Page 221 of Vita Mia

“It’s okay,” Lorenzo said. “I’d like to talk to them.”

“Lo? We need to call the attorneys. You don’t have to give another statement without an attorney,” Marietta said.

The Générale smirked at her. “Shouldn’t you be concerned for the attorney as well. Since you perjured yourself in front of the courts.”

“I told the truth you maggot. You kidnapped me and threw me into an institution to pump me with drugs and—“

“Marie!” Lorenzo raised his voice. “Take Lorenza.”

She clenched her fists together and glared at the Générale.

“Marie!”

Marietta walked over and took her daughter from her father. Lorenza protested with a small cry of alarm but Marietta picked up her baby cup and gave it to her to sip. She stepped back toward her rollout bed and held her daughter in her arms while keeping her eyes on the Générale.

He, of course, ignored her. He turned his attention to Lorenzo. “Are you aware of the carnage that has taken place?”

“Carnage?”

“The Dons of the Camorra. All dead. Every one of them.”

Lorenzo frowned.

“My colleagues are blaming the Santoro’s and Russians. But I know better. It’s Giovanni. He’s cleaning house. Do you really think, if what you say is true and you escaped him by being held captive by the Russians, that he will not come for you next?”

“Giovanni is my brother.”

The Générale rolled his eyes.

“It’s true. We’re brothers. I don’t think for one minute he’d do any harm to me or my family. But I know what harm you have done to my wife. If there is an inquiry there should be one for you Générale Altoviti. I am prepared to cooperate.”

The Générale smiled. “The charges were dropped. He wasn’t found innocent. And now that you are alive I have a whole bag of charges for you. Enjoy freedom while it lasts. I will be coming for both of you soon.”

The Générale tipped his head to Marietta and then turned and walked out. She spat on the ground in fury. “We need to kill the son-of-a-bitch!”

“Shhh,” Lorenzo whispered.

She walked over to him and sat on the bed. Lorenza crawled again to her father to sit on his hap. “What will we do? They are releasing you soon. Where will we go?”

“I received a call from Domi. Gio is on his way to Africa.”

“Africa? What?” Marietta exclaimed.

“Domi is coming for us. We’re going to Sicily.”

“Lo... no, I don’t want to go back there!”

“Listencara,we can’t go forward without dealing with the past. I have questions, so do you. We need to see our family.”

Marietta got up from the bed and paced away. “Remember when we talked. We said we would leave Italy. Go to America. Can we? Is it possible? With the Générale and Interpol will they leave you alone? Let us go?”

“It’s possible. But we’ll need to deal with the Générale. And I’m not going anywhere until we do.”

With a brave smile, she gave him a nod. She looked to Lorenza who was bumping her head against her father’s chest and then grinning. She smiled. “She’s happy Lo. You can see it? She’s happy with us.”

“I feel it. I feel it for us both. Come closer mama,” Lo said.

Marietta came over and he scooted on his bed to make room. She eased on and turned sideways to fit. He opened his arm and she rested on his chest. Lorenza dropped to his chest and turned to stare at her mother. She touched Marietta’s hair.

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