Page 116 of Niccolo

“Your son went rogue. He went behind your back and disobeyed your orders. That’s the truth. If you tell the Council that Aurelio did all of this without your approval, maybe the situation can be salvaged.”

Fausto sounded more shocked than angry. “…but then they would target him for death…”

“I don’t know how the Council will react. Only you know that.”

“…no… I can’t… I can’t,” he muttered, though he sounded like he was trying to talk himself out of it rather than forcefully telling meNo.

I shrugged. “Just a suggestion… in case things get really dire.”

Neither of us had any idea how fucking dire things would actually get.

51

Niccolo

The morning after Adriano’s wedding, things went from bad…

To worse…

To absolutely terrible.

It was a litany of horrors, one after the other.

First was the news that Massimo and the Widow had been attacked by mercenaries in Venice.

It stunned me – but it was equally bewildering. After all that effort to get theCosa Nostrato ostracize us, Fausto had squandered it by doing something reckless. Now the other families would realize wehadn’tkilled the Agrellas.

Despite the stupidity of the attack, if it had worked, it could have been a disaster for us.

But ithadn’tworked, thanks to Massimo.

Sofia – is this your first monumental fuck-up?

I barely had time to contemplate that question because then came the attempt on Dario’s life.

Thatwas a terrifying moment.

One moment, we were standing in the kitchen, talking about Venice –

And the next, my brother was nearly killed.

Only Lars’s quick action saved Dario from having his brains pasted across the wall.

While Lars pursued the would-be assassin, the rest of us huddled in the panic room.

That was when I got the call that our family’s jet had been partially blown up. We would have to get Massimo out of Venice another way.

Then Valentino came in, stinking of pussy. I knew he’d been banging Caterina, the girl who worked in the kitchen, despite my orders to leave her alone.

Val acted like a petulant child and demanded to go play soldier with Lars.

Despite the danger, I kicked him out after he intentionally frightened Alessandra and Bianca with talk about bomb scares.

Fuckin’ prick.

And then… the worst blow of all happened.

“FAUSTOWHAT?!”I screamed.

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