Page 243 of La Dolce Vita

"Boss, no. No. I will go with you," Renaldo said. The other men all mumbled their disapproval.

"Lorenzo called me. He proposed this. He and I have a lot of unfinished business. This is between him and me. I will meet with him alone. Tonight."

Giovanni sat forward. "As for the shooting, the other night. The Benicia’s were never our allies. They killed our men because they wanted to set me up with Isabella. It was the one flaw in my plan. I would never put any of you in danger."

“Nico, you and Umberto stay back, and I will fill you in on what comes next." Giovanni then looked to Renaldo. "How is your wife?"

"She's ready to deliver."

Giovanni nodded. "You cannot miss your child's birth. Find Dominic and bring him home. Then go back to your wife. We can do this without you."

"I'm here if you need me," Renaldo said.

Giovanni gave him a wan smile. "I need you to go out there and find Dominic. He's a danger to himself whenever he and Catalina have problems."

Renaldo nodded.

The men began to file out. Most of them left. Carlo and Nico were the last.

"Gio? About Carmine, you're wrong. I trust Lorenzo. I don't care with that evil bitch said. He didn't kill my brother. He wouldn't do that."

Giovanni gave a sly smile. "Isabella never said it. I'm telling you that lies bring nothing but more lies. He can't be trusted. Ask myPatrihow trusting Lorenzo worked out. You can't. Because of Lorenzo, he's dead."

Carlo got up and left.

Nico stepped to Giovanni. "How is the Donna? Is she aware of this?"

"She hates me. I think part of her always has. Yes, she's aware." Giovanni said.

"She does not hate you, Boss. You're a husband and a father. Go to her. Tell her your plans to see Lorenzo. You need her; she makes you strong."

Giovanni sipped his drink.

"We all heard the tape. Yes. Lorenzo betrayed the family. But he didn't orderPatri'sdeath. Lorenzo did what he always does, and it gotPatrikilled. There is a difference. Try to see it. If any of us have to kill our brother..." Nico's voice stopped. "It will never be undone."

Giovanni scratched his brow. Nico had made sense. Nothing was more important than family now. He told the men to wait for him invilla Rosso. He needed to see his wife.

***

The house was too crowded. Every room had a family member. The men were watching a soccer or rugby game on several of the televisions. She'd lost her twins to the aunts. The women out of Sicily loved the little brown skin, blue-eyed angels, which was what they called them. Eve, however, had her ballet lesson soon. And her daughter was piping with energy. Mirabella called the instructor and asked her to come. She wanted to give the children normalcy. Especially when so much in the world around them was falling apart.

"Mama, can you tell Papa to come watch me?" Eve asked as Mirabella helped her step into her little sheer tutu.

"Papa is busy."

"Aww," Eve whined.

Mirabella smiled. "But I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it."

"Is it too late for me to come?" Giovanni asked.

"Papa!" Eve squealed. She ran from Mirabella to him. He caught her in one leap. She hugged his neck and kissed his face. Mirabella stood. She was shocked. She figured he was still in battle mode with his men.

"Can I come?" Giovanni asked her.

The question was the most rational and straightforward of requests. But it felt so strange that she wasn't sure how to answer.

"Yes, Papa! Please, Papa! I want to show you. You never come!"

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