BELLA MAFIA by Lynda La Plante Read Free Book Online Page A

not good enough, you could lend me something?"
    "You are welcome to choose anything—"
    Teresa interrupted her curtly. "Thank you, but I'm sure what I've brought will suffice." She left the room.
    Next to arrive was Emilio Luciano, the groom, his young face bright pink with nerves. Constantino leaped down the stairs two at a time and clasped his nephew-to-be in his arms. Filippo, with shaving cream on his face and wearing only his trousers, appeared at the top of the stairs and then, amazingly, glided down the banisters to land in the hall. The children attempted to emulate him by sliding, belly down, on the polished wooden rail.
    Amid the congratulations, the backslapping, the shouting and teasing, Graziella stood bursting with happiness. These were her boys, her sons, her grandsons. She seemed unaware of the mayhem, of the fact that Filippo wore only his trousers; she just clapped her hands, hunching her shoulders coyly when one or another of her boys paid her an outrageous compliment.
    "Who is this young woman? Where's our mama, eh? You telling me this beauty is our mama? How come you don't age, huh?"
    As Graziella gestured ineffectually for them all to go into the living room, Rosa hurtled into Emilio's arms. They kissed, to a round of applause. In mock desperation Graziella brought out a gong, as she had done when the boys were little. She banged it, hughing, and one by one they drifted in.
    Graziella served espresso, and once they all were settled and the initial excitement was over, she made an excuse to get more coffee.
    "I'll do that, Grandmama."
    "No, no, Rosa, I have to check on supper."
    Graziella crossed the hall, but instead of going toward the kitchen, she entered the dining room. Alone, she let out a long, deep sigh; the tension of having to hide her feelings had exhausted her. She pushed the shutters open slightly and checked her watch. He should have been home by now. He had said no later than five, and it was already past that. The florists, the builders and decorators had all gone, the family had arrived, and still, there was no sign of him. He always phoned if he was even fifteen minutes late. Why hadn't he called today of all days?
    The telephone rang shrilly, and Graziella gasped with shock. She hurried into the hall as Adina replaced the phone.
    "It was a message for you, signora. Don Roberto should be home in a few moments. He tried to get through earlier, but someone must have been using the telephone."
    Graziella crossed herself. "Thank you, Adina. Make some fresh coffee, and check that all the extensions are unplugged. Leave only the phones in the hall and the study connected."
    Adina nodded. Something was very wrong. She had felt it in her mistress days before the arrival of the family. But she dared not ask; she could only pretend she was unaware of it.
    Graziella joined her family, sitting together in the cozy living room. Smiling, she passed around cakes and pastries.
    "This is the first time we are all at home together, so that is what we celebrate tonight, the family."
    Constantino became aware of his mother's frequent glances at the gold carriage clock on the big mantel. She kept a small smile on her face, but her eyes betrayed her nervousness.
    "Are you worried about something?" he whispered, kissing her hand.
    "Your papa is late. Next thing I know, dinner will be ruined."
    Filippo, eating a slice of cake, asked loudly, "Mama, what's with the army of guards out front of the house?"
    Graziella ignored the question. "If you all wish to change, bathe, then we must come to some arrangement about the hot water. Sophia, you want to go first, see to the boys?"
    Don Roberto Luciano's two sons looked at each other.
    Something was definitely wrong. Constantino gave Sophia a small nod of his head to take the boys out; putting her half-full cup down, she called them and immediately left the room.
    Filippo looked hard at Teresa. She frowned, not understanding.
    "Take Rosa up to finish unpacking, will