Page 79 of La Dolce Vita

"Pa-pa!" Gino's little chubby hand tapped his leg. Giovanni’s gaze lowered to the boy. His pride and joy began to speak in a baby language that only his Bella and Zia could understand. Giovanni frowned. He couldn't process any of what was being said. Gino's eyes began to tear with frustration as he repeated his baby talk to his father. His son then pointed to his brother Gianni who sat on the floor playing with a toy train. Gianni ran it back and forth across the floor and made a rumbling sound as if there were a supercharged engine inside.

"Il mio! Il mio, Pa-pa,"Gino whined.

Giovanni returned his attention to his men outside the window, and Gino began to cry in frustration. He could hear his son’s little feet stomping as he threw a tantrum in protest. The phone rang. It was time. Giovanni ignored the toddlers. He walked over to the small desk in the room with Gino following him crying.

"This is Giovanni," he answered on the second ring.

"Giovanni!Per favore è un'emergenza!It's Federico Banfi. I've been calling around trying to find you all morning."

"How did you know I was near Firenze?" Giovanni asked.

"Dominic. He told my office you would be visiting for several days. And you're here!Grazie a Dio!"

"You sound troubled?" Giovanni asked.

"I'm in trouble. I need... oh sweet merciful God. I think she might be dying, or dead... is she dead?"he asked another. "Check for her pulse!" There was some arguing between the senator and another person. The other voice sounded like a woman. And then Banfi returned to the call. "Gio! She might be dead soon if you don't get here quick."

Federico Banfi was a valued ally. He held a very influential seat on the Italian Senate and was the third cousin to the Prime Minister. A man respected all the way to the Papacy. But his love for gambling and whores made him a friend to men like Giovanni. Federico was the first person he called upon when his Bella's life hung in the balance. Without Federico's help, he would have never been able to sway the authorities to release his men from jail after the bloodbath in Napoli. He would have never been able to make the case against Carlo go up in smoke. Or cover up the assassination of Santo by Dominic's gun. Giovanni over-extended his reach and power to be left blameless in the death of Father Nicosia. And all of it came at a price. Federico had the balls to try to exploit Giovanni's weakness. He demanded two villas, a restaurant, and a substantial payment set up in a bank in France for his support. Giovanni could taste the bitter insult to the back of his throat long after he was forced to swallow the deal.

Not anymore.

"Federico, you must calm down and tell me what the problem is," he said. "If you have a sick or dying woman call the authorities, get her medical attention."

"...I think it's too late. Is she dead?Porco Dio! Is she dead?" Federico asked a screaming woman in the background. "I dunno? I dunno what to do," Federico blathered. "We were partying. And she took too much, Gio. She's overdosing!"

"Who is she?" Giovanni asked.

"A whore, I don't know her fucking name. Shit! I didn't know who to call. I can't have this linked to me, Gio. It will ruin me."

The boys screamed. Giovanni glanced up. Gino had gone on the attack with his brother Gianni. The two now struggled to hold on to the toy train. A tug-of-war between them. They both were crying and yelling in their baby voices. The distress and tears seemed almost comical considering that the toy was one of many they had to play with. Giovanni observed his sons but did nothing to settle the dispute. The sight of them being so unhappy did have an unexpected effect on him. His heart beat faster, and his jaw clenched, anger swelled in to match the fury of his sons. All the while he had to hear the whines and moans of a panicked senator on the other end of the phone line.

"I can't be caught with her. It'll ruin me, Gio! And if I'm ruined so are you. Who else do you have as a better ally than me?"

Was this idiot threatening him?Giovanni didn't bother to respond. His focus remained on the fight between his sons. Gianni yanked hard on the toy, but Gino's grip was tighter than his brother could manage. Gianni's little hands slipped from the train, and he went sailing backward. He hit the ground hard and wailed in defeat. Giovanni's fist clenched. He didn't rise from his seat. He didn't yell at the boys and order them to make peace. And as he suspected, Gino reacted. He dropped the toy and went to his brother who was laying on his back crying. Gino rubbed Gianni's tummy and said something in their shared language. He helped Gianni sit up, he picked up the train and placed it on his brother’s lap. In an instant, the tears stopped for Gianni. The boy grinned at the train as if he'd just been handed the prize trophy. Gino turned and picked up a toy truck and sat next to his brother to play with him instead of wage war. The tension in Giovanni uncoiled, and he smiled at his sons with pride. They were brothers.

No more tears.

"Gio? Are you there? Did you hear me?Aye!I think he hung up," Federico said.

"I'm here. Tell me where you are," Giovanni asked as if he didn't know.

"Pelle Montegro," Federico said.

"And who's with you?"

"Ah, the dead girl, and her hooker friend, two of my security detail outside of the villa. No one else."

"Send the security detail away. I'll need them gone when my men arrive. And shut that woman up in the background. She is to stay with you. Do you understand? Don't let her leave."

"Gio.Grazie!Tante grazie,Gio! I can't tell you how grateful I am."

"I'm sending The Butcher," Giovanni said and then hung up.

The door to the room he claimed as his office was flung open. "What is going on up here? I can hear my babies screaming from downstairs. Are they okay?" Mirabella asked.

Gianni threw the train aside and began to wail. He scrambled to his feet and ran to his mother to hug her knees. She picked him up and kissed his face. She shot Giovanni a curious look. "What happened to him? It's okay, sweetie. Mama's here."

Gino got up and started crying. He too wanted to be comforted by his mother. Mirabella did her best to hold both boys. Giovanni stared at his wife and sons with the side of his face resting between his thumb and his finger. In seconds they were reduced to babies from one touch from her. Even his tough boy Gino clung to her and whimpered.

---