Page 233 of Vita Mia

“Don’t get angry. She wanted it to be her release from me.” Giovanni rubbed Leeza’s back. She slept on his shoulder and softly snored in his ear. He loved the sound. “She wants to be your wife not my little sister. She wants me to bless her and let her go. Because she knew I’d snap your neck for hurting her. I don’t give a fuck how much power you think you have.”

Dominic chuckled. “I still love her Gio. Even as this man I do.”

“Then cut the whores lose. We have to decide on the future now. It’s not guaranteed.”

“You talk as if you made a decision.”

“I have to prepare Bella for it. And I want you to make sure that she and Catalina are protected when I’m gone. Can I trust you?”

Dominic nodded.

“Good. Then we have a wedding to plan. Because I do expect you to marry my sister and make and legitimize her children.”

Dominic smiled.

Giovanni approached and kissed Dominic on the left then the right cheek. He opened one arm and gave him a brotherly hug that didn’t wake his baby girl.

“What about Nico? You saw how close he and Mirabella became. I warned him.”

“She needed him. She’ll need him again when I’m gone. She and Eve both.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Dominic asked.

“How can I stop it Domi? With my machete? With threats? With my power?”

Dominic stepped back.

“There are rules in this life.”

“And there are rules in marriage. Mirabella will have to decide to respect them. I was so insecure and possessive of her love that I didn’t trust her. I didn’t trust any of them. So my way was to cut them down. And what has it done to her, to me?”

“It’s protected her.”

“My girls need protection. You will have a lot to manage with the Camorra and the Mafiosi. Nico is going to be very useful to you both.”

“There has to be another way. A better way.”

Giovanni smiled.

“We have time before the Generale comes for me and I move the final piece on the chessboard. Let’s figure it out.”

Dominic nodded. They both started toward the house.

***

“Aireys Inlet, Victoria? Where is this place?” Marietta said as she closed the folder with their new life details.

“Dominic found it for me. We’re going to Australia. A friend once told me about it.” Lorenzo answered. Marietta got up from her seat on the jet and checked on Lorenza who slept on the back row. Her daughter seemed to be content in the makeshift bed of pillows she made for her. She returned to find Lorenzo drinking again. He was drinking heavily since they left Sicily.

“Can you have some water instead?”

Lorenzo stopped swallowing with the glass to his lips. He looked at his wife with his good eye. He lowered the glass and handed it to her. She gave him a bottle of water instead.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

He drank the water and didn’t speak.

“You can tell me what is bothering you. I already know the story Lo. You told him to tell the family who you really were and he threatened you. Forced you to leave. But if you want the family to know, Giovanni can’t stop you. We could go back eventually and take...”

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