Page 292 of Niccolo

HE.

DIDN’T.

This little fucking PISSANT –

Disrespecting me?

In front of another family?

He’d basically just committed the unforgivable sin.

In fact, if it had been a foot soldier who’d said it, I’d have immediately executed him.

If we were all back home in Tuscany, there might have been another body in the olive groves along with Lazaro.

But if Val wasn’t going to respect me –

I knew who hewouldrespect.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll go get Dario.”

The little shit panicked atthat.

“What?! No – wait – ”

“Since you won’t listen to me, I think it’s time we involve him.”

All my brothers loved and respected Dario, but Valentino idolized him. Val had only been 17 when Dario went to prison. During that impressionable time, Dario became a legendary figure in Val’s eyes: a complete badass who made an incredible sacrifice for the family – and quite possibly theultimatesacrifice if our enemies had their way.

To Valentino, Dario was the definition of what it meant to be a man.

And to risk being shamed by the very person he held in such high regard…

It was too much for him.

“ALRIGHT!”he yelled.“Alright, goddammit, I’ll marry her! Okay?! I’ll marry her.”

I waited a moment to give the impression I was still willing to involve Dario…

And then I hissed, “Don’t you EVER disrespect me again. Am I understood?”

“…yes.”

His spirit was broken.

That was enough –

And then Don Vicari just had to pour salt in the wound.

“Make him apologize to me,”the asshole gloated.

I’d heard quite enough from the Sicilian peanut gallery today.

“No,” I said coldly.

Vicari sounded both shocked and furious.“What did you say?”

“You’ve won your battle,” I snarled. “You get to marry your daughter off and secure our participation in your future expansion, all at my brother’s expense. No – I will NOT require him to apologize.”

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