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

Mafia Kings: Valentino: Chapter 29

I was crying in bed when I heard a light knock on the door.

“Go away,” I sniffled.

“Caterina, it’s me,” Alessandra’s muffled voice said. “Please let me in.”

I still loved Alessandra just as much as the first day she walked into my kitchen…

But the fact that she was now my boss’s wife kind of complicated our friendship.

I thought about telling her again to go away…

But I gave in, dragged myself out of bed, and unlocked the door.

Then I collapsed back onto my bed and buried my face in my pillow.

Alessandra closed the door, sat at the foot of the bed, and put a consoling hand on my leg.

“…you listened in, didn’t you,” she asked sadly.

I didn’t look at her. I couldn’t. I was too humiliated by what Don Rosolini had said.

“How much did you hear?” Alessandra asked.

“Enough,” I said miserably.

“Caterina, listen to me: you have to go to Sicily.”

Of all the things I’d been expecting her to say, that had not been one of them.

I looked up from the pillow in shock. “What?!”

“You have to go to Sicily.”

“Why?!”

“To get him back!”

I looked at her like she was crazy. “Your husband gave Valentino a choice between me and an arranged marriage… and he chose the arranged marriage.”

“Dario didn’t want to marry me at first,” Alessandra said. “He didn’t change his mind until he almost lost me.”

“That was different,” I protested.

“How was it so different? Two brothers – one sleeping with a café waitress, the other with a kitchen worker – ”

“You’re a freakin’ long-lost mafia princess,” I grumbled.

“We didn’t find that out until after Dario kicked me out of the house.”

I squinted. “Didn’t you ask him to leave?”

“You’re missing the point,” Alessandra said impatiently. “Dario wasn’t going to marry me until he almost lost me for good. That’s what changed his mind. If I know Valentino, he’s probably cursing himself right now for not taking the deal. By the way, it was all Niccolo’s idea – did you know that?”

“Yeah… that’s what Valentino said, more or less.”

“Well, if I know Niccolo, he laid it on pretty thick. He probably told Valentino how this was all about the FAMILY,” she said in a pompous voice, “and how it was necessary for everyone’s survival and blah blah blah.”

best imitation of Niccolo ever, but Alessandra

prison – for the FAMILY,” Alessandra said

husband gave him a choice, and he said he didn’t want

smiled like she knew something I didn’t. “I’m guessing you didn’t stick around long enough to hear

frowned. “No –

“Today.”

stared at her.

do you want to marry Valentino NOW – RIGHT NOW, in

“I…”

gold wristwatch for comic effect. “Tell me now! Time’s running out! YOU HAVE TO TELL

to drive home how much pressure Valentino

the theatrics, I recognized how insane the choice

before I knew

are you crazy?! We’re just having a

Valentino had broken my heart, the question about marrying him

I wanted to entrust my heart to him

if I had been the

could have called off

I still wasn’t sure.

it was

a big step,” I

do your duty to the family, and one of them went to prison so

didn’t mention the part I knew we were both

in

But… still…

doesn’t want to marry

way to find out.

stomach clenched in fear. “I can’t do

“Do you want him?”

I paused –

realized that no matter how much he had hurt

I

“Yes,” I said.

“How much?”

scary to say it – but I said it anyway. “More than

claim him. Fight

arranged marriage – by the mafia!” I said, whispering the

a humorous face. “I didn’t say it

husband by even suggesting this!”

eye. “Dario should have never agreed to this

Blessed Virgin…

glad Don Rosolini wasn’t around to hear her talk like

even been to Sicily!” I

hadn’t even been out of Tuscany

Sicily, I’m not rich! I have to work this job

gave me a mischievous grin. “That’s not going to be

didn’t know she had with her. My head had been buried in my pillow when she

pulled out a huge roll of cash with a rubber band

held it out to

her in shock. “I

away your happiness. The very

another few seconds in shock

Then burst into tears.