Page 99 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“What, you think you’re gonna lounge around all day for the rest of your life?” Vicari said contemptuously. “No. You’re gonna work, just like everybody else. Rocco’ll show you the ropes.”

“Great,” I said unenthusiastically. Then I looked up at Isabella. “Well, now that I’ve got a job, I’ll need to have fun when I’m off work. What do you do for fun?”

“Reading, mostly.”

“…reading,” I repeated, not sure if I’d heard correctly –

Because reading sure didn’t soundlike fun tome.

Clubbing, skiing, going out with friends – thosewere fun.

Reading was homework.

Isabella smiled. “I love reading.”

So… everything Don Vicari had said about her being a bookworm reallywastrue.

Great.

“Plus,” she added, “there’s not much else to do around here.”

I glanced over my shoulder.

There were some shaded areas with trees behind me, but beyond that it was rolling hills that went on and on for miles, with nothing but dried-out, brown vegetation.

“…yeah,” I said gloomily, then turned back to my lunch.

“Right now I’m readingMy Brilliant Friendby Elena Ferrante,” Isabella said eagerly. “And IloveRupi Kaur.”

“…Roopee… Car?” I asked, not knowing who the fuck she was talking about.

“Yeah – she got very famous on Instagram, then started publishing her poetry.”

“So you found her on Instagram?”

“Oh no,” Isabella said very seriously. “Papa won’t let me have a computer.”

Okay, THAT’S weird.

“What about your phone, though?” I asked. “I mean, that’s where most people use Instagram, anyway.”

“Papa won’t let me have a phone, either.”

I stared at her like she just told me she liked to eat raw goat meat.

Although I had to say, in retrospect, Don Vicari taking my phone seemed a little more understandable now.

“The filth that’s out there these days,” Vicari grumbled. “The internet is filled with it.”

The great-grandmother crossed herself and murmured,“Infamia.”

I stared at them like I’d realized I was eating with a bunch of Martians.

I wanted to say to Vicari,Wait – WHAT do you do for a living, again?

And WHAT was that you said earlier about how many Sicilian girls you fucked before you got married?

But I didn’t want a bullet in the back of my head, so I just kept quiet.

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