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!”

one of Don Vicari’s conditions: that her husband stay in Sicily

that, I jumped up from

– ”

THAT! I have a life here! I have shit going on! I’m

growled from the

shiver went

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

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

quieter and more respectful, but I kept

to convince… and it wasn’t

started, then immediately caught myself when he narrowed his eyes. “Don Rosolini… please… I’m begging you. Please don’t make me do this.

at me, then

like,

as I realized maybe it was

meant it was a

he never compromised. He was like a pit bull with a

had to

can’t we cut a deal with the families

Niccolo said coldly. “I tried calling all

“Try again!”

your left nut – we’re asking you

I don’t want to go live in

like a whiny little bitch. “Everyone

family?” I shot back

ONE, Dario took the

winced. “Yeah, okay

spent four years in that shithole San Vittore while Camorra assassins tried

was the worst prison

organized crime group in Italy – and the sworn enemies

I said regretfully, knowing

was just

nearly got killed by Mezzasalma 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

Roberto’s having to sign a bunch of contracts in Hong Kong,” I said

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

challenged him. “What the fuck have you

the sofa,

admit, he

my mind, day and night! After Dario,

about her that way!”

Niccolo looked shocked –

then he burst out

made me

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

FUCK

I cocked back my

flash of surprise in

could do anything,

and looked over

was standing

than I’d ever seen

I dropped my arm.

in an ice-cold voice, “Were you about

I snarled, “I was about to hit my brother, who’s

said something about the servant girl

at him. “Her

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

– no –

you two serious, or not?”

felt like I was standing naked on a

but –

if you’re not serious, then what the fuck does it MATTER if you marry

“Have I ever even met her? She

very protective of

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

“Do you even know what an arranged marriage is?

I’m the one who has

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.

married for

your fucking

is, when I get married, I

I suppose you’ll be completely faithful to this hypothetical

“Yes!”

kidding me,” he sneered. “You’ll fuck anything that

I’VE BEEN WITH

even me by

first time I’d admitted it to anyone in

me in total shock. “You really

“I…”

I trailed off.

to say

much as I liked her – as much as I

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

I

behind the desk and stood in front of me. His eyes seemed to bore straight into my soul. “Caterina is Alessandra’s best friend. She was

knowing

wife’s best friend,” Dario said grimly. “So if you agree to marry Caterina today… I’ll call off the deal with

stared at

MARRY her?

fell silent when

entire time, Dario kept

I just have to agree to

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

No other women, no affairs. I’m not risking our family’s future on a sham marriage you agree to just so you can sleep with dozens

all that – the marriage and lifelong faithfulness – and

what will it

“I…”

couldn’t make my

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.