Page 163 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

Grabbed her ass as I kissed her once, twice, three times –

And then gave her a final, tender kiss before I jogged down the hall towards the stairs.

I looked back to see her waving at me, her naked body hidden behind the half-closed door – but I could see her beaming face.

I grinned and blew her a kiss before I disappeared down the stairwell.

When I walked out of the hotel, Paolo’s car was sitting along the curb.

I got in the back instead of the front passenger seat like I normally did.

When he looked at me in the rearview mirror, he wassteaming.

“I told you to be down here half an hour ago,” he seethed.

“We need to have a fuckin’ talk,” I said coldly.

“Yeah, you’re goddamn right we – ”

“Which meansI’mgonna talk, andyou’regonna shut the fuck up and listen.”

I saw the resentment and hatred in his eyes, but I also saw fear. He was used to being ordered around by guys above him, and he fell into line pretty quickly.

“I appreciate you connecting me with Caterina,” I said. “I do, I really do. You’re taking an incredible risk.”

“Damn straight,” he muttered.

“But I’m pretty fucking sure you didn’t do it out of the goodness of your heart.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I’m guessing it was my sister-in-law who paid you.” When he didn’t answer again, I snapped, “This is the part where you tell me where the money came from.”

“…some bank in Genoa,” he grumbled.

So… Alessandra’s grandmother.

“How much?”

“Not enough,” he snapped.

“How MUCH?”

“…fifty grand,” he muttered.

Not much money to risk your life over,I thought.

But I didn’t tellhimthat.

“Okay, so you’re getting a nice chunk of change,” I said. “But just because you chose to do it doesnotmean you get to order me around. I’m not your buddy. I sure as hell don’t answer to you. In the future, if you want me to do something, youaskme. Politely. You don’ttellme what to do. Got it?”

“If Don Vicari finds out – ”

“How’s he gonna find out unless you tell him?”

“If we’re late – ”

“He’s not gonna give a shit if we’re 30 minutes late.”

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