Page 241 of Vita Mia

“Your mother said...”

“Mum will be made to understand. Trust me. It’s better this way. She is to never be blamed or persecuted for any of my Papa’s crimes. My father will always make sure of that.”

Ryder looked on concerned but held his tongue.

“After the launch of your new YouTube channel and release of the series of interviews we will have no further contact. You will work with the family through your attorneys.”

“I don’t have—“

“You have attorneys; I’ve made them available to you.” Gino shut him down. “They will help you manage the chaos. Protect your family. Negotiate your interviews, book and movie deals. There will be no need to contact us, or my sister again.”

“You talk as if I work for you?” Ryder said.

Gino’s look slipped into a sly smile. “I thought that was understood when you accepted the job.”

Ryder chewed on his bottom lip. “I’m sorry.”

Gino’s brows lowered with concern.

“For the disrespect, and how we met. I was young and stupid. A kid. I didn’t know who she was. Even a blind man would be tempted by her beauty. But nothing physical happened with us. I think MiaBella is the most special woman I’ve ever met. And I have been respectful. I know you know and have seen this.”

“And?”

“She told me you were trying to force her into marriage. But that you changed your mind. She told me that you let her live in L.A. Now. That means she and I will possibly meet again. I’m being respectful and telling you that I want too—“

“Stop talking.”

Ryder nodded and went silent.

“I’ve explained to you how it will be. That is all the discussion we will have about my sister. It upsets me that you keep pressing the matter.”

“I don’t want to upset you—“

“Stop speaking,” Gino put a finger in his face and his violet-blue eyes flashed with anger with the swiftness of a lightning strike. “She’s never going to be an option for you Ryder. You aren’t worthy of her. So look elsewhere.”

Ryder nodded and put his hands up. “I understand.”

“Bene,come with me. I don’t want to keep my father waiting for this bullshit.”

Ryder swallowed his fear and followed him. Gino opened the doors and he saw MiaBella. His eyes naturally went to her. She stood next to a man he couldn’t remember the name of. A cousin or someone special in the family. His gaze switched to the man seated. He was the only man seated among the family and Mirabella was at his side. It was Don Giovanni Battaglia. He looked different with the grey hair and beard but he had the same brooding scowl to his face that had been seen in pictures.

“Ciao Ryder,” Mirabella spoke. “Prego, please join us.”

He walked over to the seat offered to him across from Giovanni. He accepted it. Mirabella smiled and touched her husband’s shoulder. I know that MiaBella told you who this is. Gio, this is Giulio Santini. He’s second-generation American. His family is originally from the Amalfi.”

“Santini?” Giovanni said the name as if it had meaning to him. Ryder didn’t know how it could. His aunt did mention knowing of Giovanni when she grew up in Sorrento but she never said there was a family connection of any kind. Was there? And if there was, is that why MiaBella was allowed to bring him to Sicily? With the Battaglias he had learned that there were no coincidences. All of this had to be planned since they discovered him in their midst back on that island two years ago.

“They call him Ryder,” Mirabella continued. “He’s a personality and journalist off of the internet. You’ve seen us working. Ryder, please meet my husband Giovanni.”

“It’s, ah, nice, to meet you sir.”

Giovanni sat forward. “Welcome to my home.”

“The world thinks you’re dead.”

“I’m not.”

“Okay, okay, hold that thought.” Ryder fumbled clumsily with his camera. Giovanni cut his gaze to Gino who rolled his eyes as if to say that Ryder was an idiot. He didn’t care. He wanted it on his meeting Gio for the first time on camera. When he couldn’t get the damn thing to turn on Gianni chuckled.

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