Page 306 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

She’d begged me, over and over, to run away with her –

But I’d always said ‘no.’

Why?

Because I had to do it ‘for the family.’

We didn’t know if Massimo and Lars were alive or dead.

And if Roberto didn’t come through, we’d be too broke to fight Fausto.

But Massimo was alive. He was right behind me.

Lars was alive, too.

And Roberto had gotten the money.

In short, all the reasons Niccolo had arranged this marriage –

None of them applied anymore.

And yet I was still going through with it.

Not to mention Massimo, Lars, and Roberto all got to choose the women they wanted to be with.

Not me.

No, Niccolo had decided that for me –

And I fucking hated him for it.

But…

As I stood there listening to the priest drone on and on…

I realized that it wasn’t Niccolo’s fault.

Not really.

Yeah, he’d arranged it all…

But I kept blaminghimbecauseIdidn’t want to take responsibility.

Ihadthe chance to marry Cat.

Ihadthe chance to run away with her.

Ihadthe option to sayNoto my family.

I could’ve said,I love her, and I want to be with her, and I’m not marrying Isabella, and that’s that.

But I didn’t.

Because…

In the end…

Iwas the piece of shit in all of this.

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