“No violence in this house. Ever. If you can’t promise that to me we can’t marry. Whoever you have to be for them, you aren’t that man with us. Not here. Ever.”
The toilet flushed. Mira looked for Eve. She had escaped them so quickly neither of them had noticed. Giovanni patted her thigh. He kissed her breast and she stood. “I’ll get her,” he said going after his daughter. He returned pulling a wailing Eve by her hand. She then ran off into her bedroom. Giovanni went over to the armoire. The man had the strength of Hercules. He lifted it with several grunts and stood it upright. The drawers hung open and many of the clothes inside were strewn over the floor. Mira calmed herself. She wiped the sweat from her brow, taking in slow steady breaths. Had the worst passed?
When she rose she saw the gun from the corner of her eye on the mattress. She immediately grabbed it and put it in the drawers next to the bed.
“It’s not my only gun, Bella,” he said amused.
“I’ll learn where they all are. Give me a chance.”
“Tell Domi and Catalina to meet me in Villa Rosso,” he said. “I’ll be down in ten minutes.”
“Okay,” she said. Mira found Eve in her dollhouse arranging her teddy bears. “Come with Mama, baby.”
Eve picked up a teddy bear and her pacifier then followed Mira out. They located everyone downstairs waiting. Rocco and Zia were among them. No one spoke when she and Eve walked in. Mira needed a minute for her heart to stop racing to address them. She hadn’t realized how frightened she was for Dominic until now. She felt weak in the knees.
“You told him?” Catalina asked.
Mira nodded.
“Everything?” Dominic asked.
“Yes, everything.”
“What happened?” Catalina snapped.
“You two are still alive. That’s what happened.” Lorenzo chuckled. “It’s evident she did the impossible and tamed the beast. Brava!”
Mira ignored Lorenzo. “He wants to see both of you in Villa Rosso in ten minutes. He’s getting dressed.”
Catalina looked over at Dominic. “That’s good news, I mean he asked for us both.” She turned back to Mira, smiling through her tears. “It’s good news right? Giovanni is willing to forgive, right?”
“He’s calm. He knows the truth. The rest is up to you two. I want to say something to you both before you meet with him.” They looked at her expectantly, and even Eve stopped playing with her uncle to pay attention. Mira found an empty spot on the sofa to sit and closed her eyes. Reclaiming control she opened them and spoke to Dominic and Catalina. “He’s entitled to his anger. You lied to him, and you kept lying while you were under his roof.” Looking over to Dominic she pointed directly at him. “This should have ended the day she said her vows. So don’t either of you go in there arrogant or demanding his acceptance. Take responsibility and explain your hearts then deal with what he decides.”
“Mira you said you would help us! You said—.”
“Enough!” Dominic shouted at Catalina. Eve rushed over to her mother, crying. Dominic rose from his seat with his swollen and bruised face and glared at Catalina. “She’s right, she did all she could. The rest is up to us.” He glanced to Rocco and Zia. “Forgive me. Che cosa sarà sia.”
Neither of them spoke. They glared at Dominic in cold unforgiving silence. Catalina walked over to him shaking her head sadly. “I may not have lived the life you and my brother did, and I may not have seen the things that you both have seen but I know my heart. What we did and have is not perverse or betrayal. It’s love. I’ll never apologize to anyone for loving you.”
Dominic smiled through his pain. He pulled her into his arms. “Ti amo, Catalina.”
“Ti amo, Domi,” she said closing her eyes and hugging him tightly.
“I’ve had enough of this shit.” Lorenzo said rising and walked out.
****
Giovanni entered Villa Rosso and found Dominic and Catalina waiting outside of his office. They sat across from each other. Neither could look him in the eye when he stepped inside. Both stood and silently followed him into his office when he passed.