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!”

Don Vicari’s conditions: that her husband stay in

I jumped up

– ”

have a life here! I have shit going

Dario growled from

went down my

feet away from

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

quieter and more respectful, but

knew who I had to convince… and

” I started, then immediately caught myself when he narrowed his eyes. “Don Rosolini… please… I’m begging you. Please don’t

at me, then looked at

of like,

realized maybe it was

was a

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

to try

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

will talk to me,” Niccolo said coldly. “I tried calling all

“Try again!”

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

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

me, making me sound like a whiny little bitch. “Everyone else has been

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

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

“Yeah, okay

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

worst prison in all of

Camorra was another organized crime group in Italy – and

know, I know,” I said regretfully,

Niccolo was

life on the line so we can get

Roberto’s having to sign a bunch of contracts in Hong Kong,” I

the entire family’s

about you?” I challenged him.

stood up from the sofa, his

admit, he looked intimidating

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

about her that way!” I

Niccolo looked shocked –

then he

just made me

asked incredulously.

FUCK UP!” I

my arm to punch him in

a flash of

do

froze and looked over

standing

looked angrier than I’d ever

I dropped my arm.

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

I snarled, “I was about to hit my

the servant girl

glared at him. “Her

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

no –

serious, or not?” Nic

standing naked on a stage with a spotlight on

but

what the fuck does

remember. “Have I ever even met her?

very protective of

even seen before?! How do I know if

reacted like 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 married to

get a long-term ally. In the meantime, you can bang all the kitchen girls in Sicily you want on the side. It’s a

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

fucking point?” Niccolo

is, when I get married, I want

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

“Yes!”

kidding me,” he sneered. “You’ll fuck anything that walks by in a skirt –

SINCE I’VE BEEN

even

admitted it to anyone in

me in total shock. “You

“I…”

I trailed off.

was too much to say that Caterina and

her – as much as I wanted

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

and I

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

I agreed, not knowing where this was

wife’s best friend,” Dario said grimly. “So if you agree to marry Caterina today… I’ll

stared at Dario

MARRY her?

Niccolo hissed, but immediately fell silent when Dario raised one

entire

mean… I just have to agree to marry Cat?”

you marry her 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

to her your entire life. No other women, no affairs. I’m not risking

lifelong faithfulness – and

what will it be?” he

“I…”

couldn’t make my mouth

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.