Page 47 of La Dolce Vita

Marietta sighed. "Sorry, girl, my mouth. What I'm saying is the difference between you and me is I know if the past didn't break me the future can't."

"Okay. Okay." Mirabella said with defeat.

"I got your back either way." Marietta spun around, and Gianni giggled with laughter. She then swayed side to side, and he bucked in her arms with excitement. It made Mirabella smile to see her so happy and beautiful. She carried her pregnancy much better than Mirabella did. Maybe her concerns that Marietta suffered the same bi-polar complex that was strong in their grand-aunt were unfounded. Still, she secretly worried.

"Okay, that's enough you two. You're pregnant, remember?" Mirabella said. Marietta kissed and tickled her nephew before she set him down on his feet.

Gianni ran over to his mother with his arms stretched. Mirabella stood before she reached and pulled him up into her arms. Mirabella touched her sister's baby bump. "Whoa, look at my little nugget, the kid is gaining weight every day."

Marietta’s face lit up with pride. She let her sister rub her belly. "The doctor said it's not twins, but I swear I feel like I'm carrying a basketball team. Lorenzo thinks it's a boy. I want a girl."

"A girl?" Mirabella asked.

"Yep. Who would want sons with fathers like these?" Marietta chuckled.

Mirabella didn't.

"Oh shit. I'm sorry."

"Shit head!" Gianni giggled. Mirabella rolled her eyes.

Marietta put her hand to her mouth. "It was a stupid joke. I love the twins. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Mirabella waved off the comment. "I know what you meant. I think about it sometimes."

"You do?" Marietta pressed.

"The way Gino imitates Giovanni. The way the men all act like the twins are going to be gladiators when they grow up. I guess I can see what his mother went through when she tried to shield him from this life."

"Giovanni ever talk about what he wants for their future? Lorenzo talks about these imaginary sons he thinks he is going to have. Man, shoot. One and done is what I say. But let him tell it he is going to have an army." Marietta frowned.

"Giovanni wants what's best for them. That's what he says," Mirabella replied.

"But does he want them inla Camorra?" Marietta pressed.

Mirabella was unsure of what her husband’s true desires were. "He's not a verbal man like that when we talk about the future... he just says he wants his kids happy."

"Lorenzo wants to take Armando's throne. He has the dream of being the King of Sicily and running the Mafiosi. And Giovanni will continue to be thecapo di tutti capiover theCamorraclans. He wants them to be equals."

"Armando would beg to differ," Mirabella said.

"It could happen, though, think about it. Together we own more than Armando does of our dad's company. And we are... his sisters. If something were to happen to Armando--"

"Stop it," Mirabella said. "He's our brother. Or have you forgotten how hard you worked to get me to acknowledge that fact?"

"I know. I know. My thing is, Lorenzo and Giovanni can't exist this way. I mean Lorenzo is destined for more too. And if he and Giovanni part ways..." she said.

"Wait, wait, wait... what do you mean part ways?" Mirabella asked. "What do you mean? You and Lorenzo thinking about moving to Sicily?"

"What if they have a disagreement or something? You never know with those two men. Maybe, well maybe instead of them going to war with each other this would be a solution. Lorenzo and I move to Sicily and run things, and Giovanni runs things here in Italy."

"What are we talking about?" Mirabella asked. Gianni giggled, and she forgot about her little parrot on her hip. "Is this Lorenzo talking? Something wrong between him and Giovanni that I need to know?"

"Girl, no, it's me rambling. Must be the hormones. I'm a little paranoid about the future with this crumb snatcher clawing to get out of my womb."

Mirabella shook her head. "The things that come out of your mouth always surprise me." Mirabella hugged her sister once more.

"Let's check in with Ana and see if she has a treat for you, baby," she said and kissed Gianni.

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