Page 337 of Niccolo

“The witness lied!” I snarled.

“That’s quite an accusation,” Sofia replied. “Prove it.”

“I did – with everything my brother said!”

“What’s to sayhedidn’t lie?”

“Don Severino!” I protested angrily. “I didn’t even get to question the witness!”

“Signorina Toscani, call the witness back,” Don Severino instructed her.

She did –

But the call went immediately to voicemail.

“I guess you shouldn’t have called him a liar,” Sofia told me with faux sweetness.

“Don Severino, this is unprecedented – and exactly why the witness should have never been allowed to call in in the first place!”

Severino threw up his hands. “What do you want me to do?”

I could have saidDisallow the witness,but that was folly.

There was no way the mafia dons could unhear Lau’s testimony.

“Nothing,” I snarled. “Next witness.”

Sofia just smirked at me.

And well she should –

Because she knew she was winning.

She was cheating, yes –

And using lies to do it –

But in the end, she was still winning.

140

Ididn’t fare any better with the Widow.

I had her recount the day Massimo had saved her from Wagner mercenaries in her own home – and how she had rooted out a mole in her organization named Giotto Prusetti.

“And who did Giotto say paid him to betray you?” I asked.

“Fausto Rosolini,” the Widow said as she stared directly at my uncle.

Many of the men in the room murmured in shock.

“How much?”

“One million euros.”

“Thank you, Signora Fioretti,” I said. “That is all.”

Sofia wasted no time laying the groundwork for doubt. “Where is Giotto? I’d like him to corroborate your testimony.”

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