Page 128 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

I had never seen Niccolo that shocked before.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one surprised by the way she was acting.

“There are security risks involved!” he protested, trying to justify himself. “She can’t just leave –”

“She’sheartbroken. Staying here is a reminder of everything she’s lost – everythingyou TOOKfrom her,”Alessandra seethed.

Niccolo turned to his boss in exasperation. “Dario – ”

“Go wait over there,” Don Rosolini commanded as he pointed at the other end of the foyer.

Niccolo stared at him. “Are you serious?!”

Dario gave him a warning look…

And Niccolo shook his head in angry disbelief, then walked away.

Don Rosolini turned back to Alessandra. “Niccolo’s right. We are in a delicate situation, as you well know. We can’t afford to let people come and go as they please.”

“Are you worried about Caterina’s safety, or her loyalty?” Alessandra asked coldly.

“Both.”

“Caterina was my first friend when I came here – myonlyfriend. When youforced me to come here that night from my father’s café, she was the only one who showed me kindness. Are you reallysuggesting that mybest friendis going to betray the family?”

When she said that, my heart swelled up and tears sprang to my eyes.

But Don Rosolini was not affected in quite the same way. “Might I remind you, my uncle and cousin betrayed the family.”

“Yes, well, I’d say that says something about your family, not Caterina,” Alessandra snapped.

The look Don Rosolini gave her made me fear forbothour lives.

Just when I thought he might havemekilled and Alessandra taken upstairs to be beaten, Alessandra spoke again – but this time her voice was pleading rather than angry.

“Isn’t it enough that you sent Valentino away to marry some stranger? Isn’t it enough that you broke Caterina’s heart? Now you have topunishher, too, by making her stay where she’s reminded of him everywhere she goes? This woman, who was the only person to make me feel safe and cared for when I came here?”

Don Rosolini looked from his wife to me.

My eyes welled up from Alessandra’s words.

Maybe my tears moved him. Either way, his expression softened.

“Where are you going?” he asked quietly.

I dropped my eyes. “T-to Florence, Don Rosolini.”

“Since this happened so quickly, I’m assuming you don’t have a job lined up yet.”

“N-no, sir.”

“Stay right here,” he commanded me, then walked towards Niccolo.

My heart froze. I was expecting them to confer on whether I could leave –

And from Niccolo’s expression, apparentlyhewas expecting that, too.

But Don Rosolini walkedpasthis surprised brother into the study and closed the door.

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