Page 223 of La Dolce Vita

"Mateo Benicia remains alive. For now," Don Tacchini said. "I have to admit, Gio, I didn't believe you when you said it would play out this way. Benicia is a fool to go againstlaCamorrawith that woman. To challenge you."

Giovanni squeezed the cassette player in the palm of his hand. He stared at the flames. The destruction. And he felt a complete numbness come over him. Don Tacchini was the most loyal of all of them. He'd proven that with Mottola and with Santo. He'd proven it time and time again. That is why he put his life in his hands. If Tacchini hadn't shown up as promised, he would have been killed. It was a gamble he had to take to prove his fearlessness. And it paid off.

However, at the moment he felt sick to his stomach with grief, not triumph. No one, not a single person could have convinced him of this betrayal. Lorenzo ordered the hit onPatri. The truth ran on instant replay in his head.

A car arrived. The German scientist was led out of the car. He walked over to the two Dons. Giovanni gaze cut away from the inferno to the man.

"Do I have my specimen?" The German asked.

Don Tacchini chuckled. "We gave her the first injection. She's waiting for you."

"And the lab? To do my research?" the scientist asked. Giovanni gave a nod.

"Her name?" the scientist asked.

"Isabella. But I think you call her specimen from here on out," Don Tacchini answered.

The scientist smiled. "I promise Don Giovanni. If there is a cure for the toxics that poison your wife I will find it."

"If not, do what you feel necessary." Giovanni said. The scientist chuckled. The man actually looked happy. He smiled and turned and walked away.

"Gio, about what we heard," Don Tacchini said. "That confession…"

"Lorenzo is a dead man. He is no longer a part of my family. Spread the word. Shoot him on sight." Giovanni turned and walked away. Umberto waited by the car. He got in the back of the car, and they left a stunned Tacchini standing in the backdraft of the inferno blazing through the hamlet. Giovanni closed his eyes, squeezed them shut. His thumb fingered the play button on the tape cassette. He pressed play, and he listened to his cousin’s betrayal again and again.

***

"You said Marietta knows about this?" Mirabella asked. She sat on the edge of the bed unable to catch her breath. The more Catalina told her, the more the fragile world of their family disintegrated.

"Domi thinks I slept with him. I didn't. I swear it. I didn't. I can't believe he won't talk to me. Please, Mirabella. Please speak to him. Tell him to come home. Call Kyra. She'll answer if you call. Just call and tell Renaldo to bring him back. Now! Please..."

"Shut up," Mirabella said. She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. Catalina stuttered to silence. Mirabella put her fingers to her temples and massaged. "You and Marietta have been keeping this from me? And then you turn to Armando? Armando of all people?"

"What was I supposed to do?"

"I don’t know Catalina!” Mirabella stood. “You were born into this family. You were raised by these men. You tell me. What were you supposed to do?”

“If I had told Giovanni he would have killed Lorenzo.”

“And what will happen to Lorenzo now? Because you can believe that game you played with Armando didn’t spare his life. Giovanni will find out. And he will find out that you knew.”

“No! No! No please!”

“Do you understand what has happened? Do you? Oh Christ," Mirabella panted. She struggled to catch her breath. Mirabella's eyes stretched. She thought of Giovanni and the call they received in America. The nights he's slipped out to meetings without Lorenzo and Dominic. His secrecy. "He knows," Mirabella mumbled.

"Domi? I didn’t get a chance to explain it to him."

"No. Not Domi. Giovanni. This is why we came home. Why he left us at the airport. He knows."

"About what? Me and Armando?"

"Damn it, Catalina! He knows about Lorenzo. Where is Lo? I have to find Giovanni." Mirabella went to the door.

"Wait! I need you to call Kyra; I need you to bring Domi home," Catalina said. She went after her. She stopped Mirabella from leaving. "If Giovanni finds out about Domi and me, it'll destroy us for good. He won't forgive this. He won't."

"I can't worry about that now. I have to find my husband and keep him from making the biggest mistake of his life."

***

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