Page 89 of La Dolce Vita

Armando dared to step closer.

"Tell me who the tears are for,piccoletta?" he said. He was within reach of her now. He touched her hair. The silky strands felt softer than a feather. He wanted to feel more of her. "Are you crying for Lorenzo's death or the death of your brother?"

She lifted her head, and those round soulful eyes of hers locked on him.

He smiled. "Because that tape will kill Giovanni. After he destroys everything and everyone around him. Won't it?" He brushed the back of his hand across her cheek and moved her hair away.

She knocked his touch away. She wiped her tears and stared him directly in the eye. This time, she didn't snarl or sneer. Instead, she smiled at him. And once again he was disarmed by her beauty. He had to summon all of his inner strength to chain the beast in him that wanted to take her. The demon in him that hated the propriety and thirsted for the pleasure of a woman like her. Even if she fought him, he wanted to take her. And that scared him.

"The tears are for your stupidity," she spoke. "When my brother hears that tape and knows you have been keeping it, he will kill you first, and slowly."

Armando clasped his hands behind his back. He pretended at patience. He waited for her to speak again. He'd already given her the bait.

"I want the tapes! You hear me? All of them! I want them!" She reached under her dress and drew a gun. The action was so swift he barely caught a glimpse of her thigh or the garter strap she wore. The gun, a small black one, was pointed at his face. Only a few centimeters from his nose.

"I want the fucking tapes," she said.

"Then you'll have to shoot me to get them."

"I'll kill you. I will kill you!" she shouted.

"Pull the trigger," he whispered.

They stood in silence for several long minutes. Her hand didn't shake. It didn't waver. Her finger caressed the trigger. And he knew his sweet, lovelypiccolettawould kill him to save her family. She only had to figure out how to do it and survive the night.

"Catalina!" The voice from the distance shouted her name, and it was carried to them in the ocean wind. It sounded familiar. When his gaze turned to look to the forest, he expected to see her hero arriving on a white horse. Instead, he heard her name called once more. He looked back to Catalina. She was tucking the gun back into the garter belt that was tight around her shapely thigh. She lowered her dress and stepped back from him with renewed disgust. But not before she glanced into his eyes once more. He was certain this time she saw through his bravado. Finally, she saw the lust, insatiable desire, and adoration he carried for her. To his disappointment, she recoiled.

"Go," she told him. "Go Before Domi gets here," she said.

"Are we done?" he asked. And his breath held as he waited for her reply.

"What do you want for the tapes?" she answered.

He smiled.

"Catalina!" Dominic yelled. And he sounded closer.

"Go! I'll call you. Just go!" she pleaded.

"Let's stay in touch," he said, and he walked away. At last, he was able to breathe.

***

Catalina wanted to scream. She should have shot him. God help her, but she was damn close to pulling the trigger.Why didn't she kill him?He walked off toward the forest, and within minutes disappeared into the darkness between the trees. She turned and wiped her tears the best she could. On top of her mother's grave was the smashed remnants of that tape. Catalina hurried over and tried to swipe the crumbles away just as Dominic came rushing in from the east side of the forest nearest to the beaches.

"Catalina? What the fuck is going on?"

She turned and put her back to the grave. One look at Dominic and her spirit broke. She rushed over to him and threw her arms around his neck. His strong arms folded around her and she could feel his heart racing against hers. Heart to heart they embraced. Her face buried against the side of his neck. His face was pressed against the side of her head. She inhaled his strong cologne and manly scent. Suddenly the world didn't seem so frightening when holding on to him. She felt safe again.

"You're shivering. What the hell are you doing out here alone?" He forced her to loosen her grip and step back so he could look her over. Besides the tears, she knew she appeared physically the same. Too bad Dominic didn't have x-ray vision to see how tattered her heart was. When she lowered her eyes with shame, he grabbed her cheeks and forced her to look up into his.

"Answer me,cara! What are you doing out here alone?"

The moment her lips parted to speak she wept.

"Catalina?" He drew her back into his embrace. He stroked her back. "Tell me what it is. What happened?"

"I just... it's because of, he, I dunno how, why, I wish..." she stammered.

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