Page 15 of Vita Mia

And then Ryder was dragged out of the closet. The idiot hadn’t the sense to zip up his pants. Gianni glanced to Ryder then to MiaBella. In a flash, her loving brother showed them what a monster his rage could change him into. He charged Ryder. He grabbed him by the throat and punched him in the gut. Ryder bent forward and Gianni threw him against the wall.

“Noooo! Stop it!” MiaBella ran for Gianni but Eve grabbed her by the waist. She fought Eve as Gianni pounded and pounded on Ryder until he was coughing up blood and bleeding from his nose and ears.

“Per favore, Gianni fermati!”she wept“Per favore!”

“Go get Gino!” Eve yelled at Lola. It was too late. Ryder fought back. Gianni went down only temporarily. He clipped Ryder’s legs and began to beat on him again. He took advantage of Ryder’s pain and lifted him. He threw him at the window. Ryder crashed out of it and MiaBella screamed as her brother jumped out of the window after Ryder.

Ryder couldn’t tell one blow from the next. They all came in rapid succession. He wasn’t this big of a pussy, but something about this madman instilled the kind of fear that had turned his predator nature to prey.

When he was thrown into the window and out of it he thought of his life. From the fights with his mother before his turning to crime. To the late nights he spent playing video games and hacking into other people’s lives. He thought of his plan with Janet to set up the comic book actor Jason Harris. He thought of his dreams of being the biggest gaming, conspiracy theorist, video star. He thought of all of the stupid shit he’d wasted time on that led him to that exact moment.

He didn’t die. His fall was broken by the rooftop of the first floor. The maniac who snarled curse words in Italian came after him again. Ryder’s only escape from the bloody threat he saw in the man’s eyes was by rolling off the rooftop into the bushes below. He felt a bone snap in his leg after the fall. Then he was dragged from the bush and kicked unconscious. His entire body went numb. It was then he believed in his death.

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MIABELLA AND HER COUSINSran from the guards and her sister. They ran to the back of the plantation house to where they were certain death had greeted Ryder. And they arrived in time to see Gianni pull back the clip on his gun and aim it at an unconscious Ryder while guests scattered or stepped back in horror.

“Stop it!” MiaBella screamed.

Gianni glanced her way. “Dì addio al tuo ragazzo!Say goodbye to your boyfriend,”he said and cocked the gun.

“É abbastanza.”Came the calming voice of her other brother. Gino walked through the crowd that parted. He commanded Gianni’s attention.

“Do you know what he did!” Gianni huffed, breathing hard and trembling with rage.

“Put the gun away,” Eve said as she walked out and toward her brothers. “Act civilized! Even if you aren’t.”

Gianni grimaced. Gino’s gaze swept over those gathered. “Who brought this young man here?”

No one answered. MiaBella couldn’t stop weeping. She had to save Ryder’s life. It was her fault. He had no idea who her family was or what they were capable of. She went to her brother in nothing but the shirt that belonged to her lover. Gino removed his tuxedo jacket and covered her. He kissed her tear-stained face.

“Stop crying,” he whispered and hugged her. “It’s okay. Tell me what happened?”

She nodded.

“Did you bring him here?” he asked.

She nodded, yes. “I... I know him from school. He’s not a stranger. He’s my boyfriend.”

“You have a boyfriend and this is the first I’m hearing about it?” Eve asked.

MiaBella nodded.

Gino stared at her as if she were lying. She prayed her stupid cousins would back her up but the cowards had left the moment Gino arrived. She was all alone. Gino touched her face. He wiped her tears. He kissed her brow. “Go with Eve. Get cleaned up. You’re going home tonight.”

“But Gino please... I have school. I can’t miss my exams. I graduate soon. Mummy said we can have a party in New York. Remember?”

“You’re going home.” Eve answered for Gino.

MiaBella burst into tears. She clung to Gino who rubbed her back. “Forgive me Gino. Don’t do this. Please. It’s my fault.”

“Andiamo,” Eve said and touched her arm.

“Take her,” Gino said to his big sister and again she was treated like a porcelain doll with no feelings. Before she let go of her brother she made one final plea. “Please don’t hurt him. Please Gino. I did this. Please don’t kill him.”

“He’ll be fine,” Gino said loud enough for his guests to hear. “It’s all a misunderstanding, a family matter.”

MiaBella wasn’t sure she could trust the response. Where Gianni would rage and show his violent temper, Gino’s anger was always cool and unseen beneath his polished charm. They were twins. Identical. But with this and the protection of their sisters and mother they were so different.

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