Page 240 of La Dolce Vita

"Marietta?"

"Thank God it's you!" Marietta said.

"Where are you? Are you okay? Is Lorenzo okay?"

"No. We aren't okay."

"I know what happened. I heard. Giovanni knows."

"He wants to kill my husband!" Marietta said.

"Does Lorenzo know you are on the phone with me?" Mirabella asked.

"It doesn't matter what he knows now. He called Giovanni."

"Why? To apologize?"

Marietta laughed. "Would your husband accept an apology?"

There were times when Mirabella felt gullible and naive. This was the worst of times for her. She was still reeling from the night of pain and madness after the fight between Giovanni and Catalina.

"Why did he call Giovanni?" she asked.

"He intends to meet him. And Giovanni will kill him. I know he will. You have to stop him. I'm so scared."

"I tried," Mirabella said, and her voice clogged with emotion. “I tried so hard. Giovanni won’t listen to me. He refused to hear anything I had to say. He's on a warpath."

"Then he's going to kill my husband." Marietta wept.

"No. No. We won't let that happen. I won't let it happen. Okay?"

"You can't stop it."

"We can. I spoke to Armando."

"For what?"

"Listen to me. You saw what happened when we tried to travel out of the state. TheCarabinieriwill know about Lorenzo. They will take him in. Try to use this against Giovanni. My husband has connections everywhere. They will stop you if you try to leave, and someone will get to Lorenzo. There is only one way to get out of Italy safe. That's through our brother."

"He hates Lorenzo. He won't help us!"

"He will if he thinks it will anger Giovanni. And that's what this stupid game between them is about. Hurting each other. Armando said he would send his men to come for you."

"He will kill Lorenzo. We can't trust him!"

"He may hate our husbands, but he does care about you. And you of all people have a stronger relationship with him so you should know this. He came and rescued me from Kei. He will rescue you from this. It's the only chance we’ve got. You have to call him, Marietta. Tell him where you are. Do it!"

"I don't know where I am. I don't even know what phone number this is. How can I get him here?"

"What time is the meeting with Gio?" Mirabella asked.

"I don't know. I just heard him say he will call Giovanni back and give him instructions on where to meet. He's gone now. I don't know where, but probably to find somewhere he thinks they will be safe. I guess."

"Okay, find out where the meeting is and tell Armando. Giovanni won't come alone. It'll be a trap for Lorenzo."

"I know!"

"Then find out where it is and when. Armando can intercept Lorenzo. He'll bring him to where you are and get you both out of Italy."

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