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She hugged her tightly. “I believe you.”

A few knocks before the door opened and Giovanni looked up to see Lorenzo enter. He paused from drying his hair, a towel around his waist. He stared at his cousin. The bruises over his face hadn’t healed; in fact they’d darkened to purple and yellowish swelling around both eyes.

“What is it?”

“Welcome home.”

“I’m in no mood. Leave.”

“Gio. I haven’t heard a word in three days. I know something is going on. How bad is it?” Lorenzo closed the door.

“Where’s Giuseppe’s body?” Giovanni asked. The question stopped Lorenzo in his tracks. “Answer me.”

“Bellagio, I drove it out of the Denelli place deep into the hamlets near the cliffs. I buried him and abandoned his car. No one will find the body.”

Giovanni tossed the towel. “The old man doesn’t believe his son is dead. He continues to order his men to search. Angelo however, called a meeting of several families and I was not invited. It’s only a matter of time before he strikes. Without the body surfacing, I’m not sure who will align with him. I am certain that Angelo believes it to be you that killed Giuseppe.”

“Then send me back to Bellagio. Fuck it, I can face Angelo. I can draw them away from the family.”

“How selfless of you.” Giovanni shook his head. “I’ve had to deal with the Nigerians. They’ve interceded with our deal with the Irish. Our guns are gone. Do you understand the ramifications of your actions now? The longer I delay the guns being delivered to Sicily the more incompetent we appear.” Giovanni tossed the damp towel and glared. “You will stay the fuck out of my sight until after the wedding. I don’t want or need your help.”

Lorenzo wiped his hand down his jaw. “You can’t always do it alone, Gio. You have to trust someone.”

Giovanni gestured with a flick of his hand under his chin to fuck off. Lorenzo stormed out. Pacing he tried to calm himself. The guns gone, the Nigerians demanding a new deal. Things were falling apart. And he felt powerless to stop it.

The Wedding

Putting down the comb, she inspected herself in the mirror. She’d chosen to wear a green dress that wrapped sweetly around her curves and crossed over her ample bosom. She made it for the wedding, for him. Cut from a special silk fabric it flowed to the floor and parted with a tasteful split when she walked. Her hair had to be worn straight. She had no time to curl it after working out the thickness, so she trimmed her bangs and made sure they measured evenly across her brow and framed her face like that of an Egyptian goddess. Putting on the 2 ct. diamond earrings in each ear, she then reached for her jewelry box and removed the matching solitaire necklace on a thin platinum chain to put on her neck. Just then she heard the door open and looked up in the mirror to see who stepped inside.

Giovanni appeared wearing his black and white tux. His dark hair was groomed away from his face and his blue eyes had a clear crystal blue hue to them under long thick lashes. She smiled at his reflection in her mirror. The man in a tux was breathtaking. Together they made quite a pair.

Struggling to put her necklace on she communicated with her eyes, beckoning him to come closer.

“Let me help, Bella.” He stepped behind her, and his fingers brushed her hands. Mira allowed it. Once done he scooped her hair in his hands and lifted her long mane to reveal her neck and back. “You know I love to see you in this dress, and this color,” he said, gazing down at her backside. “Will you ride with me to the wedding?” he asked. “It’s what I want.”

She glanced up at him in the mirror. “I intended to.” She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You look devastatingly handsome too.” A kiss brushed her lips from his, and she relaxed against his body. “Maybe you can come to New York with me?” she said.

Giovanni held her. “Come with you?”

“Yes. I have some business to attend to, and I can show you the city, the way you showed me Italy. I…” Mira bit on her bottom lip. “I don’t know how long it will take before my return, and I’d miss you terribly while I’m gone.”

“Then stay.”

“Giovanni.”

“You can conduct business here. Call in the people you need. Haven’t I brought your dress making materials here?”

Mira chuckled. “I’m a business woman, a successful designer. My business is more than cutting fabric. Don’t be so stubborn. When was the last time you took a vacation? Come with me Giovanni. Let’s discover what this is between us.”

He ran his hands down her back, and she pressed in on his hard frame. “I already know what this is between us.Amore. I love you,” he whispered.

She offered him another kiss; it was deep and plunging. Capturing her breath and pushing back from their passion she panted. “I love you too.”

She felt him stiffen. He drew back and frowned down at her. Mira smirked and nodded that she felt the same.

“You sure? What about your time table?”

“When it’s love, it’s love.”