Page 211 of Niccolo

But as far as I could see, it might be our only shot at staying alive.

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“Don Vicari wants an arranged marriage with his youngest daughter,” I said to Dario.

We were up in the attic again, with Adriano standing guard down below. He’d been pissed off again – “I’m not a fuckin’ foot soldier” – but Dario had told him he was the only one we trusted to keep us safe. That had mollified him somewhat.

“Vicariwhat?”Dario asked, completely taken off-guard.

“He wants an arranged marriage with his youngest daughter,” I repeated. “In exchange, he’ll back us at the Council against Fausto –andhe’ll supply us with men to fight him.”

“Vicari is a stone-cold psychopath,” Dario said.

“Which could come in handy fighting a traitorous psychopath,” I pointed out.

“And who, exactly, are you going to sacrifice in order to bring about this godforsaken partnership?”

“Valentino.”

“Niccolo – ” Dario began to protest.

“It’s the only choice that makes sense. You and Adriano are already married. It can’t be Massimo since he’s M.I.A. atthe moment. Can’t be Roberto – he’s in Hong Kong for the foreseeable future. Plus, it would be stupid to put our money man in another don’s house.”

“And it definitely can’t beyou,”Dario said mockingly.

I ignored his tone and treated the statement seriously. “I can’t be yourconsigliereif I’m in Sicily, and you have no one else to replace me. So Valentino is the obvious choice. Besides, he’s pretty. Vicari’s daughter will love him.”

“Caterina’s already in love with him,” Dario said.

“What, the kitchen girl? Yes, well, that sucks for her, but – ”

“And Valentino is in love withher,too.”

“WHAT?!” I exclaimed, then burst out laughing. “He’sbangingthe kitchen girl, yes; he’s using her, definitely. He’snotin love with her!”

“I think he is. Deep down, in a place he won’t even admit to himself.”

“Dario – ”

“Your gift is getting inside people’s heads,consigliere. Mygift is seeing inside their hearts. And I’m telling you, he’s already in deep.”

“Well, he could’ve fooled me.”

“He did – but that’s because he’s fooling himself by thinking he’snot.”

“Whether he’s in love or he isn’t, I don’t see how that changes anything.”

Dario narrowed his eyes. “You realize that Caterina is Alessandra’s best friend.”

“Yes.”

“Caterina was there for her when I brought Alessandra here. She was the only person who helped her through those first few awful days.”

I didn’t point out that those ‘first few awful days’ were completely Dario’s fault. “I’m well aware.”

“Areyou? Because I just got married two months ago,consigliere,andI don’t want to get divorced over this.”

“She’ll get over it.”

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