Amore (30 page)

Carlo didn’t answer.

“Because he knew me for a short time like Fabiana? But he wasn’t as in love with me as he was with her. Right?”

“No. You and Fabiana are nothing alike. Don’t make the comparison.”

“Right. Because she was sweet, and beautiful, white.”

Carlo’s brows lifted. “White?”

“Oh please! I know what most of you think of the color of my skin. We may be family now, but I don’t see you befriending Africans, people of color.” She said.

“Wait. What are you talking about? You think your husband is prejudice?” Carlo chuckled. His toothpick moved around to the other side of his mouth and his eyes sparkled. She had to smile when he did.

“No. I’m saying she fit into his world easier than I did. She was Italian. I’m saying if he had married her he’d have kids now. Right?”

Carlo’s smile faded.

“Having a son is important to him. Fabiana would have understood that. She would have given him babies without a second thought. But I…”

“Lorenzo loves you, Marietta,” Carlo said. She looked over to him. He nodded at her to believe him. “I’ve seen him with all kinds of women. You are the only one I’ve heard him speak of loving. No question.”

“Then why does he still feel so guilty about Fabiana’s death?” she asked.

“Because he’s human. If he felt nothing, then you should worry,” Carlo said.

Marietta wiped at her loose tears. She smiled. “Thank you.”

She walked over to Carlo and hugged him. He stiffened at first, and then hugged her in return. “Thank you for being a friend to me.”

He lifted her chin. He kissed her brow. “I promise to hold back my desires to be more.”

She let go of him and stepped back. “I need to get back to the family. Thanks again.”

“Any time,” he smiled. She walked out and didn’t look back though it took more effort than it should have.

**

Laughter exploded from those gathered at the outside table. Dinner was over. The wine flowed, and more desserts than the heart could yearn for, were shared amongst the family. It was a night for celebrating. With warmth and love in her heart her gaze shifted over to her husband. He was up from his seat throwing Gianni in the air. The boy squealed with delight, and grinned so wide Mirabella couldn’t help but smile too. Eve was seated in Catalina’s lap whispering in her ear. Nico wrestled with Gino. The toddler would go down and then get back up with Nico’s help, only to charge Nico with his full force again. He seemed fine and full of energy after his fall.

“Bella, dance with me,” Giovanni said. At some point he’d let Gianni go into the waiting arms of Zia. His hand was extended to her. The setting sun was to his back giving him a halo of sorts. She could not deny him or the smile he favored her. There was always music playing around Melanzana, and it seemed the tradition would continue in Milano. This time however it was a few of his men on their guitars harmonizing with Rocco who played a harmonica. Mirabella pushed back her chair and stood. She accepted her husband’s hand and let him pull her in close with his other arm around her waist. She swayed with him and felt as carefree as she ever had. Mirabella dropped her face against his chest. Her hand slipped from his. Her arms circled his waist and she let the warmth and love consume her.

“It will be your birthday soon,” he said softly.

“I can’t wait,” she replied.

“What do you wish for?” he asked.

“More days like this. Look at our family, Gio,” she said. As they danced together they looked around at the happiness. “I think Cecilia is in love,” she said.

Giovanni glanced to Nico who was now laughing with Gino in his arms and talking to Cecilia. “Yes. They started their romance when she left us.”

“I hope they get married. Nico deserves someone to look after him,” Mirabella said. “You see how he is with the kids? He’d be a wonderful father.”

“True. Your sister is trying for a baby. Did you know?” Giovanni asked.

“No. She didn’t say she was ready.” Mirabella frowned.

“Lorenzo says she is,” Giovanni kissed Mirabella’s cheek. “Maybe they can all have what I have with you, Bella. Every man should be as blessed.”

“Grazie, mio marito,”
she kissed his lips.
“Ti amo.”

Carlo & Shae

The afternoon fell. For a girl brought up on the tough concrete streets of Chicago, spring in Italy was wonderful to behold. The sun bled all over the sky in warm colors of red, purple, and pink. Every branch, on every tree, held bright and colorful blooms. Shae typically loved the urban landscape of neon signs, skyscrapers, and streets congested with traffic. However, Italy’s rich history, food, and music had begun to induce a peaceful contentment inside of her she could grow accustomed to.

That evening the Battaglias celebrated the Donna’s achievement with a lavish dinner on the outside terrace of their Milan home. Shae had eaten her belly full. She’d consumed a few too many glasses of wine as well. If she didn’t lie down soon it would be impossible for her to make a gracious exit later. Shae scooted her chair back from the table. Marietta was the first to notice. Her friend sat upright between her husband’s legs and looked at Shae with a questioning frown. Shae winked to signal she was fine. Marietta reclined back against Lorenzo, as he continued to talk to her about something that made her friend smile.

The night was over. Every woman was either paired with her significant other, or tending to the needs of one of the Battaglia children. For a restless girl like herself, all she saw was temptation. Handsome men came and went. Some ate and drank wine with the Battaglias. A few serenaded the Don and Donna with their guitars as the couple danced and laughed in each other’s arms. And other men, the ones who didn’t speak or smile, patrolled the perimeters of the property watching Shae with dark piercing stares if she dared to step out into the gardens or in their way. To make matters worse, she couldn’t speak or engage any of them because of the house rules and the language barrier. It was ridiculous.

Shae’s attention kept returning to the Don and his Donna. They were in a world all their own. She saw them whispering to each other and smiling. The man never smiled. Tonight however, he laughed and even blushed with his wife in his arms. She wondered what they truly had in common. Mirabella seemed much more cultured than her brooding husband. And he didn’t seem to relax around anyone but his wife and children.

In her experience, men with his temperament rarely could maintain lasting love affairs. And usually kept mistresses on the side if they did to act out their aggression. Did the Don have a whore stashed somewhere? Shae wouldn’t be surprised if he did.

The evening became a bit boring. The disappointment for Shae was she hadn’t seen Carlo. After making her promise to Marietta she figured that it was for the best. Forbidden fruit had always been her biggest weakness.

“You okay?” Catalina asked.

Shae smiled. “Yeah, excited about tomorrow. I think I’ll go to my room and lay down.”

“Really? It’s early. After the kids go to bed it really turns into a party.” Catalina winked. Shae liked Catalina. She hadn’t had a chance to truly get to know her. But she’d seen how she interacted with the staff and everyone.

“I’m not going to bed. Papa says I can stay up late,” Eve said to Shae.

Catalina chuckled. “We will see, Evie.”

Shae almost felt compelled to stay. Eye candy kept arriving through the doors. Carlo could show. She had so much fun with her vibrator after going to bed with him on her mind last night.

“I might come back. See if the party’s still going. Good night, Eve.”

“Buona notte!”
Eve smiled.

Shae dragged in a deep breath of resignation. She sidestepped a few to leave the terrace and walked back inside the villa. And there were even more men to avoid inside.

“Excuse me, pardon me, excuse me,” she said a few times and caught a few appreciative stares. She thought someone had touched her hand. When she glanced back every man stared so she couldn’t be sure. And when she dared to hold the gaze of a man, it never lingered for long. Eventually she found her way to her room through the kitchen. Once she entered her hall she froze. Shae’s heart pulsed hard. Hooded brown eyes stared at her out of a tanned face. He pushed out of his lean against her door. He had a hard-edged masculine beauty. He’d been there all along waiting on her, for her.

“Ciao, bella,”
he said.

“Hi, ah,
ciao
,” she replied, annoyed by the quake in her voice. “Waiting for me?”

His gaze swept over her with appreciation, and she held her breath for his response. He spoke the words so low she had to read his lips to understand him.

“How is learning Italian coming?” he asked.

“I don’t have a proper tutor. So it’s a struggle,” she smiled.

“We need to begin lessons,” Carlo said.

“Okay,” she said. “How do you say let’s get out of here in Italian?” she asked.

“Andiamo,”
he replied.

“Andiamo,”
she repeated.

“Can you leave?” he answered.

“Leave? Right now?”

“Yes. Leave. Come with me. Away from here? That’s what
andiamo
means,” he said. “How else am I to give you your next lesson?”

“Hmm? Should I leave with you, Carlo? Is it safe?” she asked. She stood only a centimeter apart from him. His gaze narrowed on her as if he were insulted by the question. His reaction had to be an act. They were after all his boss’s rules not hers. Closer to him with the light of the hall to illuminate his features, she could not mistake the handsome hard angles of his face and body. He had chiseled cheeks and dark hair that curled around his temples. His eyes were the color of brandy. The hairs to his mustache over his lip and under his chin were jet black and wavy.

She took a step closer. Her nipples brushed his chest.

“Marietta asked me to stay away from you,” she said as her mouth moved in close.

“Did she say why?” he asked.

“House rule? You live by a code, don’t you, Carlo? The big bad Battaglia men are off limits. Isn’t that the code guests are supposed to honor?”

“Ah yes,” he smiled. He glanced behind her. She turned her head, half expecting to see someone else in the hall. There was no one. But Carlo seemed conflicted on his offer to teach her Italian, his way.

“Let me know if you decide to break any rules like we almost did last night,” he said and started to walk off.

She stepped in front of him. “And if I do… say… want to go with you. How exactly do we get away?”

“We walk out of the front door,” he answered.

“That easy?” she chuckled.

“I said it is,” he answered.

“I got a better idea,” she whispered up to him.

“I’d like to hear it,” he said, as he moved her hair from her eye with a finger.

“What if I requested an escort? I’ve noticed one thing. The women here don’t go anywhere without an escort. Right? What if tonight I need someone tall, handsome, and strong to guard my body?” She ran her hand down his chest. “To take me into Milan to meet a friend?”

“A lie?” he frowned.

“An untruth,” she corrected him.

“Why not tell the truth?” he asked.

Okay, now he is fucking with me.
She tingled over the tease in his smile and knew his game. “Do you really want to take me away from here or are you playing games?”

“You’re an interesting woman. A little rule breaker. It’s sexy. Show me how brave you are. I’ll wait for you outside.” He walked off. Shae went to her door. She glanced back and Carlo cast a second look from over his shoulder as he left the hall and turned the corner. She hurried into her room to change. She took a quick shower and rubbed some oils and lotion over her skin to make sure she was supple and soft. She chose a dark purple summer dress that was strapless, with a shifting skirt that belled out from her hips and barely reached her knees. She thought of the thong she wore underneath and smiled. Shae reached up the skirt and pulled it down. She stepped out of the thin gossamer and tossed it back to her open suitcase. After a touch up of her makeup she felt complete.