Destino (25 page)

“Oh!” She cried out, and he summoned more control. Slowing his thrusts to push her closer to bliss and not the frenzied madness swirling in his head, everything shattered, including him.

Giovanni’s face was pressed into the pillow to the side of her head. He struggled to summon his breath. She soothed him by running both hands up and down his back.

“Giovanni,” she wheezed.

Immediately, he shifted his weight. Giovanni, however, couldn’t release her nor escape the warmth they generated under the covers. This was the closest he’d been to heaven in a long time. The beautiful woman in his arms smiled up at him. Her scarf slipped back to reveal the natural wavy texture of the roots of her hair. He touched her face and kissed the tiny mole to the left of her nose on her cheek. “You amaze me. I could stay like this. Forever.”

“Mmm, me too,” she agreed. She elevated her hips a bit beneath him. Reluctant, but concerned over her discomfort, he withdrew, semi-erect, and dropped over to his left side. Mira’s hand went to the bruise on her shoulder, and he felt a pang of regret.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked.

She smiled and shook her head no, and then bolted right up. “Dammit, we didn’t use protection.”

Giovanni reached and grabbed the scarf to pull it free of her hair. He tossed it to the floor. “Why do you wear this?”

Without a word, she escaped the bed and hurried to her bathroom. Unlike his room, her drapes were open. Moonlight bathed over her flawless body when she escaped him. He had only a glimpse of the lush curve of her backside. Touching himself under the covers, he wished his dick could get hard again, but this time she had drained him dry. He listened as water ran until his lids felt heavy with fatigue. The exhaustion of the day returned, and he felt himself slip under its pull.

“Giovanni?”

A warm wet cloth wiped over his dick. He squinted up at her. She wore a robe and again tied her hair down in a silk scarf. Mira completed her task then folded the rag and set it aside. “Come to me.” He reached for her before she fully turned away. She joined him under the covers without resistance.

“Are you okay? Earlier, things got a bit intense,” she said, her voice meek, almost shy of the hard edged woman she liked to portray. Giovanni didn’t answer. He really was in no mood to talk. Instead he brought her body to his and curled around her curves until his leg was over her thighs and his face was buried in the sweet cushion of her breasts. She said a few more things. Talked of how an ex-lover never made her feel this desired, things he catalogued for future reference. After listening and enjoying the melody of her voice and rapidly beating heart, he grunted a response. Sleep had never been this welcomed.

Fresh and re-energized Mira turned over with a smile on her face. She reached for her lover to find he had already gone. Her eyes flipped open. It was becoming a nasty habit. Here one minute and gone the next. She shook her head and expelled a deep frustrated breath. A sharp sting ripped through her left shoulder and she touched the tenderness. Things had gotten out of hand with them last night. He kept apologizing through the night for the bite. Though the pain was numb and not really too discomforting, the desperation in his lovemaking made her worry. The knocking at her door drew her attention. She soon realized it was the knocking that brought her out of her sleep. She covered herself and sat up on her pillows.

“Come in.”

“Morning sleepy head.”

“Morning,” she yawned.

“Get up,” Fabiana said. She waved car keys in front of her. “The men had a meeting this morning, so I have the keys to the Spider. It’s cuter than the Ferrari. Let’s go have some fun.”

“No Fabiana, I’m exhausted.” Mira rolled away.

“Giovanni said you were.”

Mira frowned. She looked back over her shoulder at her grinning friend. Fabiana nodded. “He told me to let you sleep in. Oh and get this. He announces that we’re going to his villa in Sorrento. You’re okay with this?”

“The man sure does think he knows what I want,” she rolled her eyes.

“Uh oh, somebody is a grumpy puss!” Fabiana teased.

“Where is he gone to now? Every night he’s here, but I swear the man must be allergic to the sun because once it’s up he’s gone.” She snapped her finger. “Just like that.”

Fabiana shrugged. “He had one of his goons wake up Lorenzo over an hour ago and demand he get dressed to come with him.”

Mira gave up. She sat back on to her pillows and removed her headscarf. “Oh.”

“Come on girl! If we’re leaving today, let’s go out and have a bit of fun.” Fabiana stopped at the side of the bed and picked up her tossed aside camisole. “Unless you’re too tired for fun?”

Mira snatched the garment from her, suppressing a smile.

“Would you please leave? I’ll meet you downstairs in an hour.”

“Mira? What happened to your shoulder?” Fabiana asked.

Instinctively, her hand shot up to cover the bruise. “Nothing. Nothing.”

“That’s not nothing, let me see.” Fabiana reached and snatched her hand down. She leaned in closer to inspect it. “Well, it looks like a hickey, but it… does it hurt?”

Mira sighed. “No. We had sex, and things got a bit rough.”

“Rough sex?” Fabiana nose wrinkled.

Quickly, Mira tried to cover. “I’m fine. Giovanni is a bit much to handle when he’s worked up. It wasn’t intentional.”

Fabiana stared at her for a moment, and Mira held her breath waiting. Her friend smiled. “If you’re cool with it, then okay. Now c’mon and get dressed. I can’t wait to get behind this car.” She waved the keys and walked out.

Mira released the breath she held and dropped back onto the pillows. Last night he was in pain and sought solace within her arms; she knew that. Touching her shoulder, she wondered about the dark side of her lover and wanted to know what tormented him. A softer memory surfaced. She remembered his kiss and smiled. She thought she was dreaming, but she was almost certain he kissed her this morning before he left.

****

Giovanni sat silently next to Lorenzo. The car held the curvy road that sloped upward into the mountains. It was a wet slick morning; the countryside glistened from the remnants of a fresh rain. His gaze remained trained on the passing landscape. He didn’t know what possessed him last night. His hand clenched into a fist. He should have more control over his emotions, over himself. He closed his eyes and remembered how she held him. How soft and sweet her breath was against his chest when she slept in his arms. And the way she made love to him, tamed him. He had to get a grip on his desires for her. He couldn’t trust it to last.

“I wanted to be included.” Lorenzo’s voice was tight and hoarse, demolishing his thoughts. He opened his eyes and glanced over at his cousin.

“I think it best you and Giuseppe explain what ties you have.”

“Giuseppe? Ties? We have none.”

“Then there should be no problem with you facing him today?” Giovanni asked with a raised brow.

Lorenzo shook his head. “I can’t stand the runt.”

“Are you sure cousin? Now is the time to tell me anything you have now. I don’t want any surprises. Do you understand? Don’t let me walk into this meeting unprepared.”

“He’s contacted me. Several times he’s contacted me to meet over one deal or another, and I’ve entertained him out of respect for our families, but nothing more. When will you trust me? Must I bleed for you? Is that it? I’m loyal to you and Battaglia. No one else comes before the family.”

It was a small measure of reassurance, but Giovanni accepted it. His gaze returned to his window and the countryside. He hadn’t slept this well since he buried his parents. Now his head was clear. He may have to make some tough choices in the future as to his role in the family, and he needed to have Lorenzo step up if he was to ever be in his place. That meant mending past mistakes and quieting his cousin’s restlessness.

****

“What about this one?” Fabiana walked out of the dressing closet. She wore a daffodil yellow dress with thin straps. The chiffon material of the skirt fell in tight pleats that moved like an accordion when she spun around. The bodice of the dress had the same chiffon material arranged in a basket weave like pattern, slimming her waistline and pushing her bust upward. Mira thumbed through racks aimlessly when she walked out. Looking over her sunglasses she wrinkled her nose in disapproval, “Not your color.”

Fabiana blinked, shocked. “I like yellow.”

“I never dress you in this color; it's not complimentary to your pale skin with your red hair. You look like some kind of tropical bird.”

She turned her friend toward the mirror to make sure she saw her the way she did. Fabiana frowned and then her eyes stretched in recognition. “Okay. Guess you have a point.”

“I know I do. I’m the designer remember?”

“Hey? What has made you so bitchy today?”

“I’m not being a bitch. You asked for my damn opinion!”

The sales woman glanced up at them both. Fabiana said something in Italian to the salesperson and then narrowed her eyes on her. She hooked her arm around Mira’s and forced her to join her in the cramped changing closet. “Okay, what is it?”

“I’m worried about us.” She sat in the chair in the corner of the closet. Fabiana eased down the zipper and changed back into her clothes.

“Go on. I’m listening.”

“Look at us. We’re businesswomen, driven and successful, but look at us. What are we doing here?”

“Having a vacation, Mira! Good grief, we have next week to return to our lives but this week is ours okay? And don’t make this about us. This is about him. What happened between you two?”

“I told him yesterday we need to go slow, that we need to take time to get to know each other, and then he just shows up in my bed.”

“He just shows up huh?”

“Well I sure as hell didn’t invite him.”

“So why not kick him out?”

Mira cut her eyes away. “I’m not angry that he came to me. Trust me I had restrained myself from going to him.” She dropped her head back against the wall. “I’m not even angry that he can make my body sing. I’m mad because I woke up and found him gone, and it hurt. You know that sinking feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you're lovesick? Pathetic! What am I getting myself into? The man just does whatever the hell he wants, when he wants, and how he wants me. What am I doing falling for this guy?”

Fabiana’s eyes grew round with shock. “You’re falling in love?”

“No, of course, not!” Mira hadn’t realized she used the word.

“You just said you were.”

“I said it makes no sense. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Let’s go get something to eat.”

Fabiana shook her head. “Fine, but I’m buying the damn yellow dress.”

“Go right ahead, be a parrot. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she called out after her as Fabiana left the changing room. She rose and picked up her purse.

Villa Calderone ~

“Benvenuto del Giovanni il mio ragazzo.”
Don Calderone rose. A short, rotund man, his face was rather long and pale under a grey stubble of a beard. He had tired eyes that suggested a hint of trouble. The men greeted him with respect. The Calderone family ran the region of Genoa, but vacationed often in Como. It was to their advantage that he too was here while Giovanni had planned a visit. The old man gave Giovanni a hug and then a kiss to both sides of his face. To Lorenzo he did the same.

Angelo, a stout man looked every bit the same as his weasel cousin Giuseppe. None of the Calderone men would win any beauty contests. The Don’s nephew stepped forward. He greeted Giovanni with a respectful kiss to either side of his jaw.

“Join me.” Don Calderone gestured to the chairs.

“This meeting was to occur close to an hour ago. I don’t appreciate being kept waiting.” Giovanni’s voice was low but resonated with his disapproval.

The old man nodded.
“Scusi.”
He touched his wide chest. “I was waiting on that absent-minded son of mine. He was supposed to have returned in time for the meeting. We can’t locate him.” Don Calderone waddled on his stumpy legs back around his desk and sat.

“
Patri
, he may still be in Genoa. He mentioned business there.” Angelo dropped a comforting hand to his uncle’s shoulder. All the men in the family referred to the old Don as their father, just as Lorenzo referred to Tomosino that way.

“Business?” Giovanni asked.

Don Calderone put his hand up. “Family business out of Sicily.” The Don turned his attention to Lorenzo. “Giuseppe said that you two may have a very lucrative agreement in Napoli in the works?”

Lorenzo stared at the Don unfazed. Giovanni didn’t read any reaction to the news. “I agreed to meet with Giuseppe to discuss his interest in hosting parties at
Isabella’s
. Nothing was ever confirmed. He hasn’t called to schedule.”

Don Calderone smiled then reached for his cigar box, pulling out his half smoked stogie and a lighter. “I heard of your troubles,” he lit the end of the cigar and pumped his fat cheeks to draw and release rings of smoke.