Page 38 of La Dolce Vita

"I... ah, I haven't spoken to anyone yet," Rosetta said as she eased out of bed and found her slip dress to put on. She pulled her long curly hair out from the back of the dress, and it bounced around her shoulders. She was beautiful. All of the Battaglia women were, no matter if they were born into the family or married into it. They were beautiful. Armando guessed that to be the deadliest weapon these women possessed. He was surprised at how experienced a lover Rosetta proved to be when she shut her mouth and concentrated on fucking. But she was not the one he wanted.

"Are you playing games with me?" he asked.

"No. No. We made a deal. You help me get back into the family, and I will help you get what you want," she said. "I just don't know what it is you want."

Armando smiled. "Then maybe it's time I tell you."

Rosetta listened as she put on her shoes.

"When you came to me and told me you wanted me to speak to Marietta and Mirabella about letting you return to Sorrento what did I say to you?"

"You said it was better to have them ask for me to go back than for me to come to them on my knees begging."

He nodded. "And?"

Rosetta smiled. "You told me to let Mama think that I am secretly sneaking away with you. That she will tell the Donna and that they would be concerned. It was a perfect plan. It worked. I knew when the family said that Mirabella and Marietta were Mancini's daughters that you could help me. And you did. I'm so grateful!"

"So you trust me?" Armando asked.

"Yes."

"Good. I want you to call Catalina and persuade her to come to Sicilia. I want her here within the next day or so."

"What?" Rosetta gasped.

Armando tossed the covers aside. He tugged on his dick and walked barefoot to the bathroom to take a piss. Rosetta was on his heels.

"I can't. She won't do it. I'm not even sure what is going to happen when I go back to Sorrento. For all, I know the Donna could put me in charge of watching the brats again!"

"You can and you will," Armando said as he pissed in the toilet.

"What do you want with Catalina? She hates you. They all protect her. Even Mirabella. I heard about that party. And did you know they bought her a mansion? She isn't even married to Domi yet. She doesn't deserve him. It makes no sense to try to get too close to her. Is it about your company? I hear..."

"What do you hear?" he arched a brow to the last part of her statement and dismissed the rest.

"I understand that Gio has clipped Lorenzo's wings. That he is in debt to the Mafiosi now, because of Mirabella's kidnapping. It's only a matter time before he'll hand you your company back."

Armando flushed. He went to the sink and washed his hands. He plucked his robe from the hook on the back of the door and slipped it over his naked body. "Arrange for me to see Catalina. I don't care how, but it has to happen here in Sicilia, and she has to be alone."

"I can't do it!"

He grabbed Rosetta by the throat and threw her onto the door. She gasped in fright. He didn't squeeze, but his hold was tight, and her feet were lifted from the floor by his pinning. "This is not a game, little girl. I gave you an order. Do you understand me? The minute you are useless to me is the moment I stop being nice."

"Si. Si,"she nodded repeatedly.

"So, in the future when I want you to do something for me, anything for me, you will do it without question?"

"Yes."

"I expect a call tomorrow with where she and I will meet."

He let her go, and she dropped to her knees. He picked up the phone and dialed a number to the portable shed outside. "Send a driver up to take Rosetta where she needs to go." He hung up when Rosetta came out of the bathroom wiping her tears. He smiled at her. She grabbed her purse and left.

Armando walked over to the wall and moved the picture that hung there. He spun the dial on his safe three different ways to unlock it. And then he reached inside. The cassette player was where he kept it. He brought it out and smiled. The future looked bright.

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Sorrento –

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