Chapter 24

           TheSiciliansun,early-morninglemon-colored,filledMichael’sbedroom.Heawokeand,feelingApollonia’ssatinybodyagainsthisownsleep-warmskin,madehercomeawakewithlove.Whentheyweredone,evenallthemonthsofcompletepossessioncouldnotstophimfrommarvelingatherbeautyandherpassion.

           Sheleftthebedroomtowashanddressinthebathroomdownthehall.Michael,stillnaked,themorningsunrefreshinghisbody,litacigaretteandrelaxedonthebed.Thiswasthelastmorningtheywouldspendinthishouseandthevilla.DonTommasinohadarrangedforhimtobetransferredtoanothertownonthesoutherncoastofSicily.Apollonia,inthefirstmonthofpregnancy,wantedtovisitwithherfamilyforafewweeksandwouldjoinhimatthenewhidingplaceafterthevisit.

           Thenightbefore,DonTommasinohadsatwithMichaelinthegardenafterApolloniahadgonetobed.TheDonhadbeenworriedandtired,andadmittedthathewasconcernedaboutMichael’ssafety."Yourmarriagebroughtyouintosight,"hetoldMichael:"I’msurprisedyourfatherhasn’tmadearrangementsforyoutogosomeplaceelse.InanycaseI’mhavingmyowntroubleswiththeyoungTurksinPalermo.I’veofferedsomefairarrangementssothattheycanwettheirbeaksmorethantheydeserve,butthosescumwanteverything.Ican’tunderstandtheirattitude.They’vetriedafewlittletricksbutI’mnotsoeasytokill.TheymustknowI’mtoostrongforthemtoholdmesocheaply.Butthat’sthetroublewithyoungpeople,nomatterhowtalented.