Page 227 of Vita Mia

“They were brothers before and after the lies told by Flavio, Tomosino, and Isabella,” Mirabella said.

“No, Giovanni was King and Lorenzo was just a shepherd. One of the flock,” Marietta crossed her arms.

“Is that really what you would need to feel a part of this family? My crown? Because I’ll give it to you. I never even wanted it.”

“Yeah, right,” Marietta scoffed.

“I can’t convince you so I won’t try. But I love you. I do. With all my heart and soul. No matter what we became we shared the same womb; the same mother. We are sisters. To the end.”

Marietta took Lorenza from Mirabella abruptly. “I think I will go see the kids and spend my time with them. Let Lorenza play and say goodbye,” she said.

Mirabella reluctantly let Lorenza go. Marietta walked out with Lorenza looking over her shoulder and staring at Mirabella. She winked at the baby and Lorenza smiled. She closed her eyes once alone and forced herself to emotionally let go.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Brothers –1996

Palermo, Sicily

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GIOVANNI POURED TWOglasses. Lorenzo sat at the meeting table in Dominic’s renovated office drumming his fingers over the surface. He scanned the walls of all of the Roman antiquities. “Where is the Mancini crest? All of the portraits?” he finally asked.

Dominic sipped his water and said nothing. Giovanni walked over and set a glass down on the table in front of Lorenzo and took a long swig from his own. He then joined the men at the table.

“I thought we’d talk in here for privacy,” Giovanni said.

“You look tanned. Heard you just got back from a trip?” Lorenzo said.

“How much have they told you?” Giovanni asked.

Lorenzo glanced over to Dominic. He then looked to Giovanni. “As much as you wanted them to tell me.”

Giovanni looked down into his whiskey glass. “A lot has happened.”

“To the both of us,” Lorenzo agreed. “But we’re alive. We’re free. That has to count for something.”

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