Page 125 of Vita Mia

“Why? Gio has attorneys that have worked for him for years.”

“I know. But we need a fresh perspective and someone that is beyond reproach. No criminal times. Remember I’m the one who is handling these affairs. I want the magistrates to see me as the desperate American wife. Besides I’ve never felt more alone,” she mumbled.

“Who would you select?” Nico asked.

“I’m thinking of hiring a firm out of London. It’s something Kyra said to me when she was here. I need a different kind of army. I need to get ahead of these politicians and magistrates wanting to crucify my husband. The Gypsy King, the one who gave you the message? Do you know him well?”

“Yes?” Nico said.

“Is he someone we can trust inside?”

“I suppose, if he’s still alive.”

“He has access to Gio? We need to get access to him. Okay?”

Nico nodded. “I’ll work on it.”

“Eve is so happy you’re here,” Mirabella smiled.

Nico’s smile broadened. “She has always been able to make me smile. Since she was a little one. I see she wears a glove to cover her burns.”

“I made it for her. She loves Michael Jackson. I let her watch his videos and dance with her glove.” Mirabella smiled “We have a glove for each day of the week. She likes the sparkling ones. I let her make those.”

Nico nodded.

They fell into another comfortable silence.

“I might have to travel soon,” Mirabella said. “I hate leaving the kids behind. I’m going to send them to Catalina and Zia in Sicily.”

“Where do we need to go?” Nico asked.

“It’ll sound crazy when I tell you.”

“Nothing sounds crazy to me anymore.”

“Russia,” she said and sipped her coffee. “That’s where Tarzan will invite me after the meeting with them. We have to go to Russia.”

“You can’t do that. We have no control over what would happen if you went to Russia. None.”

“I won’t have a choice. Giovanni said if Tarzan agreed to giving us Lorenzo early, then he’ll want something. I have money and property, but he’ll want something more.” Mirabella looked up. “Even if he does honor his deal with Gio, he won’t let Lorenzo go clean. He’ll demand I come personally.”

“Why?” Nico asked.

“Ego. You men are all ego and pride when you have the power. I’m just the prize for Tarzan to flex his power over the Camorra.”

Nico nodded. “The bait.”

“Giovanni prepared me. But first, I’m thinking the magistrate can be swayed to move Giovanni to Roma if I bring in a really good outside law firm.”

“That’s not good for him. We have no control in Rome,” Nico said.

“He’ll be under protective watch, constant surveillance. He’ll be given decent meals and medical attention. That’s all the control we need. And, in Rome the pressure I put on the press might speed up his trial. He won’t survive in Napoli, Nico. He’ll try to kill the warden himself.”

Nico nodded in agreement.

“It’s all too much after Renaldo. I know him. He loved Renaldo like a brother. I remember when Renaldo was shot and almost dead how hard he took it. We need to focus on helping Kyra and her children to honor Renaldo. Somehow.”

“She’s refusing even my calls,” Nico said.

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