Cecilia looked up and her heart skipped a beat. Nico smiled at her. She hadn’t seen him in two days. He was so busy with making sure the Donna’s event was a success. She missed his company. “Yes. We’re fine. Is it time?”
“They’ll be starting soon. I’m leaving Leo here. The entire floor of the hotel is for the Battaglias. If you need me have me paged. I’ll come.”
“We’re fine, Nico,” Cecilia chuckled.
“Nico! I love you!” Eve said. “You’re mine!”
“I love you too, Evie,” he winked at her. Cecilia had to laugh. Eve made a point to get his attention whenever she found Nico with Cecilia. As if there was a competition. Cecilia knew there wasn’t. Nico loved Eve with all his heart.
“Go!” she said. “Make sure the Donna has a good event.”
Nico hesitated. Their love wasn’t forbidden. She started dating him after she left the Battaglias for some time. And even now she felt her heart race whenever he looked at her as he did now. “Shoo! We’re fine.”
He winked and left. Cecilia looked down at Gianni. He was asleep in her arms. The twins were the cutest little boys she’d ever seen. They had darker skin than Eve’s, and bright blue eyes. Gianni was the Donna’s baby, though Cecilia doubted she would admit to any favoritism. Cecilia could tell. His father and all the men favored Gino. Countless times Cecilia found him with one of the men playing roughly or riding on their shoulders. And Eve was the light of both parents’ eyes. Though lately Eve had been sensitive to the Don’s attention to Gino. She constantly asked Cecilia if she believed her to be her Papa’s favorite
lucciola
. The Donna had her concerns on this as well, and they both made sure that Eve got equal time with Giovanni.
Cecilia felt grateful for her job and the Battaglias. She was able to take care of her family on her salary. And soon she hoped Nico would propose to her. One day she’d have babies and a home of her own. She lived for that day. Her life was a blessing because of these kids. She’d give her life willingly for them all.
**
Santo walked into the hall. Leaning against the wall was Leo. He looked up with surprise. Renaldo and Nico had secured the hotel. No one but top ranking officers with the Battaglias could gain access to this floor. Santo smiled.
“Why don’t you take a break?” Santo said to Leo.
“I can’t. Nico said I’m not to leave the kids.”
“I’ll stay. Gio wants me to make sure the kids are safe. This fashion thing has taken over the hotel. You won’t get this chance for a smoke again.”
“Grazie, Santo,”
Leo said with a nod and walked off toward the elevators. Santo watched him go. He opened the door to the suite and peeked inside. The young girl Cecilia wasn’t there. However the Battaglia brats, Eve and one of the twin boys, were on the sofa. Eve looked up from her book and then continued to read to her brother.
He entered and closed the door.
“Nico?” he heard Cecilia call from the bedroom. Santo waited for the young woman. She walked out with a bottle in her hand. “Oh?
Ciao,
Santo. Did you need anything?”
“You alone?” Santo asked.
“Leo’s outside,” Cecilia smiled.
“The fashion show is starting. I came to make sure you were okay,” Santo said.
“I just put Gianni down for his nap. We’re fine.” Cecilia smiled. “You can leave.”
Santo looked her over. She was quite pretty. Her hair was cut in a short style and she wore very little makeup. She had that natural tan, deep olive skin like his ex-wife. And though her dress was modest he could not miss the curves that lay hidden beneath. How long had it been since he enjoyed a young fresh woman like her?
“Ah, is there something else?” she asked. This time her smile was a bit dimmer and she looked at him with concern.
Santo stepped toward her.
Cecilia stepped back.
“Lunch?” he smiled.
“What?” she frowned.
“Lunch. You need to get lunch for the kids. Giovanni doesn’t want any strangers near them. I can’t allow the staff to come up.”
“But there’s a servant’s entrance to this room. Nico said lunch would be brought up.”
“No. You should take the elevator down to the lobby and meet with the receptionist. She has the menu selections from the Donna. She said you were aware. I came up to stay with the kids. They’re safe with me.”
“Oh?” she sighed. “Oh, okay. Eve?”
“Sí,
Chi Chi
?”
Eve answered.
“Zio Santo is going to stay here with you and the boys. I won’t be long,” she said.
“Okay, Chi Chi,” Eve said. “I’ll watch Gino.”
“Good girl.” Cecilia looked to Santo and nodded, then she walked out. Santo glanced around the room. He checked his watch. He locked the door Cecilia left through. Eve looked up at him curiously. Her brother turned the page on the book. Eve began to read to him again. Santo wouldn’t have much time. He walked over to the back of the suite. The reason Nico chose this room was the very secure access. Even the wait staff had different access to the room. Of course Cecilia didn’t know Santo’s intentions. Santo found the service door and unlocked it.
“You have ten minutes.” Santo said.
Kei stepped into the suite. He passed Santo. When he first saw Eve, the heart he thought was dead in his chest began to beat again. She had grown so much. There was little access to pictures of her. Mirabella never let ‘little rabbit’ out of her sight. Gone were her chubby cheeks and red pacifier. Too much time had passed. Eve had blondish brown curls in two ponytails separated by a center part. She wore a yellow dress and white sweater. She kicked her little feet as she read to a boy next to her in Italian. Kei observed her. It was the boy who looked up at him first. The child met his stare. It was Giovanni’s spawn.
“Get rid of the toddler,” Kei said.
Santo approached the children. The boy, who could be no more than two, flipped over and scooted down from the sofa. He ran for the door.
“Gino! Come back!” Eve yelled in confused surprise. Santo nearly crossed his legs and tripped over his own feet trying to catch the kid who hollered and ran from him.
“Gino! Gino!” Eve said alarmed. Eve got down from the sofa. She ran for her brother but Kei intervened. He held her hand to keep her close. “Gino! What’s the matter?” Eve said trying to pull away from Kei’s touch.
Santo grabbed the boy by one arm and lifted him from the ground. The toddler swung his other arm and kicked his little legs. The kid was wailing so loud he was certain to be a problem.
“Put him down, Zio Santo! Put Gino down now!” Eve shouted, with tears brimming her eyes.
Santo carried the kid roughly into the other room and slammed the door shut.
“Let me go! Let me go!” Eve struggled in Kei’s hands.
“Little Rabbit, it’s okay.” Kei said to her calmly. “Shhh… it’s okay, darling.” She didn’t hear him or didn’t care to listen. She struggled. “It’s me Poppy. Don’t you remember me?” Kei asked.
Eve looked into his eyes. She looked so much like Mirabella in that moment it burned his chest. Kei’s heart melted. He loved her so deeply. He took her little hand in his iron glove and kissed it. Eve pulled her hand from his immediately. She blinked at him confused. “I want my Papa,” she said and her bottom lip trembled.
“I won’t hurt you. I came a long way to see you,” he said softly.
She touched his eye patch. She then touched his face.
“That’s right, Little Rabbit. It’s me Poppy. Do you remember?”
“Poppy?” she said and shook her head with confusion. “I don’t know you.”
“It’s okay. I know you. I’ve known you since you were this little,” he pinched his fingers together.
Kei remembered it all. The day she was born. The many nights he picked her up from her bassinet and put her to Mirabella’s breast to nurse. He remembered the long days by the fire with Mirabella talking about her future. So much time had passed between then and now. But those memories never faded.
“What happened to your hand?” Eve asked.
Kei looked down at the iron sleeve covering his fingers and palm. After a brutal beating by his uncle’s men in prison, his hand was crushed, every bone broken. To make it halfway useful he wore the glove and relied on the mechanisms to bend and stretch his fingers.
“It’s my special hand,” he told her.
“And your eye?” Eve touched his eye patch.
Kei smiled. “My magic eye.”
“Like Captain Hook from Peter Pan. Mama reads the book to me. It’s my favorite,” Eve smiled.
“Yes. Exactly. And do you know what would make Captain Hook happy?” he asked.
Eve blinked at him again. “No?”
“A hug. Can I have a hug, Eve?”
“Yes!” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. He pulled her close to his heart and kissed her cheek. “How is Mommy, Little Rabbit?”
“She’s pretty.” Eve grinned.
“Yes she is. I miss her. I miss you. Would you like for us to go somewhere? Some place far away.”
“To Neverland? Where Peter Pan lives?” Eve asked, her eyes stretched with wonder.
Kei nodded slowly. “To Neverland. Me, you, and Mommy on a special trip.”
“Yes!” Eve grinned. “I want to go!”
“Times up,” Santo came out of the room carrying two boys in his arms. Isabella had shared the news that Mirabella carried twins and nearly died during their birth. He looked upon Giovanni’s sons and seethed with rage. How sweet would justice be if he snapped their necks now? Kei resisted the urge. He had far greater plans of pain and torment for Giovanni.
“Are you leaving?” Eve asked.
“I’ll come back for you. Neverland, remember. I promise.”
Kei let Eve go. Santo set the boys down. Both of the toddlers went to their sister giving him a wary look. Kei clenched his fist and narrowed his eyes on the boys.
“Poppy loves you,” Kei said.
“Bye, Captain!” Eve said in return.
Kei reluctantly turned and left out the way he came. He stopped at the door. “Name the price to put a bullet in the boys.”
“I told you, I will not kill children.” Santo said. He glared at Kei. “No harm will come to them.”
“I should take Eve with me now.” Kei said.
“And if you do, even if you manage to get out of Milan with her, you’ll never get next to her mother. We stick to the plan. She’s yours, the both of them. Soon.”
Kei nodded. He glanced back at Eve who smiled at him. Though it killed him he had to turn away.
**
Cecilia pounded on the door a third time. Santo opened it. “Is everything okay?” she stormed inside. “Why was the door locked?”
Santo held the door open for the server to wheel in the lunch cart. “I was taking a piss. Didn’t want the kids to get away from my sight.”
“Oh. Leo is back. We are fine now. Please leave.” Cecilia requested.
Santo nodded his head and walked out. Cecilia felt much better once he was gone. The server left the tray. She thanked him and saw him to the door. She could barely turn around before Gino was clinging to her knees and crying. Gino never cried. She knelt down and touched his little face. Gianni stood next to Eve holding her hand.
“What is it?” she asked. “He’s trembling. Why is he so upset?”
“Captain Hook scared him,” Eve said.
“Who?” Cecilia asked.
“Captain Hook. He came here, and he scared Gino. Santo took Gino to the room and closed the door so me and Captain Hook could play. Gino got upset.” Eve walked over to her books. She picked up the one she read to Gino. Cecilia lifted Gino in her arms. Eve handed her the book. It was the children’s fable of Peter Pan.
“He told me he was my Poppy and I was his little rabbit,” Eve smiled.
“Wow. That’s amazing. Well it’s time for lunch. How about we eat? Huh, Gino? You want to eat,
bambino
?” The little boy rested his head on her shoulder and tears continued down his cheeks. “Oh sweetheart, it’s okay. I promise. Zia and Zio will be here soon for us. And we will go have fun, after lunch.”
“Yay!” Eve said and Gianni grinned up at her. Cecilia laughed. She looked at the book once more. Little Evie had a very vivid imagination.
**
Zenobia strutted down the catwalk with a long leg stride and swaying arms. The couture gown she wore shimmered like a polished pearl. An off-white ensemble of webbed fabric, that Giovanni assumed was some kind of futuristic wedding gown. The crowd celebrated. A standing ovation was given for the final Mirabella original to come down the runway. Zenobia struck a pose at the end of the catwalk. She slung her neck with a dramatic turn, and headed back to the other end. Giovanni stood. He applauded.
And then the models returned. First came Fabiana’s fashions in shades of red and pink, and then Mirabella’s originals, which were a mix of dark greys, blues, and black.
Each turned at the end of the catwalk and then kept going.
“The women did good,” Dominic said. “Mirabella is very talented.”