need each other."

Renaldo frowned.

"I heard you tell her on the phone she couldn't talk to him. So I called her back. She asked me to tell Dominic to meet her at their new house. To meet her there by sunrise. So I told him. He looked so broken He just lay there staring up at the ceiling. The only time I saw any type of movement from him was when I told him that she loves him. He needed to hear that. So I told him what she said. I hope he is with her now.

"You stay out of it. Do you hear me? Stay out of it."

Kyra turned and went back to their room. Renaldo wiped his hand down his face. He felt his beeper buzz in his pocket. He kept it with him always, even though he wasn't officially working. There was one code. Only one that he knew, he couldn't ignore. And in all the years he worked for the Boss it had only been pressed once. That was when Mirabella was presumed dead, and Giovanni decided to destroy the Calderones.

"Shit!" he said.

He went back to his room and found his wife in bed. "You're right,cara.I had no right to interfere."

She looked back at him and smiled. His Kyra could never stay mad at him for long. He eased in bed with her. He loved the way she felt when he pulled her against him and held her. "I love you. With all my heart."

"Mmm," she relaxed.

"Something is going on with the Battaglias. I have to leave," he told her.

"Giovanni said you could stay with me. Until the baby is born."

"I know. But this is an emergency. Kyra," he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "I can't ignore this."

"That's right, just ignore me instead."

Renaldo groaned.

Kyra laughed. "I'm teasing. Try to be home for dinner. Okay? Please?"

"I'll try," he promised. He kissed her cheek. She smiled and relaxed against his chest. Renaldo checked his watch while he held her to his heart. The Boss would have to wait another hour.

---