Page 343 of Niccolo

Sofia’s voice softened with sympathy. “I should note that it was on San Michele that your son met his death at the hands of your nephew, Massimo Rosolini. That is not in dispute, either.”

She paused, and the room was absolutely silent. You could hear a pin drop.

“The opposing side wants everyone to believe that Aurelio was following your orders until the moment he died. What doyouhave to say about this?”

Fausto’s entire demeanor changed.

Just a moment ago, he had been an outraged uncle.

Now, he was a grieving father who had lost his only son.

“I failed Aurelio,” he said, his eyes brimming with tears. “My wife died when he was very young. Because of that, I never laid a hand on my son as punishment. In retrospect, I probably should have.

“Some would say he was spoiled. He was definitely headstrong… and ambitious. He wanted power… money…status. I think he was influenced by my nephews, with whom he grew up. Their worst impulses rubbed off on him.”

I snorted again.

If Aurelio’s bad qualities came from anyone, they came from Fausto himself.

But itwasa devious way to paint us, yet again, as the villains of the story.

“Most of all,” Fausto continued, “I think Aurelio wanted respect.Myrespect… and the respect of the entireCosa Nostra.I believe this insane plot against Donna Fioretti was Aurelio’s misguided attempt to get that respect.

“I do not wish to speak ill of my son, but… it’s possible thathewas the one who stole my nephews’ money. Probably to fund the Russian mercenaries. If that is the truth, I bitterly regret that he did it. But I had no part in the attack on Donna Fioretti or her granddaughter.”

“So… Aurelio acted without your knowledge?” Sofia asked.

“Completely. I would have neveragreed to such actions against another family – not without serious provocation, which was not the case here.

“And I would haveneverdone something so incredibly stupid as a full-blown attack against one of the most powerful families in theCosa Nostra– especially not in broad daylight, with the entire world watching.”

Well…thatpart was true, at least.

Aureliohadgone rogue; I was almost sure of it.

And Sofia had turned that to Fausto’s advantage.

“In the end, it was stupid of him… but…” Fausto began to sob. “He was my boy. My only son. And now I’ve lost him forever.”

My uncle was convincing. I’d give him that.

And I would never argue he wasn’t trulyfeelingthe emotions he showed as he spoke.

There is something movie directors tell actors about traumatic memories:

Usethem.

Use them to make their performances that much more compelling.

Faustodefinitelyused his emotions to sell his lies and half-truths.

Interestingly, I noticed that he never went after Massimo for killing Aurelio.

Perhaps Fausto didn’t want to draw further attention to his son’s naked aggression against the Widow.

Also, railing at Massimo would detract from his ‘grieving father’ routine.

Might cost him some sympathy from the other dons.

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