Page 142 of Vita Mia

“No,” he looked her in the eye. “I haven’t. I was too... angry to drink. Too hurt.”

“So this vodka really is to piss me off?” she asked.

“My mind works in reverse. I figured you’d think I was binging on alcohol so I should binge. I’m sorry.”

Shae sighed in disappointment.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. We’ll get better.”

“We willcara, because I will be better.”

She touched his face as if unsure, then forgave him with a kiss.

“I want the bar. And I want to go to Italy and put a bullet in the head of the man who killed my friend, only after I cut his balls off and shove them up his ass. That’s what I want. Will you be the wife to let me have both?”

“You have a way with words.”

“Can you support me? Can I be Carlo and Lucio, my way?”

She kissed his lips. She kissed his nose and then his lips again. “Do you want me to audition for you? Remind you of what kind of talent we’ll need to hire for this ‘tits and ass’ bar?”

Carlo’s gaze lowered to her breasts.

“Sì, mi piacerebbe, I’d like that.”

She stood and took his hand. Carlo stood. “What will we name it?”

“I think Pink pussy—“

Shae brows lifted in surprised.

“Pink Pussycat,” he said.

She chuckled.

“Pink Pussycat. Sounds like a family business.”

Carlo swept her up and she laughed in surprise. He held her. “Grazie, cara. For being my wife. For believing in me.”

“I always will.”

***

THERE WAS A KNOCK ATthe door. Marietta didn’t bother to turn to answer the visitor. She lay on her bed, numb all over from the sedative given to her. But her mind worked fine. Sera walked over to the side of the bed where she could be seen. She sat in the chair so they could be eye level. Marietta then closed her eyes to block her out. She didn’t care what they threatened her with. She was tired. And even revenge didn’t seem to stop the pain. It was making her crazy.

The doctor touched her face.

“I have a story to tell you. Are you listening?”

“Go away.”

“When you were taken to Africa, it was because of me. I was the one that found the perfect place to care for you, to help you deliver your baby.”

Marietta eyes opened.

“When you were taken to Maddalena it was because of me. I was the one that convinced the Générale of the crazy plan to commit you, to break your will and guarantee you would work with him.”

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