Page 205 of Vita Mia

What if Marietta didn’t recant her statements?

What if Lorenzo didn’t take the bait, and the risk?

What if Mirabella lost faith?

What if Dominic didn’t have the balls to see it all through?

What then? What then? He swung at the air. He put his hands to his head and paced. One day he was the Don. He owned everyone. He made the decisions of life over death. He granted mercy. He took his hands off the steering wheel once, because his daughter needed him and everything had gone up in smoke. If he did walk out of this cell another one would be waiting for him. There was no going back.

Giovanni looked up to the ceiling and could swear it was slowly descending, coming down to crush him to dust. He sat on the bunk and closed his eyes and kept them shut. He was babbling in his mind, yelling, shouting her name. He needed his Bella. Every part of him craved her. Never in his life ....never.... had any woman held this kind of control over him. His mind was still open, no matter the mental strength he summoned to suppress his fears. He couldn’t let go of the look he saw in her eyes. His thoughts sent another sharp shudder of dread through him that made his chest clench. Giovanni lay back on the bunk, head to his sour pillow he endured. For the first time in his life, he had to admit to himself that he ultimately had lost control.

***

THE FINAL DAY

“She will be fine with mesignora, I will take good care of her,” the nurse said.

Lorenza cried and reached for Marietta. She took her daughter back from the nurse and stepped back. “I can’t. She’s too upset! I can’t leave her with a stranger!”

“Get her under control, she will be before the judges in thirty minutes,” the prosecutor said to Sera and stormed out of the room. Sera glanced to both mother and daughter. Lorenza had a difficult night adjusting with Marietta that evening. The little tot woke up several times crying for her Zia. She worried that it would agitate and distress Marietta if their bonding disintegrated any further. She was surprised to see her calmly and patiently soothe her daughter. The only real issue was Marietta would not let Lorenza out of her sight.

“Marietta. We have to go to court.”

“I’ll have to take her with me, doctor. She’s confused. If I let her go she’ll feel abandoned.”

“You can’t.”

“Then to hell with you and to hell with the court!” Marietta said through clenched teeth. She walked back and forth with Lorenza in her arms, rubbing her back.

Sera let go a deep sigh of patience. She looked at her watch and then Marietta. Time was up. They had to go and go soon. She walked over and smiled at Lorenza.

“Ciao bella,” Sera said. Lorenza looked a bit wary and held on to Marietta’s neck tightly. “Ciao bella, sei bellisima.” Sera reached in her pocket and pulled out a coin. She let the coin flip across her four fingers and then roll back the other way. Lorenza watched the coin mildly interested. When Sera let the coin disappear from the top of her fingers down into her hand Lorenza’s head shot up from her mother’s shoulder. She blinked curiously and Sera turned over her hand and revealed the coin. Lorenza smiled.

“Give her to me. Go testify, and then you’re done. I’ll stay close to the court doors. If she cries, I’ll come inside so she can see you. Okay?”

Marietta looked torn.

“It’s almost over Marietta. You’re almost free.”

With a hesitant sigh, Marietta handed her daughter over and Lorenza immediately took the coin from Sera to inspect it.

“She’ll be fine. Trust me.”

The court officer opened the door. Marietta kissed her baby girl and then walked out. Sera said a silent prayer of thanks and braced for the show.

***

“Mamma posso andare in bici?” Little Edmundo yelled up to his mother.

Maria was at the window washing dishes. The street was relatively quiet. However, she remained tense since the knifings in their enclave a week ago. These were dangerous times.

“No Edmundo! Come inside! Come back inside now!”

“Per favore! Please, I won’t go far. Can I ride it?” Edmundo asked.

For the past three weeks since the Don of the Campania was on trial the neighborhood had been on a self-imposed curfew. Now her six-year-old son wanted to be free. The simplest request of a child to ride his bike should not be ignored.

“Edmundo I said no!” Maria yelled form the window.

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