Page 300 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

Vicari handed the man a fat envelope, which disappeared into the priest’s robes.

“Very good, very good,” the old man said. Then he looked at me and winced. “Good heavens, boy – what happened to your face?”

“The bottom of the Mediterranean,padre,”I said.

“Oh… you’re the groom, I presume?”

“Yes,” Vicari answered for me.

“And the bride?”

“My daughter will be along any moment.”

“Wonderful. In that case, I’ll go ahead and prepare for the ceremony.”

The old man hobbled inside the chapel as the chauffeur stayed outside with the Rolls.

In the distance, half a dozen black cars came from the direction of Don Vicari’s compound.

“My family are here,” he announced.

The cars pulled up next to the Rolls, and everyone inside spilled out.

First there was Rocco. For once, he was dressed in a suit.

He walked towards the chapel with a woman carrying a screaming toddler.

As he passed by me, he looked at my face and smirked.

He was less confident when he faced his father. He apparently hadn’t wormed his way back into Don Vicari’s good graces quite yet.

“Ciao,Papa. I’m gonna go inside and – ”

“Wait here for Nonna,” Don Vicari snapped. “Your wife can go in.”

Rocco sheepishly obeyed, gesturing for his wife to go inside.

Next were the sisters, Abriana and Marcella, and their brood of children. Accompanying them were their husbands, two of Rocco’s henchmen I’d seen in Pozzallo and Gela. They all followed Rocco’s wife into the chapel.

Then came the old lady – Don Vicari’s grandmother and Isabella’s great-grandmother.

Vicari helped her out of the car and walked her over to Rocco.

As she passed by me, she gave me a sunny smile.

Even though I felt awful, I did my best to smile back.

Then Rocco took her arm and helped her up the steps of the chapel.

107

Caterina

As I sat in the confession booth, my heart pounded in terror as I listened to the cars drive up outside.

Please, Mother Mary, PLEASE don’t let them look in here… PLEASE…

She must have interceded with God on my behalf – or at least convinced Him to temporarily overlook my sins – because no one bothered to check the confessional.

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