Page 9 of Destino

“With what?”

“This Mafia business. That’s what.” Mira placed the earrings in the side zipper of her clutch bag then flopped down on the sofa. Fabiana threw her hands up in defeat and marched in to join her a bit more steady on her feet.

“Oh, girl, we already talked about this.” Fabiana patted her mouth, suppressing a genuine yawn this time.

“I don’t think you told me everything.”

Fabiana put on a serious face when she sat folding her legs under her. Mira had to admit that her friend was far better at managing the treacherous highs and lows of running a fashion house more so than she ever was at designing actual clothes. She trusted her. But the idea that they were in trouble with people in another country sobered her.

“I was approached three days after we arrived in Naples. Wait. No. You received a message from theCamorrathree days after we arrived.I declined the request for a face-to-face meeting. I also told them to go to hell when they threatened us with a fine to operate our own business. They demanded monthly payments that were not only ridiculous but also damn right insulting. We already have to pay them for the trash disposal that is littering the streets.

“Why would we have to pay them for our trash disposal?”

“Things are different here Mira. They control sanitation and other things in the city. These bastards think they’re entitled to full access to our building. If we didn’t comply, they’d have us removed. Bullshit! All of it is bullshit scare tactics. Our solicitor and attorneys here in Italy met with Teddy and me. We were to ignore them. Things like this happen all the time to foreigners. What I didn’t know was that they could have our building seized.”

“So it’s the Mafia that’s locked me out of my business?”

Fabiana rolled her eyes. “I told you no at first. After what Lorenzo said, I have to wonder. He’s a good ally. Let me work with him.”

“We can’t wait long enough for you to seduce some thug to give me my designs. This is a disaster! Christ!”

“Calm down. I’m handling it. He’ll help us.”

“No! We have to get my designs out of the building and be in Milan in days, not weeks.”

“Lorenzo says his cousin would be willing to make a call, except he now wants to invest in your company. I’m negotiating. They are offering protection from future harassment.”

“Extortion?”

“See this is why I didn’t want you to know. You’ve been under so much stress—”

“You don’t keep something like that from me!” Mira said. Fabiana looked away. They sat in silence for several minutes before their anger subsided enough for either of them to speak without voices rising. Fabiana went first.

“Things are done differently in southern Italy. Not many Americans leasing along theSpaccanapoli. It’s expected.”

“I don’t like the sound of this. We’re in another country. Things are done differently here like you said. Did you or Teddy notify the Embassy?” Mira pressed.

Fabiana let go a gust of laughter. “No. They won’t do anything.”

“This isn’t some game Fabiana. Extortion is serious. Everyone wants a piece of my business. This can’t be legal. They can’t get away with this.”

“The Battaglia’s are legit. What they are offering means the doors to the building open, and you won’t have to be harassed any more. I told Lorenzo we will consider his offer if they help us first. I’m sorry, but I know what I’m doing.”

Mira shook her head. There was no getting through Fabiana’s stubbornness. “How do you know Lorenzo? Is he the guy you told me about a couple of months ago? The one you met when you came here to finalize things.”

“Yes. He approached me when I visited his restaurant with Teddy, and we shared a bottle of wine. We kept missing each other and could never hook up after that night. I’ve been trying to get my schedule clear to see him. He’s a good guy.”

Mira drifted on the memory of her tall dark stranger. His name was Giovanni. She liked that name.

“Mira?”

Mira sat upright. “Giovanni.”

“Who?”

“Giovanni Battaglia. I met him. Tonight.”

“You did? When?”

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