Page 72 of Ti Amo

“Kei Hyogo is alive. Our American cousins failed.”

“You were supposed to make sure that didn’t happen. Lorenzo did as I asked. Angelo Calderone is dead. Must you fail me in everything?”

Dominic averted his gaze. “I have an idea. Send me.”

“You? That’s your idea?”

“I’ll go to America and handle this personally. I won’t return until you are ready, if you wish me to return. I can see to our affairs in America.”

“And leave my sister to raise your bastard alone?” Giovanni sneered.

“I’m not convinced she’s pregnant.” Dominic admitted.

“Neither am I.” Giovanni sighed.

Dominic glanced at him. “Then why—”

“Because you have the woman I love, both of the women I love, fighting for your life. I can’t touch you.” Giovanni paced away, he shot him a look. “Yet.”

“I’m grateful, Gio. Not just for this, for everything. You’ve taught me everything I know. You’ve raised me. I’ll do whatever it is you wish. I’m truly grateful.”

“Don’t thank me.” He glared at him. “Bella, believes I approach things with violence too often. It’s my weakness. But violence is what we know. Right, Domi?”

Dominic nodded.

“I agree, having you here makes it difficult for me not to do what is in my nature.” Giovanni’s gaze narrowed on Dominic’s young face. He felt not a sliver of compassion for him now. “After Christmas you will go to America. I want the Asian dead by your hand. And in time I will process your betrayal. I’ll determine your fate. Stay out of Italia and Sicilia until I do so. You have no home anymore.”

The wounded look in Dominic’s eyes made Giovanni’s contempt deepen. He looked away to keep from wrapping his hands around his already bruised neck. “Is there anything I can do in the meantime? Anything you need to be done?” Dominic asked, his tone hollow and resolved.

There was something that Dominic could handle for him, and he wished it done immediately. “Bella.” Giovanni smiled. “Call the press. Leak that she is alive. Do it the day after Christmas. Before you leave. It’s Eve’s first holiday with the family and her mother wants peace. So the fuck do I. But I also want her to be my wife, and she is shy on making this happen. See to it that she has no choice or excuse to deny me what I want.”

“Consider it done.” Dominic nodded.

Lorenzo walked into the parlor. Giovanni didn’t stop speaking instead he addressed them both. “Dig up Franco. Wherever the fuck you put him. Take him to our undertaker. Have him cleaned up, then put on ice.”

“I can help.” Lorenzo offered. Dominic didn’t trust the generosity. With Lorenzo he suspected there was more to his offer than what he’d freely admit. “What of the snake in our garden?” Dominic asked again. “Nico says he saw him briefly, but we haven’t been able to turn up who or where he is.”

“That presents a problem. He’s from the Triad, Gio.” Lorenzo warned. “They are sneaky fuckers. He could be anywhere lurking to take a shot.”

Giovanni nodded. “Then we have to wait until he strikes. He will soon. All of our men who have no families need to be here during the holidays.”

“So we failed?” Lorenzo asked. “In America?”

No one answered.

Dominic wanted to present his ideas but he refrained. It wasn’t the time to play advisor. He just waited and listened. Giovanni’s attention returned to him. “Send the jet to Palermo and pick up Franco’s father. Make sure all of his brothers are brought to me as well. The women should not come. Tell his father we have unfortunate news he would want to spare his wife.”

After the order Dominic left without questioning him. Giovanni watched him go. Lorenzo nodded his way and turned to leave.

“Stay.”

Lorenzo glanced back.

Giovanni stared at the bound tree leaning against the wall. “I received a call from Bonaduce. He wants to meet tomorrow. Here in Campania. Don’t you find that interesting?”

Lorenzo nodded. “Very. Gio, I know you aren’t pleased at how messy I left things in Bologna. We had no choice.”

With a wave of his hand Giovanni dismissed the excuse. He didn’t care to debate Lorenzo’s actions. Even if they were unclean and undisciplined, they delivered. He had to consider that Lorenzo was indeed his brother who should be his left hand. He was the only man standing in this family he could trust. “Bonaduce wants me dead. I know it, and he knows I know it. To kill me in Bologna would be unwise. It has to go down here. Napoli, on my turf. He wanted me to extend an invite so I obliged him.”

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