Page 105 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

He just shook his head somberly.

“What?” I asked.

“It is not for you,” he said in his thick Sicilian accent.

Now I reallywascurious. “What’s in there?”

“Ask Don Vicari,” he said coldly, then gestured with his hand back to the main house like,THIS way.

I thought about ignoring him and walking over to see for myself –

But decided I would get my answers later.

I could just imagine Niccolo laying out another rule:

Never argue with a Sicilian with a shotgun.

Especially when you’re unarmed, and he doesn’t particularly like you.

We returned to the house, where a servant escorted me to my bedroom.

It was just as rustic as the rest of the place: exposed wooden beams and white plaster walls.

There was a stone fireplace, a wardrobe, a dresser, and a rickety brass bed.

Back in my family’s house in Tuscany, our walls were decorated with art from the last four centuries.

Here in Sicily, I had a framed print of the Virgin Mary with her heart in flames.

Fuckin’ great.

My suitcases were waiting for me, but I didn’t unpack – not yet.

It felt like giving in… like admitting defeat.

Part of me still believed something might happen and I could get out of this nightmare.

The day I unpacked my clothes was the day I gave up all hope.

Instead, I went to the bathroom to wash up.

Everything inside was ancient: a toilet with the water tank several feet above the commode, a claw-foot tub (no shower), and a single narrow sink on a pedestal.

I turned on the water and splashed water on my face. At least it was nice and cool.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

“Coming,” I yelled as I toweled off, then walked over.

When I opened the door, there stood Ludavica – Isabella’s servant girl.

What the fuck?

I half-wondered if she was there to try to bang me –

But the sullen expression on her face didn’t seem to be pointing in that direction.

Not that I would have, anyway. I was still depressed about Caterina – and even if I hadn’t been obsessing over Cat, banging your future mafia wife’s servant was an excellent way to get a hot lead enema.

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