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!”

another one of Don Vicari’s conditions: that her husband

jumped up from my

”

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

Dario growled from

shiver went

snarl ten feet away from you when

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

immediately got quieter and more respectful,

I had to convince… and

he narrowed his eyes. “Don

me, then looked at

like,

as I realized maybe it

meant it was

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

to try

“Why can’t we cut a

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

“Try again!”

cut off your left nut – we’re asking you

I don’t want to go live in a palace in Sicily?” I said

if I don’t want to go live in a palace in Sicily?’” Niccolo mimicked me, making me sound like a whiny little bitch. “Everyone else

sacrificed for the family?” I shot back

the fall for all of us

winced. “Yeah, okay

San Vittore while Camorra assassins tried to slit his

the worst prison

organized crime group in Italy – and the sworn enemies of

I said regretfully, knowing

Niccolo was just getting

Mezzasalma in Florence! Massimo is currently putting his life on the line so we can get the Widow on our side! Lars,

having to sign a bunch of contracts in

fucking start about Roberto,” Niccolo snarled. “When you’ve carried the entire family’s finances

you?” I challenged him. “What the fuck

sofa, his face a

to admit, he looked intimidating as

who keeps the family’s continued existence forefront in my mind, day and night! After Dario, I’m the one who bears responsibility for whether we live or die while you’re off

talk about her that

Niccolo looked shocked –

then he

just made

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

FUCK

back my arm to punch

flash of surprise

before I could do anything,

froze and looked over

standing behind

I’d

I dropped my arm.

“Were you about to hit your

“I was about to hit my brother,

he said something about the servant girl

at him. “Her

me! ‘Caterina.’ I didn’t realize you two were

no –

two serious, or

I was standing naked on a stage with a spotlight

no, but

became angry again. “Well, if you’re not serious, then what the

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

protective of her. Apparently, she’s never

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

know what an arranged marriage is? It’s not

who has to stay married to

get a long-term ally. In the meantime, you can

“He married for love! So did Adriano! So

your fucking point?”

married, I want to

“Ohhhhh – now you’re Mr. Romantic. And I suppose you’ll be completely faithful

“Yes!”

“You’ll fuck anything that walks by in a

I’VE

even me

the first time I’d admitted it to anyone

looked at me in total shock. “You really are serious about this girl, aren’t

“I…”

I trailed off.

too much to say that Caterina and

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

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

Niccolo and I looked over

desk and stood in front of me. His eyes seemed to bore straight into my soul. “Caterina

knowing

the prospect of breaking the heart of my wife’s best friend,” Dario said grimly. “So if you agree to

stared at Dario

MARRY her?

fell silent when Dario raised one

the entire time, Dario kept

have to agree to marry Cat?” I asked in

call in a priest from Florence to officiate. We can get the forms taken care of through a judge on our payroll. We’ll have the marriage here in the

your entire life. No other women, no affairs. I’m not risking

agree to all that – the marriage and lifelong faithfulness – and I’ll call off the deal with

will it be?”

“I…”

couldn’t make

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.