Page 202 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“Yeah. Of him finding out.”

“Val… I walked out of the house right under the nose of Niccolo and Don Rosolini. If either of THEM had found out I was going to see you, I don’t think it would have ended well.”

“They wouldn’t have done anything to you – they would’ve just stopped you.”

“Well, I’m sure they wouldn’t be so nice about it if they found me here in Sicily.”

“They still wouldn’t do anything to you,” I said in exasperation.

“Are you trying to back out?”she asked softly.“Are you just trying to just let me down easy?”

“What?! No! Absolutely not!”

“Are YOU afraid?”

“Yes!” I said, then clarified. “Not for me. I’m afraid foryou.If anything happened to you… I don’t think I could live with myself.”

“Aww…”Cat seemed genuinely happy to hear me say it. Then she added,“But if something happens to me, I’m pretty sure it’ll happen to you, too. So you won’t have to live with yourself long.”

“THAT’S dark,” I said with a chuckle.

“I guess it is.”She sighed.“Look, I KNOW this is dangerous. I don’t care. I only want to be with you. So if you’re asking me, then I’m in. All the way. We’ll just have to be careful.”

I wondered how careful Don Vicari’sconsiglierehad been.

But I had to admit, I was relieved by Cat’s choice.

“Okay,” I said happily. “Alright, good.”

“Where do I meet you?”

“A place called Cefalù. It’s pretty far from Ragusa – about three-and-a-half hours.”

“Then I better get going.”

“Call or text me when you get there. Or call or text Paolo, I guess.”

“I will. I can’t wait to see you!”

“Same here, babe,” I said warmly, a huge swell of emotion surging in my chest. “I l– ”

I stopped myself.

I had been about to say something I had never said toanywoman –

And which wasn’t a good idea to say now.

Especiallynow.

“…yes?”Cat whispered hopefully.

I struggled to answer…

Then finally just said, “I’ll see you soon.”

Another long pause.

“…see you soon,”she said sadly, then hung up.

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