Page 89 of Vita Mia

“I know the plan Domi. Trust me. I’m not going to change it. We’ve kept them away from the truth. I think we should prepare them.”

“And Shae and Marietta agree? Because I know Kyra does not.”

“Catalina agrees. Shae understood when I spoke to her. Marietta eventually came around, I’m told. So, I believe I have everyone’s consent.”

“Bene.”

“Where is Catalina?”

“She’s on a plane headed to Cuba to meet me. I’m waiting on her and everyone else to arrive.”

Mirabella smiled. “Tell her I said Happy New Year.”

“You tell her yourself when you see her.” Dominic said and hung up.

Mirabella set the phone down. She finished getting ready and decided to greet her guests. When she arrived down the stairs to a house filled with chatter she felt her pride and strength return. She’d sent the family to their homes so the children would be her company. And when she walked into the dining room she found them all gathered. In their company was Armando, Dominica, and Geovanni who were Catalina and Domi’s children. Dominica only eighteen looked strikingly similar to her mother. Eve poured herself a glass of Chianti and talked with Nico. MiaBella was seated away from her friend Ryder. The only person missing from the gathering was Gino.

He walked up behind her and greeted her. The guests stopped talking and took notice of Mirabella. She had them all with her. She didn’t believe her son could help her pull it off but he did. The future she wanted for them was now.

“Benevenuto, let’s eat!” Mirabella said.

Gino went to the head of the table and drew out the chair. Mirabella accepted her seat. Her gaze shifted to the camera pointed at them from the furthest corner of the room. It lingered there for just a moment then she looked at the others scooping up the food and pouring the wine. She smiled at her daughters and her sons before accepting a plate passed to her. They ate in the traditional family style the way the family had done so for centuries at the table. And she missed them all, Gio, Catalina and Domi, Zia, Rocco, Cecilia, Leo, Belinda, Jamie, Lorenzo and Marietta, Carlo, Renaldo and Kyra. They were gone. Still her husband’s promise was before her eyes. His sacrifice gave their children a future. And she was going to do everything to make sure they had it.

BOOK THREE

Trapped

1996

---