Page 210 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“Not my mistress, either.”

“Fuck buddy,” Ludavica chimed in.

“NO – ”

“Your forbiddenlover,”Isabella said as she put her clasped hands next to her cheeks.

“I’m leaving now,” I said loudly.

The two girls catcalled me about my ‘lover’ and ‘mistress’ as I walked away.

The last glimpse I caught of Paolo seemed like he was asking,Why ME, God?

I chuckled.

Careful what you wish for, dude –

Like a promotion.

You might just get it.

73

Ifound the Minerva – a tiny hotel, more like the one in Gela than the luxurious cave in Ragusa – and bounded up the stairs.

I knocked on Room 404.

The door opened a crack, and Caterina looked out at me.

“Hey,” she said with a smile…

Though she seemed very subdued.

I pushed my way in, shut the door, and kissed her –

But she wasn’t very passionate as she kissed me back.

I pulled away from her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

She leaned in to kiss me –

“What’swrong?”I asked again.

“Nothing. Everything’s fine.”

“Bullshit. Are you going to tell me, or are we just going to ignore it?”

She looked up at me with a sad but defiant look. “What doyouthink is wrong?”

I knew.

But the pit of my stomach filled with dread at naming it…

So I lied.

“I think you’re having second thoughts about seeing me.”

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