Page 83 of Destino

“Maria? You here?”

Dominic watched and waited for Fish to leave the kitchen for the bedroom. He did. Fish was only five-foot six, but not chubby like the Calderone men. He had a slender frame and a nasty scar under his neck that stretched from ear to ear. He dealt in knives after having one used on him as a preteen. Everyone knew no man could survive a one on one knife fight with Fish.

And that wasn’t the best of his talents. Fish was best in explosives, which was why Dominic kept the gun steady and ready. The Calderone’s and theNdranghetawere best known for firebombing and blowing up their adversary.

Careful, Dominic slipped behind Fish once he passed. Unfortunately, his shadow gave his presence away, and Fish was ready. He swung with a blade in his hand. Where it came from Dominic wasn’t sure but he countered by leaning out of the strike reach just as it swung up to run through his throat. He hit Fish hard and fast in the gut and then shoved his fist into his throat. The deft move brought Fish to his knees. “Salve.”

Fish gagged.

“Surprised to see me?”

The hacking man with watery eyes looked up to his attacker and the light of recognition drained blood from his face. Fish’s eyes stretched once his mind made the recognition.

“It’s been awhile. I’m disappointed. You don’t write, you don’t call.”

“I… why are you here? What have I done?” Fish dropped the blade and rubbed his sore throat.

Dominic smiled. “My Don deserves answers, and you are going to give them to me.”

“I won’t tell you shit!”

Dominic nodded. “Then that’s a shame. I left a present in the room with yourputtana. Shall I tell youwhoit is?”

Fish looked back over his shoulder. “Is Carlo here? With Maria! Maria!” Fish staggered to rise to run to her rescue. Dominic forced him down with a hard grip to his shoulder. Fish returned to his knees, his eyes wide with panic. He placed the silencer between Fish’s brows. “Let’s have that talk.”

****

“Couldn’t we have stayed the night?” Mira asked. She really wished they had more time to talk and share with each other. But a stranger appeared at the door, and Giovanni left their warm bath. Curious, she stood in the tub and leaned over to the windowsill, dripping wet. She stood on her toes and held to the sill; afraid she’d slip and break her neck in the claw foot tub. She couldn’t see Giovanni but the visitor stood off from the step. He appeared to be a young kid of sixteen who had arrived on his bike. He gave Giovanni a phone from the front basket on his bike.

Mira left the tub and wrapped a towel around her damp body. She crept downstairs just as the conversation ended, and Giovanni reentered the living area. She watched him plug the phone into the wall. As soon as he did the phone began to ring. Giovanni took a call and paced. He spotted her, and she bolted back up the stairs, her heart racing. Later he found her. Neither mentioned what she witnessed. Instead they shared a lovely dinner. They made love with her pressed down on the table where they had dined and his long hard cock ramming into her from behind. Again Giovanni sank his teeth into her shoulder, back, and when he flipped her over and he laid her out on the table to ravish her more, he bit into her breast. Sweet merciful God, she loved every minute of it. Until it ended. He told her to dress and they were on his motorbike racing along the roadways at a very dangerous speed back to the airport. Once they landed in Napoli he whisked her away in a car to Sorrento.

“It could not be helped.”

She realized she was pouting and corrected the action. It was crazy to be so needy of his time. Even with Kei, the attraction between them wasn’t this strong. The cold hard reality was that eventually she and her Don would have to return to their separate lives. She dreaded the day. However, it was best to accept the truth of what they were and weren’t now rather than later. To her disappointment they drove up the winding road directly to the Battaglia gates and the truth waited.

“I had a lovely time today. Thank you,” she said. He cast those jeweled eyes at her and gave her a sweet smile. She leaned forward and kissed him. “And thank you Giovanni, for sharing your story with me.”

“Prego.”

She opened the door and hopped out of the jeep. They left the picnic basket and wine in the back. As soon as they crossed the threshold, the sounds of a young woman’s wails filled the foyer.

In a flash Catalina rushed through the hall into her brother’s arms, weeping. Mira stood frozen watching the scene. A petite woman in a long skirt with a messy grey bun to the back of her head hurried down the hall after Catalina. Giovanni wrapped his arms around his sister as one would do with a terrified child and comforted her. He kissed the top of her head, trying to understand what had her so distressed. “What is it?”

“It’s awful, just awful!!”

Giovanni gave Mira a desperate plea with his eyes to free him from the entire matter. So she addressed the older woman who appeared to be at the center of the drama. “Can I be of any help?”

The woman looked Mira up and down. She then glanced to Giovanni and spoke in English to be clearly heard. “Donatella is unable to make the dress exactly as requested; the one she sent is all wrong. We have a week before the wedding.”

“A week?” Mira looked to Giovanni surprised. She knew there would be a wedding, but in a week? Catalina let go of her brother shaking her head. “It’s ugly, I hate it! I will look like a fool Giovanni. And she didn’t even send the second dress. We paid for two dresses. All I got is one horrible thing!”

“Do you mind showing me the dress? Maybe I can help?” Mira offered.

“Can you?” Catalina asked wiping her eyes.

“Of course, it’s what I do, remember?”

Catalina smiled. “Grazie.” She looked to her brother for approval. “Is it okay Giovanni? Can she help me?”

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