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!”

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

up

”

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

Dario growled from the

went

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

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

quieter and more respectful, but I kept

had to convince… and

” I started, then immediately caught myself when he narrowed his eyes. “Don

at me, then

like, YOU handle

stomach dropped as I realized maybe it was Niccolo

was a

he never compromised. He was like a pit bull with

to try anyway,

I turned back to Niccolo. “Why can’t we cut a deal with the families in

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

“Try again!”

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

don’t want to go live in a palace

live in a palace in Sicily?’” Niccolo 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, so man the

fucking sacrificed for the family?” I

Dario took the

“Yeah, okay

shithole San Vittore while Camorra assassins tried to slit his

the worst prison in

Camorra was another organized crime group in Italy – and the sworn enemies

know,” I said regretfully, knowing I’d fucked

was just

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

Niccolo snarled. “When you’ve carried the entire family’s finances on

you?” I challenged him.

from the sofa, his face a mask of

to admit, he looked

Dario, I’m the one who bears responsibility for whether we live or

talk about her that way!” I yelled at

Niccolo looked shocked –

then he

made me

all about?!” he asked incredulously.

FUCK UP!”

was so enraged, I cocked back my arm

of surprise in Niccolo’s eyes

I could do anything, Dario roared,

looked over at

was standing behind his

than I’d

I dropped my arm.

ice-cold voice, “Were you

was about to hit

servant girl you’re sleeping with,” Niccolo

him. “Her name

‘Caterina.’ I didn’t realize you two were about to

– no –

two serious, or

like I was standing naked on

but –

serious, then what the fuck does

to remember. “Have I ever even met

protective of her. Apparently,

I’ve never even seen before?! How do I know if I could even fall

was insane. “Do you even know what an arranged marriage is? It’s

has to stay married

she pops out some kids, Don Vicari’s happy, and we get a long-term ally. In the meantime, you

for love! So did Adriano! So did Papa

your fucking

married, I want to

Mr. Romantic. And I suppose you’ll

“Yes!”

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

SINCE I’VE

even me by

time I’d admitted it

Niccolo looked at me in total shock. “You really are serious about this

“I…”

I trailed off.

too much to say that Caterina and I were

as much as I wanted her – I couldn’t bring

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

I

walked out from behind the desk and stood in front of me. His eyes seemed to bore straight into my

I agreed, not knowing where this was

grimly. “So if you agree

at

MARRY her?

fell silent when Dario

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

agree to marry Cat?” I

today. I’ll 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

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 of other

marriage and lifelong faithfulness

what will it

“I…”

couldn’t make my mouth

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.