Page 123 of La Dolce Vita

"To get to me you have to know them," Mirabella said.

The doctor looked at the kids laughing and jumping on the grapes with grape juice covering their legs. She then looked back to the villa where Giovanni had reappeared with two of his men. He was watching them. He didn't look happy. "Is your husband okay with therapy? This kind of treatment?"

"No. He will fight me on it. But I can handle my husband. I need a commitment before I tell him. And unfortunately, I need it now. Dominic will draw up a confidentiality agreement..."

"That won't be necessary..."

Mirabella put her hand up and silenced the doctor. "You aren't stupid, doctor. You know who my husband is. You know who we are. If you agree to this, I need more than your doctor’s oath of confidentiality. For your safety and ours. I will give you twenty-four hours. You decide."

The doctor nodded.

"Goodbye, Sera," Mirabella said and extended her hand. "It was nice meeting you."

"Goodbye, Mirabella."

"The men will see you out." Mirabella turned and walked away. She glanced back at the doctor who looked like her dead friend. She smiled. Maybe this was a sign or an omen for what was to come in America. Either way, she had to be strong to help her family. And right now she needed strength. The doctor was her only hope.

ChapterTwenty

La Camorra

Firenze Italy

Agent Adara Costello was nervous. She waited outside of the Chief Inspector’s office biting her nails. All morning she'd rehearsed what she would say to the Inspector. What could she say? That she went in deep cover to Senator Banfi's home, engaged in sex-play, let a woman die on her watch, only to find out it was all a lie. And then spent the night in the bed with the most ruthless of men in theCamorraholding him as if he were a little boy. None of it was useful or productive.

"Agent Costello," A uniformed officer of theCarabinieriapproached. Adara glanced up in surprise. From the star ranking on his sleeve she knew he was a Divisional General. She stood immediately when he stepped to her.

"You are to come with me," he informed her.

"I was to meet with the Chief Inspector," she said. Her highest achievement would be to advance as a woman into the Italian military. But that was far off. She wasn't even recognized as a true agent now, by thepoliziawhich she served.

"You are to meet with the General.Andiamo," he said and turned on his heel. She was quick to follow. They left one building for another. However, it was through halls and tunnels that would not expose her to average citizens. Her cover was protected. She was then brought into the commanding offices of theCarabinieri. An office she had heard and read about, but never seen. The Divisional General took her to a door and then threw it open for her to pass through. She stepped inside. On the wall was the intricate layout of the NeapolitanCamorraclans. And at the top of the pyramid was the picture of Don Giovanni Battaglia. The boss of all bosses.

"Wait here," the Divisional General said and closed the door.

Adara stepped to the wall. She gazed upon the clan families. TheCarabinierihad the faces of so many she couldn't believe it. Their intelligence was far greater than the Chief Inspector’s. And then her eyes scaled upward to the Battaglias. She saw Carlo's picture and his level of ranking. And she also saw the notation of him being best friends with acapuby the name of Lorenzo Battaglia.

Adara paused.

She stepped closer.

The image next to Lorenzo was of a woman. The sister of the black Donna. She was shade or two fairer than Mirabella Battaglia. And she had a lot of curly hair. In fact her hair was very similar to Adara's. It didn't have the pink stripes that Carlo seem to be interested in. After studying her for a moment Adara realized they did look somewhat alike, but not much.

It was strange.

The door opened.

"Costello!"Generale di corpod'armatastepped in with two lower ranked generals at his side. She stood at attention and gave him a respectful salute. He looked her over. He approached. Adara froze, unable to swallow her breath. The man towered in stature, and had piercing black eyes. He stopped before her and she could smell the cigar he smoked on his breath. "Are you Adara Costello, or should I call you Adara Calderone?"

Adara slowly lowered her hand from her brow. Her heart seized in her chest, and she looked up into the General's eyes with a mixture of guilt and surprise.

"That is who you are? Correct? Granddaughter of Don Calderone?" the General asked.

"I'm Adara Costello," she said.

"You lie again to me, girl, and I will chain you so far beneath the jails you will grow fungus for hair and your skin will turn to mold."

Adara glanced to the others. What was she to do or say but the truth she needed him to believe? He evidently thought he had the proof of her true identity. "How did you know?"

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