Mafia Kings: Valentino: Dark Mafia Romance Series #6 by Olivia Thorn

Mafia Kings: Valentino: Chapter 23

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 in Sicily with

jumped up from

” Niccolo

have shit going on! I’m

growled from the

shiver went down

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

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

immediately got quieter and more

had to convince… and it

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

me,

of like, YOU

maybe it was Niccolo I

meant it was a lost

never compromised. He was

to try

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

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

“Try again!”

We’re not asking you to cut off your left nut – we’re asking you to go live

go live in

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

sacrificed for the family?” I shot back – and immediately

“Well, for ONE, Dario took the fall for all of

winced. “Yeah,

in that shithole San Vittore while Camorra

the worst

group in Italy – and the

I know,” I said

Niccolo was just

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

a bunch of contracts in Hong Kong,” I

carried the entire family’s

you?” I challenged him. “What the fuck

up from the sofa, his

had to admit, he looked

night! After Dario, I’m the one who bears responsibility for whether we live or die while you’re

about her that way!”

Niccolo looked shocked –

he burst out

just made me

incredulously. “You don’t want to stop banging

THE FUCK

cocked back my arm to punch him in

a flash of surprise in

could do

looked

was standing behind his

than I’d

I dropped my arm.

“Were you about to hit your consigliere,

was about to hit my brother, who’s

said something about the servant girl you’re sleeping

him. “Her name

burst out laughing again. “Oh – excuse me! ‘Caterina.’ I didn’t realize you two

no

you two serious, or

felt like I was standing naked on

but

immediately became angry again. “Well, if you’re not serious, then what the fuck does it MATTER if you marry Don Vicari’s

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

protective of her. Apparently, she’s

seen before?! How do I

arranged marriage

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

kids, Don Vicari’s happy, and we get a long-term ally.

marriage!” I shouted. “He married for love! So did Adriano! So

fucking point?” Niccolo

married, I want to

Mr. Romantic. And I suppose you’ll

“Yes!”

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

I’VE BEEN

took even me by

I’d admitted

total shock. “You really are serious about this girl, aren’t

“I…”

I trailed off.

felt like it was too much to say that Caterina and

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

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

and I looked over at

in front of me. His eyes seemed to bore straight

not knowing where this

don’t relish the prospect of breaking the heart of my wife’s best friend,” Dario said grimly. “So if you agree to marry Caterina today… I’ll call off the deal with

at

MARRY her?

hissed, but immediately fell silent when Dario raised one

the entire time, Dario kept

I just have to agree to

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

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

and lifelong faithfulness – and I’ll call off the deal

what will it be?” he

“I…”

couldn’t make

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.