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!”

that her husband stay in

jumped up

”

here! I have shit going on! I’m

growled

went down

a wolf snarl ten feet away from you when

told me to sit. I’d almost forgotten he was even

immediately got quieter and more

knew who I had to convince… and it

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

glared at me, then

of like, YOU

as I realized maybe it was

was a lost

way, he never compromised.

had to try

“Why can’t we cut

none of them will talk to me,” Niccolo said coldly. “I tried calling all of them

“Try again!”

off your left nut – we’re asking you to go

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

whiny little bitch. “Everyone else has been called on to sacrifice for the family. Now it’s your turn, so man the fuck

I shot back – and

livid. “Well, for ONE, Dario took the fall for

winced. “Yeah,

years in that shithole San Vittore while Camorra assassins tried to

worst prison

Italy – and the sworn enemies of the

know, I know,” I said

Niccolo was just

so we can get the Widow

a bunch of contracts in Hong

you’ve carried the entire family’s finances on your shoulders, then you can

about you?” I challenged him. “What the

the sofa, his face a mask

to admit, he

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 fucking

about her that way!” I yelled

Niccolo looked shocked –

then he burst out

just made

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

FUCK UP!”

back my arm to punch

flash of

before I could do anything,

looked over at

was standing behind his

angrier than I’d

I dropped my arm.

asked in an ice-cold voice, “Were you about to hit your

hit my

the servant

at him. “Her name is

“Oh – excuse me! ‘Caterina.’

– no

serious, or

standing naked on a stage

no, but

then what the fuck does it MATTER if you marry

I ever even met

Vicari was very protective of her. Apparently, she’s never left

you want me to marry some girl I’ve never even seen before?! How do I know if I could even fall in love with

know what an arranged marriage is? It’s not about love – it’s an alliance between two families!

one who has to stay married to her

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

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

your fucking point?” Niccolo

point is, when I get married, I want to

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

“Yes!”

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

SINCE I’VE

even

first time I’d admitted it to anyone in my

at me in total shock. “You really

“I…”

I trailed off.

to say that Caterina and I were

much as I liked her – as much as I

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

I looked over at

stood in front of me. His eyes seemed to bore straight

knowing where this was

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?

but immediately fell silent

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

agree to marry Cat?” I

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

that, but you swear to me you’ll be faithful to her your entire life. 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 of other

faithfulness – and I’ll call off the deal

what will it be?”

“I…”

couldn’t make

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.