disclose who I am or what you see tonight to anyone, even the priest?”
Her full lips parted. Carlo wanted to kiss her then, but restraint is best when a woman has endured far more than he could ever comprehend.
Sophie said, “I vow Don Dichenzo, death will not break my silence.”
“Bene,” he said and then released her. He stopped at a convenience store to buy clean bandages for her wound s and a T-shirt and overalls before checking in at a nearby motel under the name Tony Black.
He had seen the name in a book and figured what the hell. By morning he and the donna will soar over the Atlantic and he would have avenged his love’s pride.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Luzo stood in the center of the floor. His angry voice was raised by several octaves in chastisement. The young brother facing him down had the fiery countenance of their mother, may she rest in peace. He had arrived when informed about the situation with Sabrina Deguardino. The girl’s father was indebted by large sums to the Mangenini’s. His gambling debts were exorbitant and the daughter, through investigation was known to be unwell. A malady of the mind that medication could not cure, yet this is the girl Alberti impregnated during a romp in a flower garden and called it love.
“You will never see her. That is my order fratellino!”
“I cannot desert her when she is sick,” Alberti countered.
“We will deal with the father. Payment will keep his silence but you must stay away from her. Did this incident not show you the danger of being in close proximity?”
“In the most trying of times a man who says he loves will suffer trials. But, love requires forgiveness and not abandonment when empathy is needed most!”
Luzo recoiled. “What philosophical nonsense!”
“Nonsense perhaps to an incompetent gardener, who tends the decrepit weeds, neglects the flowers and fails to give water to blooming affections.”
Angered by Alberti’s poetic insults, Luzo seized his brother’s arm and brought him close to his barreled chest. “Silenzio cazzo, and do not speak to me of boyhood crushes in romantic gibberish. The girl is insane. She tried to kill your blood, my nipote. She is the daughter of papa’s enemy and engaged to a family that detests who we are. You are a love-struck fool who has thrown away reason and created justifications that you drink and then spit out like a simpleton. Stay away from her Alberti, that is my order, capisce?”
“You return after years of luxurious living and seek to order me about fratello. I am of maturity. You are not our father. He died along with our beloved mama and sisters. Where were you then or when I needed you fratello…why did you wait so long to come back…why did you come back at all…I do not want you here…you are not my brother Salvatore…he died!”
Luzo socked the disrespectful boy in the mouth. He spiraled over the low table and glared up at his elder brother with undisguised venom. Luzo’s shoulders then sagged. He had returned for his little brother. He had missed the love he had remembered from his childhood. His family had been desecrated, yet he had hoped he would still find love in his young sibling who had once looked at him with adoring eyes. He felt loveless now. His heart clamped closed.
Ernesto had remained in his seat. It is to the elder man, Luzo spoke. “If he disobeys my order, kill the girl!”
Luzo stormed out of the house. Alberti had murdered his heart with words.
Ernesto had not intervened in the altercation. Luzo was right. When Alberti stood upright, it is a father’s authority that a dutiful son heard.
“The twins will remain with your mama and me as agreed. You will learn business from your brother. You will not contact Sabrina Deguardino or you risk her death. Va, freshen up, your mama is due home and there is a lot we must discuss about the children’s care.”
Alberti lifted his chin. “I am a uomo papa, not a boy. I
Her full lips parted. Carlo wanted to kiss her then, but restraint is best when a woman has endured far more than he could ever comprehend.
Sophie said, “I vow Don Dichenzo, death will not break my silence.”
“Bene,” he said and then released her. He stopped at a convenience store to buy clean bandages for her wound s and a T-shirt and overalls before checking in at a nearby motel under the name Tony Black.
He had seen the name in a book and figured what the hell. By morning he and the donna will soar over the Atlantic and he would have avenged his love’s pride.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Luzo stood in the center of the floor. His angry voice was raised by several octaves in chastisement. The young brother facing him down had the fiery countenance of their mother, may she rest in peace. He had arrived when informed about the situation with Sabrina Deguardino. The girl’s father was indebted by large sums to the Mangenini’s. His gambling debts were exorbitant and the daughter, through investigation was known to be unwell. A malady of the mind that medication could not cure, yet this is the girl Alberti impregnated during a romp in a flower garden and called it love.
“You will never see her. That is my order fratellino!”
“I cannot desert her when she is sick,” Alberti countered.
“We will deal with the father. Payment will keep his silence but you must stay away from her. Did this incident not show you the danger of being in close proximity?”
“In the most trying of times a man who says he loves will suffer trials. But, love requires forgiveness and not abandonment when empathy is needed most!”
Luzo recoiled. “What philosophical nonsense!”
“Nonsense perhaps to an incompetent gardener, who tends the decrepit weeds, neglects the flowers and fails to give water to blooming affections.”
Angered by Alberti’s poetic insults, Luzo seized his brother’s arm and brought him close to his barreled chest. “Silenzio cazzo, and do not speak to me of boyhood crushes in romantic gibberish. The girl is insane. She tried to kill your blood, my nipote. She is the daughter of papa’s enemy and engaged to a family that detests who we are. You are a love-struck fool who has thrown away reason and created justifications that you drink and then spit out like a simpleton. Stay away from her Alberti, that is my order, capisce?”
“You return after years of luxurious living and seek to order me about fratello. I am of maturity. You are not our father. He died along with our beloved mama and sisters. Where were you then or when I needed you fratello…why did you wait so long to come back…why did you come back at all…I do not want you here…you are not my brother Salvatore…he died!”
Luzo socked the disrespectful boy in the mouth. He spiraled over the low table and glared up at his elder brother with undisguised venom. Luzo’s shoulders then sagged. He had returned for his little brother. He had missed the love he had remembered from his childhood. His family had been desecrated, yet he had hoped he would still find love in his young sibling who had once looked at him with adoring eyes. He felt loveless now. His heart clamped closed.
Ernesto had remained in his seat. It is to the elder man, Luzo spoke. “If he disobeys my order, kill the girl!”
Luzo stormed out of the house. Alberti had murdered his heart with words.
Ernesto had not intervened in the altercation. Luzo was right. When Alberti stood upright, it is a father’s authority that a dutiful son heard.
“The twins will remain with your mama and me as agreed. You will learn business from your brother. You will not contact Sabrina Deguardino or you risk her death. Va, freshen up, your mama is due home and there is a lot we must discuss about the children’s care.”
Alberti lifted his chin. “I am a uomo papa, not a boy. I
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