Kei leaned across the table and his dark gaze narrowed on her. He was still a strikingly handsome man. His deep olive skin, dark black hair that lay straight from a center part, and penetrating gaze made him unmistakably hot. Why he hadn’t found a woman to appreciate him after all this time she’d never know. “I have many talents. Remember?” he asked.
Mira swallowed her smile. She rose from the floor and went to the trash compactor, emptying the dustpan. “Maybe you should go see where Eve went. Make sure she doesn’t get into any more trouble,” she said clearing her throat. The chair at the table screeched a bit as he pushed back and rose. Mira put away the dustpan and broom. When she turned Kei was standing right behind her.
“I’ve missed you, Mira.”
“I know, Kei. We’ll talk. I promise.”
****
Lorenzo caught Catalina just as she turned the corner. He grabbed her arm. “What’s your hurry?”
“I, I need to see Domi. We, ugh, have something to discuss. I don’t want to miss him.”
“Slow down. Got a question for you.”
“What are you doing here?” Catalina asked. He dragged her toward the next hall were the doors to the outside terrace were. “Stop pulling on me!” she yanked against his hold but couldn’t break free. “Gio said you weren’t supposed to return without his permission.” The unspoken rule was Lorenzo was never to arrive at Melanzana uninvited unless called upon by business. How the fuck could he act as underboss and be pushed out of his family home? Giovanni’s mood swings had gotten to the point where Lorenzo had agreed. After a year of failing to locate Angelo or Fish, the Calderone fury his cousin carried with him was turned on their family. Rocco and Zia were asked to leave, and Lorenzo was again stripped of his rank. The man they knew had disappeared. Who Giovanni was today frightened them all. And the blame for Fabiana’s and Mira’s deaths, and Flavio’s betrayal, were all laid at Lorenzo’s feet.
He walked Catalina out to the terrace and glanced around. There was no one near. “I said I need to talk to you.”
“Something wrong? Is it Domi?”
“What?” Lorenzo frowned. “Would you stop mothering Domi? He’s a fucking man not a baby.”
“I only meant—.”
“You spent time with Mira when she was here, two years ago.”
“Mira?”
“Catalina! I don’t have time for this shit. You two were close right?”
“Yes. Well no. She designed my wedding dress. I only knew her and Fabiana for a few days. I liked her, a lot.”
Lorenzo wiped his hand down his face. He struggled with his words. He couldn’t let Catalina in on what he knew. Hell, he wasn’t sure of the information himself, but she was the next logical step. There was no way in hell he would talk to Gio about this. “Did she ever talk of another man? Someone she was seeing in the States?”
“A man? Why would she talk about a man with me?”
“Catalina this is important! Think!” he shouted at her.
“Lo, don’t bring her up okay? Gio is different now, and it’s because of that woman. What happened to those women here, we don’t talk about them. Ever.”
Lorenzo felt a twinge of guilt for shouting at her. He touched the side of her face. “Forgive me.”
“It’s okay. I don’t understand why you are questioning me about Mira Ellison.” She touched his hand that was pressed to her left cheek.
“Do you trust me? Trust that I only want what is best for you and Gio?”
“Yes. But Gio only let’s me near him now. He get’s so angry when you come here. Please, just go.”
“Trust me now, and answer my questions without ones of your own. Do you remember a man in her life other than Giovanni?”
Catalina nodded. “Yes. She never discussed him with me, but I remember a man. There was an article on her before her death. It said she was engaged. I told Giovanni about it. I think after her death the man took over her business. It was in her will. She left everything to him.”