Page 143 of La Dolce Vita

"Who are they?" Marietta asked.

"I'm not sure. The short one took a look at me and just walked right in like I was the maid," Mirabella frowned. "Asshole. I guess Giovanni and Lorenzo were expecting them."

Mirabella came back over to the table and sat.

"I didn't know they knew people in this town," Marietta said.

"Trust me, they aren't from here," Mirabella said. "And I would use the word people loosely for those two."

"What's the difference between those thugs and our husbands?" Marietta pointed out.

Mirabella opened her mouth to object. She glanced at the door and realized she couldn't.

"Forget this." Marietta walked around the table. She went to the window.

"Where are you going?" Mirabella asked.

Marietta moved the curtain and peeked outside. The men were standing near the car that brought the two thugs. The trunk was open. A gun was handed to Lorenzo. He checked the chamber and aimed it at an unseen target. Two guns were given to Giovanni.

"I don't believe this shit. We aren't in the country for a few hours and already they're buying guns!"

"What?" Mirabella stood. She walked over to the window and pushed her sister aside so she could look outside.

Marietta turned from the window. "What exactly do they think will happen out here? A farmer will run them over with a tractor!"

"They had to have planned it," Mirabella said.

Mirabella returned to the table and reached for the pitcher. Her hand shook she was so furious. The thought of violence made her queasy. She poured herself a cup.

"Did Giovanni tell you?" Marietta asked.

"Tell me what?" Mirabella answered.

"Tell you that Armando had a press conference and called our mother a junkie whore!"

Frozen in disbelief Mirabella nearly dropped the pitcher. "What?"

"That's right. He went public. Said his family was shocked because Marsuvio was too ashamed to tell them that we existed. The jerk!"

"He didn't say a word."

"And this happens now? With the show in Paris? Seriously? The press is going to eat us alive," Marietta said.

"Lower your voice" Mirabella warned. “The kids are upstairs sleeping.”

"When is it too far? When do you draw the line? He didn't even have the decency to tell you. Now..."

“I knew this was going to happen the minute I found out that Giovanni declared war on Armando. It was his call to make. Not mine. Not yours.”

“Oh please!”

“I was hoping to convince Gio to back off. I guess it's too late."

"Damn right it is. Armando had no right to make a public spectacle of our mother. After everything, his father did to her! Marsuvio Mancini might as well have pushed the needle in her arm."

"Our father. And yes, he's wrong. But when was the last time you spoke to Armando? Seen him?" Mirabella pressed.

"What does that matter?"

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