Page 82 of La Dolce Vita

"Just as you expected. He can't pay. He wants war. Blah, blah, blah."

"The family?"

"Already done. I paid Vito a visit. We are moving him to anospedalein Roma. Armando won't dare make a move too soon. Trust me. He's thinking of a counter offer."

Giovanni sipped his water. Losing Renaldo will cost him. He'd now have to trust Lorenzo more, and he wasn't quite ready to do so. He had to also rethink his strategy with Lorenzo and Armando. Lorenzo often underestimated his enemies. Giovanni did not. Armando was not thinking of a counter offer. Armando didn't want a public war with the clans ofCamorra. Armando needed to strike, and it would have to be a decisive blow. When he buried that bastard, he didn't want his wife weeping over her so called brother's grave. He would need to expose Armando for who he was. He intended to put all his enemies in their place. That also meant severing any blood ties with the Mancinis. All he needed now was for Armando to give him the reason.

"We need Renaldo," Lorenzo grunted. "We are down so many good men. I'm ready for whatever comes our way, Gio, but we need our strongest at our side. Give him a few days with his wife and then order him to come back."

"It's done, move on."

Lorenzo finished gorging on the food plate.

"Fuck! Where is my wife? I'm still hungry," Lorenzo grunted.

Giovanni had to admit the sample his wife left wasn't enough. He stared at the decanter of wine knowing it was his preferred appetite suppressant. He dropped back in his seat and exhaled. Again it irked him that he hadn't heard from Dominic. He was anxious to know about this new doctor. Bella's recovery was always at the front of his mind.

"Let's get this over with," Giovanni said and stood. "There's plenty we need to discuss."

***

"I don't understand. Where are you going?" Rosetta asked.

Catalina struggled to find a plausible explanation. They were under siege. If the Mafiosi had declared war on theCamorraeveryone in Mondello was in danger. She needed to head to the woods to meet secretly with the most ruthless man in Sicilia? How could she explain that? The mere thought of defying her brother and Dominic by accepting an invitation to meet with Armando Mancini made her stomach queasy. She tried to call Marietta. She could always count on Marietta to talk her through a reckless decision. But she couldn't reach her. There was no time. She had to act.

"The men think I'm in my room lying down. I've told them I don't want to be disturbed." She crept down the back stairs that led to a rear entrance she could take down to the beach. "Dominic said he should get to Palermo around eight. I'll be back before he gets here."

"And if you're not?" Rosetta challenged her.

"If I'm not, tell him I went for a walk on the beach," Catalina said.

Rosetta’s brows lifted as if to call her a liar. Catalina narrowed her eyes on her. "Or you can mind your own fucking business and stay out of it. You decide. Remember the Donna is leaving it up to me to tell her whether or not you have changed."

She didn't wait for a response. The window of opportunity was short. When the rest of the men that were supportive of her brother arrived, the place would be on a secure lockdown. She would not be able to escape the villa. Just as she reached for the doorknob, Rosetta grabbed her arm.

"I don't know what you're doing, and I won't ask. I just want you to know that you can trust me, Catalina. I'll help you, in every way I can."

The gesture felt hollow, but Catalina didn't dwell on it. The conversation was over. Catalina had left before another word passed between the two of them. The path she had to take went straight through trees and was hard to find. She knew it by heart. However, she couldn't hurry, and had to be careful of her steps. There was very little moonlight to guide her. It made her ascension into the darkness easier. As a girl, she could do the same path in her sleep. And often at midnight, Giovanni would take her from her bed and down to the beach cabin, letting her swim near the shore. It was a special brother and sister time. He'd even collect little sand crabs to make them race each other for her. She smiled and let the memory fuel her courage. She was devoted to her brother and Dominic. She could face anything if it saved them. As she went further into the forest, she knocked branches out of her face. Though this was just another prison for her mother, she felt Mama and Giovanni were both happiest in Mondello. If there would be a war between the families, then she would lose her beloved island. Be forced to stay away from her sweetMadre'sgrave. She pushed trees and limbs from her face and arrived at the garden. The place always felt like magic at night. The moon made the roses bloom. And tonight of all nights, the clouds had parted to allow moonlight to pour over the tombstone.

Her eyes welled with tears. "Madre," she said softly and closed her eyes to the memory of the soft feel of her mother. How wonderful it felt to have her brush her hair and tell her stories of Ireland when she was a child.

"It's lovely, the garden." Armando stood behind her. "I knew she was buried here, but not like this. With these roses."

Catalina closed her eyes and steeled herself to be strong and not reveal her pain. "Say what you came to say. This proof you have. Whatever it is aboutPatri. Say it and the get hell out of here."

"Are you sure you want the truth?" he asked.

She turned with fire in her heart. She wanted to scratch his eyes out, rip out his tongue, and kick in his gut. "Am I sure? What the hell does that matter to you? You told me my family would be destroyed by this so called evidence. Why care now if I can handle it or not?"

"I'm not sure why I care. Maybe I'm having second thoughts,piccoletta. Maybe this is a game best left for us men."

"So, you admit it's a game?" she asked.

"I admit I have motives I haven't shared," he smiled.

She shivered. It wasn't from the wind. It was coming from inside. Though he was handsome and charming, that undeniable hatred he had for her kind made him as venomous as a snake. She feared being close. She feared being friendly. Men like him took closeness and friendliness as a sign of weakness. "Say it or leave."

"I don't have to say it, Catalina. I'll let you hear the confession for yourself."

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