Page 150 of Vita Mia

Mirabella blinked. She looked at him as if he were a madman. Instead of being insulted Tarzan laughed. But his evil smirk didn’t slip from his lips when the laughter stopped.

“You want Lorenzo’s life. You want the boy I raised as a son to turn away from the man who killed his father and not have justice? Then you must give me something in return.”

Mirabella glanced to Brian Smith, and then to Nico. She wanted to sink into her chair and disappear.

“We need to negotiate further,” she managed to say.

“Not on this. Lorenzo is mine,” he replied.

“I’ll sign the documents tonight. Here and now.” She glanced to Tarzan. “You approve of my travel to visit Lorenzo. To meet with him and to ensure that he is healthy.”

Tarzan sipped his brandy and listened.

“Then we move Lorenzo to neutral territory. Somewhere I know he is safe, but under your watch.”

“And?”

“And I do this thing you ask of me. I do it and you free him.”

Brian glanced to his uncle. “Sounds reasonable.”

Tarzan smiled. “I’m a man of reason. I happen to like your husband. He’s been quite generous with me. Something I didn’t expect.”

“He’s a good man.”

“No, he’s not,” Tarzan said. “But you women see what you want to see in men like us.”

Mirabella didn’t flinch. Brian handed over a pen. She leaned forward and signed the documents before her. The idea of never seeing Melanzana again tore at her heart. It was their family history, it was where her children were conceived. She knew it was cursed by the fire, but she loved it deeply. All other property meant nothing, but Melanzana meant everything.

“Where is Lorenzo?” she asked as she tossed the pen on top of the sign documents.

Brian collected the paperwork. He then glanced to his uncle. Tarzan stared at her. His eyes were cooler than a Siberian wolf. They pierced as they bore a hole through her. She never lowered her gaze.

He gave a nod to his adopted son.

“He is with theSolntsevskaya Bratva

“And they are?”

“He is strategically located near the M3 highway. It’s a major roadway that runs from Moscow to Russia’s border with the Ukraine. You will have to be taken there. I can escort you personally. Not many women like you pay visits to this part of the world.”

“I would appreciate it if we left tomorrow.”

“So soon?” Tarzan asked.

“I want to hear from you where we can move him. The neutral territory,” Mirabella said and stood. “Soon after so we can honor our part of the deal.”

Tarzan nodded.

“We move him after your visit, and after I am sure of this assassination plan.”

“Of course,, we can take my jet,” she offered Brian.

“No. We’ll take mine,” he insisted.

Mirabella nodded her agreement. She glanced to Tarzan. “I appreciate your hospitality. I know you’ve been far more generous to my family tonight than we have been to your fallen brother. I’m grateful.”

“Your gratitude means everything,” Tarzan winked.

---