Page 18 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

Great.

Niccolo was a fuckin’ hardass – the worst of my brothers if you wanted to get something out of him.

Dario was really cool. It sucked that I hadn’t seen him in nearly four years – not since he’d gone to San Vittore, the shithole prison where he got sent after taking a fall for Papa and Uncle Fausto.

To be honest, I was in awe of Dario. He was a total badass. And he was going to be Don someday, after Papa – everybody knew it.

But the awesome thing was that he was going to get out in six months.

I was literally counting down the days until we had him back home.

Adriano had a crazy temper, but you just had to know how to handle him. If I just waited out the shouting, he usually calmed down and was like,Fine. Whatever. Do whatever the fuck you want.

Roberto? Roberto didn’t give a shit about anything but finances and stocks and bank accounts. As long as what you wanted wasn’t too expensive, he was cool with it.

Massimo was the most laidback of all. He reminded me of a surfer, just chillin’ and waiting for the next wave. He never, ever gave me a problem. In fact, I probably enjoyed shooting the shit and bantering withhimmost of all.

But Niccolo…

Niccolo was a prick.

Yeah, okay, he wasn’t a prickallthe time. He was actually really funny.

And super smart.Waytoo fuckin’ smart for his own good, if you asked me.

But if you wanted something from him, and it didn’t match up with whathewanted… goddamnhe could be a dick about it.

So now I had to go charm the asshole to make sure Caterina got hired.

And I knew just how to do it.

I went into the kitchen and told Nuncio, “Fix me another plate with what that girl cooked earlier. I want Niccolo to try it.”

Nuncio looked like the stick went even further up his rectum, but he forced a smile. “If you insist, sir.”

“I insist.”

He did it, but he definitely wasn’t happy about it.

I went looking for Niccolo and found him in the parlor, looking over some papers.

I caught a hint of perfume in the air as I entered –

And immediately knew Caterina had been in there with him.

I swear to God, just thinking about her turned me on.

Niccolo glanced up at me and made a face. “Oh, look, it’s Casanova, sniffing around for his next conquest.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, right,” he said sarcastically, then noticed I was carrying a plate of food. “What do you have there?”

“There was this girl cooking in the kitchen earlier – ”

“‘I have noIDEAwhat you’re talking about,’” he said, obviously mimicking me. Then he went back to his normal voice. “Do me a favor and cut the bullshit, will you?”

“What?! She was a really good cook! I want you to try some of her food.”

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