Page 112 of La Dolce Vita

Rosetta waited until Cecilia was gone to speak. "Giovanni has moved Papa to Rome. The family is now in Melanzana. He has declared war against your brother."

"No, he hasn't."

"It's true, Donna. I was there at Francesca's when thepoliziacame for the men. I went to Petro's market across from the boutique, and he told me the Battaglias were now the enemies of the Mancinis. That's why Dominic brought us here."

"Oh God." She put her face in her hands.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been eavesdropping. But when I heard Marietta and Catalina arguing and crying I thought... I figured it had to do with the war between the families. I have many friends at home. And some of our cousins have married into the Mancini family. This is not okay."

"No, it’s not. I need to speak to my husband."

"Donna! Please don't tell Marietta and Catalina I was at the door. They already don't trust me. Give me one more chance and I swear to you I won't do it again. I swear."

Mirabella nodded and walked off the terrace. Her heart beat so fast it was hard to breathe. Giovanni wanted to go to war when he promised her peace. What was he doing?

***

"What did Armando say, exactly?" Marietta asked.

"That he didn't want war. That he came to me because he was trying to find a way to keep the peace."

"He's lying. Damn him." Marietta got up from the bed. She walked over to her window. "He's baiting you. He wants something. What is it?"

"I dunno. He was acting strange. Looking at me like he does." Catalina shook her head. “It’s disrespectful!!”

Marietta glanced over to her. "How does he look at you?"

"Like a man shouldn't, okay. He's done it for years. I hate it. It's creepy."

"He has a thing for you?" Marietta asked.

"I guess, why?" Catalina asked.

"I'm thinking. I'm thinking."

"We have to tell Mirabella," Catalina said.

"No. We can't. She won't keep this from Giovanni."

"She helped me when Dominic killed Franco," Catalina said. "Giovanni could have killed him, but Mirabella stopped him."

"It's not the same!" Marietta snapped. "My sister believes in the so-called 'good' in her husband. She goes blind and deaf to the bad. You and I both know that killing Franco is not as big of an offense as killing your father. Giovanni won't be reasoned with. He won't be stopped. It'll destroy their marriage. It'll destroy all of us when he learns the truth."

"Then we are damned. Because nothing can stop Armando. He won't let Giovanni win this war. He's going to use that tape as a weapon."

"Maybe not. Call him. Now. See what it is he wants," Marietta said.

Catalina frowned. She glanced at the phone. She then looked to Marietta. Catalina couldn't bring herself to do it. Marietta went to the phone. She picked it up. She dialed the number and handed it over. Catalina wiped her tears and reached for the phone. "Ciao?Is Armando there? Please tell him Catalina Battaglia is calling."

She waited and closed her eyes. The wait stretched on forever. Marietta stood over her. She then sat next to her and Catalina shared the receiver. Their heads were together as they listened on the phone line.

"Catalina?" Armando said in his usual smooth manner.

"We need to talk," Catalina said.

"When and where?"

"Not in person. You know I'm back in Italy. I can't see you in person. We need to settle this. The tape. How much money do you want for it?" she asked.

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