Page 229 of La Dolce Vita

“No. No! That’s not a good idea,” Mirabella raced out of the kitchen.

“I’m so sorry!”ZiaJosefina shouted after her.

***

"How long? How long have you been his whore?"

"It’s not true. Never. I never...” she wept.

"How long? When did it start? Does Dominic know? Why would you become this... this..."

She put her hands to her ears. "I didn’t do it. I did it for you. For Lorenzo. For all of you!"

He paused.

She nodded fiercely that it was true. “I’d do anything to protect you. To protect our family.”

"You didn't do it, but you did it for me? What the fuck does that mean?" he asked. He grabbed her by her elbows, and she was lifted to her toes. "Answer me! What did you do!"

"Armando had tapes, proof. Lorenzo, and he... he killedPatri. Armando said he would give them to you, and you would kill Lorenzo. He promised... so I told him, but I said no, and he said he wouldn’t, and then Domi... but we didn't.. and then… no one believes me... I had to meet with him."

"To fuck him!" Giovanni gripped her by the arms and shook her so hard she couldn’t see. “Did you fuck him?”

"You're hurting me!"

"Did you!"

"No! I swear on my life I didn’t!"

"Why didn't you come to me?” He shoved her and she fell to her knees. “Why didn't you come to me? I'm your brother!"

"I was scared," She tried to grab his leg, and he walked away. He put his hands to his head and paced the floor. She scrambled to stand. She went after Giovanni and grabbed his shirt. He tried to shove her off, but Catalina had a good grip.

"Listen to me. Please."

He spit on her. "You fucking disgust me!Puttana!" Giovanni said. Shocked Catalina wiped the glob of spittle from her face. Never in her life had she suffered such a humiliating blow. She would have rather he hit her.

"You are dead to me. Go fuck the Sicilian dog. You fucking whore. I didn't raise a whore. But that’s all you’ve become! A whore!"

"Che palle!Go to hell!" she shouted back. "You didn't raise me at all. Your groupies did! Mirabella did. But you? No not you. You’re too busy being King!"

He glared at her.

"Mama is turning over in her grave," Giovanni said as he walked away from her in disgust.

"Why would she turn over in her grave when I turned out just like her?" Catalina said through clenched teeth. “The biggest whore of us all!” Giovanni whirled around and grabbed Catalina by the throat. The chokehold lifted her off the ground. At any moment his strength could snap her neck.

“Che cazzo è!”he said and yanked her so he coudl stare into her eyes as she gasped for air. Catalina gagged and hit him, but he tightened his hold to make her still. "You leave here whore, and never come back. Do you hear me? You come here again and you are dead.Le capisce!"

"Giovanni!" Mirabella let go a blood curdling scream. "Let her go! Let her go now!"

He dropped Catalina, and she crumbled to the ground gasping and gagging for air. Mirabella ran over to her and helped her stand.

"What have you done?" Mirabella cupped Catalina’s face in her hands. Dazed and confused, Catalina could only wheeze and clutch her throat. “You hit her? You hit her!”

"Bella... she is prostituting herself to Armando... "

"You hit her!" Mirabella shouted at him through her tears. “How dare you!”

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