Page 144 of Vita Mia

“It’ll help, Mirabella.” Dominic concluded. “But not solve our problems.”

“Maybe, or maybe it will make Giovanni more of a target.” Mirabella countered.

“There’s more news. I’ve been told that the magistrate is hearing a motion from the prosecutor to move Gio to Rome,” said Dominic.

“Oh? That’s the plan I wanted to discuss with you all today. This might be best? Right?” Mirabella asked everyone.

“It could mean a speedy trial,” the attorney volunteered.

“Then that is good news. Right?”

“We won’t have any access to him in Rome,” Nico said.

“If they move him, we all go back to Sicily.All of us. It’s safest.” Dominic told them.

“I don’t want to leave him. I’ll go to Rome. You can take the kids and—“

“Mirabella. There is no point in staying. You have to do as planned. Besides it’s not safe for you. The Camorra isn’t under my full control. When the trial is scheduled we’ll come back. I know this is what Giovanni would want.”

“You don’t know anything.” Mirabella stood.

Dominic frowned.

“You think we wanted her in Maddalena and then Sicily to convince her to support Giovanni in his trial? To turn on the Générale?”

“Isn’t that the plan?” Dominic asked.

Nico and the attorney all stared at her. She turned to the attorney. “You’re new to this case but you work for me. What I say in this room remains confidential. Do you understand?”

The attorney nodded.

“I already told Nico. I haven’t told you Domi.”

“Told me what?”

“The leverage Giovanni and I have. The way we plan to control Marietta.”

“What is this leverage?”

“Lorenzo isn’t dead. Giovanni gave him to the Russians. That’s why I’m meeting with Tarzan after midnight. Because I’m going to buy Lorenzo back. At whatever cost. And I’m going to do it as fast as I can to get Giovanni out of this.”

“He’s not the only one still breathing,” Nico added.

Dominic glared at Mirabella but didn’t ask who.

“Carlo is alive too,” Nico tossed out to the conversation. When Dominic didn’t react, it became apparent that the news wasn’t news to him. Mirabella could see the anger and disappointment on Nico’s face at information being kept from him. Dominic got up from his chair and left. Mirabella went after him but Nico grabbed her hand. “Let him work it out. Lorenzo is his brother too. This one hurts. We mourned Lo, even if he was a piece of shit in the end.”

“And then what?” Mirabella asked. “Does his hurt turn into anger? I need him focused not spiraling out of control. Not drinking.”

“And then we go and get Lorenzo. We find a way to put an end to the trial before it begins.”

“If it’s not already too late,” Mirabella said.

“I’ve been looking at the prosecutor case. The only real connection they have of Giovanni to these crimes he’s charged with is your sister. If she doesn’t testify then—“

“Oh, she will testify,” Mirabella said. “That is non-negotiable. She and I both will testify. The world will be really shocked by the story we tell.”

“You have been planning this, for a long time, without telling any of us. You put our lives in danger and we didn’t know. You had us grieving our brothers, and it was a lie. I know you’re the Donna. I respect you, but there is a code in this life, one we should all share.” Nico said.

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