Page 77 of Vita Mia

“Giovanni was shot because I disobeyed him and helped Marietta and Lorenzo. And you were gone, because I pushed you out of the family. I... befriended Tacchini. Or he befriended me. Either way the friendship was wrong.”

“What does that mean? Friendship?”

“I trusted him, I relied on him, I opened up to him. Giovanni didn’t like it. Tacchini and I formed a bond.”

Catalina groaned. “Please don’t say—“

“He killed Tacchini in front of me. And he took his clan. That pissed everyone off. He’d already thrown Liccardi and the other Dons to the jails and they were murdered in prison. The Camorristi had to be rebuilt but no one trusts Gio. And then he... he brought the Puglia’s and the Russians into it. He needed the Russians to stomp out the Armenians. It made them trust him even less. If Ballistrieri wanted revenge, and power this was the way to get it. If he’s turned on Giovanni he’s in bigger trouble because the Générale has Marietta.”

“Has her? She’s locked away in Maddalena. How does he have her?”

“He put her there.” Mirabella said.

“You knew he was sniffing around Marietta and you left her vulnerable to him? In her state of mind?”

“We knew the Générale would arrest Giovanni eventually. It had to happen. We prepared. Marietta and Lorenzo were part of the bigger plan. The one that would have worked. That still could work if Ballistrieri hadn’t turned on Gio. Now I don’t know anymore. I don’t know... what will happen.”

“But Lorenzo is dead. And Marietta hates this family! How the hell could that be the plan!”

“I can’t explain.”

“It’s my brother! I need to know. What you aren’t telling me?”

The news reporter’s voice rose and they glanced to the television. The reporter announced that Giovanni Battaglia was being brought back to Napoli to face his crimes.

“That’s good news!” Mirabella said. “It’s the best news Catalina. In Napoli, he has a chance. And I can get to him in Napoli. I have to be ready.”

“Mirabella!”

She didn’t pause or wait. She walked out with her baby in her arms. Catalina watched the rest of the news report until the kids came running in looking for their mother. There was more to what was happening in her family than she could comprehend. The fire, and deaths had made them closer. But Mirabella was different. She was a co-conspirator with Giovanni.When did that happen?And what games were she and Giovanni playing with the legal system? It could all end badly.

“Zia, can I hold him?” Eve asked.

Catalina handed over Armando who immediately smiled for Eve. Eve in the past hated all the babies and children. She struggled with her station in the family. But after the fire she’d become another mother to the kids, very protective over them. Lorenza walked in closer and Catalina picked her up and kissed her face. Out of all the girls in the family Lorenza had the most hair. It was dark and curly. It went to her waist. To be so small and young she was a strikingly beautiful child like her mother. Catalina missed Marietta. She wished she could turn back the hands of time. She wished things had been different.

“He stinks,” Eve frowned.

Catalina chuckled.

“You want to change him?”

Eve shook her head no.

“Bring me my baby.”

Eve brought Armando back over to her and took Lorenza into her arms. The kids began to tell her about the police invasion of their home. Gino and Gianni picked up their toy guns and pointed at each other telling each other to get down on their knees. Catalina watched them in sadness. She reached over and picked up the remote and changed the channel when Giovanni’s face appeared on screen.

Eve was the only one out of the kids to notice.

“Can you get me a diaper from the bag?” Catalina asked.

Eve did as she asked. She walked over and stared at Armando as his bum was wiped clean of green poop and then the diaper was put on him.

“Who is his father?” Eve asked.

“What?” Catalina responded.

“Who is his father?” Eve repeated.

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