Page 95 of Destino

Signora Clara was on her heels. She scowled at Mira then Fabiana. “I thought we were going to Napoli to your store. So you can finish my dress.”

“Change of plans sweetie.” Fabiana said. “We will have some things brought here. Looks like you have house guests on an extended stay.”

“I don’t understand.” Catalina frowned.

“No worries. I will finish your dress. We can still drive into Naples and check for a few things.” Mira smiled.

“Great!” Catalina clapped. “The driver is out front. Signora Clara is coming too. Come on. Let’s go.”

Mira touched her messy hair and considered running upstairs for a comb and brush. “We’ll meet you out front. Let us get our purses.”

Catalina smiled and flounced out. The old woman shot them both a warning glare, turned up her nose, and followed. Mira rubbed her temples. First she had to deal with the mean tempered Don, who could turn into Casanova in a flash, and now her store doors were closed.

“You really up to doing this dress?”

“I can’t get out of it, now can I?”

Fabiana laughed. “Guess not.”

“Let’s go.”

Her friend grabbed her hand when she passed. “Mira, trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

Mira hugged her. “Of course I trust you. Always.”

Giovanni strolled ahead. When they entered the billiard room he stopped. Dominic waited with Flavio Pricci. Thirty years his senior Flavio was a man of great respect and importance in Sicily, and now within theCammora. As Giovanni’s consigliere he was the third most important man in the family.

“Lorenzo?” Flavio stepped toward him smiling. He was of average height, but very cleanly dressed and groomed. He looked ten years younger than his age, and Giovanni knew personally that Flavio had more women than one man should handle. But he remained a bachelor with no kids or entanglements. His focus was and had always been the family.

“Flavio!” Lorenzo greeted him warmly, kissing both of his cheeks and then giving him a welcoming hug. “I thought you were in Sicily?”

“I was.” He cut him a sly smirk. “Gio summoned me yesterday evening. Said we might have trouble.

“Trouble cousin?” Lorenzo feigned shock. “Is it Calderone?”

Giovanni didn’t answer. He continued to glare.

“Flavio!” Catalina squealed. She rushed into the office, arms flung wide. She crashed into Flavio causing him to lean back in their embrace. He hugged her tight, cupping her face and kissing her brow. Lorenzo watched as Flavio spoke in Italian to her, soft whispers of how beautiful she was becoming, and how proud he was to hear that the wedding plans were progressing. It was enough of a reprieve for him to turn his focus to Giovanni. For the first time since he’d arrived in the billiard room Giovanni was not glaring at him. His heart raced with indecision. Should he confess? Deny? What would be the preemptive move that would save his life?

“I knew you’d be back in time for the wedding.” Catalina gushed.

Mira appeared with Fabiana. Her presence among the women made Flavio’s brow rise. He narrowed his gaze on her. Lorenzo watched, mildly amused. Flavio was old school. Lorenzo suspected he wanted Giovanni free of the entanglements of women, to mold him further into the cold bastard Tomosino was. “You ladies leaving?” Lorenzo asked.

Giovanni winked at Mira and she crossed the room going to him. Flavio tracked her with his eyes and released Catalina to openly stare at her.

“Flavio. Meet Mira Ellison. She’s my guest.” Giovanni said.

Mira extended her hand. “Ciao.”

After a pause he accepted her hand and kissed her knuckles in greeting. He never spoke. Mira shyly stepped back to Giovanni’s side.

“She’s going to design my wedding dress!” Catalina proclaimed.

A light of understanding sharpened the steely grey stare he fixed her with. The old man actually looked relieved. Lorenzo shook his head at the scene.

“Time to go. We have some things to get before we start today. Are you staying for dinner? Please say yes!”

He nodded and patted Catalina’s cheek. Mira said something Lorenzo couldn’t hear to Giovanni and he chuckled. He kissed her in front of everyone before the ladies left.

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