Page 21 of La Dolce Vita

Inside Giovanni stood under high cathedral ceilings. A massive crystal chandelier illuminated the entryway, though natural light from the evening sun poured in from every angle through the ceiling to floor windows. Viktor's madness could be seen painted on the ceilings. It was art as expressive as Michelangelo and as introspective as Leonardo. All of it depicted the beauty and serenity a man could find if he allowed himself to be trusting of the love of a pious woman. Wait staff served smiling guests for a sit down dinner, and then the large open doors led to the party area out on the terraces. It appeared to him that over two hundred people were in attendance.

“Giovanni,” a man said from his left.

He glanced over. Don Tacchini stepped forward. Giovanni brows lifted. He hadn't expected him.

“You were invited?” Giovanni chuckled and greeted him with a friendly hug. "I thought you were still in Sicilia?" The embrace their shared was genuine. However, it served another person. To send a message to the other clan bosses watching. Giovanni had a powerful friend in Tacchini.

“Congrats tola piccoletta, I wouldn’t miss her special birthday.”

Giovanni nodded. "No one should."

“How are things?" Tacchini asked.

"Moving forward on my end."

Tacchini gave him a sly smile. "We’ll talk again soon.”

The Don and his men walked off. Giovanni watched them go and then turned his gaze back to the clan bosses and their wives, many businessmen, politicians, and friends of the family who were all present. He swept all of their faces in search of his wife. Then he heard the laughter of his children. Eve danced around in a yellow dress with ribbons attached to her long braids, grasping a large cone of ice cream. His sons wore bowties, vests, and tweed knickers. They too were jumping and playing as Cecilia worked to keep them from spilling their treats on their clothes.

"Where is my wife?" he asked Albirto who had followed him in.

"She was here, Boss... oh, there she is," he pointed.

Giovanni gaze swiveled over to his right. He was unprepared for the woman he saw. Mirabella had cut her hair to her nape in a blunt style with long bangs that covered her brows and reached just above her long lashes. It was straight and flat like that of a goddess. She wore a black sequined dress that was fashioned in her famous wrap around style which was snugly crossed over her breasts and tied tight around her trim waist. The fabric dropped from the curves of her heart shaped hips and parted to the front revealing her shapely leg all the way up to her thigh when she walked. It sparkled like black gems covered her skin. A diamond the size of a grape hung from a platinum chain on her neck and stopped between her separated breasts. The dress was a signature look for her. It reminded him of another time. When she was a woman he was desperate to know to love.

***

Mirabella barely heard Senator Banfi's joke. "Scusi.Giovanni's here. I need to greet him."

"Wait." The senator was forward by touching her arm. Every man knew she was never to be touched. "You are a very beautiful woman Mirabella. Lovely," the Senator said. She nodded and discreetly stepped away.

“Scusi, Donna, Catalina has just arrived." One of the assistants told her.

"Okay, okay, get me a microphone." She hurried over to her children. She swept Gino into her arms and took Gianni by the hand.

"Come, Eve," she told her daughter. “Papa’s here!”

Cecilia took the ice cream from Eve, and she followed her mother as told. She brought the kids over to the table reserved for the family. Marietta and Lorenzo were missing. Rocco didn't attend. And Vito was ill, so much of the family remained in Sicily. Still, a few of the aunts and cousins were present, including Zia. Gianni ran over to his father who had stepped over with his eyes trained on her. Mirabella put Gino down and ignored Giovanni's intense stare. She accepted the microphone.

"Attenzione, everyone. The birthday girl has arrived. Please stand. When she enters, and her blindfold is removed we will all yellè una sorpresa--it’s a surprise! Ready?"

Many people clapped and were immediately shushed by the staff as they didn’t want to give it away before she entered the ball room. Giovanni stood. He winked at her. Last night he disappeared, but he returned before she woke. And he was there at her side now. The night would be special for all of them.

***

"Domi? Seriously, where are we?"

She held her hands out in front of her like a blind woman. She could smell the sea in the air, and feel the dying rays of the sun on her face. She also smelled the sweetness. The air had a flavor to it. It was a homey aroma akin to roasting meat and baking bread. In her mind, she envisioned a restaurant, but she couldn't imagine one in Sorrento that would warrant such secrecy. They hadn't traveled long enough to have gone to Napoli.

"Careful," he said with his hands on her hips as he guided her steps by walking behind her.

"Can I take off my blindfold if I promise not to open my eyes?" she asked.

"No," he said and kissed her cheek. "Now you are at the steps. There will be seven or eight of them. I have you."

"Oh? Okay?" she said and put her hand to his that rested on her hip. She stepped up but had to pull down the hem on her short dress to keep it from slipping dangerously high. Dominic insisted she wear black tonight. He told her to be beautiful for him, and she was. She felt like his princess. And the diamonds he bought her made her sparkle like one.

"Last step," he told her.

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