Page 23 of La Dolce Vita

“Eve, behave,” Zia admonished her niece. Eve pouted.

“Cosa c’è--what’s wrong?” Giovanni asked.

Albirto wasn’t sure how to respond. The attention at the table had shifted from their dinner meal to him. He glanced to Mirabella when he spoke. “It’s, uhm, Don Armando Mancini is here. He said he was invited.”

"What? No, he wasn't. Gio? I swear he wasn’t!” Mirabella made to stand.

“Sit down,” Giovanni said and continued to feed his son. Mirabella sat. He glanced up. “Welcome him.”

“Giovanni? Why?”

He ignored the question. Gianni smiled for his father and Giovanni kissed his jaw and fed him some more. Mirabella glanced at the other clan bosses. Wasn't this breaking some rule? Didn't the Mafiosi and theCamorrarefuse to break bread with each other? She was leery and a bit anxious.

There was commotion up at the front of the door. Several guests were on their feet to greet someone. And then she noticed why. Her brother Armando Mancini walked in with two of his men. They were searched, and several clan bosses got up from their tables to go over to greet him. Armando took his time having conversations. But his gaze shifted a few times to the family. Eventually he was escorted to the table by Giovanni's men. Mirabella wished Marietta was there. She would know how to handle the situation.

"Happy birthday, princess," Armando said and removed a small white satin box with a pink ribbon from the inside of his blazer. Catalina looked over to her brother first, and then to Dominic, not sure of how to respond. The silence at the table made Mirabella’s heart beat faster. Was this the moment Giovanni would explode? Have Armando humiliated or worse, dragged from the building and shot?

"Open it, Nippy! I wanna see it!" Eve clapped.

Giovanni stopped feeding Gianni and looked to his sister and nodded that she could accept the gift. Catalina did so, but Mirabella could tell she was uncomfortable. "I'll open it later.Grazie, Don Mancini."

"Giovanni. Mirabella, Dominic," Armando smiled and then walked away.

"I didn't invite him," Marbella said again.

"It's a party, isn't it, Gianni?" Giovanni said and tickled his son. He then looked over to Mirabella. "Mama did a good job," He said and leaned over and kissed Mirabella on the lips. "Grazie,Bella, for making it special for our girl."

"Thank you, Giovanni," Mirabella said and wiped the lipstick from his mouth.

"Grazie,Mommy! I love the party!" Eve said. “Are we gonna have cake?”

"I love you too, baby! And yes!" Mirabella smiled.

"Grazie,Mama!" Gino said as he ate his bread.

Mirabella blew him a kiss. "Thank you, baby."

"I want to dance!" Catalina said. "Domi, come dance with me. It's time to have some fun."

Mirabella noticed that Dominic didn't hesitate. He wiped his mouth and pushed back his chair and helped his fiancée. Catalina sashayed at his side as they headed for the terrace where plenty of people were celebrating.

"Dress is too short," Giovanni grunted again as he kept eating.

Mirabella chuckled. The party was going great. And possibly Armando and Giovanni were finding common ground. She hoped Marietta made it soon so she could join the fun.

Palermo Sicilia –

Three Days Earlier

"Ciao, mia sorrella, it 's nice to hear from you," Armando said. He signaled for Ignacio to leave him. His consigliere closed the door.

"Ciao," Mirabella said.

“How are you? Marietta said you were doing better? Are you stronger?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Listen. I need to talk to you," Mirabella began.

"Ah, to ask for another favor? Like the one I granted Sofia? Like the one I granted for your husband," he chuckled. "Every time you or Giovanni want to talk I'm asked for another gift of patience or favor. They ought to call me Santa Clause."

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