Page 349 of Niccolo

144

Dario, Severino, and I walked into an office off the main corridor.

It possessed all the stylistic elements of the rest of the house: dark wood paneling, subdued lighting, and an atmosphere of calm repose.

What happened next, though, was anything but calm.

“What the hellwas that?” Don Severino snarled at me.

I’d expected him to be angry – but notthisangry.

“I did exactly what Sofia did,” I said calmly. “Call the opposite side’s witnesses into question – imply they’re lying – muddy the waters with reasonable doubt – ”

“That little display was quite a bit different from anythingshedid,” Severino snarled.

“Only because I’m better at it.”

Severino gave me a look of undisguised hatred. “You can play the fucking clown in Tuscany, butnot here.”

“Watch your tongue with myconsigliere,”Dario said coldly.

Don Severino stared him down with a murderous look. “Then I advise you to tell yourconsiglierenot to antagonize the other dons in myCouncil.”

“YourCouncil?” Dario said contemptuously. “I didn’t realize the Councilbelongedto you.”

“It is in my home and under my auspices, and you willbothremain civil in its chambers.”

“THAT’S amusing,” I said. “Fausto killedour father…

“Tried to kill us…

“Massacred the Agrellas…

“Plotted an attack on the Widow and kidnapped her daughter…

“And yet your main concern is that I wasmeanto him.”

Severino got within six inches of my face. “You already have one enemy in theCosa Nostra, consigliere.I would suggest you not make ittwo.”

“My guess, Don Severino, is that we have far more enemies thanthat,”I said drily.

There was a knock at the door.

“What?” Severino barked.

Hisconsigliere,a dapper man with silver hair, opened the door. “Don Fausto has left the premises. He and SignorinaToscaniare headed home for the day. He could not be persuaded to remain.”

“God DAMN it!” Severino roared.

“Better go get him, then, and bring him back,” I said cheerfully to theconsigliere. “I have more questions.”

Severino’s eye twitched as he turned to face me. “No more questions – todayortomorrow.”

“But – ”

“You have disrupted this Council ENOUGH.” Severino turned to Dario. “I advise you to return to your lodgings and have a serious talk with yourconsigliere.”

Then Severino stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him.

---