Amore (48 page)

“I’m not family,” he reminded her. She was fucking gorgeous. The dress fit her curves perfectly. Her hair bounced long curls on her shoulders, and several fell over into her face. It was wild and curly like Lorenzo preferred it. Like he preferred it. The way her hips swayed, and her legs emerged from the front slit to her dress when she walked, made it impossible to not feel enticed. He chose to avert his gaze. The better idea was to keep walking.

“Oh, you’re family and you know it. You used to be a man that respected the rules of
our
family. I guess that has changed too. Huh?”

“
Bon compleannu
,
Marietta
,” he said.

“Don’t walk away from me damn it!” she hissed.

Shae fixed her dress and hurried. Carlo was addictive. Like the dance a moth did to an open flame she kept dancing around him hoping to not get burned. She needed to tighten up, and not attach so much emotion to a man as emotionally wounded as him. IF this were home she would have already put him on a rotation, and moved on to another conquest. It was Italy. The beauty from city to city, the wealth and prominence of the Battaglias, the danger and sexual adventures with Carlo, were all as addictive as any drug.

The only thing left to do was come clean. She needed to tell Marietta. She had no choice. Carlo wanted her to abandon the visit with her friend and spend time with him in Rome. Ciro would be training there for his next big fight.

When Shae opened the door she heard them. Carlo’s voice forced her to stop and listen. Shae stepped back inside but kept the door open.

“You’re doing this to piss me off! Going after my best friend! That’s really scummy, even for you,” Marietta said. “Even for a low-life like you.”

“Not everything is about you, sweetheart.” He gave a weary sigh.

“Since when?” Marietta challenged.

“Since you told me that you loved your husband and didn’t want to have anything else to do with me. Remember?” he asked.

“Right. Because you care about what I want? Well here is what I want now. I want you to end it with Shae!” Marietta crossed her arms.

“Or what?” Carlo asked. He stepped in close. “What will you do?”

“I’ll tell her the truth. You’re using her to get to me. And she’ll hate you for it.” Marietta smirked.

“I give up! I’m done with this bullshit, Marietta,” Carlo shouted.

She sidestepped him. She kept him from escaping and stepped so close he was forced to step back. “It’s what you do. Right? Use and abuse women? That’s who you are. Deny it! Go ahead! Deny it!”

“Deny what? That I’m in love with my best friend’s wife? That if he ever found out he’d kill me, and then kill you for these fucking games we play? Do you want me to deny that? How about the fact I spend every day thinking about you?” he touched her face. She turned it away. “I’ll admit it. For two years I’ve hurt anyone who has tried to get close to me, to keep from hurting you. Doesn’t mean I’m not tired of being the big bad monster in your eyes.” He lifted her chin and she couldn’t resist looking up into his eyes. “Your turn. Admit the real reason you don’t want me getting close to your friend? Can’t, can you?”

He kissed the side of her mouth and then brushed his lips over hers. Her eyes fluttered shut as his tongue pushed inside. And then she shoved him off. He grabbed her hands and yanked her closer. This time he owned her and the kiss. And she didn’t know how to stop it.

“No. I don’t want to, Carlo. Stop it.”

He grabbed her up into his arms and deep tongued her.

“I said stop it, damn it!” she broke off and slapped him. “Don’t do that! Ever!”

“Then stay the fuck out of my life!” he shouted in her face. “Let’s be honest, Marietta. You don’t want to be in it. Shae is who I want, not you. Get over it. I have!” He shoved her out of his way and walked off.

Marietta put both her hands to her face and held back her tears.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!”

**

“Santo?” Giovanni walked up to his old friend. Santo paced by the door and he looked desperate.

“They’re in there, boss. I just arrived. Didn’t want to walk in unless you, well unless invited. Should I go in there with you?”

Giovanni looked him over. “No.”

“Boss? You said I could be heard. They don’t trust me. Maybe if I can explain to them that I’m loyal it’ll make them see me again. As a brother.”

“I’ll speak for you,” Giovanni said.

Santo was a man that feared little. As were all the men in his inner circle. The thing with men, especially ones lethal enough to be high ranking in the Battaglia clan, was that none of them feared looking into the eyes of their Don. Because every man that served under him was loyal. Giovanni stared at Santo, and for the first time in countless years Santo could not meet his stare. This gave him pause.

“Is there something you need to say that I haven’t heard?” Giovanni asked.

“No. I’m just anxious. I want to clear up any misunderstandings. Today decides my future.”

“Time to get this over with!” Lorenzo announced. He approached them both. Santo glanced to Lorenzo. His gaze never returned to Gio. “What are you doing here? He can’t be in there, Gio,” said Lorenzo.

“I want a fair hearing.”

“You get what you deserve,
pentito
!” Lorenzo said.

Santo took a step as if he’d swing at Lorenzo for being labeled a rat. Lorenzo arched a brow “Something you want to say,
pentito
?”

“Basta!”
Giovanni said. “Lorenzo is right, you aren’t needed here.”

“Grazie, Gio,”
Santo took a step back. “I’ll wait at the party. For whatever you decide,” Santo said. He bowed his head and walked off. Lorenzo stepped to Giovanni’s side and they watched Santo disappear out of the hall.

“Having doubts, cousin?” Lorenzo asked.

“I’m not sure,” Giovanni replied. He went to the door and opened it. The Dons of the
Camorra
were gathered. All thirteen were present. But of course only the men who held the most wealth and influence were seated. The others stood in silence.

Giovanni addressed the three. “Benicia, Racchini, Tacchi.”

The men nodded their hello.

“Thank you all for coming. I regret keeping you waiting,” Giovanni said.

“Everyone is clear on why you wished to have this meeting,” Dominic began.

“Some of us think it’s premature, Gio. Santo hasn’t proven himself.” Benicia was the first to speak.

“The man has lost his family and clan,” Racchini responded.

“Doesn’t make him loyal,” said Tacchi. “In fact it makes him weak. Have we not forgotten why Santo put us at risk? We’ve all been in meetings with him and Mottola. Where was his loyalty to Gio then?”

“No one has forgotten,” Lorenzo replied. “Including us. Gio has reason to believe that Santo has paid his debts to the
Camorra
. That we should reward his dedication.”

“I will speak on my beliefs,” said Giovanni. Lorenzo nodded. Giovanni walked over to the window. He gazed out at the party. He could see his wife amongst her admirers. He again was reminded of how fragile their happiness remained.

“Santo isn’t trustworthy,” Giovanni said. The men exchanged baffled looks.

“Gio? We discussed this. Santo’s punishment and rewards guarantee loyalty, not only from him, but from all our men. The clan bosses have to show compassion. What are the men to believe if they make a sacrifice? That there is no justice?”

“Benicia is right. Nothing is certain with Santo. I propose we give him the legs to walk on, for now. But each family, each clan, keeps a close watch on him. Including my own.”

Giovanni ignored the shocked and confused look on Dominic’s face. They knew better than to question him further on the subject in this forum. The men nodded in agreement. And after a brief discussion of other business affairs they left and returned to the party. Soon he was left with his brothers.

Lorenzo closed the door. “Gio, you surprise me.”

“What is this, Gio? Why have you changed your opinion on Santo? We agreed he has paid enough for his mistakes. We agreed.”

“Am I not allowed to change my fucking mind?” Giovanni asked.

“I meant no disrespect,” Dominic began.

“Then shut the fuck up.” Giovanni went to the bar and poured himself a drink. The gnawing feeling in his gut persisted. He turned with his whiskey glass in hand. “Something is off. I felt it earlier with Santo. He’s desperate.”

“Can you blame him?” Dominic grumbled.

“Desperate makes a man weak. And a weak man can be bought,” Lorenzo agreed.

“But who made him weak? That’s the fucking question!” Dominic said. “How many years of loyalty and sacrifice until he’s broken?”

“I’ve decided. We keep a close eye on him. He rides with you, Lorenzo. Give him some false hope that it’s to bring him back into position. But keep the family business closed to him, for now. It could be nothing.”

“Or it could be everything, Gio,” Lorenzo said. “It’s what I’ve been saying all along. Santo is a snake. He is not to be trusted. Don’t worry. I will appease him or put a bullet in his skull.”

Lorenzo winked at Dominic and then left. Giovanni sat and stared into his drink. He loved all his brothers. It didn’t feel right to question the motives of any of them. But Santo had a price.

“Carlo didn’t lie.” Giovanni said.

“About what?”

“Santo,” Giovanni took a sip.

Dominic looked confused. Giovanni continued. “You were too young to remember when they took Carlo away. I went to Patri and asked him to help Carlo.”

“And Patri said no,” Dominic said. “I do remember.”

“Yes. He did. But Lorenzo wouldn’t let up. He loved Carlo. He knew it was a setup. We later found out that Santo could help him,” Giovanni said.

“Are you saying that Lorenzo and Carlo’s hatred of Santo is because Carlo went to jail for raping that girl?”

Giovanni nodded. “He didn’t rape the girl. He was at Santo’s house that night. His father had beat him up. He needed a place to hide from him. Mancini paid Santo’s father, and Santo was forced to go to the prosecutors and lie. Or so he says. What choice did Santo have really?”

“He had a choice. We always have choices, Gio,” Dominic said.

“True. It’s why Lorenzo never trusts Santo not to be bought off.”

“If you forgave him then, why convict him now?”

“The only time Santo was unable to look me in the eye in all the years I’ve known him was when he was guilty in his heart.” Giovanni finished his drink and looked up at Dominic. “I trust you the most, Domi. I love Lorenzo, but he is what he is. You’re my conscience. My heart. Prove me wrong and I’ll reward Santo. But I will not risk any of my men and family again if my gut tells me not to.”

“Of course, Gio. You’re right,” Dominic said.

“Check into his story about the sick brother. Put a man on him and see where he goes, where he sleeps, eats, fucks, everything. You know what must be done.”

Dominic nodded and left.

Who Can You Trust?

Lorenzo had managed to remain standing. All night he drank, smoke, laughed and argued with his friends, cousins, and uncles. The last of their guests left just before dawn. When he staggered into his room the shadows hadn’t departed. He flipped up the light switch. The lamps on either side of the bed vanquished the dark. Marietta wasn’t there.

“Damn it!” he grunted. He glanced to the bathroom and found she wasn’t there as well. “Where the hell is my wife?”

**

“You still up?” Marietta asked.

“I wanted to help. Is everyone gone?” Catalina yawned. She plopped down and kicked off her shoes. “What time is it?”

“Five or four, not sure,” Marietta sat. She needed to find Lorenzo and have his men carry him to their bed. But she was in no mood to deal with his drunkenness. Carlo’s words to her burned through the chambers of her heart all evening.

“Something wrong?” Catalina asked.