Page 83 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

But Vicari laughed.

Well… he gave one single, barking laugh.

However, he didn’t smile. His brain apparently didn’t let his face know that he found it amusing.

“Heh. That’s funny.”

Niccolo looked back at the mafia don with a desperate grin. “Valentino… he’s a kidder, that one!”

“Alright,” Vicari said, and looked back at Niccolo. “Let’s talk.”

Niccolo gestured with one hand like,Go right ahead.

“He marries my daughter, I back you at the Council,” Vicari said. “In addition, I’ll loan you 20 of my men to go up against Fausto.”

“Only 20?” Niccolo asked. His voice held the first hint of displeasure I’d heard from him since we’d walked in the door.

“Twenty Sicilians are worth a hundred Tuscans,” Vicari said – not boastful, just like it was a matter of fact. “But I’m not giving you any money.”

Niccolo smiled tightly. “We have the money situation under control.”

After what Dario had told me, I knewthatwas an outright lie.

“Good,” Vicari said. “He’ll live here in Sicily for the first five years. You can come visit, but he stays in Sicily. After five years, we can talk.”

“Reasonable,” Niccolo agreed.

I was getting pissed about being talked about in the third person – and that my entire life was being negotiated without me having any say in the matter –

But for the moment, I kept my mouth shut.

“I want grandchildren,” Vicari said. “Lots of them. And I want them as soon as possible.”

“May it be so,” Niccolo said with a smile.

When I didn’t say anything, Vicari looked at me and said, “Understood?”

“Understood,” Niccolo interjected.

“I want to hearhimsay it,” Vicari said, not taking his eyes off me.

“I understand,” I said coldly.

Vicari settled back in his chair like he was taking my measure. After a few seconds, he spoke. “You got something to say, say it now.”

“We discussed the situation – ” Niccolo started –

But Vicari raised a hand without looking at him, and Niccolo fell silent.

“Well?” Vicari asked me. “Say it.”

I looked at him for a long moment…

Then asked, “Why does your daughter need an arranged marriage?”

“Heh,” Vicari laughed, again without any change in expression. “What you mean is, is she an ugly cow.”

Niccolo started panicking. “I’m sure that – ”

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