Page 198 of Vita Mia

The other witnesses that were under the protection of the Carabinieri were the children of Santo, his fallen friend, a man who gave up years of his life to the prison system to protect the Camorra secrets and the betrayed that loyalty. Another rodent that Giovanni refused to morn. They parade continued. Business were brought in to swear under oath that was extorted and financially ruined by the Camorra under Giovanni.

The hearing dragged on.

No media was allowed. But Of course,, the highest ranking officials in the Anti-Mafia organization were in attendance. After Giovanni’s transfer to Roma he dwelled in solitary eating scraps and garbage. But soon his presence began to affect his surroundings. It started with simple offerings of fruit and sweets, it graduated to books to read, and now he received coded messages from Dominic updating him on everything outside, including the deteriorating mental state of his wife. Their separation was having a terrible effect on her and the children. He was fully aware of the Générale’s failed attempt to lure his Bella to Rome to arrest her for bribery and other crimes. How he used a grief stricken mother’s pain to infiltrate his home and convince his wife to take such risks. The plot failed. And his wife and kids were under the protection of his men at all times.

Giovanni also learned of Lorenzo rescue. He knew the family kept him hidden in the Amalfi. He knew Lorenzo still believed they were blood brothers and agreed to help him by emerging from the shadows to claim his birthright. Bullshit. Sun Tzu was right; the art of war was the art of deception. But even in knowing all of it he didn’t trust any of the men around him to save him, including Dominic. He believed in no one, only the woman that had been by his side through it all.

The court official called her name.

Giovanni’s gaze swiveled to the left. The door opened and in walked his heart. Her appearance from the embers of his memory from their last encounter had a destabilizing effect on him. Physically, there were differences. She cut her hair. For the first time in their marriage, the thick plumes of hair that he loved to wrap his hands around and pull when loving her body was trimmed to a blunt symmetrical cut that stopped at her chin. The bob-style cast her hair over her left eye from a side part. As she approached the reserved area for her testimony the tresses covered one side of her face concealing her from him. She wore a dark navy business suit that was tailored to her figure and flattering to her curves. She stepped into the booth. With the toss of her chin to the left her long bangs swiveled from the side of her face and her beauty was revealed to every man in the room. She raised her hand to be sworn in. It was then their eyes met.

––––––––

“I’M NOT BLIND ANYMORE,” Mirabella said, as she lay in his arms tangled in the sheets damp from their lovemaking. “I walked into this marriage with my eyes closed. But not anymore. Trust me Gio. No matter what it costs me, I’ll always be there for you.”

His mouth found hers, and her hands covered his trembling hands that held her face. He spoke to her instead of sealing the kiss. “I promise Bella, it’ll never come to this. I’ll always put you and the kids first. Always.”

––––––––

THOSE WORDS HELD LITTLEmeaning with him caged and stripped of his power. Deep in her eyes he saw the sadness of their reality. He blinked away the moisture gathering to form tears. His Bella was tough but gentle as she had always been, but there was a difference. Dominic had warned him about the change in her, and at that moment as she made a vow to-tell-the-truth he was reminded of her corruption. He smiled at her, Mirabella smiled in return. He would give anything to flex his power. Order every man in the room to their knees for scaring her, for making him become the monster he was in front of her. He’d stand behind her, wrap his arms around her and comfort her when she stood before the world and spoke the lies she’d need to confess to save their lives.

She was sworn in and then immediately hammered by the prosecutor who spoke his Italian fast and hurried to confuse her. But his Bella rose to the challenge. She smiled in her gentle manner and asked several times for the questions to be repeated. Twice the judges, six of them total, intervened to remind the prosecutor of his duty when questioning the witness. And through it all she never took her eyes off of him.

––––––––

MIRABELLA LOATHED THEofficials and lawyers gathered to gawk at her. She dealt with the looks of pity, distrust, and even worry over her state of mind. Today she was bombarded by the condemnation and outright smugness of her husband’s accusers. And yes, she could see it all in their eyes. No one believed her bravery, no one trusted her commitment. Today they were right. Today she ran from it all, even her babies. If it weren’t for Catalina to keep her grounded, she’d still be running because she feared the end. When she entered a courtroom in front of a world she felt herself again anchor to the right cause. The only eyes in the room that she took comfort in were his. Giovanni had the most intense, wonderfully magnetic violet-blue eyes. Even after everything he’s had to endure in jail his eyes were the most endearing and calming when she stared into them. So, she focused on him and only him.

“Signora Battaglia, I have a few more questions,” the prosecutor began.

Another hush fell over the courtroom. Swallowing hard Mirabella wiped angrily at the moisture building at the corners of her eyes and braced herself for what was to come next. More slanderous innuendos that the prosecutor would use to shake her faith in him. She was ready.

When the defense had their turn to question her Giovanni put up his hand to his attorney to remain seated. Mirabella was excused. She blew him a kiss for love and then lost him again.

***

“YOU HAVEN’T SAID ANYTHINGsince court convened,” Catalina said.

Mirabella sat in her penthouse suite staring out the windows. They were heavily guarded. Dominic revoked all her privileges. The men now only answered to him.

“Mirabella?”

“Yes?” she turned and looked at Catalina and Francesca.

“You haven’t said a word?”

“I did... it went fine,” she sighed.

“What did they ask you?” Francesca pushed.

“What we expected. Let’s see... how did it start? Oh, yes. The prosecutor drug from the dead my favorite subject, Fabiana. He then asked me about Carmella’s disappearance, mostly questions about the way Armando and Carmella tried to kill me and later after Giovanni was shot I took my revenge on my brother and murdered him. And he moved on to my sister and Lorenzo. Everything he thought would cut me to the bone over her abandonment, of our relationship, was thrown in my face. There were plenty of questions about what happened to Sophia since she is now missing.”

“Hmpf,” Catalina said. “They don’t know shit. It’s all a fishing attempt.”

Mirabella walked over to the ladies and sat with them. “They wanted to know about my nervous breakdown and the poisoning they got from my medical records. They wanted to know why I hired Dr. Sera and even my involvement with Belinda’s death.”

“Involvement?” Francesca frowned.

“The nurse assistant gave testimony that I asked for her to be drugged but unrestrained. I guess they were saying I was the reason she jumped. To protect our secrets.”

---