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 with

jumped up from my

– ” Niccolo

I have shit going on! I’m not just going to –

growled from the

went down

like hearing a wolf snarl ten feet away from you when you hadn’t even known it

told me to sit. I’d almost forgotten he

got quieter and more respectful, but I kept

knew who I had to convince…

I started, then immediately caught myself when he narrowed his eyes. “Don Rosolini… please… I’m begging you. Please

glared at me, then looked at

of like, YOU

maybe it

meant it was a

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

to

Niccolo. “Why can’t we cut a deal with the families in Rome – or Naples,

coldly. “I tried calling all of them dozens

“Try again!”

the fucking problem here? We’re not asking you to cut off your left nut – we’re asking you

to go live in a

mimicked me, making me sound like a whiny little bitch. “Everyone else has been called on to sacrifice for the family. Now it’s your turn,

the family?” I shot back

took the fall

winced. “Yeah, okay –

San Vittore while Camorra assassins tried to slit

Vittore was the worst prison

Italy

I said regretfully, knowing I’d fucked

was just getting

the line so we can get the Widow on our side! Lars, who’s not even our flesh and blood, could

to sign a bunch of contracts in Hong Kong,”

about Roberto,” Niccolo snarled. “When you’ve carried the entire family’s finances on your shoulders, then you can

challenged him. “What the fuck have

from the sofa,

to admit, he looked

one who keeps the family’s continued existence forefront in my mind, day and night! After Dario, I’m the one who bears

her that way!” I yelled

Niccolo looked shocked –

he burst

made

he asked incredulously.

FUCK UP!” I

my arm to punch

of surprise in

do anything, Dario roared,

looked over

was standing

angrier than I’d ever seen him

I dropped my arm.

ice-cold voice, “Were you about to hit your

was about to hit my

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

him. “Her name

laughing again. “Oh – excuse me! ‘Caterina.’ I

no –

serious, or not?”

like I was standing naked on

but

serious, then what the fuck does it MATTER if you

met her? She

very protective of her. Apparently, she’s

marry some girl I’ve never even seen before?! How do I know if I could

like I was insane. “Do you even know what an arranged marriage is?

but I’m the one who has to stay married to her

in exasperation. “Jesus, are you 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 kitchen girls in Sicily you want on the side. It’s a

married for love! So did Adriano! So did Papa and Mama –

fucking point?” Niccolo

when I get married, I want

And I suppose you’ll be completely faithful

“Yes!”

have to be fucking kidding me,” he sneered. “You’ll fuck anything that walks by in

I’VE

outburst took even me

the first time I’d admitted it

again, Niccolo looked at me in total shock. “You really are serious

“I…”

I trailed off.

felt like it was too much to

I wanted her – I couldn’t bring myself to go that

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

I

to bore straight into my soul. “Caterina is Alessandra’s best friend. She was the

I agreed, not knowing

grimly. “So if you agree to marry Caterina

at Dario

MARRY her?

hissed, but immediately fell silent when Dario

the entire time, Dario kept his eyes

just have to agree to marry Cat?”

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

her your entire life. No other women, no affairs. I’m not risking our family’s future on a

the marriage and lifelong faithfulness – and I’ll call off the deal with Don

it be?”

“I…”

make

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.