Page 145 of Vita Mia

“We’ll get through this together. I’m sorry for the lies. But I need your trust now not accusations.”

“The funny thing about you and Giovanni is that you ask for trust and loyalty but you don’t give much in return.”

Nico got up and left. Secrets were the destruction of her family. And she couldn’t help but see the irony in the fact that those secrets would be the only way she saved them.

“Donna Battaglia. Do you want to do the press conference?”

“I’ve changed my mind. My silence is all they will have until I’m ready.” She turned and looked at her attorney. “Until we’re ready to end this. For good.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Past - 1996

Napoli, Italy

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THE WATER THAT SPLASHEDover him was so cold he nearly seizure in surprise. Giovanni’s gasp was the only release of his suffering. He lifted his head from the concrete floor of Room Zero. He coughed and wheezed to capture his breath and strength. He was given nothing, including clothes or bedding. But he felt stronger from the rest. He sat up and looked at the guard. He was ready for what was to come next. His new mission was to snap the neck of every man who came within inches of his reach. They wanted a mad feral Camorra dog, well, they had finally one. He would be the worst they’d ever seen.

Either the guard knew his rage or was prepared for it. Instead of agitating Giovanni he dropped inmate clothes on the murky floor. “Dress Battaglia dog.”

Giovanni had to put a hand to the wall to steady himself. He stood and then pulled on the clothes. The guard kept a fair distance. Last night he was certain he’d killed his tormentor. After a brutalizing torture session, his tormentor thought he’d rendered Giovanni unconscious. He wasn’t. When the other guards finally came in after Giovanni the man’s face was a shredded bloody pulp, leaving him unrecognizable on the floor. The warden’s games didn’t stop there. The more Giovanni fought back the more vicious and unpredictable the attacks became. He was losing his mind to the darkness. He may never escape it.

“This.” The guard tossed handcuffs at him and then drew his gun from his hip. In this part of the prison they carried guns. And they kept them trained on the inmates. He stared down at the handcuffs and then looked up at the jailer.

“Put them on Camorra dog!” the kid barked at him pretending at bravery.

The kid was too young for the job. And ill-prepared to deal with him. But he noticed the guards snickering outside of the cell. If Giovanni went for him the others would descend with fury. This was some sort of test for the rookie. He bent and picked up the cuffs. He put them on.

The guard seem to relax. The young man lowered his weapon and nodded to the door. Still wet from the cold water thrown on him Giovanni walked stiffly to the door. He’d gotten used to his pain and discomfort and learned how to manage both. Last night he dreamt of Lorenzo. He wondered about his cousin’s imprisonment with the Russians. He had to laugh that in the end they both found the same hell. His father and Flavio must be having a good laugh at what they’d become.

Giovanni entered the hall ready for whatever came next. But he wasn’t prepared. To greet him wasn’t the bastards he’d dreamed about killing. He was greeted by Carabinieri soldiers. One of them looked at him with concern. He hadn’t seen a mirror since Mirabella visited him in hell. But he imagined his state would shock most.

“What has been done to this inmate!” the lieutenant barked at the man-boy sent to guard him.

The rookie stammered an explanation. The lieutenant snapped his fingers and demanded Giovanni be taken to medical for a medical examination from his officers. He then turned his attention to Giovanni.

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