Page 111 of Mafia King of Lies

“Giacomo fed him a story—one where I stole his mother away, ruined her life, and then had her killed.” I shake my head, jaw clenched tight. “And he fucking believes it.”

I pause, trying to breathe through the storm building in my chest. “She was everything to him, Valerio. His sun, his constant. He clung to her like a lifeline. When she died… he shattered. I watched it happen, piece by piece. And I didn’t know how to fix it. I didn’t know how to reach him.”

My voice lowers, rough. “And now Giacomo’s dug his claws into that grief—twisted it until it’s poisoned him. Turned his love for her into hate for me, turning it into a weapon—and aiming it straight at me. And he’s not just angry, Valerio… he’s grieving all over again. Only this time, I’m the villain in his story.”

Valerio’s expression darkens. “That son of a bitch.”

I glance at him. “Daniele or Giacomo?”

Valerio snorts. “Both.”

I tilt my head to the ceiling, feeling the weight of everything come down on me. I run a hand down my face. What the fuck am I supposed to do?

Valerio watches me carefully. Then, in a quieter voice, he says, “Do you want my advice?”

I exhale through my nose. “Do I have a choice?”

“Nope.” He nudges his shoulder against mine. “Don’t fight him on this.”

I narrow my eyes. “You want me to just let him believe Giacomo’s lies?”

“No,” Valerio says smoothly. “I want you to give him space. Right now, he’s drowning in anger, confusion, and grief. His world just got turned upside down—and now he knows he’s not your blood. It’s a lot for any man to take. If you push back, it’ll only make him fight harder. Let him burn himself out.”

My stomach twists at the idea of doing nothing. But Valerio isn’t done with his advice.

“And when the time comes,” he continues, “when Giacomo finally shows his hand, when Daniele sees what kind of monster he really is—then you step in.”

I roll my shoulders, considering his words. It’s a risk. But maybe he’s right. Daniele has to see the truth for himself.

And if he doesn’t? If he stays loyal to the man who has orchestrated this entire war?

Then I will have to do what I’ve always done.

Win.

No matter the cost.

The weight of Daniele’s words lingers, pressing against my chest like a slow, suffocating vice. I sit on the edge of the desk, letting the silence stretch between Valerio and me, knowing that no matter how much I try to shove this feeling away, it refuses to be ignored.

I hate you.Three words I never thought I would hear from him.

I glance at Valerio, who is watching me with an unusual seriousness. He knows me too well—knows that I am at war with myself right now.

Finally, I exhale, forcing the tension in my shoulders to ease. “So what do I do in the meantime? Just let him run a rampage in the streets of Manhattan?”

Valerio smirks, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You do what you do best.”

I arch a brow. “Which is?”

His grin turns sharper. “You destroy the bastard who put you in this position in the first place.”

A slow, dark chuckle escapes me. There it is, that familiar, ruthless focus settling back into place. The storm inside me shifts, redirecting itself toward the man who has orchestrated this entire disaster.

Giacomo.

“Then let’s make him bleed.”

Valerio nods approvingly. “Now that’s the Matteo I know.”

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