Page 135 of Niccolo (Mafia Kings #7)

A fterwards, we lay in bed with Sofia in my arms and her head on my chest.

I stayed silent for a while…

But I knew I had to try one last time.

“I’m begging you, please come with me,” I murmured. “At the very least, don’t go to the Council tomorrow.”

Sofia immediately forced herself up on her elbows to scowl at me. “Oh my god – now, of all times?!”

I grinned. “I figured a post-orgasmic haze might be the best time to ask.”

“I think you mean ‘manipulate.’”

“Tomato, to-mah-to.”

She rolled her eyes. “Do you ever stop trying to manipulate people?”

“…no, probably not,” I answered truthfully. “But I believe everyone does it, whether they realize it or not. In the end, I think the best we can ask for is to be manipulated by people who have our best interests at heart… and who love us.”

She averted her eyes almost guiltily.

She hadn’t said I love you back to me yet –

Not in the Galleria Borghese –

And not during sex.

It didn’t matter.

I mean, it stung a tiny bit –

But it didn’t change the way I felt about her.

And the fact that she had cried during our lovemaking…

It revealed more to me about her feelings than any three little words ever could.

I tried to pull her back to me –

But she yanked away and began gathering her clothes, which were strewn across the floor.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“It’s a school night,” she said as she stepped into her panties.

“Not if you play hooky,” I joked.

She gave me a reproving look. “I thought you were going to be like Camillo Borghese and follow my wishes.”

“He never stopped asking Pauline to come back to him. Neither will I.”

“I’m going to the Council tomorrow. That’s final,” she said sternly.

I felt a sharp pang in my heart.

“So… is this the last time I’ll ever make love to you?”

She looked back at me with a sly smile as she put on her bra. “I didn’t say that.”

“Good… because if I’d known that was the last time, I would have savored it more.”

She exhaled sharply and looked down… then turned back. “How do you always know what to say that’ll make me miss you more?”

“It’s easy when you’re in love,” I replied.

She gazed at me for several seconds, longer than I expected…

Then turned away to put on her slacks and blouse.

She hadn’t told me she loved me, it was true…

But she’d given me more than enough signs that there was an internal struggle raging within her.

I had one last chance…

So I decided to throw a Hail Mary.

“I’m going to trust you with something,” I said.

“I’ve figured out a way to end the war with Fausto once and for all, but I need your help.

If you tell him, then you’ll be in his good graces for a while.

But if you work with me, my brothers and I can kill him.

Then you’re free to come with me, and we can be together. ”

She looked back at me. “Are you going to make me swear again?”

“Not this time.”

She frowned. “Why not?”

“If you’re going to tell Fausto, then I don’t want you to lie to me. Tell him or don’t. But I don’t want you to lie to me.”

“I thought your Cosa Nostra oaths protected against that sort of thing.”

“You’re working for a man who has made many of those oaths, and yet he killed his brother – my father. If you don’t agree to help me, then you’ve effectively declared you’re going to help him kill me. And if you’re prepared to kill me, I don’t think an oath is going to keep you from doing it.”

She sat on the bed, fully dressed, and looked at me. “Maybe this is all manipulation again. Maybe it’s a trap you’re setting to see if I betray you.”

“No. But if you tell Fausto, I’ll know, and I’ll have to adapt. Which I always do anyway.”

“So it is a loyalty test.”

“No, it’s – ”

“Just tell me the fucking plan,” she said impatiently.

I told her, giving her the broad strokes.

She sat for a moment in silence as she thought about it.

“That’s a good plan,” she finally admitted. “But if you try to kill Fausto in Rome, won’t Don Severino come after you?”

“Ask forgiveness, not permission.”

She narrowed her eyes. “That sounds like your lifelong motto.”

I laughed. “You’re not wrong.” Then I asked her softly, “Will you at least consider it?”

“…I’ll think about it.”

“You can’t wait too long.”

“I said I’ll think about it,” she replied tersely as she got up from the bed. “Besides, it’ll be better if I go back and make Fausto think I’m loyal to him.”

“The better to take him by surprise,” I said.

“Yes.”

“Are you loyal to him?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“You should decide before the Council begins,” I said seriously. “You know I can’t take it easy on you tomorrow.”

She walked over to the side of the bed…

Leaned over…

Kissed me passionately…

Then pulled away and smiled archly. “You should be more worried that I don’t take it easy on you.”

I tried to grab her hand again to pull her down onto me, but she evaded my grasp and headed for the door.

“Sure you won’t stay?” I called out.

“I’m sure,” she said without turning around.

“Then – ciao, bella.”

With the door halfway open, she turned…

Blew me a kiss…

And walked out.

Madonn…

What a woman.