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

that, I jumped up from my seat.

here! I have shit going on! I’m

Dario growled

went down

like hearing a wolf snarl ten feet away from you when

said since he’d told me to sit.

quieter and more respectful, but I kept

had to convince… and it wasn’t

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

glared at me, then looked at

of like,

realized maybe it

it was a

decided he wanted something done his way, he never compromised. He was

had to

pleaded as I turned back to Niccolo. “Why can’t we

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

“Try again!”

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

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

me sound like a whiny little bitch.

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

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

“Yeah, okay –

spent four 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 enemies of the Cosa

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

Niccolo was just getting

line so we can get

sign a bunch of

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

I challenged him. “What the

up from the sofa, his face a mask

he looked intimidating

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

about her that

Niccolo looked shocked –

he burst

just made me

about?!” he asked incredulously. “You

FUCK UP!”

my

of surprise

I could do anything, Dario

froze and looked over at

was standing behind his

I’d ever seen

I dropped my arm.

ice-cold voice, “Were you about to

was about to hit

he said something about the servant girl you’re

at him. “Her

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

– no

serious, or not?” Nic

felt like I was standing naked on a stage

no, but –

then what

squinted as I tried to remember. “Have I ever even met

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

want me to marry some girl I’ve never even seen before?! How do I know if

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

one who has to stay

Vicari’s happy, and we get

for love! So did Adriano! So did Papa and Mama

fucking

get married, I

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

“Yes!”

sneered. “You’ll fuck anything that walks

SINCE I’VE BEEN

took even me by

admitted it to anyone in

Niccolo looked at me in total shock. “You really

“I…”

I trailed off.

much to say that Caterina and I

I wanted

“Valentino,” Dario said quietly.

Niccolo and I looked over at

stood in front of me. His eyes seemed to bore straight into my soul. “Caterina is Alessandra’s best friend. She was the maid

I agreed, not knowing where this was

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

stared at

MARRY her?

fell silent when Dario raised

look at Niccolo; the entire time, Dario kept his

I just have to agree

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

to me you’ll be faithful to her your entire life. No other women, no affairs. I’m not risking

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

what will it be?”

“I…”

make

It just…

Moving this fast…

It was insane!

“Well?” Dario asked.

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