Page 83 of Vita Mia

“I know. But she was a child. I was the mother who didn’t pay enough attention to her. That’s the truth the world will hear.”

Gino sighed. He hung his head and shook it. “Dig it up and I can’t bury it all. That’s all I’m saying. We are still Camorra.” He stood and looked at Mirabella who couldn’t lift her gaze to look into his eyes. They were too much like his father’s. Though his skin was darker and hair different, she could see a young Gio every time Gino entered a room. Gianni had too many tattoos on his neck and arms. It was Gino, the way he talked and carried himself. He was Giovanni through and through. Mirabella’s gaze finally lifted to the camera fixed on her. “I’ll do my best.”

“And your best was always good enough for us,” Gino said.

Mirabella wiped away her tears. Gino left her alone. She sat there for a long while thinking of the past.

Chapter Fifteen

Present - 2018

Bagheria, Sicily

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“IS EVERYTHING OKAY?” Ryder asked.

MiaBella hadn’t stopped walking since they left the compound. They were now clear of the forests and he could hear the sounds of the ocean. The grass was so green he’d swear it had been sprinkled with emeralds, and the sky so blue it looked like a painting. They neared a ridge that dropped to jagged cliffs. There were rocks below that reached the tide rushing in. They stood at the foothill only inches from a drop into the sea. His breath caught in his lungs from the altitude. He wasn’t a fan of heights. But this was too spectacular not to behold. And Mia was like the angel on his shoulder. Her dark brown hair was blown thin from its crinkly style, away from her face.

“Close your eyes,” she said.

He did.

The warmth of the sun and smell of the sea breeze washed over them. He had no idea that Sicily could give off such serenity. He had so many questions for his aunt. Did she visit here? Why leave the beauty and calmness of this region of the world for the hustle and bustle of New York? He had more questions for this beauty. But he couldn’t ask her one. He just wanted to be in her company. And then she took a step back. He let go a breath and did the same. They were close to the edge but he felt his heart stabilize.

“When my father and uncle were little boys they used to jump off these cliffs into the sea,” MiaBella said. She sat down and crossed her legs. He sat closer to the edge with his legs dangling off the cliff. He did so to make her think of him as tough. He’d taken a big hit to his reputation by letting Gianni Battaglia throttle him to near death. Still his bravery wasn’t working. He felt queasy by being so close to the edge.

“How little were they?” Ryder asked.

“I dunno. Five or six I think.”

“That’s risky,” he said. “They could have hit the rocks below.”

“Yea,” she said softly. “But they mostly did it from Mondello. Those cliffs go directly into the sea.”

“Where is that?”

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