Page 316 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“No – ” she pleaded –

“Yes,” Ludavica said, smiling at her through her tears. “Yes.”

Don Vicari was shaking with rage.

“How long?” he demanded.

Isabella squeezed Ludavica’s hand, then looked at her father. “Since I was 18.”

He stared at her.

“Six years?” he whispered. Then his voice rose to a shout.“Six YEARSyou’ve defiled my house?! Six YEARS you committed thisinfamiaunder my roof?! I – ”

“STOP!” another voice screamed.

Everyone in the chapel looked over –

To Isabella’s great-grandmother, who was struggling to her feet.

“STOP!” she repeated. “Put your guns away. I have something to say.”

Don Vicari stared at her. So did Rocco and the foot soldiers.

“I SAID, PUT YOUR GUNS AWAY!” she roared.

“But – Nonna,” he said, gesturing with his head towards Dario, “he’llkillus.”

She looked over at Dario. “Don Rosolini! Do you give me your word that neither you nor any of your men – or women – will harm my son or any of his men until after I have had my say?”

“I swear on the soul of my unborn child,” Dario answered.

The old lady looked at Vicari with steely eyes. “Put your guns away.Now.”

Don Vicari looked around helplessly…

And then he slowly holstered his gun.

“Do it,” he ordered Rocco and his men.

They all looked at each other in bewilderment –

“DO IT,” Vicari shouted.

They all holstered their guns.

Dario put his away. “Everyone with me, do the same.”

Massimo, Niccolo, and Roberto hesitantly put away their pistols.

Adriano and Lars held out the longest, but when Dario glared at them, they complied.

The last holdout was Rachel.

“Babe,” Lars whispered.

“You gotta be kidding me,” she whispered back.

“Babe,”Lars said more insistently.

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