Page 244 of La Dolce Vita

Mirabella looked away from his eyes. She was too angry to talk to him. She was too scared of what was coming for the family to argue with him. The anxiety she thought had evaporated returned with full force. Her hands were trembling. She woke up in the middle of the night screaming. This time, it wasn't Kei. It was her sister. The life of her sister. Their life was falling apart, and she was powerless to stop it.

"Ask Mama if I can come. She has to say it's okay."

"Mama! Tell Papa he can come! Tell him now!" Eve said in a tone void of patience.

"Of course, Papa can come. Take her to the second floor next to the storage rooms. That's where the ballet lessons are."

"Are you coming?" he asked.

"No,” she hid her hands behind her back so he couldn’t see them shaking. It's best she has some father time. Have fun, sweetie." Mirabella said and then turned away from them to clean up the room. When she looked back, she saw Giovanni staring at her.

"You should take her now. She's late."

"Andiamo, Papa!Now!" Eve insisted and pulled his hand. Reluctantly he left. Mirabella went over to Eve's bed and sat on it. She blinked away her tears. And for the hundredth time she cried.

***

Renaldo had spent the next two hours searching the familiar spots Dominic would frequent. At first, he went to the place Catalina told Kyra they should meet. But there was no trace of them. He then visited the local shops and restaurants. It was still early, so many of the bars were closed. And with Dominic not answering his pager, he couldn't be sure where to look next.

Eventually, he stopped at a pay phone. He called home to check on Kyra.

"Renaldo! Thank God you called," Kyra said.

"What is it? The baby?"

"No. Dominic. Ma found him in the car out front unconscious. He'd been drinking. He's acting weird. Come home. We're scared."

"On my way!"

Renaldo got behind the wheel and sped home. The drive was short. He arrived within minutes. The moment he was at the door Kyra pulled it open. "He's in his room. He has a gun."

"Gun?"

"Ma went in there to ask if he was hungry. She saw him sitting on the bed with the gun in his hand. I think he's going to kill himself. I called the house and left a message for Giovanni."

Renaldo nodded. "It's okay. Go upstairs. I'll take care of him."

"What happened? Did I do this? I thought he and Catalina needed each other. Did you see her?"

"No. It's not your fault. It's okay. Go with Ma and check on our son. I'll take care of Dominic."

Kyra was reluctant, but she eventually did as he said. Renaldo removed his gun and sat it down on the television. He went to the door and knocked once. "Domi?"

"Go away," Dominic answered.

"Domi, I..."

"Go away!" he shouted.

Renaldo opened the door. There were no locks on the doors in his house. He found Dominic seated with the gun next to him. For a minute he thought Dominic would have the gun pointed at his head.

"What's going on? You have my wife out there thinking you're going to kill yourself."

Dominic frowned. He looked down at the gun and then understood. "Not myself. Not yet. I'm going to kill Armando Mancini."

Renaldo shook his head. "That's suicide."

"You said you would help me?”

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