Page 133 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“Probably so,” I agreed with a smile of my own.

“If you get bored, I went through my books and found some you might like. I figured you weren’t really one for history or philosophy, but I have a copy ofThe Count of Monte Cristo.Have you ever read that?”

“I saw the movie a long time ago.” When she looked at me blankly, I said, “The one with Guy Pearce and Henry Cavill.”

She looked at me like I’d said some weird Icelandic names. “…who?”

Jesus Christ.

“Never mind. But yeah, I liked the story.”

“You might like the book, then,” she said cheerfully.

I shrugged. “Sure. Why not.”

If the complete lack of entertainment around here continued, I was going to have to findsomethingto fill my time.

Don Vicari snarled at the end of the table, “If youwant to wasteyourtime with your nose in a book, Isabella, fine – but don’t wastehistime, too.”

I looked at him, shocked.

It wasn’t just a dick thing to say – he was actually angry,wayout of proportion to anything she’d actually said.

Isabella blushed deep red and looked down at her plate in shame. “Yes, Papa.”

“Apologize to him,” Don Vicari commanded.

“I’m sorry, Valentino,” she whispered, unable to look me in the face.

I sat there in shock for an instant –

And then I lost it.

I turned to Don Vicari and snapped, “What the hell wasthat?”

The old bastard looked at me in surprise.

“She was just trying to beniceto me,” I said angrily.

The shock quickly drained from Don Vicari’s face and was replaced with pure rage.

I guess nobody’d spoken to him that way for quite a while.

And possibly the last guy whohadspoken that way to himhad wound up dead.

A deathly silence filled the room.

It was at that point I realized I might have seriously fucked up.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Isabella staring at me. Her face was white as a ghost.

“Whatdid you just say to me?” Vicari seethed.

I had a choice.

I was already under his thumb as far as the work situation went. Nothing I could do about that.

But this was an entirely different matter.

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