Battaglia Mafia: La Famiglia Part 26

"When will you tell Mira the truth?" Lorenzo asked. "I only ask because I will have to then tell Marietta."

"Soon. Let them spend time together, bond. Then we will sit them down and explain. My way."

"Of course, Gio. I won't interfere any further. We go at your pace," Lorenzo nodded. "I hear Giuliani and Santo have arrived. Trouble with Mottolas?"

"Yes," Giovanni said in a terse voice.

"Then it's good I came home." Lorenzo dropped his hand on Giovanni's shoulder. "No one believes in protecting this family as strongly as I do. You need me, cousin, let me help."

Giovanni cast a sideways look to Lorenzo. He had missed him, and like men the grudges between them were easily settled with an apology. He embraced Lorenzo, who hugged him back. "You will help me reunite the women. We do it together and Mirabella never knows that I came between them. Agreed?" Giovanni asked.

"Yes, cousin. Agreed." Lorenzo patted his back with a sly smile.

Giovanni let him go. Lorenzo threw his arm around his shoulder and they walked back to join the other men. "Now let's talk business."

"Does that beach house belong to the Battaglias?" Marietta pointed to Serenity.

"It sure does." Mira smiled. "The only villa directly on the sh.o.r.e. Guess that's why it's raised for the tide. We call it Serenity."

Mira glanced back. Cecilia carried Eve on her hip and a beach blanket, toy bucket and shovel in her arms. Eve waved at her mother. She wore a yellow swimsuit. Mira blew her daughter a kiss.

"Do you want kids?" Mira asked Marietta.

"Can't stand the little f.u.c.kers." Marietta answered. She glanced back at Eve and realized her comment was cra.s.s. "Sorry. No offense."

"None taken. I never wanted kids either. Then woke one day and found out I was pregnant. Now I can't stop making babies." Mira laughed. Marietta smiled.

"Mommy!" Eve hurried toward her in the sand. She fell to her hands and knees. Mira walked over to her and helped her stand while Cecilia and Leo spread out the blanket over the sand.

"Once they are your babies, your att.i.tude toward them will change," Mira said. Marietta observed as Mira guided Eve to the edge of the blanket. The toddler dropped on her chubby knees and started immediately to shovel sand into the bucket. It took Leo and Cecilia both to lower Mira to the blanket. Marietta looked up at the sun boiling hotly in the sky above. If it weren't for the breeze they'd bake. Still she burned easily and she considered the fact that she needed to return to get some sun block for her skin.

"C'mon, join us." Mira waved her over.

Marietta glanced toward the villa. From the beach she could see the upper levels. Lorenzo was nowhere in sight. Maybe she was wrong about the black Barbie. She did seem nice. However, a sit and talk session on the beach with her and her kid would bore her silly. But she made a promise to Lorenzo. It was possible the sacrifice would prove to him that she could be a supportive wife. Marietta walked over and found a spot to plop down. Though they were on the blanket she felt sticky grains of sand over her arms and legs. She pulled her maxi dress up to wipe off.

"Tell me about you? Any brothers or sisters?" Mira asked.

"None. I was adopted," Marietta said.

"Oh. That's nice," Mira replied.

"Actually it wasn't. And not to be rude I don't want to discuss my personal life."

Mira nodded. "Making conversation. I understand."

"I do have a question," Marietta had only one. And when that snotty b.i.t.c.h Catalina threw her jab earlier it made the question burn like a hot coal in her gut.

"Go ahead. Ask?" Mira said. She managed to help Eve turn over the sand in the pail. Without water the sand did little to stick. Cecilia came over and took Eve by the hand and grabbed the bucket. She walked the baby to the sea.

"Fabiana was your business partner?" Marietta asked.

"Yes. She was like a sister to me. I loved her very much." Mira answered.

"Lorenzo mentioned her. He said she died. He blames himself."

Mira didn't immediately answer. She covered her brow with her hand and watched her daughter. Marietta believed it to be a stall tactic. After all she was chatty Kathy just a minute earlier. Marietta tried a different approach. "How close were she and Lorenzo to marrying?"

Mira lowered her hands to her belly. She turned her gaze to Marietta. "Fabiana loved Lorenzo. But my friend had a habit of always loving complicated men. Guess she and I are the same on that score. Personally I never thought he loved her as deeply."

Though it was insensitive of her Marietta smiled. She didn't like the idea of her husband carrying a torch for some dead woman.

"You're smiling?" Mira said. And for the first time Marietta saw Queen B flash anger toward her.

"Oh I'm sorry. I wasn't smiling because your friend's dead it's just-"

"Let me be clear on something, Marietta. I never thought Lorenzo loved anyone more than he loves himself. He's the most selfish man of them all. And he is the reason my friend is dead. He's no catch, honey!"

"The explosion was an accident," Marietta tossed back.

"It was a hit. A contract hit on his life. There are no accidents in this life," Mira said.

"You blame Lorenzo? How does that make sense when he serves your husband? Like he's some king or something."

"It makes sense because Lorenzo plays games, he lies, he-" Mira stopped herself.

"Fabiana's death was the most devastating event in my life, and trust me I've had a few. I saw my best friend die. She was blown to pieces in front of my face," Mira's voice faltered with emotion. "I can't get the image out of my mind. I've never seen a person die before. And I never want to again."

"Hey? You okay?" Marietta asked.

"I have a pain... a cramp." Mira grabbed her side.

Marietta got to her knees. She touched Mira's arm. The man who watched them was at their side in an instant. "Maybe we should get you back to the house."

"Help me stand," Mira wheezed.

Marietta stood. She and Leo helped. As soon as Mira was on her feet a blood spot could be seen to the back of her all white summer dress. "You're bleeding. Oh my G.o.d!" Marietta gasped.

Mira nodded. "Don't panic. It's okay. Get Cecilia and Eve. I'll be fine."

"Fine? You're bleeding. We need to-" Marietta stopped as Leo half walked, half carried Mira back across the sand. She wasn't sure but the woman looked to be in the last stage of her pregnancy. Blood could not be good. She turned and saw Cecilia running up the sand. "We need to get back to the house. Something is wrong with Mira-er the Donna."

"Si, andiamo!" Cecilia said. Marietta s.n.a.t.c.hed up the blanket and Cecilia hurried up the sand with Eve in her arms. Marietta was close behind.

Giovanni wiped his hand down his face and exhaled to quell some of his anger. He was tired of the discussion. He let his gaze sweep the faces of the men gathered. His inner circle stared back. "If we cut off the head of the snake it still lives. We will need another to reign in and organize what is left of the Mottola clan."

"And you think Giuliani Mottola is the man for this job?" Dominic asked.

"If I put him in power he's mine." Giovanni drummed his fingers on the desk surface. "But is he strong enough to control the Mottolas? That is the real question."

"What about Santo?" Lorenzo interjected.

"At the very least Santo shouldn't be over the triangle any longer," Carlo added.

Giovanni looked over to Dominic who shook his head no. He returned his gaze to Lorenzo and then Carlo before he answered. "Santo is another matter. I need to see him. Then I will decide on the triangle."

"They wait for you. I made sure Giuliani was well received." Dominic said.

"Boss?" Renaldo charged inside. "It's the Donna, she's not well."

Giovanni was up and around his desk in seconds. He and the others walked down the hall to the stairs and up. He met Catalina on the step.

"How is she?" he asked.

"She's had some bleeding. I've already called the doctor that she told me. He said he'd be here within the hour. I think we should take her to the ospedale, Giovanni. Blood? What the h.e.l.l is going on?"

"Is she cramping?" he asked as he rushed with hurried steps to her room.

"I don't think so, not anymore." Catalina glanced back at Dominic and then looked at her brother. "Why aren't you listening to me? We need to get her to the ospedale."

Giovanni rushed inside the room. At her bedside was Marietta. He paused a second at the sight of the woman comforting his wife. Marietta stepped aside and he went to Mira who was upright and resting against a stack of pillows.

"I'm fine. The doctor will be here and he can decide if I go in. The cramps stopped," she said with tears in her eyes. "This is normal right? I mean it's part of it right? Nothing is wrong right?"

Giovanni wasn't sure. Was this like before or something worse? Did he rush to the hospital or wait and ride it out? How was he to know for certain?

"We need to get her help. A doctor's home visit isn't right," Catalina said, and he could hear the fear in his sister's voice.

"Everyone leave. Bring the doctor when he arrives. Get out." Giovanni told them. Lorenzo led Marietta out the door. Dominic touched Catalina who s.n.a.t.c.hed her hand away and marched out. He closed the door behind them.

Giovanni put his hand to his wife's belly. He bowed his head. "Let's take you to the hospital. We can't take any chances. It'll take us thirty minutes to get to Palermo. What if... we need to take you there now."

"Giovanni, look at me." She lifted his chin. "I'm fine. You told me today what this meant. The bleeding has stopped. The cramping has stopped. I'm fine."

He stood. He stood and paced. He checked his watch over and over until finally he relaxed as Mira did. He sat back on the edge of the bed and held her hand. "No cramps? No blood?"

"None." She smiled. "I'm fine."

She pulled his shirt and drew him over to kiss him. There came a knock at the door and she let him go. The doctor was escorted in. The wait had been too long. Giovanni shook his hand and silently vowed the next incident they'd take her in if he had to drive her to Palermo himself.

"How are you Signora Mirabella?" he put his bag down and approached the bed.

"Better. The cramping and bleeding has stopped," she said. The doctor removed his equipment to check her pressure. Giovanni was the only other person in the room. He asked Mira a few questions and did a very quick exam and feel of her. "I suggest we take you in to have another ultrasound, we should run some additional tests. Your pressure is elevated."

"I feel fine!" Mira said.

"Is something wrong doctor?" Giovanni asked.

"Not from what I can tell. There's a hospital in Mondello. I've already called ahead. We can get her there and do a thorough exam. I'm sure she's okay. But with her condition," he lowered his voice.

"Speak up," Mira said. "Giovanni told me about my condition. I want to hear it."

"Of course. Well you are carrying twins. The pressure on your cervix presents a problem. Were you doing anything strenuous when the cramps began."

"No. Just walking on the beach."

"Let's take you in be safe." The doctor said.

"Okay. I agree." Mira wiped at her tears. "Giovanni, can you help me change? Get ready?"

"We'll meet you there, Doctor."

The doctor walked out. Giovanni went to Mira's side and helped her stand. She seemed to weaken and sadden over the news. "I guess I thought if I denied it the babies would be okay. They aren't ready to be born, Giovanni. It's too soon."

"They're okay, Bella," Giovanni rea.s.sured her.

"I should have stayed in bed. I don't want to do anything to make this worse for our children."

"Hey, look at me. The babies are fine. And so are you. Let's get you changed into something and then go to the ospedale. Okay?"

"Okay."

* B *

"Stop pacing." Rosetta said.

"Shut up!" Catalina hissed.

Marietta observed them both. She said nothing. Though she barely knew Mira the thought of her miscarrying brought her inexplicable anxiety. No woman should have to suffer that amount of pain. The door opened. A man entered and Catalina rushed into his arms. Marietta watched.

"How is she, Domi? Is she okay?"

"They will take her to the ospedale. Gio is going with her. She's okay. It's just to make sure nothing is wrong with the babies." Dominic turned his gaze to Marietta. "Thank you for helping her on the beach."

"She didn't do anything." Catalina walked away. Marietta smiled at the diss. She nodded to Dominic that he was welcome.

"As soon as Gio knows more he will call us and let us know," Dominic announced.

Marietta stood. "Where's Lo? Is he going to the hospital too?"

"No. He and Carlo had a meeting. He told me to tell you he will join you for dinner." Dominic cast his gaze to Catalina once more. They exchanged a look and then he left. As soon as he was gone Catalina began her worry routine again.

"Would you stop pacing?" Rosetta said. "You're making my headache worse."

"Shut your f.u.c.king mouth," Catalina hissed.

Marietta decided she'd had enough of the drama and started for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Catalina asked.