****
Lorenzo kicked the door in. The man on the sofa dropped his beer just as the bullet from Lorenzo’s gun pierced his skull at the center of his eyes. His head split like an axe taken to a melon. The other man ran out of the kitchen firing. Carlo took him out after kicking in the back door and firing through the dark kitchen.
There was no time to hesitate. Lorenzo sensed rather than watched the kill. He had one mission. Get to Calderone and end him. He forced the door open to the back bedroom and a woman screamed. Inside was darkness, which departed by the bright flash of gunfire, before he even heard the blast. The cut of wind near his face clued him in to how close the bullet had passed. Lorenzo returned fire. There was cursing and shouting, but it didn’t blast at him as loud as the screaming voices.
“Out, Angelo. This is it.”
“Vaffanculo!”
“Have it your way.” Lorenzo unloaded. The woman stopped screaming, and Angelo stopped returning fire. Lorenzo found the light switch on the wall. He flipped it up. What he saw before him confirmed it. The Calderone/ Battaglia feud was officially over.
Chapter Ten
Mira looked across the breakfast table at Giovanni. He again tried to feed Eve. Her daughter resisted. She pushed the fork away, reaching for food off his plate. Mira swept her gaze to the left. She focused on Catalina who seemed a bit cheery for the early hour. Suddenly she was overly talkative, chatting everyone up as they arrived at the table. Dominic however, had a cold congested look of anger on his face, and it was directed at Franco. The tension hovering between the men shifted when Nico arrived and announced the visitors. Giovanni immediately lifted Eve out of her chair. She followed them out of the terrace where they normally dined to the front of the villa. The familiar face of Uncle Rocco stepped into view. He wore overalls and a plaid shirt under a large tan jacket. His weathered cap was pulled down over his balding head. She hadn’t seen him in years, and he looked the same.
One look at Eve in Giovanni’s arms and Rocco stopped. Zia Carlotta shuffled in behind him. Her dark scarf draped over her shoulders, and her gray hair was pulled into a tight bun. Loose strands hung around her face.
“Benvenuto! Benvenuto!” Catalina hurried out. She kissed her aunt and hugged her uncle. “Finally, you’ve come.”
“Guardi il bambina bella. L'angelo piccolo prezioso,” Zia approached Eve. Everyone stood in silent observation. Mira stepped to Giovanni’s side, and Zia’s gaze cut sharply over to her. The exchange left her a bit confused. She didn’t know if Zia was happy to see her or offended by her presence. Eve glanced to her father then to Zia. Without any encouragement, she reached for the old woman. Giovanni had to help in transferring her over to Zia, but to Mira’s surprise Zia proved to be quite strong. She held Eve up with little assistance. Eve hugged her neck and several people clapped and laughed. Mira smiled.
“Non abbiamo bisogno di questo bambina, zia abbiamo qualcosa più meglio per voi,” Zia said taking the pacifier from Eve’s mouth. She told her that she didn’t need it any longer. That Zia had something special for her. Mira braced for Eve’s reaction. Her daughter just blinked and stared at the pacifier. Then she snatched it from Zia’s hand and stuck it back in her mouth.
Zia and Giovanni laughed. Eve had won round one. Zia put Eve on her hip and shuffled over to Mira. She touched her face. “It is good you come. Welcome,” Zia smiled.
Mira nodded graciously. Everyone started off toward the back of the villa to return to breakfast. Giovanni reached for Mira’s hand and held it, forcing her to remain. They’d said very little to each other this morning. Even after their lovemaking they just lay together in silence.
“Are you okay?” he asked.