Page 77 of La Dolce Vita

"Mirabella wouldn't let him do that!" Catalina said.

"Mirabella?" Armando chuckled. "Giovanni doesn't answer to her. You and I know that."

"But he wouldn't do that. We've had a truce for years. Many years."

"The truce is over. That's why your men were so easily detained. And before I could give Giovanni the information on what happened to your father I was insulted. Now I have to rethink what I should do with the information. Should I give it to his enemies? Should I let them know that the snake that killed your father slithers around in your own garden? You know your brother. A betrayal by someone he trusts will wound him."

The phone rang again. Catalina looked as if she were prepared to jump out of her skin. This time, she ran for the phone and answered.

"Domi?"

"What the hell are you doing in Sicily? You were supposed to be headed to Paris!" Dominic shouted in the phone. "I've called Francesca's and she said you're at the store? Why didn't you answer the phone?" he demanded.

"There's trouble. Ah, Raffaele and Paolo were arrested. The driver, too. I'm stuck here. Domi, I need you to come, come quickly." Catalina's gaze returned to Armando's eyes. His gaze never wavered. She tried to keep the emotion from her voice but failed miserably. She was scared and confused. She just wanted Dominic to come, to make Armando shut up, and to tell her what to do.

"It's okay. Stay calm. Are you alone?"

"No," Catalina replied.

"Who's with you?" Dominic asked.

Catalina continued to stare at Armando. He stared at her.

"Who's with you?" Dominic shouted.

"Rosetta. She and I are here at the store," she said.

"Stay in the boutique. I'm sending someone. You need to get out of Palermo. Head to Mondello and wait with our men there. I'm on my way. And then you're coming home. Understand?"

"I understand.Va bene,ciao," she said and hung up.

"I don't want this war with your brother," Armando said.

"Shut up! We're done talking. You'll have this conversation with Domi, not me!" she pointed a finger at him.

"Is that how you want to play this?" Armando asked. "Lay the burden on Dominic to see the men he loves like brothers destroy themselves."

"Brothers? What is this you are saying? Who betrayed who?" she frowned in confusion. She wasn't sure what Armando's riddles were about, but they made her sick to her stomach with dread.Could it be Domi?No.Could it be Lorenzo?No.Could it be Carlo?No.

"Giovanni is trying to exert his power by challenging me. He wants the clan bosses to believe that he is the one in control. When he's losing his power and respect daily. He lost a lot of things when he bargained away his interests to save my sister."

"Giovanni is not desperate!" she seethed. "You are for coming here and trying to twist me!"

"You know your brother. This information I have, true or not he will investigate. What he finds will destroy your family."

"Lies. The Russians, they killed my father. End of story."

Armando shrugged. "Consider this your only opportunity to help your family. Your brother wants war. I'll give him the war. And the information I have, I'll sell it to his enemies. You remember this moment when I considered to do things differently. You remember how you could have prevented it."

"Wait!" she said when he looked like he would leave.

There was a knock at the door. The doorknob turned. "Catalina? Are you in there? Catalina!" Rosetta said.

Armando smiled. He mouthed the words. "Trust me."

"Rosetta, I'm fine. On the phone with Domi. Give me a second. Okay!"

"Okay," Rosetta said.

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