Page 218 of Vita Mia

“Flavio was a traitor and a rat.”

“He was. And so was Rocco. None of them were clean. None of us are clean. I had a lot of time to think. This war in our family created the war outside of it. None of it ends unless I make it end.”

“What about Lorenzo? The news said he’s getting better and that the polizia are meeting with him continuously. Will he stick to the plan?”

“He’ll stick to the plan.” Giovanni dropped the seat back and closed his eyes. That was the end of the conversation. They were headed to deal in justice. And he was ready.

***

BALLISTRIERI HANDEDDominic a glass of wine. He set it to the side of the chair instead of drinking it.

“I’ve been waiting for over three hours.”

“Giovanni is close.” Dominic said.

“Close? Eh? Things are different now, aren’t they?”

Dominic tilted his head in a slight nod to answer yes.

“You know? This is the room where it happened?”

“What happened?” Dominic feigned innocence.

“Where we found my cousin Tacchini dead. I was told that he was dining with Gio and Donna Mirabella at the same time. Sitting in that chair right there.” Ballistrieri pointed.

“And what do you think happened?”

“Assassination,” he replied.

Dominic stared at Ballistrieri for a pause. “Is that the plan? Giovanni arrives and his own men ambush him the same way Tacchini was betrayed and ambushed?”

Ballistrieri smiled. “After all of our dealings together are you really opposed to that plan? Poetic justice.”

“No plan works for my family where I put a bullet in Gio. We bring him here to let him know the state of things. He’s lost the Camorra. He doesn’t have control over me. Whether he likes it or not he’ll take a step down to protect what’s left of his family.”

“That’s pretty cold, Domi. You’re telling me that you are not a Battaglia any longer after today?”

“The Battaglias were never my real family. I understand that now.”

Ballistrieri stared at him as if unsure. A man entered the room and walked over to whisper in his ear. Dominic pretended not to notice. Ballistrieri smiled. “Well, it’s time. Giovanni has finally arrived.”

Dominic smiled. He pushed back his chair. “Let’s finish him.”

***

GIOVANNI HAD NOT STEPPEDinto Piero Tacchini’s home since the night he killed his once dear friend. He felt nothing. No remorse and no regret. The men who were present to greet him and Nico were a mix of Tacchini and other clan bosses who have turned to Ballistrieri for leadership. They all watched him silently with their guns as he climbed the steps and went into the cliff side mansion nestled against the mountain.

The agreement was he’d come without his men, with only Nico at his side. And though he brought his gun it was taken from him before he entered. They were walked out to an open terrace where blue roses bloomed. The history of the place was the irony of his life. Once his, taken, and now he was back to reclaim it. All of it.

“Giovanni, welcome,” Don Ballistrieri said.

Giovanni’s gaze slipped over to the Don. He walked with a smirk of confidence. And Giovanni immediately understood why. Dominic appeared behind him. Don Ballistrieri’s men all came into the solarium with their guns.

“I heard about your troubles in the Poggioreale. Glad to see you made it out alive.” Don Ballistrieri said.

“Are you?” Giovanni asked.

“Regardless of what you think, I do respect you. I did. But as we both know much has happened.”

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