Page 20 of La Dolce Vita

"Tissue is fine. Lick it off. Let's go."

Catalina laughed. He slipped his arm around her waist but dropped his hand on her ass. The evening would have been perfect if it were only ten degrees cooler. He stopped to check the time again as his men brought his car around for them.

"Where are we going, Domi? Can you give me a hint?" she asked.

"No hints, birthday girl."

A sleek black Ferrari with black custom rims that had gold inner trimming drove over to a stop. When he was a teenager in Sorrento,Patriwould let him race the cars in the family against the sons of other clan bosses. He won a few races. The vintage Ferrari before him was one he took off one of the losers. He kept it polished and only drove it for special occasions. Tonight fit the bill. Dominic opened the car door. On the seat were two black gift boxes, both large and small with a black ribbon wrapped around and tied to them both. The happiness in her squeal delighted him. Catalina gave him another kiss and slipped excitedly inside the car.

He closed the door and walked around to his side of the car. He had to chuckle to himself to see her tearing into her gifts. His sweetheart was never one to wait for a surprise. She wanted what was hers right away.

"Santa Maria!"she exclaimed. She opened the smaller box to reveal a diamond three strand necklace he had designed for her. "Domi? For me? It's beautiful. It's heavenly."

"That's for you. The next gift is for me," he said with a sly smile and pointed to the other box.

"For you? But it's my birthday," she grinned.

"It's our birthday," he winked. Dominic pressed down on the gas, and the Ferrari wheels rolled over the driveway smoothly as it sped out of the gates to Melanzana. Catalina dropped down the visor to see herself in the mirror. She fastened the diamond necklace around her neck and then fingered the stones. She turned her face from left to right. The light from the mirror in the visor caused the gems to sparkle. Dominic shifted gears as he rounded the narrow one lane road on their way to Sant'Angnello. He hoped a child on a bike, or a dog didn't wander into the road.

"I've never seen anything so beautiful. I love it."

"I love you," he said. He pushed in the CD to the stereo system and music blared inside of his car. Marietta always turned him on to the latest hip-hop music. He loved a rapper named Notorious BIG. He kept the tracks for 'Ready to Die' on constant rotation. His favorite was the song 'Big Poppa'. He cranked up the music, and it boomed through the car system. Catalina began to move to the music

"I see some ladies tonight who should be having my baby..." Domi sang. "Babaabeeee"

Catalina laughed. She sang along with him as the Ferrari cut across the road and glided around cars in traffic at increasing speed. Catalina snapped her fingers rocking to the rap lyrics. She threw her hands in the air and waved them from side to side to the song. It had been ages since they had fun. He had a hard time keeping his eyes off her and on the road. The song switched to the next and Catalina opened the large gift box. She moved the black tissue paper and pulled out a very thin pair of panties and a red lace bra from a Fabiana collection. She frowned and checked the sizes. Of course, he knew every inch of her. Beneath the lacy undergarments were a pair of handcuffs and two keys, along with a blindfold.

"What is this?" she laughed over the music.

He turned down the volume. "Put on the blindfold."

"Huh? And mess up my makeup?"

"You heard me. Put it on," he said.

"And the handcuffs too?" she chuckled.

"No. Those are for later. Just the blindfold for now."

Catalina sighed. She agreed, but before she did as she was told she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I love it, Big Poppa!"

He turned his face to kiss her and nearly lost control of the Ferrari. He eased up on his speeding so he could get a few feels of her while she tied the blindfold around her eyes. It would be the best birthday she ever had. He'd make sure of it. He had the world. And it was all because of her.

***

The car slowed in speed and Giovanni opened his eyes. He yawned into his fist. They were close. He'd had several meetings left on his schedule before he decided to conclude his day. He barely made it home in time to change. And left in a hurry.La piccolettawas turning twenty-three. His kid sister had bloomed into a beautiful savvy business woman. Soon she would be a wife and mother, and no longer his special girl. He loved Bella for making sure they celebrated her birthday appropriately.

The location his wife chose to host the event was a small municipality betweenSorrentoandPiano di Sorrento.La Marinella.Itoffered breathtaking views of several islands along the coast and the bay. His Bella had decided to host the event at a three-hundred-year old place calledvilla di Claire, which was perched above theMarinellabeaches at the edge of the cliffs. From the long winding drive up to the mansion he could see the lanterns, lights, and balloons on the outside terraces facing the gulf of Naples.

The driver parked. Two men on staff hurried to the car to be the first to open the door. Giovanni stepped out with the sun in his face. The dark lenses of his sunglasses shielded his eyes. It was a black tie affair. He'd managed to shave, and Mirabella had ordered his men to deliver a tailored suit tovilla Rossofor him to wear. It was made of the best Italian silk, and even the diamond cufflinks she added were to his liking. Often he was reminded of how talented his wife was at dressing not only women but men.

"Boss?" A young earner by the name of Albirto, who always had a toothpick hanging from his mouth, pushed aside the two valet men to be heard. "Catalina hasn't arrived. The Donna wants everyone inside. She told me to keep my eye out for you and to bring you..."

"Andiamo,"Giovanni said.

Albirto nodded and walked with his chest puffed as if he were to be respected. Giovanni followed him up the steps. And as soon as stepped inside several invited guests approached to greet him or strike up conversation. It took him a full ten minutes to make it past the pleasantries. Soon he entered the hall where the party would take place.

Villa di Clairehad once been a simple farmhouse, but in 1765 by an Italian sculptor and painter named Viktor Claire Vitale. The story went that Viktor fell drunk upon the property with a young village girl. They had wild passionate sex and in the morning he found she had disappeared. Sober and mournful over his debauchery he spent several hours repenting at the local church. Soon after he created the infamous Joshua at the Battle of Jericho painting that was later given to Pope Gregory XVI as a gift. However, he could never forget the young girl who had awakened his passion and inspired him to do such wonderful art. He bought the property and spent ten years of his life building and rebuilding on it as a testament to his devotion. He had hoped that she’d see it and return to him. But instead it became a monument to his talent and madness. Since his death the place had many different owners. It was a favorite of Giovanni’s youth to sneak into the gambling houses his father kept in the cellars. And when he was a man a new owner turned it into a restaurant. Giovanni found it perfect to seduce women in the private dining room and then whisk away to one of the bungalows that were down on the beach. He was certain his Bella didn't know that history.

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