Page 212 of Niccolo

“Who?” Dario snapped. “Caterina, or my wife?”

“Both of them.” I paused. “Eventually.”

“No.”

The time for a light touch had passed…

So I took the gloves off.

“Massimo might be dead.”

Dario looked angry. “We don’t know that.”

“No, we don’t – but asconsigliere,I have to come up with options to prepare for the worst. And the worst is this: not only couldhebe dead, but Lars could be, too.

“I put Roberto’s chances of getting our 50 million back around 10% atbest.Which means we’re down three key players and we’re broke, whereas Fausto has all the money and a bunch of mercenaries at his beck and call.

“Valentino’s greatest contribution right now would be securing an ally who can help us beat Fausto. You’re worried Alessandra and Caterina won’t get over it? I’ll tell you what theydefinitelywon’t get over: getting shot in the head because we can’t win this war by ourselves.”

“Watch it,” Dario warned me angrily.

“Then use your head instead of your heart,” I snapped. “I don’t like this any more than you do – but we’re playing chess against someone who has all their pieces while we’re missing three of our most important ones. Two might be gone forever.

“Not to mention we won’t be able to pay the pawns – our foot soldiers – to keep fighting much longer. Right now, Fausto can just wage a war of attrition; all he has to do is wait until our money runs out. Then we’re well and truly fucked.”

“You’ve never lied to me before this,consigliere,”Dario said.

“When did I lie?”

“‘I don’t like this any more than you do,’” Dario quoted me. Then he said accusingly, “You’veneverliked Valentino, not even when you were children.”

“Do I think he’s a pain in the ass? Yes. But do I stilllovehim? Yes. Because he’s my brother. If I couldsend Massimo or Adriano, I would. But they’re not an option, are they?”

Dario ran one hand through his hair. It was his tell; I knew it meant his resolve was weakening.

“You know I’m right,” I said. “If the whole Alessandra-Caterina thing weren’t an issue, you wouldn’t have such a hard time seeing it. I’m not saying it’s a wonderful choice. It’s terrible, frankly. But we’ve been dealt a shit hand, and this is ourleastshitty option. And it might just be the thing that helps us win the war.”

Dario sighed deeply. I could tell he’d given in.

“Maybe if we keep Valentino and Vicari’s daughter out of sight…” he said glumly. “Give them a wing of the mansion all their own, so Caterina doesn’t have it rubbed in her face – ”

“Valentino has to go to Sicily,” I interrupted. “It’s one of Vicari’s conditions.”

Dario looked at me in irritation. “Since when doeshemake the rules?”

“He has the cards – we don’t,” I said. “We need the deal far more than he does. That’s why he gets to make the rules.”

Dario shook his head in exasperation as he stared off into the darkness.

“I’ll take the heat for the decision,” I offered. “I’ll be the bad guy here. Let Alessandra hate me – ”

“She knows the final decision is mine,” Dario snarled. “She’s not stupid.”

“Are you going to let your wife dictate whatisand what’snotin the best interest of the family?” I shot back.

Dario stepped right in front of me and glared at me, eye to eye, without saying a word.

“Alright… that was out of line,” I admitted. “I apologize. ButI can sell it.I can convince Alessandra – IknowI can. I can be the one she hates, not you. Like I told you after you came home from prison, that can be my gift to you: to be the villain.”

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