Page 68 of Vita Mia

BOOK TWO

The Day of Reckoning

1996

Chapter Twelve

New Year’s Day, 1996

Mondello, Sicily

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IT WAS THE END OF THEholiday and a brand new year. Giovanni’s birthday was in November. They had a small celebration for it, nothing extravagant. As the year 1995 neared a closed no one felt the need for rejoicing. Christmas with the family had been a different blessing only because of the kids. Christmas Eve was spent in Palermo at Catalina’s and Dominic’s, and Christmas day was spent in Bagheria. The adults moved through the usual joyful holiday, tense with reprehension. Mirabella wanted a big celebration for New Year’s Eve. She wanted to invite all of their friends and family and have it in Mondello. It had been a nasty argument between her and Giovanni. There were now death threats against the Battaglias from the Puglia clan’s. Ironically Sicily was more protective of them than the Campania. Someone within the Camorristi was helping the Puglia’s gain on Giovanni’s territories. Men with guns slept in the house around her children. Her husband grew sullener and angrier and had only Renaldo and Nico with the aid of Dominic to hold his criminal empire together. He won the argument. There would be no party or fanfare. But it was their anniversary, and she was determined on making this day special.

“Is it ready mummy?” Gino asked.

“Almost.”

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