Page 61 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“What if I don’twantto go live in a palace in Sicily?” I said angrily.

“‘What if I don’twantto go live in a palace in Sicily?’” Niccolo mimicked me, making me sound like a whiny little bitch. “Everyone else has been called on to sacrifice for the family. Now it’s your turn, so man the fuck up.”

“Who’sfucking sacrificed for the family?” I shot back – and immediately regretted it.

Niccolo looked livid. “Well, for ONE, Dario took the fall forallof us and went to prison!”

I winced. “Yeah, okay – ”

“He spent four years in that shithole San Vittore whileCamorraassassins tried to slit his throat!”

San Vittore was the worst prison in all of Italy.

TheCamorrawas another organized crime group in Italy – and the sworn enemies of theCosa Nostra.

“I know, I know,” I said regretfully, knowing I’d fucked up.

But Niccolo was just getting started.

“Adriano nearly got killed by Mezzasalma in Florence! Massimo is currently putting his life on the line so we can get the Widow on our side! Lars, who’s not even our flesh and blood, could bedeadfor all we know!”

“And Roberto’s having to sign a bunch of contracts in Hong Kong,” I said sarcastically.

“Don’t fucking start about Roberto,” Niccolo snarled. “When you’ve carried the entire family’s finances on your shoulders,thenyou can say something.”

“What aboutyou?”I challenged him. “What the fuck haveyousacrificed?”

Niccolo stood up from the sofa, his face a mask of fury.

I had to admit, he looked intimidating as fuck.

“I’Mthe one who keeps the family’s continued existence forefront in my mind, day and night! After Dario,I’mthe one who bears responsibility for whether we live or die whileyou’reoff fucking the help!”

“Don’t talk about her that way!” I yelled at him.

Niccolo looked shocked –

And then he burst out laughing.

Which just made me angrier.

“Isthatwhat this is all about?!” he asked incredulously. “You don’t want to stop banging thatkitchengirl?!”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” I roared.

I was so enraged, I cocked back my arm to punch him in the face.

I saw a flash of surprise in Niccolo’s eyes –

But before I could do anything, Dario roared, “VALENTINO!”

I froze and looked over at him.

Dario was standing behind his desk.

He looked angrier than I’d ever seen him before.

I dropped my arm.

---