Page 118 of Vita Mia

“Martha said I can’t keep it. That it would be wrong because he must be free. But he is free, with me. Right mum? If I keep he is safe.” Gino grinned. “So, can I have it? Huh?Per favore? I want to name him ‘tiger’. Please!”

A tear slipped from her cheek. She immediately wiped away its trace. She nodded. Gino ran from the room cheering. And then she noticed the phone was still in her lap. She picked it up and put it to her ear, hearing the same heartbreaking silence on the other end.

“He’s dead?”

“He’s dead.” Dominic answered.

“Kyra?”

“I was on my way back to Palermo when I got the call at the airport I went straight to the prison. I’m headed to her now. I will deliver the news.”

“What do I do?” Mirabella asked in a soft voice.

“Get dressed. I had the attorneys wake the magistrate. They pushed hard on Nico’s release. He’ll be there with the attorneys soon. I’ll be in touch.”

“Domi! Wait! Are you okay?”

“Am I supposed to be? I’ll be with Kyra. I’ll be in touch.”

He hung up before she could ask another question. Mirabella put her hands to her face. She closed her eyes and screamed in her head. She grabbed her pillow and put it to her face to scream her tears into it. And she let as much of it go as she could, before more kids were in the room with her and climbing on the bed. She wiped her face on the pillow and smiled at the children. Lorenza and Gianni didn’t seem to notice. Eve who held Leeza on her hip did. She stared at her mother’s weepy eyes and frowned.

“Can you take them Evie, so I can get dressed.”

“Yes mummy,” Eve said. She ushered them off the bed and to the door. She paused at the door. “Mum?”

“Yes?”

“I’ll take care of the kids today with Martha. Don’t worry. We can handle it,” Eve smiled.

Mirabella blew her a kiss. Eve gave her a very weak smile and then closed the door. Mirabella fell back on her pillow and wept. Everything happened at once. The men that worked for her husband arrived in droves. They used her penthouse as the command center. The media blasted the gruesome details on the television and radio. Mirabella had to escape to her room with the kids to not hear it.

The attorneys arrived. Their allies came. People kept coming. The only one brave enough to venture into the room she locked the world out of was Nico.

He gave her a sad smile when he walked inside. Mirabella was slow to rise. She gave him a sad smile and he winked that he knew all the things she wanted to say and ask.

“I’m so sorry Nico!” Mirabella rushed him and hugged him.

He embraced her. His strong comforting arms were like the warmth of a familiar blanket. She melted in that warmth, clung to him. Was Nico the last man standing? Would the next call be Giovanni and then like passing of winter it all evaporates and disappears? Was this the beginning of the end?

“I know,” Nico whispered as he held her. “It’s all lies. What they are saying in the news is being fed to them by the warden. He’s already killed most of the Puglia’s locked in that hell of a prison. He’s working his way through our clan.”

“How did it happen?”

“We’ll talk.” Nico let her go but she went back into his arms immediately. She was afraid if she let him go he’d die next. She was certain of it now.

“One of the boys brought me some fresh clothes. Can I shower?” he asked her.

“Yes, Of course,,” she blushed and released him. “Let me check on everyone else.” Mirabella said and wiped her tears. Nico went to the door where he dropped his bag and walked into the shower. He was as calm as Dominic on the phone. And if she didn’t know better she’d say it was a lack of caring or grief. But what she was seeing in these men, even her husband when they pulled him away was defeat. This fucking warden was winning. She had to do something. She had to before it was too late. It might already be.

Mirabella found Sophia feeding men in the kitchen.

“Can I help?”

“No, no, you rest,” Sophia said. “We’re fine.”

“Let me help,” she pleaded.

Sophia nodded. Mirabella fixed plates and poured wine. She brought in food for the kids and talked to them to make sure they were as happy as any child would be. She met up with Nico again in the hall. He’d taken a long shower. She understood why. He lowered his gaze as if he couldn’t face her.

---