La Famiglia Read Free Page B

will be a girl. That’s what I think,” Dominic grinned wider. “Pretty with red hair like Ma-ma.”
    Giovanni’s brows lowered. “Well don’t say that to Patri. He wants a boy I’m sure.” What took Giovanni most by surprise was that Dominic called Eve ‘Ma-ma’. That had to be progress. Giovanni smiled a little. “No matter if it is a boy or a girl you will be a big brother soon, like me. You will have to protect the baby. Can you make this vow to me?”
    “Sí. I will.” Dominic nodded. “I will protect the baby always. It will be my baby too.”
    “I believe you, Domi,” Giovanni smiled. Despite his ego he embraced the boy again. Silently he vowed to protect Dominic always. “Let’s go find Madre and see what she has on the stove.”
     
    June 16, 1992 – Sorrento, Italy
    A shot fired. Like a cannon blast the echo thundered each time Mira pulled the trigger.  Birds took flight from the branches of tall trees. Insects were startled into silence and adrenaline pumped through every chamber of her heart. Mira held tight to the weapon, breathing through her nose. She concentrated on the task before her.
    “ Bravissima! Again.” Giovanni clapped.
    Mira raised the gun steady with one hand firm on the trigger and the other on the grip used for support. What Giovanni didn’t acknowledge was the recoil interfered with her aim. She found greater success when she aimed a fraction lower than her intended target. Before her were six cans and two jars lined up. She fired three more times shattering one jar and missing two cans. Giovanni stepped over. He moved his cigar in his jaw, and she frowned when he exhaled smoke that reached around to tickle her nose. She was pregnant for Christ’s sake, and still he wouldn’t let go of his damned cigars.
    First his hands went down her hips and next she felt him press into her backside. Not for arousal, though contact this way made her heart flutter faster than the wings of a trapped butterfly. He touched her, oblivious of her excitement, intent on calming her. And then his arms lifted, extended and covered hers. He kept his hands on her wrist to level the direction of the shot.
    “I should do it the way I feel comfortable,” she protested. How was she supposed to concentrate this way? Giovanni’s presence almost always had an affect on her. And lately it was hormonal. If she wasn’t hungry, or horny, she was a crying bundle of nerves. She needed space. “Giovanni, I’m serious. I want to do this on my own.”
    He lifted his hands from her wrist and stepped to her side—granting her wish. She peeked over at him and then quickly returned her gaze to the target.
    “Renaldo, remove the cans and put a target for Bella on that tree,” he ordered.
    Mira rolled her eyes. She lowered the gun and waited for the target change. So he’s going to make it harder because I don’t need him babying me? Once Renaldo completed the task Mira leveled the gun with the most plausible aim. Giovanni too stared straight ahead. Removing the cigar from his mouth he put the burning end out with his thumb. “ Concentrare, Bella , you empty the clip until there is nothing standing. You kill every time you pull the trigger.”
    She nodded. “ Sì . I know. I know.”
    “On my mark,” he said. Again he returned and stepped behind her. He eased his hands around to hold the swell of her round belly and allow her to rest her weight against him.
    “Gio—” she began to protest.
    “Shh…” he kissed her cheek. “You need me, Bella, for now. And when you don’t I won’t hold on so tight anymore. I promise.”
    Mira smiled. There would be no escape from his instruction until he determined it necessary. At six months pregnant she found she was swollen everywhere. People who saw her always guessed her to be eight months at the very least. The twins weighed like bowling balls in her uterus. But she managed. And due to his love and encouragement she made it through many difficult weeks. For