Mafia Kings: Valentino: Dark Mafia Romance Series #6 by Olivia Thorn

No matter how bad things got with my family, I always had Caterina to calm me down.

But then things got a shit-ton worse.

One afternoon, I was about to go find Caterina and drag her away for a quickie when Niccolo intercepted me in the hallway.

“Come into the parlor,” he said grimly. “We need to have a serious discussion.”

Shit.

I figured he’d finally gotten around to chewing me out for that crack I made about the bomb in the panic room.

As I followed him into the room, I protested, “Look, I didn’t mean to…”

I trailed off when I saw Dario sitting behind his desk in the corner.

He only did that when something big was about to go down.

“Mean to what?” Niccolo asked as he shut the door behind us.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Sit,” Dario said in his mafia don voice.

Like, Do what I say or there will be consequences.

I sat down nervously in one of the chairs.

Niccolo sat on the sofa and stared at me grimly.

“Why is everybody being so serious?” I asked.

“We sent Massimo to Venice to court the Widow as an ally,” Niccolo answered. “That’s why he’s protecting Signora Fioretti’s granddaughter – so that if we get the chance to argue our case before the Council, we’ll have the Widow on our side.”

The Council was a meeting of the most powerful Cosa Nostra families in Italy. It didn’t happen very often; in fact, it had only happened a few times since I was a kid, back when Papa was still alive.

The night of Adriano’s wedding, when we found out Fausto had betrayed us, Dario had suggested calling a meeting of the Council.

At the time, Niccolo had said we needed more proof.

Maybe we had enough proof now…

But I still didn’t understand why that would stress Nic and Dario out so much.

“Why do we need the Widow on our side?” I asked.

“When the Council hears a case, every family gets a single vote. However, five of them –Rome, Venice, Sicily, Naples, and Milan, the five most powerful families – get two votes apiece. If they vote together – which they often do – then they can overrule the rest of the Council. So it’s crucial that we peel off as many votes as possible from the Five Families.”

That was interesting. I’d never known that before.

“Since we’re the ones bringing the case, we don’t get a vote,” Niccolo continued. “And as the accused party, Fausto and Aurelio won’t get a vote, either. Which means we need as many people on our side as possible.

“We can count on the Oldanis from Genoa since Alessandra is their granddaughter.”

That had been a big surprise – finding out that Alessandra was actually a secret mafia princess. Her father had been a servant for the Oldanis; after they fell in love and Alessandra’s mother got pregnant, they ran away to start a new life. Alessandra had grown up not knowing anything about her grandparents.

“But some of the families can be bribed,” Niccolo continued. “I’m absolutely certain that Fausto paid them off, so we need as many of the Five Families to back us as possible. Hence sending Massimo to Venice.”

“Okay – but why are you guys acting so grim?”

Niccolo sighed. “We’ve made overtures to Don Vicari of Sicily. Do you remember him?”

Hell yeah, I remembered him. Scary motherfucker with a big, bushy black mustache. I’d seen him at several weddings when I was a kid. What I remembered most about him – other than the mustache – was how all the other mafia dons gave him a wide berth. When Don Vicari’s name got mentioned, Papa would mutter under his breath and cross himself.

Sicily was the birthplace of the Cosa Nostra, and Don Vicari was old-school mafia. Coldblooded as fuck. No mercy, no quarter.

“I remember,” I said. “What about him?”

“He’s agreed to throw his support behind us… for a price.”

I laughed and scoffed at the same time. Made sense he’d try to extort us. “How much does he want?”

Niccolo looked pained. “He doesn’t want money.”

“Then what? Part of our territory?”

“No.” Niccolo paused. “He wants a husband for his youngest daughter.”

I frowned. “But what does that have to do with…”

I trailed off as soon as I realized exactly what Niccolo meant.

“ME?!” I shouted in disbelief.

Niccolo didn’t say anything. Neither did Dario –

But their silence was all the confirmation I needed.

“What the FUCK!” I roared. “Why ME?!”

“Dario’s married. So is Adriano. Massimo is…” Niccolo paused. “…out of contact at the moment.”

“What about Roberto?!”

“He’s on official family business in Hong Kong.”

“So?!”

“So Don Vicari has requested an immediate audience.”

“Make him wait until Roberto gets back!”

“One does not tell Don Vicari to wait,” Niccolo said darkly. “Besides, Roberto handles all the money for the family. We can’t afford to lose him.”

“Well – YOU do it, then!”

“I’m the family’s consigliere. I’m not moving to Sicily.”

“Then make her move here!”

that her husband stay in Sicily

that, I jumped up

”

have a life here! I have shit going on! I’m not just going

growled from

shiver went

snarl ten feet away from you when you hadn’t even

only thing he’d said since he’d told me to sit. I’d almost

immediately got quieter and more respectful, but

had to convince…

he narrowed his eyes. “Don Rosolini… please… I’m begging you. Please don’t make me

glared at me,

like, YOU

stomach dropped as I realized maybe it

it was a

his way, he never compromised. He was like a pit bull with a

to try anyway,

Niccolo. “Why can’t we cut a deal with the families

will talk to me,” Niccolo said coldly. “I tried calling all of them dozens of

“Try again!”

We’re not asking you to cut off your left nut – we’re

live in a palace in Sicily?” I said

Sicily?’” Niccolo mimicked me, making me sound like a whiny little bitch.

for the family?” I shot back – and immediately regretted

Dario took the fall for

“Yeah,

that shithole San Vittore while Camorra assassins tried to

was the worst prison in

organized crime group in Italy – and the

know,” I said regretfully,

Niccolo was just getting

in Florence! Massimo is currently putting his life on the line so we can get the Widow on our side! Lars, who’s not even our flesh and blood, could be dead for

sign a bunch of contracts in Hong Kong,” I

you’ve carried the entire family’s finances on your shoulders, then

I challenged him.

up from the sofa, his

had to admit, he looked

mind, day and night! After Dario, I’m the one who bears responsibility for whether we live or die while you’re

talk about her that way!” I yelled

Niccolo looked shocked –

he

made

is all about?!” he asked incredulously. “You don’t want

THE FUCK UP!” I

I cocked back my arm to punch him

saw a flash of

before I could do anything,

looked over at

standing

I’d ever seen

I dropped my arm.

asked in an ice-cold voice, “Were you about to hit

“I was about to hit my brother, who’s being a fucking

something about the servant girl you’re sleeping with,” Niccolo

glared at him. “Her name is

me! ‘Caterina.’ I didn’t realize you

no –

two serious, or not?”

like I was standing naked on

no, but –

“Well, if you’re not serious, then what the fuck does

I tried to remember. “Have I ever even met her? She never came to any of

protective

to marry some girl I’ve never even seen before?! How

like I was insane. “Do you even know what an arranged marriage is? It’s not about

I’m the one who has to stay married

that naïve? You fuck her, she pops out some kids, Don Vicari’s happy, and we get a long-term ally. In the meantime, you can bang all the

arranged marriage!” I shouted. “He married for love!

your fucking

get married, I

Mr. Romantic. And I suppose you’ll be completely faithful to this

“Yes!”

sneered. “You’ll fuck anything that walks by in a

I’VE

even me by

was the first time I’d admitted it

looked at me in total shock. “You

“I…”

I trailed off.

it was too much to say that Caterina and I were

– as much as I wanted her – I couldn’t bring myself to go

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

and I looked over

front of me. His eyes seemed to bore straight into my soul. “Caterina is Alessandra’s best friend.

I agreed, not knowing where

don’t relish the prospect of breaking the heart of my wife’s best friend,” Dario said grimly. “So if you agree to marry Caterina today… I’ll

at Dario

MARRY her?

but immediately fell silent

look at Niccolo; the entire time, Dario

I just have to agree to marry Cat?”

officiate. We can get the forms taken care of through a judge

to me you’ll be faithful to her your entire life. No other women, no affairs. I’m not risking our family’s future on a

marriage and lifelong faithfulness – and I’ll call off

will it

“I…”

make

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.