Page 29 of La Dolce Vita

Giovanni frowned.

"It's not the poison that makes her this way," Dominic said.

"Don't speak in riddles."

Dominic nodded. "It's the stress. It's the trauma. PTSD."

Giovanni drew back. "PT... ?"

"Mirabella was kidnapped, tortured; she went through something more stressful than she probably ever experienced in her life. This doctor says we should stop looking for a medical cure. We should get her help for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Her behavior points to it. This isn't a medical doctor. We have the best medical doctors on her recovery. Even Sweden has consulted and believes she is healthy. This is a different kind of doctor."

"Don't say it."

"A head doctor."

"No!"

"An American psychologist."

"I said no!"

"Listen to me Gio. This doctor has dealt with cases of severe mental trauma before. We see this woman and it could change everything."

"No. No. It's the drug," Giovanni said. "She isn't crazy. I know what a damn psychologist wants. To convince her she belongs in some asylum or rubber room. Or to make her think the problem is her husband. This life we lead. I won't put Bella through that."

"Do you mean you won't risk losing her?"

Giovanni clenched his teeth. "I'll never lose her. Ever. Even if that means we keep her here. Forever."

"You don't mean that Gio. You love her too much to let her suffer."

"I love her too much to let anyone come between us." Giovanni said.

"That's not what I'm saying. This woman can help her. She's in Firenze. I'll leave first thing after our meeting tomorrow to see her. Check her out." Dominic patted him on the back. "And then you can bring Mirabella to meet her. Just a meeting."

Giovanni shrugged off his touch. "I don't want any fucking body poking around in my wife's head. And you know why."

"If this doctor is right and we don't treat her PTSD it could get worse for her. Think of her nightmares and depression, then the days she acts as if nothing has changed for her. There aren't enough blue roses in Sicilia you can bring to her to cure the pain. And she will change, for the worst. Am I right?"

"It's like a man sent off to war?" Giovanni asked.

"Yes. Yes, like a traumatized soldier," Dominic said. "The mind has power over the body. We both know that."

"But when she came back to me, she was fine. We were better. Then she had those seizures."

"Yes. That's the physical part of it, Gio. The toxin in her system made her sick. No one denies that. But it's the trigger that came later. Being hospitalized and separated from you and the kids. It was stressful and then she lost control of the stress. She goes in and out of the hospital, and she sees how it stresses you and the kids. She tries to suppress her fears, but they consume her, and she loses control. Add that to her not feeling well, and it makes things very hard for recovery. Let me meet with this doctor. I can help. We can do this together."

"Okay," Giovanni sighed. "Okay. You check out this doctor. Call me and I will bring her to see her. No. I have a better plan. I'll take her to Chianti. I had planned to see Rocco soon anyway. It's past time for a trip. She's upset about this Paris show. Maybe we can finally use those tickets I bought for us to go to America. Get her out of here, away from all of this."

Dominic smiled. "Now we have to discuss the territories you've signed over. I've taken several meetings, and I owe you some updates."

"I've done a lot of damage," Giovanni mumbled.

"You reacted in a very stressful time. You saved many lives. We are weaker now, Gio, and we need you thinking not reacting. We are drug dealers now."

Giovanni wiped at his mouth. It felt dry, his lips chapped. His gaze flickered up to his bar. There was only one type of drink that could quench his thirst tonight.

"Gio?" Dominic said.

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