Page 92 of Niccolo

“Americans have a saying,” I responded. “‘Dance with the one who brought you.’”

Niccolo frowned as he smiled, obviously sensing that something had shifted dramatically – but he tried to salvage the situation with humor.

“I think it’s specifically people from the region of Texas, and I believe the saying is, ‘Dance with the one who brung you.’ Lucky for both of us, then, that you’re neither American nor Texan, hm?”

Somewhere behind me, voices raised in anger.

I turned back to the wedding party, my stomach twisting with fear –

And saw Aurelio and Valentino squared off as though about to fight.

Massimo grabbed Valentino’s shoulder and said something to him.

At the same time, Lars seemed to materialize out of nowhere and put his arm around Aurelio’s shoulders.

Aurelio violently shook him off.

You fucking fool, that’s a Special Forces operative you’re antagonizing!

Fausto stepped in with a smile and grabbed his son’s elbow. He laughed and waved at everyone, then called out, “Aurora!”

I turned back to Niccolo. “Time to go.”

Niccolo frowned and put his hand out as though to stop me. “Wait – ”

I grabbed his hand and awkwardly shook it. “Goodbye.”

Then I turned around and hurried away.

I left him there, stunned speechless –

A first for the Rosolinis’consigliere,I’m sure.

40

Niccolo

It was all going so well –

And then it completely went to shit.

I’d just asked her to ditch Aurelio and sneak off with me.

Rather than shut me down, she asked me with just the barest hint of a smile, “Is that all we’re going to do?”

“Well, since you’re a sapiosexual,” I grinned, “you can consider it foreplay.”

Then – for the very first time in our conversation – she looked away from me.

Not out of discomfort –

But to see if she could slip away from Aurelio.

I was sure of it.

Her lower lip had swelled up slightly over the course of our conversation.

Her face was flushed a light pink…

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