Amore (38 page)

“Yes, she is,” Giovanni agreed.

He held his breath and waited. Soon Mirabella walked down the runway. She waved at those applauding, and held hands with Zenobia. His wife was a vision in white. Being married to a fashion designer he’d become aware of the fit and compliment of clothes on his woman. In this dress she had fine hips and shapely thighs. The golden clasp to the right of the dress made the fabric tight to define her small waist. Her throat and breasts looked like warm brown satin thanks to the low cut bodice. He preferred modesty when she was on the world stage. When she reached the end of the runway their eyes met. She blew a kiss to him. He winked at her. Bella bowed for her admirers and turned and walked her models back up the catwalk.

“Andiamo,”
he told Dominic and Lorenzo. The crowd consumed them. Two of Giovanni’s men fought back reporters who shoved a microphone at him for a comment on his wife’s big moment. They left as the excitement and applause reached a deafening pitch. The back stage production was as rowdy and chaotic as the crowd to the front. Several champagne bottles popped and a fountain of bubbly poured out of the tops.

He glanced over and saw Kyra leap into Renaldo’s arms, and him swing her around with delight. It was rare to see Renaldo show any emotion. Giovanni shouldered his way through the celebration in search of his wife. He saw and met with his sister first.

“Gio! Did you see? Did you?” Catalina exclaimed. She rushed to him and hugged him. “Did you see? It was fantastic! They love her again!”

“I saw. Where is she?”

Catalina ignored the question and rushed to Dominic’s arms next. Giovanni cast his gaze over to Lorenzo. His cousin nodded in the direction of the right side of the room. Mirabella and Marietta were side by side grinning and speaking with a reporter. He told her one interview and he sat for it. But there she was in front of reporters. He started toward them. When his wife finally recognized his approach she ended the interview and walked over to him. He swept her up in his arms and spun her in a half-circle. Mirabella hugged his neck tight. She put her face to his cheek, and he buried his in her neck. She smelled as beautiful as she looked.

It was hard to put her down or let her go. He just wanted to hold her. “What did you think?” she asked with tears glistening in her eyes. “Did you like it?”

“I loved it. I love you.
Ti amo, Bella!
”

Lorenzo now celebrated with Marietta. He held her up in the air above him and she kicked her legs with laughter. They made such a scene that the reporters ran over and started snapping pictures. Marietta squealed with delight. She grabbed her husband’s face and leaned in to kiss him with the passion of a porn star, while he held her up with his arms locked around her thighs. The sisters were a team now.

“Let’s go see the kids,” he told Mirabella.

“But… Gio I have to give a few more interviews.”

“I told you no interviews, Bella. We granted one. And now you’ve given them plenty.”

“But these are different. I have to make a statement,” she smiled. She kissed his jaw. “A few more. Just a few and I’ll be yours. I promise. Go see the kids and wait for me.”

His face went slack. He opened his mouth to object but she breezed away. Marietta was lowered to her feet. She hugged her husband once more before being pulled away by her sister. Giovanni stroked his jaw. What was he to do? He couldn’t drag her out in front of the media. He felt awkward and dismissed around nothing but strangers.

“It’s her moment, Gio, let her have it,” Lorenzo said.

“What have I done? I didn’t say she couldn’t have it!” he snapped.

“No? You look like you will draw Danny-boy and empty the room.” Lorenzo teased.

Giovanni scratched his brow. He tried to mask his irritation but he could never hide much of his emotions from his cousin. “I’ll go see the kids.”

“They’re gone. Remember? Zia and Rocco came for them.”

“Oh?” he said. “Yes, I remember.” Giovanni felt further agitated. His family was scattered. In Sorrento he kept Bella and the kids safe in Melanzana. Here in Milano they were in enemy territory. Though no one would dare make a move on him, he couldn’t shake his agitation. Too many strangers. Too much noise. Flash bulbs kept exploding in his face. It was chaos.

“I’ll check on things. Nico and Renaldo have been running tight security. Santo too, I’m told. We’re still doing the party afterwards. In the gardens?” Lorenzo asked.

Giovanni groaned. He’d forgotten that there was a party after the show. The Prime Minster and his wife were going to attend. If he had it his way he’d take his family and head to Bellagio. “Yes. We’ll do the party.”

Lorenzo patted him on the shoulder and walked off. Giovanni stood there with his hands in his pockets. He felt awkward in the mix of these strangers. Too many faces he didn’t know. He decided to focus his attention on his wife. She laughed with Marietta for a reporter, and then turned sideways and around so they could get the full view of her dress.

“She’s beautiful,” a voice spoke behind him.

He cast his gaze left and Armando stepped to his side. His nemesis dropped his hands into his pockets and parted his blazer. “She looks a lot like her mother. More so than Marietta.”

“How would you know?” Giovanni asked.

“I found a few pictures in Papa’s things. I should give them to the twins,” Armando replied.

“What are you doing here?” Giovanni asked.

“Catalina gave me a pass. She said it would be okay if I came and wished my sisters well after the big event.”

Giovanni shook his head and smiled. “Your sisters? You continue with this bullshit.”

“We continue, Gio. Remember? Neither you nor I can change the blood in their veins. They are Mancinis. Sicilian. My father’s baby girls.”

Giovanni looked up into Santo’s eyes. He approached them then paused at the sight of Armando. “Don Mancini,” Santo said with a nod of respect. The men had known each other since primary school, but Santo addressed Armando formally.

“Santo, I heard you were out of prison.
Come va?
” Armando asked.

“I’m well.”

Armando nodded and glanced to Giovanni. “We’ll speak again soon.”

Giovanni watched him walk away.

“
Problemo
?” Santo asked.

“Unfinished business,” Giovanni said. Santo was the only man in his camp who didn’t know the truth about Bella and the Mancinis. When he told his men Santo was in prison. Giovanni considered sharing the truth but held back. Santo was still proving himself to him.

“The children and their caregiver left two hours ago with Rocco. Leo accompanied them. I thought you should know.”

“You’ve been working with Nico and Renaldo?” Giovanni asked. “Has it been difficult? There are so many damn people here.”

Santo shrugged. “The crowds are manageable. To be truthful it’s the men I’m concerned about.”

“What about them?” Giovanni asked.

“They are still a bit hesitant around me. I guess it’s to be expected. I’m anxious to meet with the clan bosses and be heard, to have my own clan again. Under you of course.”

“You will get your chance,” he reassured him. “One chance, don’t fuck it up.”

“I don’t intend to,” Santo smiled.

**

“That’s enough,” Mirabella whispered to Marietta when the reporter spoke to her cameraman who had equipment failure. She could see Giovanni across the room staring at her. Even when she didn’t look into his eyes she felt his impatience. And she had disregarded his wish to limit the interviews. It was time for it to come to an end.

“Okay, you go, I’ll finish with them.” Marietta kissed her cheek.

Mirabella smiled. She cheek kissed the reporter and thanked her for coming. She stopped twice to hug and speak with her staff. When she returned to her husband’s side he took her hand and walked her away. Mirabella glanced back to see Santo smiling at her. It felt like a sneer.

“Why is Santo here? I thought you didn’t trust him?” Mirabella asked.

“He’s family, Bella. He’s earned my trust,” Giovanni answered.

“He’s been in prison,” Mirabella said.

“Who told you that?” Giovanni glanced back at her.

“I’m not stupid, Gio. I know where he’s been.” Mirabella said. “It was on the news when he was arrested.”

“Don’t worry about it. He’s family.” Giovanni pushed the button to the elevator and it opened upon request. Inside he pulled her to him. He squeezed her ass. Mirabella lifted her arms to his neck. She gave her husband a slow teasing kiss with her tongue, and their tongues dueled for control with unrelenting passion. He turned her to the back of the elevator and pushed her against it. She giggled. She stepped out of one shoe and hooked her leg around his. When his face went to her neck she caught her reflection in the glass doors of the elevator. His kisses smeared her lipstick over her mouth and chin. Mirabella’s eyes fluttered when he sucked her pulse and eased his hand between her thighs.

“The elevator, it’s stopped!” she whispered. The door opened. Giovanni forced a finger up into her pussy and she gripped the sleeve of his suit jacket. “Gio, stop. We need to get off,” she pleaded. She pushed at him but the door closed again and they started to descend. “Gio! Stop.”

He groaned and let her go. They returned to the bottom level. Mirabella fixed the front of her dress when the doors parted. A few of her staff members saw her. She blushed. Giovanni pushed the button to the upper floor again. The doors closed.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said.

“I love your surprises,” she laughed.

“How long do we have before the party?”

Mirabella felt so happy she was light headed “It’s starting now. People are already headed to the gardens. I need to be there, you too.”

“Two hours, Bella,” He touched her chin. Lifted it with one finger. “We will return to the party and I’ll be by your side for the rest of the night. I promise.”

Mirabella pulled his black silk tie that was tucked neatly inside his suit jacket. The elevator door opened. “Well come on, sweetheart, and show me what you got,” she said pulling him by the tie.

**

Shae found Marietta. She laughed and sipped a glass of champagne in the garden. Marietta was now a socialite, and very well liked. It amazed her how much her bitter, introverted friend had changed. Shae began to walk toward Marietta. Her mind and back was blown from the night with Carlo, and then the day with so many of her favorite celebrities.

“Shae! There you are! Come here, girl!” Marietta waved her over.

Shae greeted Marietta with the customary cheek kisses she’d been giving and receiving since arriving in Italy.

“Pierre, this is my best friend from home, Shae.” Marietta made the introduction.

The man wore a black velvet suit, with a long sleeved, wide collar pirate’s blouse beneath. He had a curled mustache and very thick dark brows.

“Enchantée de faire votre connaissance.”
He bowed his head and kissed her hand.

“He said he’s delighted to meet you. He’s from our Paris office.” Marietta grinned.

“Nice to meet you too,” Shae smiled. Pierre whispered something to Marietta in French. Since when did her friend speak French? She knew Marietta spoke Italian but not any other language.

“Pierre says he loves your hair. He wants to know if pink is your favorite color.” Marietta winked.

“Tell him it’s strawberry, and yes,” Shae smiled.

Apparently he knew the word ‘strawberry’ because he laughed. Shae’s gaze slipped away when Pierre and Marietta chatted her up. Like a magnet she was again drawn to Carlo. Several of the Battaglia men stood around the perimeters of the gardens. Carlo was one of them. He apparently had been staring at her. The moment their eyes met he winked, and she felt her cheeks warm from the flattery.

Marietta waited for Shae to answer. When she didn’t respond to Pierre’s question she glanced back to see what had Shae’s attention. Carlo was staring directly at Shae. He wore a sly smile to his face. Marietta looked to Shae and recognized the same gleam of interest in her eye.

“Ah, Pierre,
excusez-moi, s'il vous plait,
” she said. They gave each other cheek kisses and Marietta took Shae by the hand to pull her away. Shae nearly spilled her champagne by Marietta’s abrupt pull of her.

“What’s wrong?” Shae asked. She forced Marietta to stop.

“What’s that about?” Marietta asked.

“What?” Shae asked.

“You flirting with Carlo? I told you not to,” Marietta said.

“Relax. I just smiled at the man,” Shae chuckled.

Marietta stepped into Shae’s face. She was forced to look her friend in the eye. “I told you to stay away from him.”

The tone of Marietta’s voice gave Shae pause. In the past Shae and the girls at the club they worked for gave Marietta the nickname firecracker. Everyone joked and feared Marietta’s explosive temper.

“Why is he off limits, Mae?”

“I told—”

“No. In fact you never did. You said it was some kind of house rule. But that’s not true. Is it? Why can’t I smile at Carlo? Why does that piss you off?” Shae asked.