Page 215 of Niccolo

So we told him just a few minutes after I got word that Don Vicari’s jet had landed on our airfield.

At first, Valentino refused to cooperate –

That is, until Dario laid down the law.

Then Dario did something completely unexpected and potentially disastrous:

He gave Valentino an out.

He told him that if Val would marry Caterinatoday…

And swear that he would always be faithful to her…

Then Dario would call off the whole thing with Don Vicari.

I about had a heart attack.

But, in the end, Val showed his true colors, just like I knew he would.

He said he’d go to Sicily instead.

Inwardly, I smirked at Dario’sHe’s already in love with hernaivete.

Val was a player and a spoiled little boy. Iknewhim; Iknewhe was already scheming about how he could torpedo the deal with Don Vicari by acting like an asshole.

So, in the end, I got my way, and Valentino agreed to go.

The one moment that truly hurt, though, was when he told Caterina.

Not because I was there when he did it…

But because Iheardher wail like a gut-shot animal.

I winced and closed my eyes at the sound. I knew soul-wrenching pain when I heard it.

Curing Val of his playboy ways for the greater good of the family was one thing…

But breaking the heart of a sweet girl was quite another.

I remembered what Dario had said:

Caterina’s already in love with him.

From the way she reacted, I knew my brother was right.

And that made me wonder if maybe – just possibly – Dario was right about Valentino being in love withher, too.

Then I reassured myself:

No.

Impossible.

He’s a cad who doesn’t give a shit HOW many hearts he’s broken.

She’s just one more piece of ass he’ll leave behind in his wake.

And then I forced him onto the plane, and we flew to Sicily.

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