Giacomo's Patience

Giacomo’s Patience

BOOK 2

Famiglia Conti Series

Published by Grace Kagni at Smashwords

Copyright © 2013 Grace Kagni

Version 3 - © 2019 Grace Kagni

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to women who are going through breast cancer treatment and to those who have survived. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

From the Author

This year some family members and friends have had to go through cancer treatment and it made me think about the important things in life. Often we are too busy to spend time together and it is when health issues arise that we stop to think. This book is to remind us that kindness shouldn't be bestowed upon others only during their moment of need.

Too often we make excuses for not spending time with loved ones but it is when we grow older and wiser that we realize life is all about the memories that we carry with us.

I've been working hard preparing some free stuff for you all. When you sign up to my newsletter, you'll receive a #FREE hot and spicy Italian novella by Rita Gracie the moment you submit your email address. You'll be able to start reading it within minutes. Click on the below link to sign up.

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A warm thank you to Ada Frost for the wonderful book cover.

Other books by Grace Kagni

Famiglia Conti Series

Marco's Vines – Book 1

Giacomo's Patience – Book 2

Serena's Cellars - Book 3

Matteo's Challenge - Book 4

Italian Politics (The Billionaire's Affair) Series

Scandal - Book 1

Breakup - Book 2

Promise - Book 3

Miller Family Series

Liam's Best – Book 1

Dalton's Embrace – Book 2

Tessa's Flame – Book 3

Stand alone

Dreaming Victoria

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Prologue

As Giacomo Conti sat in his garden, he put his head back and listened to the quietness of his surroundings after a stressful morning at the office. Work was becoming unbearable—there were times when he wanted to walk out and do something completely different, and yet he knew he couldn’t put his family down like that. It wasn’t just a job—it was a family business and he needed to keep up his share of the work.

He took a sip of his beer and listened to the birds as they chirped in the large trees on his property. Giacomo knew it was fatigue that was making his mind run wild again. He really needed some time off to destress. He usually didn’t mind all the traveling, but this time, his trip to the States was stressful enough to keep him up at night.

Giacomo was lost in his thoughts when the sound of his phone ringing brought him back to reality.

Hello?

Giacomo, will you be home later? We've decided to take you up on your offer of a barbecue, his sister-in-law, Leena, said.

Yes, come on over. I’ll pop by the store to get a few things for dinner, Giacomo said before hanging up. It was what he needed—an afternoon with the family to forget about work obligations.

He called his brother, Matteo, and his sister, Serena, to invite them to the barbecue too. Then he went to change into a pair of jeans and a polo shirt before getting into his red Ferrari FF to get meat and drinks for dinner.

The moment Giacomo’s car drove into the store's parking lot, two women noticed him park and get out. One nodded to the other and they sauntered over to greet him.

Hey, nice car, said the tall blond woman wearing an extremely short skirt.

Thanks, Giacomo said, walking into the store quickly to avoid further conversation.

He walked to the meat counter and asked the butcher for some Fiorentina steaks, sausages, lamb—and, of course, hamburgers for his young niece. Then he went to get some Prosecco, beer and juices. On his way to the checkout counter, Giacomo picked up some fresh tomatoes, basil and spaghetti. He paid for everything and then walked back to his car.

Hey, are you looking for some company tonight? the tall blond asked.

No thanks, Giacomo said casually as he got into his Ferrari and drove off.

Giacomo was delighted that his family accepted his offer to get together before his trip to New Orleans. It would keep his mind off the trip—an afternoon with his niece always put him in a better mood.

He drove through the residential area to his house and waited for the gate to open fully before driving down to the garage to park his car.

After Giacomo brought the bags into the kitchen, he opened the refrigerator to put the products inside but found it completely full since his housekeeper, Teresa, had done the weekly shopping the day before.

After walking back out to the garden and sitting in one of his plush chairs, Giacomo grabbed a beer and took a sip. The temperature outside was really hot, and yet it was normal for a mid-August day. Putting his beer down, he went into the pool house to put on his bathing trunks before diving into his pool.

The coolness of the water felt really good on his skin. After swimming several laps to get the knots out of his muscles, he got out and went to lie on a lawn bed by the pool. Just as he sat down, his phone rang, so he got up and went back to the terrace to respond.

Hello?

Giacomo?

Giacomo’s stomach started to knot when he realized who it was. He had hoped the pushy woman would have gotten the picture by now—but obviously it was not the case.

I’ve been waiting for you to call. Baby, I’ve missed you. Why don’t you come over tonight?

No, I can’t—I’m really busy. Valeria, I already told you that I don’t have much free time.

Well, I thought you would make time for me, she said.

I’m sorry—I have to go. You caught me at a bad time. It was nice talking to you, Valeria.

Sure. Call me when you’re free.

Giacomo hung up and hoped she wouldn’t call back soon. Just as he was putting his phone back down on the table, he heard the gate intercom. Knowing it would be his brother Marco with his family, he went to open the gate. Marco drove into the driveway and parked his Range Rover just in time before his daughter, Camilla, opened the back door and ran out.

Uncle Giacomo. I brought my floaters so you can teach me to swim, his niece Camilla said, throwing herself into his open arms.

Amore, I’m going to teach you to be the best swimmer in the world, Giacomo said, kissing his niece on the head.

Don’t promise to teach her to swim if you don’t have the energy to keep up with her. She won’t let up until she knows how to swim, Leena said to Giacomo.

That’s okay. I love spending time with my beautiful niece, he said, kissing Leena on both cheeks.

Hey, I think I should be the one teaching my daughter how to swim, Marco said jokingly as he hugged his younger brother.

You can be my assistant, Giacomo said, chuckling.

Marco winked at Giacomo, telling Giacomo that he could take the lead if it meant Marco would have a few free minutes with his wife.

As they walked to the back garden, Camilla ran to play in the children’s area that Giacomo set up for her when she was born. There was a huge playhouse with a play garden and barbecue area—it was a replica of a real estate.

I brought some food that needs to be placed in the refrigerator. I’ll put it inside, Leena said.

Teresa filled the refrigerator yesterday so there isn’t much room, but you’re probably better at moving things around in the fridge than I am—good luck, Giacomo said, grinning. "Did you make your delicious erbazzone?"

Yes, as well as a few other of your favorite dishes. Leena gleamed, knowing Giacomo would be pleased.

I don’t know how you manage to stay so thin with Leena’s cooking, Giacomo said to his brother.

A lot of late-night sex. Marco winked.

Leena came back out and they sat on the terrace where they could see Camilla play. After a little while, the gate intercom rang again. It was Serena in her Porsche. Just as the gate was closing, Matteo drove up in his Aston Martin. They both parked beside Marco’s car and then walked together to the backyard where Marco and Leena waited.

Uncle Matteo, Aunt Serena! Camilla called out and waved from the colorful playhouse.

It’s been really hot today in the city. It's good to get out into the countryside for a little fresh air, Serena said as she relaxed on a lawn chair.

That is why I opted for the house in the country! Giacomo said, smiling at his sister.

I could never live out in the boonies. I like living in the heart of the city with everything at my fingertips, she said, glancing back at Giacomo.

Yeah, and you never have time to enjoy the city. You’re always in the cellars, remarked Marco.

Leave your poor sister alone. I understand what she's saying. She wants to live where the action is if she should want to go out. It is true that Serena is dedicated to her work, and yet one day she will meet somebody who will change that, and then she will spend less time in the wine cellars and more time enjoying life, Leena said.

Amore, you’re right. I didn’t have a life outside of work before I met you, and you changed that, Marco said, leaning over to kiss his lovely wife.

Giacomo looked at his brother and sister-in-law and wondered if he would ever have that sort of relationship. He was too busy with work to meet anyone, and recently he felt like his brother had married the only girl out there that was worthy of marrying. He longed to find the right woman with whom he could lay in bed for hours on a Sunday morning and enjoy life.

Hey, I came here for a barbecue, and I don’t see anything happening, Serena said, getting up and walking over to play with her niece.

Well, it’s too hot to be sitting in the sun. Camilla, what do you say if we put on our swimsuits and jump in the pool? Serena asked.

Yes, I want to jump in the pool, Camilla squealed with happiness.

Serena picked up Camilla and swung her around a couple of times, smiling to the sound of her niece's laughter. Then, taking her by the hand, they went off to the cabin to change into a swimsuit. Within minutes, they came back out both wearing a bikini and holding a large inflatable pool dolphin that Giacomo had bought for Camilla.

Wow, Camilla is going to want to come over more often if you spoil her like that, Leena said to Giacomo.

Well, I only have one niece to spoil, so you better work on another one if you don’t want me to spoil her too much, Giacomo said, getting up and diving into the pool.

Leena looked at Marco and said, Shall we tell them?

I don’t see why not, Marco said to his wife as he grinned.

Well, soon you will have another niece or nephew to spoil—we’re expecting our second child, Leena said to them.

You’re going to have a baby brother or sister! Isn’t that great? Serena said to Camilla, pushing her around on the dolphin.

It certainly is, Giacomo said as he looked at Marco. Maybe this time it will be a boy.

I wouldn’t mind another beautiful girl, Marco said as he went into the cabin to put on his swimsuit.

The moment Marco came out, Matteo went in to put on his swimming trunks, and shortly after, they were all in the pool splashing around.

Leena walked over to a lawn chair and sat down to enjoy the warmth of the sun. She had a lot to be thankful for. Her life had changed drastically the past two years and now her family was growing. Leena looked at Giacomo, Serena and Matteo, and hoped they too would soon find someone to love and who loved them back. She had a great family.

Chapter One

As Giacomo sat in First Class, he questioned for the second time that day why he was on the flight to New Orleans. He had been happily sitting in his large villa in Olgiata, Italy, enjoying the August sunshine. Then it all came back to him—the desperate phone call from the Director of their New Orleans office, asking Giacomo—pleading with him—to fly over to fix the problem in their American sales market. They launched a new line of their olive oil brand six months ago and their sales weren’t as successful as they had forecasted—Giacomo knew that one of the problems was that there wasn’t the right synergy between the marketing and sales teams, so it was his task to find a solution.

Giacomo got on the flight and was halfway across the Atlantic Ocean when his mind went back to the problem at hand. His primary task was to deal with the core issue which was the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed with the US Department of Agriculture—he realized they weren’t respecting the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed with the Conti Corporation. The importation figures were low, so Giacomo needed to deal with the Agreement before dealing with internal operations.

Giacomo went over his options and was ready with a solution when the plane finally landed. He stepped off and walked to the waiting limousine that would take him to his hotel.

The ride to the hotel didn’t take long, and just as the car drove through the circular entrance to the hotel, Giacomo looked up at the dark clouds in the sky and realized it would pour down soon.

The hotel manager greeted Giacomo and gave him the key to his suite.

Please make sure my bags are placed in my suite. I need to get to a meeting before the storm hits—I’ll be back later in the afternoon, Giacomo said, shaking the manager’s hand.

No problem, Mr. Conti. I’ll take care of it.

Giacomo went back out and got into the limousine as it started to rain hard. The car turned onto the street and headed downtown. By this time, the rain turned to hail and it was coming down really hard when they drove down the main road. Giacomo noticed from the window that the storm seemed to pick up speed and became extremely violent within minutes. There was lightning and suddenly there were large objects flying around. The driver asked if he should stop the car, but Giacomo was sure the storm would die down soon, so he told the driver to continue on its way toward their destination. Before Giacomo knew what was happening, the car swerved off of the road and turned over a couple of times. His body was thrown around inside the limousine and he hit his head against something hard—he felt pain shooting through his body—his ears rang terribly and he felt nauseous to the point of feeling light headed. His chest hurt tremendously—so much so that it took his breath away. The broken glass cut his skin in several places, making his skin throb and ache everywhere—he could feel the blood dripping. The last thing Giacomo remembered before losing consciousness was the sound of the hail hitting the car.

~ ~ ~

Simona Carletti was sitting by her Aunt Umberta’s hospital bed when the hurricane hit. A moment later, the lights went out and she heard the wind beating on the window as it continued to howl outside, so Simona stood to look out the window and saw the trees bend over from the strong winds and objects flying through the air. It was the first time she’d seen a hurricane in person and it made the hairs on her arm lift as she watched with horror what was happening outside. But she needed to stay calm for her aunt. Simona sat beside her, reassuring her that everything would be fine.

There was suddenly chaos in the corridor, so Simona went out to the nurses’ station to find out if she could help in any way.

The hurricane has devastated most of the town and the casualties are coming in faster than we can deal with them, said Tracey, the head nurse.

I’m a registered nurse in Italy. Just let me know if I can help, Simona said.

Have you ever worked in the ER? asked Tracey.

Yes, I’ve been working in the ER these past five years, so just tell me where you need me, Simona responded.

Oh, we could really use your help here. I’ll speak to the Director of the hospital, Dr. Clancy, and see if you could give us a hand, Tracey said to Simona.

Not long after, Simona was called into the Dr. Clancy’s office. She was asked to give the name of someone in Italy so the hospital could check her credentials—she gave the name and number of her supervisor—the head of ER in the Verona, Italy hospital.

When her credentials were confirmed, she was called immediately—the hospital needed every hand they could get.

Simona went to tell her aunt they needed her help and then went to the nurses’ room to change. A few minutes later she walked into the ER, ready to work.

Injured people lay everywhere in the ER. There weren’t enough beds or chairs to accommodate everyone, and as Simona looked around, she saw some patients silently crying while others waited patiently, not knowing when they would be looked at.

Simona spent hours tending to many injured patients who were well enough to go home—not sure if they still had a home—but Simona understood their relieved expressions when she told them they were free to go after they’d been treated.

It was three in the morning when she was told to go rest, so she went to lie down in the tiny room behind the nurses’ station—she was so exhausted, she fell asleep in seconds.

She had been sleeping for three hours when Tracey woke her.

Simona, I’m sorry to wake you, but we urgently need your help. Can you meet me in Dr. Clancy’s office in five minutes? she asked.

Yes, of course. I’ll wash my face and I’ll be right there, Simona said.

Simona rinsed her face and then tidied her hair before she walked down the corridor to Dr. Clancy’s office. Sitting in one of the two chairs in front of his desk was Tracey.

Thank you for coming so quickly. Please sit down, Dr. Clancy said. We received an urgent request for a private nurse that we are unable to provide. The hurricane has tied up all our staff and we can’t afford to lose anyone at this time. Dr. Clancy sat with his hands folded on his desk.

I instantly thought about you, Simona, because not only are you a registered nurse but you also speak Italian. Our patient is an Italian businessman who was caught in the hurricane, and his family in Italy have asked for full-time care for their son, Tracey explained.

Simona nodded.

"His car turned over during