Page 177 of Vita Mia

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Trusting me.”

“I’m listening,” she said.

“I can do more for you. I should have offered sooner.”

“How?” Mirabella asked.

Lorenza was now playing with her bracelets. She seemed to be content with the tingling sounds they made. Sophia offered her the cup of juice and Lorenza refused. She set it on the table in front of the toddler.

“I have family in theRebibbia. The prison they moved Don Giovanni too.”

“Oh? Well, we can tell Domi and—.”

“No, Donna. I’m talking about trust. I trust you, not Dominic. He’s the Don of Palermo now. I won’t put my family at risk again,” Sophia said. “I’ll only work with you. To make sure no one is hurt. Understand?”

Mirabella nodded. It was evident Sophia needed reassurance before revealing all she knew. But the mere thought that someone could get next to Giovanni sent Mirabella’s pulse racing. She couldn’t conceive it being false. It had to be true.

“Giovanni has been put in isolation for his own protection. She said he only gets one hour a day out of his cell. My family can get to him.”

“You sure?”

“Any message you want, yes.”

“A letter?” Mirabella asked.

Sophia nodded.

“A visit? Can they make that happen?”

“For a very high price. They can make it happen. Yes, Donna.”

Mirabella put her hand to her mouth.

“But it’s dangerous. You have to know that. You can’t involve Domi.”

“Why not?” Mirabella asked.

“I know you’ve been worried about your husband but you really need to stop and see who Domi has become. He’s been a tyrant to the people here. He’s raising taxes on business owners and making examples of those who don’t pay. He’s taking over family run businesses and burning them to the ground to build up his own interests. He claims everything as his all the way to Carini. And the other Dons are not stepping in. He reminds me at times of his father. Not Tomosino,” Sophia shook her head. “His real father. He was plain evil. When he worked for Rocco he did the very worst to innocent people. Domi’s cruel, like him.”

“Domi’s just trying to manage things.”

“No Donna, my cousin works in theBallaro. She’s seen Domi’s men terrorize old people, shopkeepers. He’s making prices so high they are losing business. And some women have had their husbands taken from their beds in the middle of the night. They’ve disappeared.”

Mirabella had no idea how Dominic ran his affairs. Catalina had told her he’d changed. But her focus was on their personal relationships. She didn’t know much about the politics of the Mafiosi in Sicily. Giovanni ran the Campania with a gentle fist. He rewarded loyalty. And he got loyalty back tenfold. Dominic wasn’t mimicking Giovanni in his tyranny. He was becoming a tyrant of his own.

“I’ll talk to him.”

Sophia seem to be grateful.

“Write a letter. Give it to me tonight,” Sophia said.

“I will and you give me a contact to work with. I’m willing to pay whatever I have too, to see him.

Sophia took Mirabella’s hand and squeezed it.

“Thank you.”

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