CHRISTIANO

Six

Carina

"Oh my God, Paulo, that woman is driving me insane. I feel like pulling my hair out. How many times do I have to tell her I don't want anything?"

"She's a bit slow but finally she'll understand. Just be patient"

"If she asks whether I'm okay one more time, I swear I'll shoot her" Paulo chuckles and I want to shoot him too "Why are you laughing? Do you think this is funny?"

"No. It's just that you said the same thing a few months ago before we went to the Maldives"

"Maldives? Are you telling me we went to the Maldives and I forgot about it?" I screech feeling like shooting someone for real. How could I forget going there? I've seen the photos on their website and that place looks like heaven "At least tell me we met some hot guys and had wild s*x on the beach"

"There were hot guys alright. You were too busy to notice them"

"Busy with what?" he shakes his head and I realize this is one of those things he's been hiding from me. I noticed that everyone is telling me half-truths. They'd start talking then when I ask a question, they would just clam up, which makes me wonder what it is they're hiding from me. I found out Giovanni is my biological father and that the other woman that was with Ornella is Marianna. The same one I hated when we were kids and tried to kill. I can't even begin to explain how I felt, how I still feel. Paulo thought it wouldn't be a big deal to tell me that because I already knew. Let's just say that I've felt like punching him more times in the past three months than I have ever felt since he started working for me

"We can go back if you want. The Maldives. Just say the word and we'll leave right this second"

"Let's go then" I would go anywhere as long as that Ornella isn't there. Who knew mothers could be so nagging? And she's only like that with me. Marianna doesn't get half the attention I get. The funny thing is she doesn't care. This is the same person who used to cut my hair because it was prettier than hers. How is she not fighting for our mother's attention? Did she change that much?

Then there's her boyfriend who happens to be Padre's real son. Apparently, he used to date Aurora who by the way is dead. So now he's the new boss, something Marianna hasn't stopped bragging about. As if anyone cares. Have I mentioned his mother Fabrizia? She's a nut case. When Ornella isn't busy breathing down my neck, she's off fighting with Fabrizia because she helped Giovanni lie to Lombardi about Marianna being his daughter. In short, this house is a circus, one I'd like to get far away from.

"I'll call Gianna and Simona so they can start packing. Cheer up, this time we'll definitely get ourselves some hot guys"

Left alone in my room, I wonder who the man that came to see me was. I couldn't see his face properly but I would know those eyes anywhere. I've looked for him in crowds on the streets, in clubs, parties, basically everywhere I went, I searched, hoping to see him again. Surprisingly, I didn't tell anyone about him. I want to know who he is but every time I tried to open mouth and ask Paulo about him, I would stop. Maybe because I think I dreamt about him and that he's not real. Just like Carla wasn't.

I asked Gianna, Simona, Paulo, Silvano, even Marianna if they know who Carla is but they all gave me the same answer. They have never heard of anyone who goes by that name. For some reason, I was disappointed which is why I haven't dared ask them about that man. If I think about that day hard enough, I can still feel his lips on mine. His hand caressing my face. To keep the memory of him alive, I won't go finding out if he's real or not. I'd rather think he was there that night than find out I dreamt about him.

"Hey sis, can I come with you this time?" Marianna asks barging into my room. I still find it so weird that she's still alive and isn't the same brat I remember.

"Did Paulo tell you we're leaving?" is he a loudmouth now? Oh God, I should prepare myself for more of Ornella's nagging.

"He asked Giovanni if you guys could go back to the Maldives"

"Shouldn't you be calling him dad or something?" I've noticed she only addresses Ornella as mom which makes me wonder why she doesn't call Giovanni dad.

"I can't bring myself to do it. I know he's our father but every time I look at him, all I see is Padre's right hand. I'm not sure I'll ever see him as my father"

Me either. I guess we really are twins. And it's not just about him being Padre's right hand. He was there when everything happened. When that bastard was torturing us and even when I spent that awful day in the basement surrounded by those slimy things. He could have done something but he didn't. He chose to stay quiet and be the right-hand man. So he's forever going to be the right-hand man and not my father. After all, I have lived my whole life as an orphan who was adopted by Don Lombardi. I've never needed my so-called parents and I won't start needing them now.

"So? Can I come?"

"No. We might be sisters but we are definitely not friends"

"Oh come on, mom is driving me nuts and Giovanni is doing everything he can to keep me away from Damiano. I need a break from those two. Please? Pretty please?"

"I said no...."

"Please, please, please, please" 

She's a mini Ornella. There's no doubt that she's her daughter "I won't share my room with you. As a matter of fact, you'll disappear the second we get there"

"Thank you. I promise you won't even know we're there"

"We?"

"Yeah. Damiano is coming too"

I roll my eyes just as Simona walks in "Isn't he busy with running the organization?"

"I'm sure Giovanni can handle everything while we're away. How long will we be gone? I need to know how much clothes I should pack"

"Three weeks or maybe longer"

"What, you're actually going to let her come with us?" Simona asks glaring at Marianna. She sticks her tongue out at Simona then leaves, to probably go and tell her boyfriend about the good news "She's such a brat. Why did you agree to let her come? You know how she is"

"Relax. I told her we're only giving them a ride. The second we get there, they'll disappear"

"She better. We so need to get holiday boyfriends. Especially some hot foreigners who don't speak English and are really good in bed. Last time we didn't get to have fun because De Lu..." she stops, looking back to see if I heard her. And it is because I was paying attention to her that I know this is one of those moments when they stop talking because they're hiding something from me.

"Why didn't we have fun, Simona?"

"Be... Because.....because Paulo and Silvano were a pain. We had to drag them out of their room every day. Can you believe those two?"

Bullshit. Paulo can be a romantic when he wants to but not always. Silvano on the other hand is a party animal. There is no way he would be told to go out twice so I know Simona is definitely lying. I decide not to push her right now since I know her so well. Not even torture would make her talk if she doesn't want to. The only time she'll open up is when she's drunk. Then you can't stop her even if you stick dirty socks in her mouth. Leaving her to finish packing, I take a shower wondering what it is they are all hiding from me. I've caught everyone freeze when they are talking as if there's something they can't help mentioning but stop when they realize their tongues have slipped.

I wouldn't care if it was Simona's secret. She's allowed to have one. But this has been happening with everyone so I know it has something to do with me. We are at the airport two hours later. Paulo and Silvano check-in for us while Gianna tells us exactly how she plans to spend her holiday this time. Of course, it involves a lot of men and spontaneous s*x. The flight from Rome to the Maldives will take eight hours so we have a lot of time to decide what we'll do once we get there. Of course, Marianna doesn't keep her promise about disappearing. She booked the seats next to us then proceeds to interrupt our conversation with her unwanted input. We ignore her but that doesn't faze her at all. She's one of those people who can carry on a conversation on their own.

At some point, they start talking in pairs and I'm left alone with my thoughts. Not having your memory even if it's only last month's is quite frustrating. People freak out when they don't remember what they did yesterday. When it hit me that I had forgotten seven months of my life, I had a meltdown at the hospital and had to be sedated. A lot had to have happened for me to actually forget. And every day I wake up hoping today will be the day I remember then go to sleep disappointed because I've gotten no closer to remembering anything.

Till death do us part. Till death do us part. Till death....

I startle awake almost jumping off my seat "Hey, are you okay?" Gianna asks with her hand on mine. I shake it off nodding. She decides I need a drink and calls one of the hostesses to get me one. They all order a glass of wine and Marianna turns to me saying

"There's a cute guy who's been checking you out since we boarded. You should like go have some wild s*x with him in the bathroom"

"Why don't you go sleep with him if you want to?" Simona asks glaring at her. She goes on to explain why she can't talk to strangers while her boyfriend is there and I zone her out, wondering what the hell that was.

'Till death do us part?' the only time you'll hear that phrase is during a wedding. I know I'm not married but I still lift my hand to see if I have been so occupied that I didn't notice a ring. There's none. Then why would I dream about it? Is this the thing they're all hiding from me? No f*****g way. Unless I married some peasant boy which is highly unlikely, I don't think my husband would allow anyone to push him out of my life. f**k, my husband? Really? What is wrong with me? I'm starting to think Marianna's idea isn't so bad. s*x with a cute stranger would get these thoughts from my head. The hostess chooses that moment to bring our drinks over and I gulp mine down in one go.

At everyone's shocked look, I ask "Who's ready to party?" I know from experience just how much my crew loves to party. Throw that question around and you'll see just how rowdy they can get. By the time we touch down, we're all half-drunk and the other passengers have had enough of us. Paulo tells me that to get to our hotel, we'll go by boat, which of course is a good idea because it'll be only us and we can be as loud as we want.

"You sir should join us. I'll even share my room with you" Simona tells the boat guy hiccuping.

"It's our room, right Paulo?" that's from Gianna. She winds her arm around mine saying  "We will all stay where we stayed the last time and do everything we did. So two hours of sleep and one hour to get ready. Meet back at the lobby in three hours. Deal?" she's slurring. I'm not sure she'll be up after two hours but I still nod.

"Okay, ma'am. Whatever you say" she giggles as we enter the hotel lobby. Aside from another guy checking in, it's only us. Not forgetting Marianna and Damiano too. The same people who said we wouldn't even notice they were there. The guy at the counter moves aside to let Paulo check us in. Simona says something to Gianna that makes her laugh catching the man's attention. He looks over at us, catching me in the process of staring at him. I was busy looking at those broad shoulders and lean figure. I lift my eyes to his face and let out a gasp.

"Mark?"

*****************************************

Not sure what you guys were expecting but I'll tell you one thing. Mark is going to be a regular this time so prepare to see more of him. That is if you remember who he is.

Are we ready for Carina to start over or should we let her pine for Chris?