Dominic wiped both hands down his face.
Catalina walked away. She went to the doors of the office that faced the back gardens behind Villa Rosso. Folding her arms around herself, she wept.
“Domi, I want a word.” Lorenzo charged in.
Dominic’s head turned. Lorenzo frowned at him then glanced up at Catalina. “What’s happened? Why is she crying?”
Catalina wiped her tears and forced herself to smile. She walked over to Lorenzo and threw her arms around his neck kissing both sides of his face. “I didn’t know you were here.”
Dominic cleared his throat. “Catalina’s upset that no one told her about Mira. She feels that we keep her in the dark. I told her it isn’t the conspiracy she thinks it is.”
“How could you know she was alive and not tell me, Lo?” Catalina let him go and stepped back. “Is that why you questioned me about a man in Mira’s life?”
Lorenzo closed the door behind him. “I’m sorry princess, but it couldn’t be helped. Did you hear the best part?”
Catalina smiled. “We have a bambina, and Mira named her after Ma-ma. I know Giovanni must be too happy!” She hugged Lorenzo excitedly once more. He hugged her back eyeing Dominic suspiciously. Dominic knew Lorenzo didn’t care for how he sat in Giovanni’s chair when he was away. Lorenzo even told him once it was a little presumptuous on his part. “Yes, and she’s a angel. Wait until you see her.” Lorenzo said.
“Domi said that might be soon. They went to Ma-ma’s villa? I guess to be alone?” Catalina’s gaze switched to Dominic. He didn’t meet her questioning stare. Catalina released a defeated sigh. “I will go find Franco and tell him the news. He will be happy too. Ciao.”
“Something I can do for you?” Dominic asked Lorenzo as soon as Catalina left the room.
“I’ll wait on the big man himself.” Lorenzo smiled. “Happen to know when he’ll return, it’s been two days?”
“Soon.” Dominic rocked back in the chair. “I’ve called a meeting tonight. I need you and Carlo to be present.”
“You? You called the meeting?”
Dominic sighed, “Is that a problem?”
Lorenzo chuckled. “Shoes too big for you to fill little one. Yes it’s a problem. But who the fuck am I to question anything.” He plopped down in the chair in front of the desk and crossed his long legs.
“Everything I have, Lo, I have it because I earned it.”
“Cut the shit Domi. If I hadn’t had this little disagreement with Giovanni, you’d still be whacking common hoods.”
“As I recalled your little disagreement morphed into a full-fledged war and the death of your woman!”
A steely silence settled between the men before Lorenzo sat upright and spoke. “I have watched you for almost three years trail Giovanni as he was led blindly under Flavio’s direction. And today, he leads for another purpose. Revenge. That ended the day I returned his woman to him. The other families have had enough. If you don’t let me help put this house back in order, we could all lose in the end.”
“I’d rather we lose it all by Giovanni’s hands than yours. I know your motivation, Lo. You found Mira Ellison for your own selfish reasons. Now you look for inroads. It’s a dangerous game. Betray Gio again, and he will end you. If I get the order, I won’t hesitate to fulfill it.”
“Like you did poor Flavio?” Lorenzo smirked. The comment callously tossed his way arrowed to the center of Dominic’s heart. He managed to cover his anxiety and guilt but not by much. Dominic loved Flavio. Giovanni ordered him to kill the old consigliere to guarantee his loyalty. Still part of him changed when he had to kill his mentor. It only made him weak, and again he betrayed his common sense and reached for Catalina. Now he hid his shame in her breasts and made love to her knowing it was indeed a mortal sin.
“Nothing to say little one?”
“Yes. I put the bullet in Flavio, just as I would put the bullet in you because I love you as much.”