Page 4 of La Dolce Vita

Mirabella felt dizzy. Her husband made her turn and face him. On her knees, she embraced him. He held her to him. "Are you okay?" he panted.

“I am much better now.”

“I... I love you,” he managed.

“It's okay, Gio. Don’t treat me like I’m going to break. Treat me like your woman. I need to feel this, us, I need it.”

He rubbed her back and she let go a few tears that she was certain she could wipe away before he noticed.

“Let’s get you in bed,” he said.

He stood, and she needed his help to do the same. She crawled over the bed. Giovanni retrieved the sheets and pillows that were knocked off when the nightmare began. He covered her and made her comfortable before joining her.

“What was the dream?” he asked.

“Kei, a bad dream about Kei,” she said and snuggled his sweaty chest.

He sighed. She looked up and saw he was staring at the ceiling. "I'm fine, though. It was just a dream. He can't get to me."

“He can get to you in your dreams. I can’t protect you there.”

“Having you here protects me.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Sleepla mia bellissima moglie--my beautiful wife.”

And she did.

Mirabella woke. She was alone. "Giovanni?" Mirabella called out. She rubbed her eyes wondering if he was in the bathroom. But the door stood open. The light was off. No one was inside. "Giovanni?" she said again.

Confused, she got out of bed and picked up her night dress from the floor. She slipped it on, then found her robe. She opened the door and found Leo on the outside of it. She wasn’t surprised. Since the kidnapping Leo and two other men became her shadow. They watched her like a hawk. If Giovanni left her in the middle of the night, they would stand guard until his return.

“Where is he?” she asked and smoothed back her tangles.

“Gone,” he said.

“Gone? Where? Tovilla Rosso?” she asked.

He stared at her and didn't answer. She took a step forward, and he did as well. "The boss asked that you stay in your room until morning."

“He what? No, he didn't!"

“Perdonami Donna--forgive me, Donna. Please. Go back inside. He will see you in the morning."

She had no choice but to obey. Leo would not let her out of the room, even if he had to restrain her physically. She was a prisoner in her own home. And the nightmares only made the rest of the family more paranoid. Where did he go? Why did he leave?

"Can you find him? Tell him I need him?" she asked.

He nodded. Mirabella closed the bedroom door. Depressed she returned to her bed and turned off the lamplight. She closed her eyes and struggled to find peace.

***

“Are you sure it was her?” Lorenzo asked Renaldo as he screwed the silencer on the top of the gun. Two cars sped by, and then another. The duo had parked on the busiest road in Sorrento. The sun had barely slipped from the sky, so night was not a complete cover. He’d have to get in and out quick.

“My contact swears it is her. He swears it on his life,” Renaldo said. “He told me she’s been dropping big cash around here the past two days to keep her secret.”

“Which I suspect is a greeting card to bring me for a visit,” Lorenzo smirked.

“So, it’s a trap? Should I find a phone and page the boys? Send word to Giovanni that we found her?”

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