Page 213 of Niccolo

“Your offer was to make it easier for me to lead my men,” Dario said sharply. “Not to make me look like a weakling who won’t take responsibility for my choices.”

NowIwas the one who sighed in capitulation.

“…alright… fine. I’ll tell Don Vicari we’ve decided it’s not in our best interests.”

“No,” Dario said decisively. “No, you’re right. It’s a shitty option, but it’s the best we’ve got right now. Maybe the only one.”

“…so…?” I asked hopefully.

“So we’ll tell Valentino together. You take the lead, but if he refuses – ”

“I think you meanwhenhe refuses.”

“When he refuses, I’ll step in as don,” Dario said grimly. “We have to make sure the family goes on. I’ll make him see that… and my wife will eventually understand.”

I nodded.

I knew how difficult this was for him…

And I knew his marriage might never be the same.

But that was what being the don was all about:

Making the hard choices.

I hated that his relationship with Alessandra would likely suffer as a result…

But the family had to go on.

No matter our own personal pain.

“Beyond securing Vicari as an ally,” I said, “there’s one more upside to the situation.”

Dario looked at me in irritation. I knew he was expecting a joke – and I was looking forward to surprising him.

“What?” he asked.

“I think I can use it to find the mole.”

87

Ispent the next 24 hours making preparations.

I called Vicari back and accepted his terms.

He agreed to send his private jet to our estate’s private airfield, pick up me and Valentino, and fly us to Sicily.

Once that was settled, I baited my trap for the mole.

I made a list of every foot soldier who worked for us.

Then I looked at a map of Sicily and wrote down the name of a town next to each foot soldier.

Giorgio – Catania

Vincenzo – Trapani

Gerardo – Agrigento

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