Page 384 of Niccolo

“You’re blushing!” I exclaimed, delighted.

She looked absolutely adorable –

So unlike the cold-blooded strategist and scourge of theCosa Nostra.

“Stop it,” she whispered to me, embarrassed.

“Seriously, though,” Adriano said as he holstered his gun and walked over to her, “THANK you.”

And he put his hand on her shoulder and nodded as he gazed into her eyes –

Much the same way he had kissed Alessandra on the forehead the night she had left our house.

For Adriano, it was the equivalent of someone else welling up with tears.

“Look at you,” I teased him. “All sentimental.”

“Ah, fuck you,” he said with a grin as he took his hand away.

All my other brothers murmured their thanks, too –

Massimo, Roberto, and Valentino – and Lars, as well.

Sofia just cast her eyes down in embarrassment and turned redder still.

But she still managed to squeak out, “You’re welcome.”

“Hell of a way to meet a new sister-in-law for the first time,” Massimo said.

Everyone in the room burst out laughing –

Except for Sofia, who looked at me with a shocked smile. “Youtoldthem?!”

“Of course I told them,” I whispered, then kissed her again.

Lars called out, “You can come in – it’s over!”

Sofia and I watched as the library doors opened.

Rachel rushed into the room and into Lars’s arms. He caught her and spun her around in a kiss.

“We need to do that,” Sofia whispered.

“Later,” I grinned. “I promise.”

Dante entered the room and bowed his head to Dario. “Don Rosolini.”

Dario put his hand on Dante’s shoulder. “Thank you, my friend, for everything you did for us. It’s good to have you back.”

“It’s good tobeback,” Dante replied appreciatively.

“I have one more favor of you to ask,” Dario said.

“Anything.”

“The body needs to be disposed of, and everything cleaned up as much as possible.”

“We’ll get everything, Don Rosolini. I promise.”

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