Page 263 of Vita Mia

The Last Don

Sardinia, Cuba

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“I’M TELLING YOUthiscigar is worth more to me than the thousands I’ve smoked in America.” Lorenzo let go a deep laugh. “I haven’t tasted a Cuban half as good in about six years. Not since I took Marie to Miami for our anniversary.”

Lorenzo exhaled deep after a hit of the tobacco. Through the cloud of smoke swirling up around his face and out of his nostrils he studied the hand-rolled cheroot. There was a luster so deep that the smokiness lingered on his tongue and lowered his blood pressure. The rum he’d been given when he arrived finished off the loveliness with bitter sweetness like licorice.Maybe Cuba was somewhere he should visit more often?

Dominic had bought a three-story beach villa that had at least eight bedrooms and two bungalows. It was located on a semi-secluded stretch of beach facing the ocean from three different views Lorenzo closed his eyes and tilted his head back. The ocean breeze swept over him and the sun warmed his face and neck. He, Marietta along with his youngest child Rocco were the first to arrive. Marietta was below them with Catalina. He and Dominic had retired to the open verandah on the rooftop. Dominic smoked his cigar staring out at the sea listening to Lorenzo talk but not offering much for conversation.

“How’s business?” Lorenzo asked. “You making moves in Cuba since Castro is dead? I hear there is plenty interest of investments on this little island.”

Dominic sipped his rum. The cubes of ice clinked as he set the whiskey glass to the side of his chair. “Cuba is still Cuba. They aren’t giving this island up to foreigners, especially American investors.”

“But you’re not just any investor, are you?” Lorenzo noted.

“Palermo’s prosperous. Lots of tourism. Lots of new business ventures in the Campania as well Gino is going to run for political office this year.”

“You think Italians are going to elect the mixed-race son of Camorra Don Giovanni Battaglia to be the Mayor of the Campania?” Lorenzo asked.

“American’s elected a fat reality star buffoon for their President. Have you taken a look at the world? Everything is possible. Gino has got a good chance of winning,” Dominic said. “I’ve made sure of that.”

“Is that all?” Lorenzo pressed.

“Why should there be more?” Dominic answered.

“I hear the Camorra has a hand in New York and it can reach all the way to Los Angeles,” Lorenzo said between puffs. “Funny, when I deal with my associates and they speak of the Camorra as if it were some ‘big bad’ unknown.”

“Rumors,” Dominic shrugged. “There’s no more Mafia. Just the Illuminati and YouTubers.”

Lorenzo laughed hard. “What? YouTubers?”

Dominic smiled. “Long story.”

“What is this gathering about Domi? Gino was very mysterious in the invite—“

“They told me I’d find you two up here!”

Lorenzo head turned.

Rocco looked up from his cell phone.

The only person unfazed by the latest guest’s arrival was Dominic. Out walked their fellow countryman with his arms stretched and a sly smile to his face. Carlo had put on a few pounds over the years, mostly in his gut. But he was still the same. They’d gone into business together several decades ago and discovered Texas wasn’t big enough for the both of their ambition. Lorenzo moved the family to Arizona and extended their business investments with Carlo financing and connecting him to very profitable criminal ties. He was his own man. And business was good.

“Domi? Not even a welcome for a man back from the dead?” Carlo chuckled.

Dominic glanced to him from his chair. As the youngest survivor of the brotherhood, the one to stay in the Camorra while all of the rest either died or disappeared, Dominic cast his smile at Carlo with a matured measured response of openness. Then he stood. The two men embraced. They hadn’t seen each other in over twenty years. Lorenzo found their reunion to be a lot friendlier than the one he received. Carlo took a step back and gave Dominic a look over. He nodded as if he were impressed. “Heard tales about you as the Don of Palermo.”

Dominic chuckled. “There’s no such person anymore.”

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