“Stay the hell away from me,” she said.
Carlo stepped back. When she glanced up before getting inside the car she saw Marietta behind Carlo. The two of them watched her. She cut her gaze away and eased inside.
“What’s wrong with the wild one?” Renaldo asked.
“
Vaffanculo!
Fuck off,” Carlo grunted. He had no time for the bullshit. Ciro was his focus. They were meeting today to talk to the commissioner of the IBF. The fight would be in Naples. Giovanni wanted the match closer to home. Thanks to Father Nicosia it was a strong possibility. That was something Carlo hadn’t shared with Gio. He understood why his boss didn’t trust the priest, but he had to make moves, and he needed to make them quickly.
“Wait,” Renaldo matched his stride. “I need to know about the venue. Where in Napoli will it be?”
“Why?” Carlo frowned.
“The boss. He’s giving me my position back. He likes the way I handled the fashion show. I’m in charge of security for him.”
“Bully for you,” Carlo snickered.
“Not really. My woman wants me in Milano. I’ll have to convince her to move into the small villa I’m building near the Amalfi. We’ll be staying close to the coast now.”
Carlo still didn’t care.
“The China man is out there,” Renaldo said as they got in the car.
“Oh, I get it. The challenger is Chinese so now Gio thinks it’s some kind of link to that Kyoko piece of shit.”
“His name is Kei Hyogo and he is out of prison.” Renaldo turned over the engine and steered the car in line with the rest.
“
Che minchia!
It’s bullshit! The fight was arranged by me. I’ve done all the necessary checks. The challenger has been out there for nearly four years. Longer than Ciro. He’s had over a hundred and fifty matches.”
“He’s connected to the Triad,” Renaldo said.
“Chao Lee? He’s in the Triad?
Porca puttana!
So the fuck what? I did the necessary checks! Father Nicosia doesn’t fuck with the Triad. He’s been working with me,” Carlo shouted.
“Gio doesn’t want the priest involved,” Renaldo said.
“Gio has left it to me. The priest’s payment comes out of my salary. It’s my deal.”
Renaldo nodded. Carlo hated Renaldo’s cool manner. He sulked in his seat trying to solve the mystery as to why Shae would be angry with him. And there was only one reason. Marietta.
Did Marietta threaten her?
He chewed on his bottom lip. He’d have to speak with her and clear it up.
“I need the information for the venue,” Renaldo repeated.
“I already said it once, I’ll say it again. Fuck you,” Carlo flipped him off.
Renaldo chuckled.
**
“Something wrong?” Mirabella asked her sister.
Gianni was in the car seat between them. Her other babies were riding with Rocco and Zia behind them. Gianni cried until she relented and kept him with her. Lorenzo was behind the wheel and Giovanni was in the front passenger seat. Both of them laughed and joked like brothers. They completely ignored the battle to calm Gianni in the back seat. It was finally won when Mirabella found her son’s pacifier.
“Hey?” Mirabella snapped her fingers in front of Marietta’s face.
“I’m sending Shae home,” Marietta said.
“Oh? I thought she had another week with us?” Mirabella asked.
“I think she’s over-stayed her welcome. She can’t be trusted,” Marietta said.
“Wait? I’m confused. What did you say?” Mirabella asked.
“I said she can’t be trusted.”
“What has she done?” Mirabella asked.
“For starters I caught her listening in on conversations she shouldn’t have been twice,” said Marietta.
Mirabella chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“You. Here, sweetie,” Mirabella gave Gianni his toy truck to play with. He again threw it on the floor. He clapped his hands and grinned with his pacifier tucked in the side of his mouth. He thought it was a game.
“Me? Why am I funny?” Marietta asked.
“Everyone eavesdrops, Marietta. Even you when you came to stay with us. Hell, how do you think I knew you liked to dance around naked like some stripper for your husband?”
“Hmph! You weren’t complaining when I was teaching you lessons,” Marietta reminded her.
“And I still need practice,” Mirabella said.
They both laughed. Giovanni looked back at them and they reduced their laughs to giggles. Mirabella shook her head smiling. “All I’m saying is, the temptation is great in that big ol mausoleum we call home. Especially for strangers.”
“She’s fucking Carlo,” Marietta said through clenched teeth.
“I beg your pardon?” Mirabella asked.
Marietta cut her eyes at her. “You heard me.”
“Let’s talk about it later,” Mirabella whispered.
“No need to discuss it. When we get to Melanzana I’m booking her a flight and sending her ass home.”
“She’s your friend. You barely got a chance to spend time with her. I can deal with Giovanni,” Mirabella said. “It’s not like I haven’t had practice.”
“This isn’t the same as Renaldo and Kyra,” Marietta said.
“Why isn’t it? It’s a dumb rule anyway. Cecilia and Nico are dating and—”
“It’s not that. I think the two of them already know.” She tossed her chin up at Giovanni and Lorenzo. “I told Lo this morning and he just gave that stupid grin of his. They know,” Marietta whispered. “Like you said I haven’t spent much time with her. I’m sure she has things to do. It’ll be fine.”
“You still haven’t told me why you want her gone. Did you two fight about Carlo?”
“What? No! No! I don’t care about Carlo!” she said too loud. Marietta noticed Lorenzo’s eyes flipped up to the rearview mirror and he looked at them.
“Okay. Sorry,” Mirabella said.
“I’ve been feeling a little tired. I guess we’ve been going so fast lately, I need to slow down.” Marietta sighed. She dropped her head back and closed her eyes. “Lorenzo wants this baby. I need to focus on getting pregnant.”
“Okay, sweetie,” Mirabella agreed.
Gianni passed his bottle to Marietta. He said something neither of them could understand. Marietta smiled. She leaned over and kissed his lips. She then kissed his forehead. “Did you hear? No travel.”
“Yes. Giovanni said it should be fine in a couple of weeks. We’ll go back to Milano before summer comes.”
Marietta nodded. The car steered up the sloped hilltop road, and she knew they neared the airport. She tried to change her attitude. She didn’t want to have one when she confronted Shae.
Melanzana –
Catalina loved home. She had missed everything, from Ana’s cooking, to lounging by the pool with Mirabella and the kids. She even missed the horses. Too much time was spent in Milan, and not enough in Sorrento. She tossed her purse to her bed and the men dragged in her luggage.
“Grazie,”
she said to the men and they left.
She heaved an affronted sigh. The thought of unpacking bored her. Catalina sat on the edge of the bed. She kicked off her shoes and scooted back into her stack of pillows. It felt nice and comfortable. Her schedule had been non-stop for weeks. Some time under the covers with a good book would be a lovely change.
The phone rang before her eyes closed. She glanced over in search of it. Her private line was on the dial list of everyone on their staff. For a brief minute she considered ignoring it. But she reached for it despite her weariness.
“
Pronto?”
she answered.
“Catalina.
Ciao, bella.
It’s Armando,” said the person.
“Why are you calling? How did you know we were home?” she asked.
“Marietta phoned me to say thank you for the birthday gift. She told me you returned to Sorrento.”
Catalina turned over on her side. She closed her eyes and exhaustion weighed the lids to her eyes. Armando had the kind of soothing voice that was very easy on a girl’s ears.
“What do you want?” she yawned.
“When a beautiful woman asks a man what he wants he better have an answer.”
“I’m hanging up.”
“Wait. Catalina, don’t hang up,” he said.
“Don’t flirt with me.”
“Understood. I called to thank you again. Because of you my sisters are now open to new relationships with me. I’m grateful.”
“You’ve thanked me twice already, Armando. No need.”
“When do you return to Milano? I’ve extended my stay. Maybe you will allow me to take you to dinner?”
“That’s a flirt!” she said.
“No. That’s an offer to take you to dinner.”
“Listen to me, Armando. I do want Marietta and Mirabella to learn to accept you. I think you and Giovanni need to both work at a new relationship. But please leave me out of it. Don’t call me again. Don’t stop by my office. Don’t try to be overly gracious. I’m not Marietta or Mirabella. I know who you are. I know what friendship between you and I would mean.”
“If you know who I am then you know I won’t easily give up on something I want.”
“Keep calling and I’ll tell Domi.”
“My question to you, beautiful, is why haven’t you told him already?”
She hung up the phone. “
Che stronzo!
”
she cursed. She threw the phone back on the night table and turned over to let sleep claim her.
**
“We need to talk.” Marietta walked into Shae’s room without knocking. She found her friend seated in a chair by the window. Shae stared out of it. Her luggage was unpacked.
Good,
thought Marietta. She’d already confirmed that an evening flight was available for Shae to leave for America.
“Yah. I guess we do,” Shae said. She stood and faced Marietta. Gone was the friendly smile or sassy charm that she loved about Shae. She looked at Marietta with equal distrust. She put her hands to her hips. “I was waiting on you,” she said.
Marietta tensed. It was a natural response to Shae’s defensive stance. She knew Shae like she knew herself. Whenever her best friend faced off with an enemy she had her hands to her hips.
“You lied to me,” Marietta began.
“Looks like we lied to each other,” Shae said.
“To each other? What the hell does that mean? I asked you to respect my family, my home, by not seducing these men. And all the while you’ve been sneaking around behind my back!”
“Same ole Mae,” Shae smiled. “It’s everybody but her.” She looked Marietta over like she used to whenever Marietta tried to elevate her status from a stripper. “You know you almost had me fooled. All that talk about being changed, and happily married. It was kind of funny watching you run around that fancy house of yours and imitate your sister. But I know how Mae pretends. I shouldn’t have forgotten!”
“I am happily married. I don’t need to imitate my sister because she’s part of me. This is my world. Do you remember yours? Managing whores for modeling gigs that pay you how much I spend on a pair of shoes.”
Shae laughed. “Chump change was your game, Mae. Not mine. I’m not a whore. I’m a businesswoman. And you’re a fraud.”
“I don’t give a shit what you think about me. This isn’t about me.” Marietta clarified. “This is about you and Carlo.”
“Me? He doesn’t give a fuck about me! Your American friend who’s a whore! You and Carlo started your affair long before I came!” Shae shouted.
“A-a-a what? Affair? What the hell has he been telling you?”
She shook her head. “I remember when you first showed up at the club. You were green, awkward, and homely. A fucking joke. I taught you how to survive, and now you look down on me? Bitch please! Let’s get it straight, Mae. We aren’t that fucking different. When the rubber hits the road we are still the best whores in the business. Only thing is, I do it with generous boyfriends, and you do it with your husband’s best friend!”
“Watch your fucking mouth!” Marietta shoved her.
Shae’s eyes glistened with tears. “Why, Mae? I’ve always been the one to give it to you straight. Why do I have to watch my mouth now? Afraid someone will tell that big bad husband of yours your fucking his boy?”
“I never got as low as you. I didn’t sleep with anyone for money, now or then. And I have never cheated on my husband. NEVER!”
“You took their money and sold your body every night, but the first thing that comes out of your mouth is to call me a whore! There is no difference!” Shae shouted.
“There’s a big difference! I did what I had to do for survival. You did it because you got off on being some Queen Bitch.” Marietta took another threatening step. “Some mother bee teaching us how to use our bodies and hide our pain.”
Shae wiped tears. Marietta could see her words cut deep. But her heart was pumping adrenaline through her veins. Shae had accused her of something and she wanted to get to the bottom of it. “I have never had an affair with Carlo!”