Page 283 of Niccolo

“The fuck I’m not,”Valentino snarled.

Vicari sounded increasingly angrier.“You’re not leaving this house until after the wedding.”

“LOOK – ”

I knew it was no good for him to antagonize Vicari, so I stepped in.

“Valentino, listen to me – there’s nothing you can do here. I’ll call you every hour if you want, I swear – but we NEED Don Vicari’s help right now. Fausto is still out there, and I’m sure he’s lost his mind over what happened to Aurelio. He’s not going to fight with the gloves on anymore, and it’s going to get ugly. We need Don Vicari’s forces more than ever. Do you understand?”

“But – ”

“We’ll see you at the wedding – Massimo, too. It will all be fine, I promise.” I felt uneasy making promises about something evenIwasn’t convinced would be okay. “But until then, do whatever Don Vicari tells you to. Do I make myself clear?”

“…yes,”he mumbled.

“Good.” I paused. “I understand there was some sort of… trouble earlier?”

“It’s fine,”he said sullenly.

“Then why wasn’t I able to reach you?”

“I’ll tell you at the wedding,”he sneered in an obvious attempt to piss me off.

My anger flared –

But the hour was late.

We were both worried about Massimo.

And of everyone I knew, Valentino had the most reason to hate me…

So I let it go.

“…fine. We’ll talk then.” Playing the diplomat, I said, “Don Vicari, thank you for protecting my brother.”

“Hmph,”Vicari grunted.“He has a habit of putting himself in harm’s way.”

“It’s an inherited trait in our family,” I said drily. “But both my brother Dario and I greatly appreciate your help with – ”

“Is Alessandra there?”Valentino interrupted rudely.

I’d overlooked his earlier snide remark, but he neededto remember I wasn’t just his brother – I was his don’sconsigliereand his immediate superior.

“I was speaking with Don Vicari,” I snapped.

“Yeah, I heard,”he said brattily. “Is Alessandra there?”

“Yes, but – ”

“Put her on.”

“I don’t – ”

“PUT HER ON, NIC.”

I wanted to rip him a new asshole right then and there for daring to speak that way to me, especially in front of Vicari –

But the hour was late.

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