Page 86 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“Don’t know anything about her,” Vicari said dismissively.

Filomena had been Sicilian; Alessandra was Tuscan – or at least she’d grown up in Tuscany, like me and my brothers.

I was about to taunt Vicari with a few snide remarks about how Tuscans could kill Sicilians, but Sicilians apparently couldn’t kill Tuscans –

When Niccolo stepped in and said, “We should talk about the wedding.”

“I want it done as soon as possible,” Vicari replied. Then he added with a sneer in his voice, “We can do it tomorrow if your don is willing to come out of hiding.”

The insult about Dario coming out of hiding was a pretty big one, but I glided right past it because –

TOMORROW?!

I felt like I might vomit.

Niccolo didn’t smile this time. “Tomorrow is far too soon. We have one brother who’s working with the Widow of Venice – ”

“THAT old bitch,” Vicari grunted.

Niccolo clenched his jaw. “At any rate, Massimo is unreachable at the moment, and we have no idea when he’ll complete his mission. My brother Roberto is in Hong Kong negotiating a financial deal.”

I noticed Niccolo didn’t mention anything about Lars. Maybe he didn’t want to give awayallour weaknesses, especially with our enforcer gone.

Vicari snorted. “Negotiating a financial deal at a time like this?”

Niccolo had just about had enough. I could hear it in the coldness of his voice when he said, “So we can hire more than 20 Sicilians.”

Vicari heard the disrespect in Nic’s voice and glared at him. “Watch your tone,consigliere.”

“Then don’t imply my don is in hiding,” Niccolo shot back angrily.

Whoa.

Vicari and Niccolo stared each other down like gunslingers in a western.

Electricity crackled in the air. Vicari’s goons tensed up behind him.

I didn’t know what the fuck they thought Nic was going do without a gun, though. Maybe jump up and try to choke their boss?

However it panned out, I wasreallyhoping this little pissing match would sink the whole deal. Then I could go home to Caterina –

But Vicari blinked first.

“Two weeks,” he said.

Niccolo shook his head. “That’s still – ”

“Two weeks, with the understanding we’ll postpone if the situation with your brothers gets worse.”

Niccolo sat there for a second in silence, considering…

Then nodded. “Alright.”

My stomach plummeted.

My fate was sealed.

“Anything else?” Vicari asked Niccolo.

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