Page 101 of Vita Mia

He arched a brow. “I’m the weak one. Right? My counsel means shit. Right? It’s hard to face me, knowing what you have to do? Who you will have to be.”

“Yes. It is. But not for the reasons you think. You were my sweet Domi, the emotional one. The one who kept Giovanni honest and pure. The one who led by emotion and reason. You’re different now. You really are.”

Dominic shrugged. “Catalina was able to grow up, so did I.”

“As soon as Nico is released you leave. He’ll be my advisor. You need to protect our family in Sicily. Keep everyone safe. And hold on to as much of our business as you can, liquidate what you can.”

Dominic gave her a single nod.

“I’m prepared to do that.”

“Donna, we have things to discuss. Motions I need to file to the courts. Paperwork we need to go through.”

“Dominic take care of it. All of it. Just the way I asked. I’m going to my children.” She walked out of the office with her men following. A car waited for her outside. When she was secure and safe in the backseat she let go her repressed tears over the plight of her husband. She cried as much as she could before she arrived at the apartment that Dominic had secured for her. A villa would be too risky. The Camorra was fractured and the families were forgetting the tenants of sovereignty. It was war in the streets and with the Puglia clans move in through the Campania there was no balance.

She went up through her private elevator to her home and found the three guards in the hall present. She nodded her permission that they could come inside while the two accompanying her would take their place.

Dominic had hired a young woman named Martha who had studied child psychology in Europe to be caregiver to her children, and assist Sophia. With both her and Sophia at her side the kids were well, cared for and fed.

“Mummy! You’re home. Yay! You have to see this! Come! Come!” Eve said.

Mirabella put her purse down. She wiped her cheeks to make sure any trace of fallen tears were gone. She walked into the television room. The penthouse she had moved into was one of four on the entire floor. There were five rooms to it, which made the kids confinement less stressful. They ran and played from room to room and Martha encouraged it. Leeza and Lorenza were tended to by Sophia. She nurtured the babies just as Zia would.

“Come Mummy!”

The children were all gathered. Leeza was out of her baby-walker and standing. She held on to the table and stomped one foot in excitement at seeing her mother. At ten months her daughters chubby legs were sturdy. Several times Leeza let go of the table and stood on her own to clap for Mirabella.

“She’s trying to walk,” Eve gushed. “I’ma show you.” Eve went to Leeza and took her hands. Her baby girl giggled up at her big sister. “You can do it. Show mummy!”

Leeza took a few steps while holding Eve’s hand. All of the kids watched in silence. Then Eve stopped her before Mirabella. She let go of her hands gently. Leeza remained standing for several seconds before she plopped down on her diaper butt.

“Aww! Leeza! Stand up! Do it for mummy!”

“It’s okay Eve. She did just fine.” Mirabella stooped and picked up her baby. She tickled her and made her giggle.

“I bet she’d walk for Papa,” Eve said. “Can you take her to him? To show him?”

“No I can’t—“ Mirabella said, and then paused. She looked down at Eve and then at the baby-girl in her arms.

“Martha?”

“Yes Signora?” Martha answered.

“Take Leeza and get her dressed. Pack a bag for her, a bottle and some snacks. I’m going out.”

“Where you are you going mummy you just got here?” Eve asked. She now had Lorenza on her hip. Mirabella smiled at her daughter.

“You are so smart. Do you know that?”

Eve nodded.

“Can you give me a little longer. Let me run one more errand and then we can prepare dinner together. What do you think?”

“Fish and noodles?” Eve asked.

Mirabella laughed “Yes, we can make it just like you like it.”

“Bye.” Eve walked away holding Lorenza. She paused. “Be careful.”

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