AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Franco paused, and a few of the wives tilted their heads.
“I want you to know how much I appreciate the special role you take in your families, as part of the Fiorvanti family.” Franco kept his hand on Elvira’s shoulder. “Donna Elvira is the perfect wife and mother, and I wouldn’t be successful without her love and devotion.”
The wives smiled, surprised, since it was unusual for a man to make such an admission, much less thecapo di tutti capi.
“My wife would be the first one to tell you how much I loved my mother, and how close I was to her. And whenever I step out of line, I always have my mother here, in the spirit of Signora Esposito.” Franco glanced at Signora Esposito, who rolled her eyes, and the wives laughed. Franco continued, “You are the wives, you are the mothers, and you are the hearts of our families. I want you to know how much I personally appreciate you.”
Signora Esposito motioned to her staff, who appeared with gifts wrapped in silvery paper and began distributing them. The wives smiled, cooed, and clucked, and it was time for Franco to go.
“I’ll leave while you open these gifts, because my wife deserves the credit. She picked them out at a fine shop in town, as an everlasting token of our gratitude.” Franco nodded graciously. “Thank you, again.”
Franco turned and walked away to the delighted squeals of the women opening their gifts. Each box contained a necklace of the finest coral beads with an ornate gold clasp, which had cost him a small fortune. Signora Esposito assured him that women loved coral, and Elvira had agreed.
Franco was sending the wives home happy. Tonight, the talk on the pillows would go his way.
But it was only a prelude to his meeting with Roberto’s men.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Gaetano gestured with pride to La Cala, the harbor. Clipper ships with soaring masts floated on a vibrantly blue ocean. Sunshine glittered like stars on the rippling waves, and fishermen hauled in their catch or mended nets with big needles. Women haggled over fish mounded slick on large metal scales.
“Yes,” Dante answered, but he was angry inside. He couldn’t enjoy the sight without brooding over what could have been. He should have seen the beautiful ocean every day. He should have eaten fresh tuna instead of rotted fish heads. He should have breathed a salty breeze, not fetid air. He had no pride of place, like Gaetano. He was a stranger in his own hometown. All because of what his father had done.
Dante hadn’t slept last night, shaken after meeting Don Matteo and Donna Angelina. He grieved his mother and his father, too—or, at least, the man he called Papa. Lucia still hadn’t come back, though he’d called to her from the backyard. He feared she would never return and now he understood why. Everyone on the street was dark, but Lucia would always be light. He felt lost without her, which intensified his bitterness. He could have offeredherso much more, but for his father.
Gaetano pointed. “That’s the prison where I spent fifteen years.”
Dante looked ahead to see a massive building like a castle, with turrets on its corners. Latticed bars covered its windows, where inmates crowded to see their families, who stood outside on boxes to reach them. “Did you hate it, like I hated the madhouse?”
“No, I had friends here and still do. They’re good men, even though they’ve done bad things. Today I’m hoping they’ll help us.”
“How?”
“You’ll see.” Gaetano ushered Dante across the street, and the families and inmates called to him.
“Look, it’s Gaetano!” “Did you bring that macaroni Maria makes?” “We miss you!”
“I miss you all!” Gaetano called back. “But today I need help! May I interrupt your visits, friends?”
“Yes, of course! We’re at your disposal!”
“Thank you.” Gaetano addressed them all. “Friends, if you remember the day I left, a man named One-Eye passed away. Big Feet was one of his cellmates, and his cell was on this side of the building.”
“Yes, it’s me, Big Feet! I remember!”
“Big Feet, when One-Eye passed, he confessed to putting a kidnapped boy in the madhouse! Remember, you heard him confess?”
“Certainly!”
“Well, I’m here to introduce my friend Dante Michangeli. Dante is the young man whom One-Eye hid in the madhouse. Poor Dante lived there his entire life, though he’s as sane as you and me!”
The inmates erupted in anger. “That’s terrible!” “Poor Dante!”
Dante flushed. Everyone was staring at him. The inmates kept calling to him, and their families joined the chorus.
Gaetano faced the inmates. “Here’s how you can help us, friends. One-Eye told me he had a partner, and the partner kidnapped Dante from his mother at the Saint Rosalia festival. We need to figure out who One-Eye’s partner was. Big Feet, back then, you didn’t know him.” Gaetano paused. “Friends, think about the times you spoke with One-Eye or heard him speak to other people. Maybe you saw himwith family or visitors, who brought him food or merely spoke with him. Try to remember. One of you must have seen One-Eye withsomebody.”
The inmates burst into puzzled chatter. “I can’t think of anyone!” “I never saw him get a visitor!” “He was a loner, astronzo!”
