Page 132 of Mafia Kings: Dario

I don’t know why, but that affected me the most of all. Tears streamed down my face.

Lars was standing at the end of the line. He looked at me kindly and said, “I’ll be the one taking you home. Are you ready?”

I nodded.

He held the front door open.

I looked back at the brothers and smiled through my tears.

Thank you,I mouthed silently…

And then I walked out and left them behind forever.

46

Dario

Istood in her empty bedroom. The smell of her still lingered in the air.

Niccolo tapped on the door and walked in. “Well… she’s gone.”

I just nodded in silence.

“Why’d you let her go?” he asked.

“She wanted to leave.”

Niccolo gave a bitter laugh. “You weren’t so accommodating when she wanted to go to confession a week ago!”

“This is different.”

“HOW?! Explain it to me!”

I turned to face him. “What doyoucare? You didn’t want me bringing her here in the first place!”

“Well, it’s already done, so what does itmatterwhat I wanted?”

“Maybe I finally decided to take myconsigliere’sadvice,” I said mockingly.

“Bullshit. Why can’t you just admit what’s going on?”

I turned away from him and said nothing.

“It’s obvious you’re in love with her, you fool,” Niccolo snapped.“Ican see it – everyoneelsesees it – ”

“There’s no place for love in what we do,” I snarled. “Not in the lifewelead.”

“Bullshit!YouknowPapa loved Mama – ”

“That was a lifetime ago. It’s a different world now.”

“No, it isn’t!” Niccolo shouted. “We inherited it all – the risks are the same, the violence is the same, the life-and-death choices are the same – nothing’s different from what our family has faced for generations! So what are you so afraid of?!”

I paused for a second, then said, “Staying here will endanger her.”

“Too late! She’s alreadybeenin danger, and she came out the other side unharmed! That’s no reason. What the hell isreallywrong?”

I didn’t answer.

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