Page 114 of Vita Mia

“Trust me, I told you this day would come,” the Générale said.

Marietta cut her gaze at him. In a flash, her anger simmered beneath her smile. “I wouldn’t need this day if it weren’t for you, jackass.”

“Not true Signora. It is Giovanni Battaglia that inflicted your trauma. Remember? This is what we will tell the courts. The doctors believe your story. They will cosign it. The kidnapping, and murder of your husband. All of the things the Battaglias have done you will corroborate. They will be made to pay for it.”

She ignored the Générale and turned her gaze to Sera. “When can I be released?”

“Soon. The Générale is arranging protective custody for you. We have already contacted the prosecutor, and magistrate—“

“I’m not going with him!”

“This isn’t a negotiation,” The Générale snapped.

Marietta turned on him. “You damn right it isn’t. I told you that I wouldn’t forget what you did to me. Fuck you, and your vendetta. I don’t owe you shit!”

The Générale gave an impatient sigh.

“Marietta, you have to understand how this works. The Générale is the way out of here, have you forgotten your agreement?” Sera advised.

“I haven’t forgotten! You want something from me? Then you now play by my rules.” Marietta dropped her hands to her hips and smiled. “I’ve taken the worst you’ve got Générale and I’m still standing.”

“You think you’ve taken the worst? This was a vacation compared to where I could send you—“ the Générale tossed back.

“Stop!” Sera said. “Both of you. We don’t have time for this.”

“I’m not staying anywhere with him!”

“Of course,, not. But you need him. The press will put your story on every news channel in the world. They are already broadcasting hourly about Giovanni’s arrest. Until trial you will need the protection of the Carabinieri. Don’t be foolish.”

“Fuck you too!” Marietta spat.

“Think of your daughter,” Sera said.

Marietta frowned.

“Do you want her back?”

“That’s my baby. She’s mine! Of course,, I want her back.”

“Then you need him and you need me. The fact is we need each other until the end. We can only win this if we work together.”

“I want my own attorney, someone working in my best interest. And I want my daughter. Now!”

“We’ll get you an attorney,” Sera said in a patient voice. “I’ll personally see to it. As for your daughter, that may take a little more time.”

“She’s my daughter, I have rights!”

“Yes,” Sera said. “But you signed her over to your sister, legally. We’ll have to go to the courts and have it overturned. When it comes to child custody it’s not a snap of the finger.”

“He made me do it!” Marietta pointed at the Générale. “I’ll tell the courts the deal he made with me. What you think about that Captain Kangaroo? Huh? You think the courts want to hear about the deals you make to get the Battaglias arrested?”

“How does that defeat Giovanni?” Sera asked. “Marietta. I know you’re impatient and upset. You’ve lost a lot. But you just won a huge victory today. Tomorrow you will win another. Step by step you’ll take everything back that you lost. I need you to be less angry and smart.”

Marietta smirked. “Smart? By trusting an uncertified psychiatrist and a pea-brain Captain Kangaroo with a hard-on for Giovanni? I know you two are using me. I let my anger cost me my husband and my daughter. I’m not angry anymore, sweetie. I’m much smarter than you think. Without me you two have nothing. I have the power. And I have demands. Now are you going to listen to them or are we going to keep pretending that you can control me?”

Sera looked to the Générale. He glared at Marietta then shrugged. For the first time in months Marietta genuinely had something to smile for.

––––––––

---