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!”

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

I jumped up from

” Niccolo

a life here! I have shit going on! I’m not just going

Dario growled

shiver went

ten feet away from you when you

since he’d told me to

immediately got quieter and more respectful, but

who I had to convince… and it

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

at me, then looked

of like, YOU handle

realized maybe it was Niccolo I

it was a

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

to

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

said coldly. “I tried calling all of

“Try again!”

your left nut – we’re asking you to go live in

to go live in a

a whiny little

the family?” I shot back

looked livid. “Well, for ONE, Dario took the fall for all of us

“Yeah,

years in that shithole San Vittore while Camorra assassins tried to slit his

Vittore was the worst prison in all of

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

know,” I said regretfully,

Niccolo was

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

bunch of contracts in

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

I challenged him. “What the fuck have you

the sofa, his

had to admit, he

existence forefront in my mind, day and night! After Dario, I’m the

that way!”

Niccolo looked shocked –

then he burst

made

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

THE FUCK UP!”

was so enraged, I cocked back my arm to punch

a flash of surprise in Niccolo’s eyes

I could do anything, Dario

froze and looked over

standing behind

than I’d

I dropped my arm.

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

to hit

said something about the servant

him. “Her name is

again. “Oh – excuse me! ‘Caterina.’ I didn’t realize you two were about to

– no

you two serious, or

on a stage with a spotlight

but –

serious, then what the fuck does it MATTER if you

I tried to remember. “Have I ever even met her? She

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

seen before?! How do I know if

I was insane. “Do you even know what an arranged marriage is? It’s not about love – it’s

but 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

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

fucking point?” Niccolo

I get married, I want to get married

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

“Yes!”

sneered. “You’ll fuck anything that walks

I’VE BEEN

even

time I’d admitted

at me in total shock. “You

“I…”

I trailed off.

to say that Caterina and I

I wanted her – I couldn’t bring

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

Niccolo and I looked

seemed to bore straight into my soul.

I agreed, not knowing where

grimly. “So if you agree to marry Caterina today… I’ll call off the

at Dario in

MARRY her?

but immediately fell silent when Dario raised one

didn’t even look at Niccolo; the entire time, Dario kept his eyes focused

have to agree to

priest from Florence to officiate. We can get the forms taken care of through a judge on our payroll. We’ll

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

marriage and lifelong faithfulness – and I’ll call

will it be?” he

“I…”

couldn’t make

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.