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!”

Vicari’s conditions: that her husband stay

up from

here! I have shit going

growled from the

shiver went down

hearing a wolf snarl ten feet away from

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

immediately got quieter and more respectful, but I

who I had to

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

glared at me, then looked

of like, YOU handle

stomach dropped as I realized maybe it

meant it was

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

to

Don Vicari?” I pleaded as I turned back to Niccolo. “Why can’t we

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

“Try again!”

left nut – we’re asking you to go

to go live in a palace in Sicily?” I

a palace in Sicily?’” Niccolo mimicked me, making me sound like a whiny little bitch. “Everyone else has been called on

sacrificed for the family?” I shot back

ONE, Dario took the fall for all of us

“Yeah,

Vittore while Camorra assassins

Vittore was the worst prison in

organized crime group in Italy –

know,” I said regretfully, knowing

was just

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

of contracts in

you’ve carried the

him. “What the fuck

the sofa, his face a mask

to admit, he looked

forefront in my mind, day and night! After Dario, I’m the one who bears responsibility for whether

about her that way!”

Niccolo looked shocked –

then he burst

just made me

this is all about?!” he asked incredulously. “You

FUCK UP!” I

my arm to punch him in the

flash of surprise in Niccolo’s

could do anything, Dario roared,

and looked over at

was standing behind

angrier than I’d ever seen

I dropped my arm.

voice, “Were you about to hit your consigliere,

about to hit my brother,

about the servant girl you’re

at him. “Her

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

no

you two serious, or

naked on a stage

no, but –

what the fuck

ever even met her? She never came to any of the weddings,

Niccolo conceded. “Don Vicari was very protective of her. Apparently,

seen before?! How do I know if I could even fall in love with

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

I’m the one who has to stay

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

didn’t have an arranged marriage!” I shouted. “He married for love! So did Adriano!

fucking

married, I want

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

“Yes!”

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

SINCE I’VE

took even me by

the first time I’d admitted it

shock. “You really are

“I…”

I trailed off.

much to

I wanted

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

I looked over

behind the desk and stood in front of me. His eyes seemed to bore

I agreed, not knowing where

of my wife’s best friend,” Dario said grimly. “So if you agree to marry Caterina

at

MARRY her?

Niccolo hissed, but immediately fell silent

even look at Niccolo; the entire time, Dario kept his eyes focused on

just have to agree to

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

other women, no affairs. I’m not risking our family’s future on a sham marriage you agree to just

that – the marriage and lifelong faithfulness – and I’ll call off

what will it be?”

“I…”

couldn’t make my mouth

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.

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