Page 54 of Vita Mia

“Excuse me, I haven’t called my aunt since we arrived. I need to reach out to her.” Ryder said.

“Of course, “Mirabella agreed.

He nodded and got up from his seat to turn off the camera. He then walked out. MiaBella waited until the door closed to address her mother.

“Eve left. Gianni said she saw you and was mad that you spoke of the fire.”

“Oh, I wish she had heard the second part of the interview. Where did she go?”

“Probably to see Nico.”

Mirabella sighed. “Yes, well, don’t you worry. Let me deal with your sister. Why don’t you go and make sure dinner is prepared the way Gino and Gianni likes? Add something to the menu tonight for your friend. He is staying, right?”

“For one-night mama and then we finish and he goes.” MiaBella insisted. “They don’t want him here. And cousin Armando is coming. He’s no better.”

Mirabella chuckled.

“You’re protective of your American friend?”

“Gino is fine, but Gianni... he acts all sweet and mama’s boy with you mama but he can be mean. He almost killed Ryder.”

Mirabella frowned. “I told you, nothing will happen to your friend.”

MiaBella nodded.

Ryder returned.

“Are we ready?”

Mirabella nodded. “Let’s continue.”

***

EVE DROVE ALONG THEcoastline headed to the tiny village of Aspara. Her doberman Boo-Boo rode with her face outside of the window. They were going to a commune of Bagheria. It was the place where Nico had built his home with his bare hands six years after the death of his wife and child. Her white convertible Ferrari purred when she accelerated. The speed, felt like freedom. When she saw Nico’s villa at the top of the mountain she smiled. She loved the place. It was often her solace too.

Eve parked in the front and immediately dropped her visor to check her makeup. Boo-Boo began to bark incessantly to be free.

“I hear you baby, give mama a minute.”

She had only enough time to add a bit of lip gloss before Boo-Boo attacked her with licks. She opened the door and got out. The dog jumped out of the car and raced to the house barking. Nico came around the side of the house and greeted her baby. Nico smiled giving her the affection she craved. Eve felt all of her anger and stress lessen. After calming Boo-Boo he glanced up at her. And she could feel the blush rise to her cheek.

Nico aged like a Greek God. He possessed the beauty, stature, physical similarities of a Leonardo Da Vinci painted image of Zeus. His beard and goatee was silver with streaks of black. His once dark hair was now thick silver locks. He wore no shirt and the years of working with his hands had sculpted every muscle in his body to perfection. His tattooed deeply tanned skin glistened in the heat. He may be sixty-two but he didn’t look a day over fifty to her.

“Miss me!” she said when she started toward him.

“I heard you were in town.” Nico replied.

“You should have come by the house then.” Eve walked over to Nico and gave him a proper hug. He pulled away from her first.

“You eat?” Eve asked as Nico went into the house with Boo-Boo prancing and leading the way.

“I just finished cooking. You hungry?” he glanced back at her. One side-look from him and her stomach turned to jelly. She shrugged and pretended to not care. She wanted him to offer. Boo-Boo went to the rug near Nico’s chair and settled down. She typically spent time with Nico when Eve was gone on extended stay in America, but mostly stayed in Bagheria.

“Sit down. Let me clean up and I’ll fix you something to eat.”

Eve walked around the villa. Nothing had changed since her last visit. He had modest leather furniture and work boots kept at the door. His fireplace was empty. The only photos he kept were of Cecilia. Eve stared at Cecilia for a moment and then had to look away.

Nico returned with a rag wiping his sweaty face. He walked into the kitchen.

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