"Come here, baby," Mira said to a crying Eve.

Her daughter walked over with a crown of curly locks all over her head. Mira put the bracelet on Eve's wrist and the little girl stopped crying to observe her mother curiously. "Perfetto!" Mira exclaimed. "Your grandmother Melissa gave this to me and now I will give it to you. Because Mommy loves you and Grandma loves you too."

Maybe it was all a coincidence. If Giovanni saw the bracelet then certainly it meant nothing. Still the fact that Mira had any connection to Mancini puzzled her. In their life it was really hard to believe or trust coincidences. She would have to ask Dominic about it.

"Now, let's get dressed and meet down in the garden. I want to put all the designs out for us to go over. Giovanni said we can proceed after I convinced him he didn't want to fight me on this. Isn't that exciting?" Mira grinned.

"Yeah, exciting," Catalina mumbled. She watched Eve walk off with the gold bracelet glistening on her wrist. She looked at Mira again and wondered.

* B *

"Carlo will be here tonight or by the morning," Dominic said.

"Santo will bring Giuliani in." Giovanni rubbed his brow as word through the Campania spread of his losing Chiaiano. He dreamt of revenge every night. But he wouldn't act on impulse like he did with the Calderones. When he struck against his enemies it would be a decisive blow.

"You still trust Santo?" Dominic asked.

"I know Carlo and Lorenzo don't. But they haven't since we were kids. I've known Santo for many years. He's spent time in jail for the family. Bled for this family. He has earned the benefit of the doubt."

"Not every sacrifice is a testament to a man's loyalty, Giovanni. I think we need to hear the facts from someone other than Santo," Dominic advised.

"We know the facts! Mottola wants to be capo di tutti capi and he thinks I'm weak enough to hand him the crown. The f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.d has no idea what he has done by dividing the clans this way." He wiped his hand down his face and reclined in his chair. "Santo isn't the problem. I am. Lorenzo was right. I've made mistakes."

"Gio-"

He put up his hand. "Let me finish. I can't lead this family from my wife's bedside. I need to be as strong as my words. I need to remind the clans of who we are."

Dominic stared at him for a moment before he spoke. "Then we will do it. Together."

Giovanni exhaled. Dominic was missing the point.

"I want to talk to you about Catalina," Dominic said.

"I'm listening," Giovanni replied. He welcomed a change in topic.

"You heard the idea from the women, about Fabiana's. What Mira wants to do with launching a clothing line with Catalina as the head designer is a ruse the women cooked up. You know this right?"

"Bella and I discussed it this morning," Giovanni answered. "She plays these games with me. I am in no mood to fight with her. As long as she isn't on her knees sewing clothes for other people I can give a s.h.i.t. Let Catalina be the designer."

Dominic sat forward. He put his face in his hands. He then lifted his head and looked at Giovanni. "I want to ask you to allow us to marry, Gio. Catalina is ambitious but she's naive. I can't be heard if I'm not her husband. I know you said a year. But-"

"You agreed to a year of waiting to have this discussion, Dominic. Not because of its impropriety-you can give a s.h.i.t about how nasty it looks that you want to bed your sister." Dominic flinched. Giovanni didn't give a s.h.i.t. He continued. "You agreed because you took a man's life without my permission. You corrupted her and yourself by your actions. Why do you think she is so impulsive now?" Giovanni sat forward. "A year's penance is very light for your sins."

"It is not, Giovanni." Dominic replied.

"I try every day to see the boy I raised with the values of our famiglia. I have to remind myself that I love you like a brother to keep from putting a bullet in your skull. I do this for us both. Both you and Lorenzo test my patience, my love for you. How far to the edge do you really want to push me on this?"

A red flush darkened Dominic's face. "We want to be together, Gio," he said through clenched teeth. "You are right. I did the unthinkable, and I'm sorry. But what's done is done. Waiting a year is not going to change my mistakes. It's not going to make you accept us. Do you want to lose Catalina to that freaky world of fashion designers and indulgence? You won't even let Mira return to that world. You toy with her and pretend she has control, but she has none. We both know it. The only reason why we have your wife's company is to wash the blood off our money. What about Catalina? As my wife I can protect her." Dominic reasoned.

Giovanni laughed. He shook his head smiling. "You have a gift with words, Domi. I swear you can talk Satan into the gates of heaven. You always know what to say, how to reason away a man's actions including your own. Don't you?"

Dominic stood. He paced away. "I will never make the mistake of betraying you and our brotherhood again. I've proven myself since then, Gio. And Catalina has proven herself. Look at all she's accomplished. She's old enough to make the choice."

"Yes, Domi, she is. And you want to take those choices from her?" Giovanni asked.

"No! No d.a.m.n it. I want to love her, to be respectable. To do it in front of the eyes of G.o.d and I want you to bless me."

"Doesn't look to me like marriage is the choice she wants to make with you, Domi," Giovanni said.

"It is. I a.s.sure you. Talk to her. She'll tell you. We want to get married and start a family. Give us your blessing."

Giovanni sighed. "You two aren't ready. You need to stop thinking of what you want and listen to her. She doesn't want the same thing, Domi. She never has."

"Hypocrite!" Dominic shouted.

The accusation hit him like a brick. Giovanni froze. Dominic glared and stood his ground. He shook with rage. "Look at you and Mira. You keep her from her sister. You keep her from the truth. You do all of this for you not her. And then you tell me to not be selfish with my heart. Why do you think I want to control Catalina? Why! Because I learned how to love her from you!" Dominic stormed out.

Giovanni didn't call after him or rise. He dropped the side of his face between his finger and thumb and stared at the open door. He always thought Catalina needed to grow up. But maybe it's Dominic who needed to mature and learn to let go.

* B *

Rosetta looked up in time to see Dominic walk in a brisk manner past the door to the room. Mira and Catalina were busy marking and going over sketches and spreadsheets. "Excuse me," Rosetta said. Mira glanced up but Catalina didn't. In fact she pretty much found ways to ignore her the entire time.

"Be right back," Rosetta smiled. "Need a break."

Mira nodded and Rosetta quickly left the room. As soon as she entered the hall she took a guess as to which direction Dominic would have went. He must have headed from Giovanni's office, and he wasn't walking in the direction of the cars. So she ventured to the back entertainment room that had a large television set. When she turned the corner she could hear him cussing under his breath. Rosetta peeked in at him. It was as she suspected, Dominic would be cast aside for Catalina's pride and ego.

In an excited hurry she fixed her hair and unb.u.t.toned the top of her blouse before she walked inside. Dominic glanced up and his gaze locked in on her.

"Hi, Domi," she said in the sweetest voice she could muster.

He paced the floor as if she hadn't spoken. Like a wounded lion he paced. He grumbled under his breath and shook with repressed fury. He then turned to the bar and began to pour his drink.

"Have you seen Catalina? I was looking for her," Rosetta lied.

"Leave me," Dominic answered. He took down a swig of something she couldn't see. Rosetta braved a step closer.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. I know things are tough now that you and Catalina have decided you don't want to marry," she said and then pretended to turn to leave.

"What did you say?" Dominic glanced back. He glared at her. Rosetta flashed the most innocent look. "What the h.e.l.l did you say, Rosetta?"

"Oh, I didn't mean anything. I'm sorry," Rosetta said.

"Where did you hear Catalina and I won't marry? Were you listening to me and Giovanni earlier?"

"No. No, Domi. I swear it." She walked over to him. "I heard Catalina. She went to Giovanni yesterday and told him that she didn't want to get married. I accidentally overheard them talking about it. I thought you both agreed or something."

Dominic's nostrils flared.

Rosetta kept talking. "She and the Donna are making big plans for Fabiana's. I was looking for them. We're meeting now to discuss it. Catalina told me this morning that she's going back to America. Didn't you know?" Rosetta put her hand up to her mouth. "Oh my G.o.d. I'm sorry. I don't want to get in any trouble, Domi. Me and my big mouth."

He looked away from her. He shook his head.

"Domi? You okay?" she touched his back. He didn't resist her touch. Rosetta smiled and rubbed his back. "Are you okay?"

Dominic walked out without a word. Rosetta crossed her arms and smiled.

The flight was late-which put their arrival in Palermo close to midnight. As soon as the plane lifted to the clouds Marietta reclined her seat and drifted to sleep. She still wore her wedding dress for him, and he couldn't help smiling at how she turned heads as she walked through the city, and airport with him. He stared at her under the dim lamplight from above. Across from them Carlo slept. Lorenzo could not.

Before he looked away from his wife a spark of light gleamed from Marietta's necklace. He'd forgotten she wore the d.a.m.n thing still. Lorenzo reached over and touched the shiny nameplate. The raised letters sc.r.a.ped his finger. His wife sighed from his touch and dropped her head over to the right. Thankfully in doing so she revealed the tiny clasp that kept the necklace attached. He gently ran his finger over it. Marietta didn't stir. Careful and with ease he worked open the clasp with his middle finger and thumb. The chain and charm dropped to the crease of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Lorenzo reached in and lifted the chain. He held it out in front of him aware of what its discovery could cost his wife. He reasoned he'd put it somewhere safe, until the time came when she could wear it again. Lorenzo tucked it into his pocket. He returned his gaze to the dark sky outside of his window. His plan had better work.

* B *

Catalina knocked. When she heard no answer she opened the door. Dominic was in his room, not the villa they shared. She waited for hours before finally giving up. And to find him in bed reading doc.u.ments by lamplight tore at her heart.

"What are you doing in here?" she asked with a curious smile.

"Need something?" he anwered in an unusually dry clipped manner. He continued to read the contract before him. The dismissal threw her. Dominic never dismissed her.

"Need something? Look who has an att.i.tude," Catalina chuckled. "You were supposed to meet me down at the beach house. I can't very well sleep in here with you now can I?"

Dominic didn't respond. Catalina pulled her bottom lip between her two teeth and looked around. She didn't understand his mood. But her guy had a tough job. He was ent.i.tled to it. "You missed dinner, Domi. I waited for you. I can warm something up for you and bring it in here? What's wrong? Do you feel okay?"

He sighed. He s.n.a.t.c.hed off his spectacles and pressed the bridge of his nose with two fingers. "I'm tired. Get out."

"What did you say to me?" Catalina asked.

"I said. I'm tired. Vattene!" Dominic shouted.

"Why are you acting like this?" she asked.

"Why?" he answered.

"Yes! Why?" Catalina demanded.

"I talked to Giovanni, asked him to let us marry." Dominic stared her in the eye when he spoke. "What do you think he said?"

A deep sigh escaped her lips. He wasn't angry with her. He was mad with her brother. For a minute she felt the uncertain panic that she had done something to hurt him. "He said no?"

Dominic smiled. "And you know why."

"I told you Gio wouldn't let us get married. You can't get mad at me for any of this. I'm just as upset about his att.i.tude as you are."

"Are you? Because I think it's pretty f.u.c.king scary to see how easy it is for you to lie to my face!" He tossed aside the covers and sat upright to the side of the bed.

"Wait. Wait, I'm missing something? You're mad at me for predicting how Gio would react? Or are you mad at me for something else? Stop talking around it and tell me what has you behaving like this!"

Dominic let go a bitter chuckle.

"Domi, I'm serious!"

"After everything we've been through, you go to Gio and tell him that you don't want to marry me?"

"No! No I did not. Gio is twisting things. I only asked him to talk to you. To help you see that marrying right now isn't right for us. I never said I didn't want to marry you. Never!" The pain and hurt deep in his eyes stopped her heart. "Let me explain, Domi."

"f.u.c.k your explanation!" he seethed. "I never wanted to be your f.u.c.king crush, your plaything. I wanted something... f.u.c.k what I want. It's over. Do you hear me?" He pointed his finger at her. "Giovanni has won. You've won. I know my place."

"No, stop this, stop talking to me like this!" she began to cry.

"We're over. Go be a designer, whatever it is you want. I give up on this bulls.h.i.t."

"Why?" she shouted now reduced to tears. "Why is it all or nothing with you? I don't want to get married right away and that means I don't love you? I want a career and that threatens you?"

Dominic stared at her unmoved.

"Answer me you coward!" she shouted and sobbed.

"You play too many f.u.c.king games to be the woman I need. Always pulling my f.u.c.king strings. Going behind my back to Gio makes me look weak. And you knew that! But you did it for you, not us. I'm done!"

Catalina wiped away her tears. "You're so full of s.h.i.t, Dominic. I never forced you to do anything. Ever! You're just scared. I don't know what of. But just like you I don't need a f.u.c.king boy. I need a man. And it evidently isn't you!"

She turned and walked out. Just as the door closed she heard something crash inside the room. Catalina sobbed and fled to her room.

* B *

Giovanni closed the door to his bedroom softly. He had to take a call that kept him away from his bedtime story duties. Mira and Eve slept in soundless bliss together. The summer moon bathed the room with a silvery natural light and he could see them both clearly. He approached the bed with his hands shoved down in his pockets. Eve slept on her stomach. The little cherry plug she loved so much was stuck in her mouth.

When would his firefly ever let the thing go? He wondered.

His gaze switched to Mira's form. It had been a strange day. The argument with Dominic left things unsettled between them. The disturbance in the Campania kept his thoughts muddled with worry. Tonight he needed his wife. He wanted to feel her against his heart and hold her until sleep claimed him. Giovanni lifted his daughter from the bed. She didn't wake. He carried her to the crib they had placed in the room. When he laid her down her little hand fell over and he saw the golden bracelet on her wrist.

He paused and stared at the jewelry unsure of its origin. He then lifted her wrist and inspected it. Mira had taken the Mancini bracelet and put it on his daughter. His daughter! His first inclination was to s.n.a.t.c.h it off. The sight of it against Eve's skin made the hairs to the back of his nape rise and his stomach sour. But if he removed the bracelet he would have to explain his reason. He glanced back to the bed. Mira slept on her side, with her back toward him. She had hurled some very truthful accusations at him earlier. He did feel guilty over his decisions regarding her Mancini blood, and the sister she didn't know existed. Yet he tolerated no manipulations on her part. The hypocrisy of their life wouldn't change as long as he felt justified in his actions. And keeping her from Mancini was for her wellbeing, and their daughter's.

He picked up the blanket and covered his bambina. He stared at her for a long moment. He imagined what type of woman she'd grow up to be. Strong, confident, intelligent, she'd have the life she deserved.

Afterwards he dragged himself to bed. He eased under the covers having stripped off his clothes. Mirabella wore a nightdress that had risen up to her expanded waist. He lifted the covers and stared at her thighs. Even swollen with child she had a remarkable body.

Giovanni eased in closer to her. He ran his hand over her thigh to touch her and ignored the rising in his erection.

"Mmm, I'm h.o.r.n.y," Mira scooted in close to him. Her belly pressed up against his chest. He caressed her spine, squeezed her a.s.s.

"So am I." he said.

Her eyes flashed open. "Are you, baby?" she touched his face. "Awe, my poor husband." He stared into her eyes liking the way she touched his face. He had to nod and admit that he wished he could have more than a kiss good night.

"Then let me take care of that," she lifted.