Page 63 of Ti Amo

Lorenzo opened the door to Dominic’s office. Dominic heard him first because his face rested in his palms, his elbows on his desk. He lifted his head and frowned at Lorenzo.

“Where have you been?” Lorenzo asked.

“Get the fuck out!” Dominic answered. Lorenzo closed the door.

“Carlo and I met with Giovanni. You never came. Have you heard? Angelo is dead. I handled it.” Lorenzo slapped his chest in triumph.

Dominic drank and flipped through the pages of the ledger before him. “Yeah I heard you burned the fucking place to the ground. Now we have a new war on our hands. Do you not think Bonaduce will let this go?”

“Not my problem.”

Dominic glanced up, his face felt hot with the raging flames of anger burning under his skin.

Lorenzo narrowed his eyes on him. “Why are you drinking? What the fuck is going on with you?”

“I can’t do this.” Dominic rose. After he buried Franco he sat in the forest staring at the makeshift grave until the sun set, and then he drove the rest of the night along the Amalfi coast. His adrenaline wore off, and the cold hard truth sunk in. He had betrayed everything he believed in. And even harder to accept was how Catalina had manipulated his guilt to make him do it. He wouldn’t lie anymore. It was over. He loved Giovanni. He took a vow that meant something to them all. But the day he slept with Catalina he broke their brotherhood. Everything he’s done from that day forth has been tainted by that sin. Now he was no better than Lorenzo.

“Where’s Franco? Carmine is raising the roof telling everyone he didn’t come home. Now I hear he didn’t show up at work yesterday.”

“So?” Dominic shrugged.

“Last time I saw him he was leaving with you.”

The silence lengthened between them.

“Domi?”

He exhaled a deep breath but refused to look Lorenzo in the eye.

“Domi? What the fuck is going on?” Lorenzo pushed.

“Franco’s dead.” Dominic walked around the desk. He faced Lorenzo. “I did him.”

“You? Did him? Why?”

“For her. I can’t help it and God help me I never wanted to. I love her,” he confessed.

“You love who?” Lorenzo clenched his fist.

“Catalina. I’ve been in love with Catalina since she was sevente—.”

Lorenzo’s fist slammed into Dominic’s face. The force of the blow made his knees buckle and him to stagger back.

“Say it again! Say it again!” Lorenzo gripped him by the throat and threw him on top of the desk. He pinned Dominic down, fist raised to pummel him.

“I couldn’t help myself,” Dominic gasped, not bothering to struggle until the battle for breath began to make his chest compress and go tight as if it would implode. Clawing at Lorenzo’s hands his vision began to cloud over with tears as he fought for his life. Lorenzo tightened the grip on his throat. Dominic gagged. Lorenzo let his throat go. He dragged him off the desk and threw him into the reading table causing it to splinter and break apart.

“What is that?” Catalina rose to her feet. The crashing noise followed by a man shouting froze Mira as well.

“I heard it too.”

“Domi! It’s coming from Domi’s office.” Catalina raced out of the parlor. Mira ran after her.

Dominic rolled over, the agony in his throat and face made him weak and nauseous. Lorenzo grabbed him by the front of his shirt and forced him up, but Domi could barely stand. He wept hard. He’d never shed so many tears since the death of Papa Tomosino. Dominic’s pain stalled his assault.

“Kill me.” Dominic begged. “Do it. Before Gio finds out.”

Lorenzo drew Dominic into his arms and hugged him to his chest. He hadn’t felt so lost since the night he sat alone after Catalina married and went off with her new husband and new life.

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