Page 57 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

I could hear the smile in his voice as Valentino interrupted me. “You can just call them Massimo and Roberto. Niccolo’s not waiting in the shadows to jump out and yell at you.”

“If he is, then he’s a pervert,” I joked.

Valentino laughed. “I’ll tell him you said that.”

I bolted up from his chest in a panic. “NO!”

Val laughed even harder. “I was kidding! Relax!”

“Don’t evenjokeabout that.”

Valentino thought my reaction was hilarious, but he rolled his eyes. “Okay, fine. You were saying – you’d have to be blind not to notice what?”

“That Signor – uh, Massimo and Roberto are gone. And Mr. Henrik– uh, Lars – is gone, too.”

Valentino frowned a little, but I could tell he was listening intently.

“And Alessandra won’t tell me what’s going on, either,” I continued. “Normally she tells me everything. When she keeps things to herself, I know it’s serious. What’s going on? Are they worried someone will try to kill Don Rosolini again?”

Valentino looked at me for a long moment, then sighed. “You can’t repeat toanybodywhat I’m about to tell you – understand?”

“I promise.”

“No, I mean,seriously.Dario and Niccolo would getfuriousif they knew I was talking to you about this.”

My stomach churned in fear.

I absolutely didnotwant either of them angry with me –

But if I could help Valentino by listening…

“I’ll take it to my grave,” I swore.

Valentino looked satisfied. “You remember my uncle Fausto and Aurelio, my cousin?”

“Of course.”

I’d been happy when they left the house after the death of Valentino’s father.

Ihadn’tbeen so happy to see them at Alessandra’s wedding – and then Adriano and Bianca’s wedding just a week ago.

“He betrayed us,” Valentino snarled. “Uncle Fausto is the one who tried to have Dario killed.”

It was like he’d thrown a bucket of ice-cold water on me.

“What?!”I whispered in shock. “He’s yourfamily!”

“I know,” Valentino said grimly.

“But – that’s horrible!”

“Iknow.”

“Is that why Massimo and Roberto and Lars are gone? To try to – to take care of it?”

I couldn’t bring myself to sayTo kill your uncle.

“It’s complicated,” Valentino replied. “Massimo is helping out another family after Aurelio attackedthem.Lars went after the shooter who tried to kill Dario… and who the hell knows what Roberto’s doing.”

---