Page 248 of La Dolce Vita

"What are you doing here?" Giovanni asked.

"I, ah, just got back, ah, in town, so, ah, I came, ah here." Dominic put on his shoes. He looked up at Giovanni for approval.

"We know, Domi. We know what Armando did to Catalina. We know about Lorenzo, too." Mirabella said.

“Lorenzo?”

“The tapes. There are tapes of Lorenzo bargaining with Calderone. To killPatri.”

“Catalina was telling the truth?” he asked.

Mirabella glanced to Giovanni. Dominic wiped his hand down his face. “She told me that she was trying to get tapes. I... I didn’t believe her.”

“It’s the truth. Marietta and Catalina came up with the plan.” She could see him trying to look around her to read Giovanni's reaction. She got in between them. "You need to come home. We need to face this as a family."

"Who were the men that were supposed to be watching Catalina?" Giovanni asked.

"That doesn't matter now, Gio. Does it? What is important is we bring Dominic home and deal with it in a family way. Renaldo and Kyra have been gracious. But this is a family matter. Right?"

Giovanni nodded. "Of course,Bella."

"I didn't know about Mancini. I didn't know." Dominic said.

"Neither did I, Domi.Bellais right. What we didn't know changes nothing. What we do know is what's important. Where is Catalina?" Giovanni asked.

Dominic dropped his head. "I told her it was over between us. I told her I never want to see her again."

"She knows you don't mean that," Mirabella said.

"This time it's different. This time I do. I can't face her now. I just can't," Dominic said.

Mirabella looked back at Giovanni with concern. "We are not casting Catalina out of this family. She's in danger if Armando has her in his sights."

"She chose Armando," Dominic said.

"NO! She chose you. But your stupid pride won't let you see that. She's family. What the hell is wrong with you two? No matter what she did, she doesn't deserve this. Not from you, Domi. Now get the hell up and let's find our girl. Now!"

Dominic nodded. He got up and picked up his wallet and keys. "I can meet with you, Giovanni. Go over this thing with... Lorenzo?"

"We need to find Catalina and bring her home. We'll figure everything else out later."

Mirabella went to Dominic and hugged him. He was slow to respond, but eventually, he hugged her back. She could see the way Giovanni looked at him as if his weakness disgusted him. She chose to ignore it. He needed her to be here for Domi because he didn't know how to be.

"Let's go."

Mirabella left out of the door first. Renaldo and Kyra waited in the living room. "We're going home. Thank you for looking after him. He'll be fine."

Dominic walked out with Giovanni. He nodded his gratitude and mumbled the words.

"Call me the moment the baby comes. I want to be there. I can't wait." Mirabella said and hugged Kyra. When she and Giovanni were in the car, and Dominic was following them in his, she reached for his hand. He pulled her over to him instead.

"Grazie,Bella," he said.

"Dominic looks depressed, Gio. Let's get him some help in the search for Catalina. Okay?"

"Where do you think she went?" he asked.

"I don't know. But if we don't find her it will be trouble."

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