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“No.” she continued to channel surf.

“Mira.”

“NO.”

He put his hand on hers. “We need to know what they are saying. You need to hear it. To face it. We aren’t running; we’re regrouping. Soon you are going to have to face these reporters. I suggest you start getting stronger about it now.”

She sighed. Turning the channel to CNN, she raised the volume. They sat in silence as the market report was read. Afterwards it was switched to an anchor. The newscaster cut in on his report.

I’m being told Mira Ellison owner of Mirabella’s franchise, and friend and business partner to the late Fabiana Antonia Girelli, has just arrived at her Manhattan condo. We will take you now to the scene.Mira and Kei sat forward. The camera zoomed in on Angelique. Flashing bulbs and rowdy members of the press obstructed Angelique’s attempt to enter her building. A microphone was shoved in Angelique’s face, and her head almost lifted to reveal more of her face. Thankfully, it didn’t. Angelique wore dark shades and a silk scarf that covered her head and wrapped around her neck. She walked with her head down pushing past the crowds by the help of one of Mira’s staff members Eduardo. He and Angelique bounded up the steps, refusing the reporters a single comment. They went inside with the doorman holding the door.This is David Young reporting live for CNN. Mira Ellison is here. We have seen so little from the fashion starlet since reports of her return from Italy. Here is what we know. Mirabella’s fashion premiere was a success in Milan this year, having received rave reviews from international and domestic press. Since the launch of her new line she’s been spotted throughout Italy with businessman Giovanni Battaglia. Our sources tell us that she and Fabiana Girelli were together the day of the incident at the Battaglia wedding in…

A loud blast exploded and the person holding the camera must have been knocked back. Mira frowned and Kei sat up. There was complete chaos of running feet on the screen. The camera was then lifted from the place it fell to show car windows blown out and people from the press screaming and rising from the ground.

“What is it?” Mira asked, her heart racing. Kei put a hand to her knee and squeezed it.

David are you there? What’s going on?The CNN newscaster Sylvester Blake asked.I’m here Sylvester,David appeared before the camera, a bit winded. The blares of car alarms nearly drowned out his voice. People ran behind him.There has been an explosion. I repeat an explosion on the twentieth or so floor.The camera panned upward and flames shot out of the entire floor. Then another explosion happened, and the cameraman must have ducked. Mira shook her head, repeatedly. It couldn’t happen again. It couldn’t!

“No! NO! It’s not Angelique. No!”

“Stay here. Let me find out what happened.

Mira stared at the screen in disbelief.It couldn’t be Angelique. It couldn’t be.

****

“Are we sure about this Gio?” Lorenzo asked first. It was the question every man in the room wanted to ask. “We’re talking about killing Don Calderone, Angelo, the entire top line of their family…”

“We’re talking about more than that. We’re talking about being true to who we are. We show the Calderone’s, sympathizers, the entire world that to strike against me and my family will bring death. Each of you will do it alone, and clean. In and out. And I want it done starting now.”

Dominic rose to answer the phone ringing in Giovanni’s office. He glanced back to the door. It could be his Bella returning his call. He itched to run after the phone himself.

“I want Fish.” Nico said. “That runt needs to die by my hands.”

Giovanni didn’t care who did what on his hit list. Just that it was done. They hadn’t been able to locate the woman Maria, Fish’s woman, but he knew that justice would require her life as well. Again he felt nothing.

“Giovanni!” Dominic yelled form the other room. The men all sat up. Giovanni was on his feet marching toward the door. Dominic ended the call when he entered.

“What is it?” Dominic pointed to the television screen. Giovanni stood in front of it trying to understand the chaos. He turned up the volume and listened.

We have confirmed it. Mira Ellison is dead! I repeat Mira Ellison owner and founder of Mirabella’s is dead. Today a bomb was planted in her penthouse apartment.The news flashed to a scene of Mira struggling with the press to get through the crowds to the door. A young man with spiky hair helped her. Giovanni could barely see her face, but it looked like her.She arrived today at six this evening and entered the building behind me, only five minutes after her arrival an explosion claimed her young life. This on the eve of her best friend, Fabiana Antonia Girelli’s death.

Lorenzo walked in, and Giovanni stumbled back from the television. If not for the chair, he would have landed on his ass. A cold knot formed in the pit of his stomach. Everything, including the television became vague and shadowy. Dead. She couldn’t be dead.Mirabella wasn’t dead!

****

Mira held to the inside of the door. Kei was driving through the streets of Brooklyn like a madman. And she was so close to a complete meltdown she struggled to breathe. Someone was out to kill her. In fact, right now, the world thought they had succeeded. “This will never end, will it Kei?”

“Don’t worry. My pilot is ready. We’re leaving.”

“They’ll keep coming after me. Whoever they are… I don’t even know who wants me dead. Oh God!”

“I think I have an idea,” Kei seethed.

“Giovanni? No. He was trying to protect me,” she said.

“By sending you here, with no one? Right after your best friend was killed.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. Kei reached and squeezed her knee. “I’ll get you out of here sweetheart. You know I will.”