Page 53 of Vita Mia

“Like a mad dog,” Giovanni said. “You have your guilt. I have mine. I pushed him too hard and too far. There’s no going back for Carlo.”

“Gio?”

He glanced up.

“There’s only one way out of this life Bella,” Giovanni said. “Carlo is a risk.”

She nodded. “I understand. A risk like Lorenzo. And look what way you found for him?”

He smirked.

“That was for you.”

“No Gio, that was for you. Carlo is your brother. He needs help, not a bullet. Cut him loose. Your way.”

“I’ve already decided.”

After they finished eating they laughed with some patrons and Giovanni told stories to the owners about his best playing soccer days. Then they left to listen to a musician in the courtyard. When the day ended and she was on the motorbike with him and the sun was setting, she looked up at the cotton candy skyline smeared in pink, purples, and blues. She stared at the disappearing sun behind the mountains and she relished his love.

Chapter Ten

Bagheria, Italy

Present—2018

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MIRABELLA SET THE WEDDINGphoto down on the coffee table after finishing a revised version of her story. She left out the part of Carlo and deeper family secrets, but she told Ryder and MiaBella something they both could use to understand Giovanni.

“Mum? Are you okay?”

“Yes,” Mirabella said and accepted a tissue. “Something in my eye.”

Ryder and Mia exchanged a look. He cleared his throat. “I’ll take a quick bathroom break Ms. Battaglia. That was a very good conclusion to Eve’s story about the fire.”

“It was far from over for Eve. I guess I only shared it to say we were committed to her after that day. In a way we hadn’t been before.”

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