Page 224 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“My family’sbroke,you idiot. My uncle stole all our money – ”

“Then how the fuck did she pay me 50 large? And I’d watch who you call idiot,IDIOT,seein’ as I’m the one who’s got the fuckin’ GUN.”

“It was her grandmother that paid you, not my sister-in-law,” I said. “Another family in Geno.”

“I don’t carewhopays me, butsomebody’sfuckin’ payin’ me. So here’s what you’re gonna do. You’re gonna call her up and get her to send me one million euros in Bitcoin – ”

“OneMILLION?!”I shouted.

“Yeah, or Don Vicari’s gonna find out where you been stickin’ your dick all week. I’m guessin’ he’s not gonna be too happy about it.”

“Did you stop and think what he’s going to do toyouonce he realizes you went behind his back?” I asked.

For the first time, Paolo’s face showed uncertainty.

He obviouslyhadn’tconsidered what to do if I said ‘no.’

He’d just automatically assumed I would pay up.

Which meant he was a moron with a half-baked plan.

Except that means you got played by a moron,said a voice in my head that sounded like Niccolo.

Fuck off,I told the voice.I’m handling it.

It took Paolo a second, but he finally recovered.

“If you don’t pay, then I killyou. Or maybe I’ll kneecap you so you can’t walk, then call Don Vicari after I’ve gotten the hell out of Sicily. Lethimfinish the job.”

I must have twitched, because Paolo gave me a sadistic grin. “Yeah, I noticed you didn’t tell Isabella about what Don Vicari’s doin’ to Eliseo out in the barn. What was that all about? Tryin’ to save her from finding out Daddy’s a stone-cold psycho?

“OrmaybeI’ll just shoot off your cock and fuck your bitch in front of you while you bleed out. Show her what she’s been missin’.”

He leered at Caterina though he kept the pistol pointed at me. “What do you say about that, sugar tits? Ready for a real good time?”

That wasit.

That last part –

Him talking to Caterina like that –

I fucking lost it.

I acted on instinct –

Instinct honed by hundreds of hours training with Lars.

Paolo’s gun was pointed at me, so even if it went off,shewasn’t in danger.

Just me.

While Paolo was still eyeing Cat, I threw the purse out from my chest like a basketball.

The bag was heavy enough that when it slammed into Paolo’s face, his head jerked back.

“WHA– ”

Before he could get the word out, I was already on him.

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