Amore by Sienna Mynx Page A

Still her attire was understated, classy, and Marietta knew it.
    “Well I guess you have changed, Ms. Priss. You look… all prim and proper,” Shae said with the wrinkle of her nose.
    Marietta swallowed her smile. “Liar. Bitch, I look sexy, pampered, rich.”
    Shae rolled her eyes and giggled. “That’s my Mae! I knew you were in there behind that fake smile.”
    “Oh cut the bullshit and point out the luggage!” Marietta laughed. Shae did. Renaldo was able to handle all the bags, and Shae travelled with three. One empty suitcase for all the shopping she intended to do in Italy. Shae was what Marietta would call hood-rich. She worked the clubs and did private parties in her early twenties. When business got really good she started her own escort company. She had girls who did bachelor parties and special events for sports stars and rappers. Shae said music videos were where the money and future clients were. Those video shoots sent her all over the world. Marietta was once one of those girls for hire. They were the same age, but Shae always had more confidence and business savvy. She gave Marietta her first loan to open her furniture business, and helped her when her adoptive parents turned her away.
    Once in the car and on the road Marietta relaxed. Shae had a client, or boyfriend, that was some big time general. The man flew to Chicago regularly to see her.
    “So how’s Joe?” Marietta asked.
    “Dead,” Shae answered softly.
    “Wait what? Dead?” Marietta asked.
    Shae glanced over at her with tears in her eyes. “He had a heart attack. I wasn’t with him. His son called and told me. I couldn’t come to the funeral. His wife would take one look at me and have her own heart attack on the spot.” Shae chuckled, but it was a sad empty chuckle. “I’m done, girl. I’m done being the side chick. I think you had the right idea. I need a change.”
    “I can understand change,” Marietta smiled. “Lord knows I made a big one when I married Lo.”
    “So tell me all about him. This Sicilian you married?” Shae asked.
    “He’s my man. All mine. I can’t describe him. You have to meet him. Trust me, when you meet him it will make sense.”
    “I’m confused. You were all worked up to find your mother and father in Italy. Then bam!” Shae snapped her fingers. “You call me and say you got married?”
    “Yeah, it happened fast. He knocked me off my feet. Literally.” Marietta laughed.
    “What’s funny?” Shae asked.
    “Nothing. Private joke. I love him, girl. I’ve never loved a man so much. He’s like part of me in a weird way. We both fuck up, but we get each other. I love him with all my heart.”
    Shae cast her a funny look. Marietta shrugged. It was the truth. She didn’t care about the tough girl act she had with Shae. What she had with Lorenzo was one hundred percent real, and she’d kill any bitch who tried to come between them.
    “And your sister? That’s the real mind-fuck. Shit, people at home I told didn’t believe it until we saw you on the news. Girl! I would have met you in New York when you came. I turn on the TV and see you walking out the Waldorf in a mink coat. Bitch! I almost fell over. What is she like? Mirabella? That bitch is the baddest in—”
    “Shae, drop the ‘B’ word. Okay?” Marietta sighed.
    “What? Bitch? It’s a term of endearment, you know that!” Shae laughed. What she said was half-true. She and the girls used the word ‘bitch’ as a compliment of the fiercest, or as a deepest insult for treachery. It depended on how you phrased it in a sentence.
    “Here they call my sister ‘Donna’. And everyone gives her respect.”
    “Why is that her middle name or something?” Shae frowned.
    Marietta laughed. “No. It means lady in Italian. For the family, she’s the head next to her husband. He’s the Don and she’s the Donna. Get it?”
    “Oooooh, okay. I get it.” Shae nodded.
    “Good, because you will call her that too. She’s really sweet,