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.”

of myself. It wasn’t the best imitation of Niccolo ever, but Alessandra had

prison – for the FAMILY,” Alessandra said darkly. “Niccolo’s a master manipulator. I’m sure he guilted Valentino into thinking he

gave him a choice, and

stick around long enough to hear when Dario

“No –

“Today.”

stared at her.

marry Valentino NOW

“I…”

“Tell me now! Time’s running out! YOU HAVE

she was trying to drive home how much pressure

I

the kitchen – back before I knew anything about

are you crazy?! We’re

had broken my heart, the

wasn’t sure I wanted to entrust my

if I had been the one Don Rosolini

my decision could have called off the arranged

I still wasn’t sure.

it was a

big step,” I said

two brothers pressuring you to do your duty to the family, and one of them went

didn’t mention the part I knew we were both

in

But… still…

he really doesn’t want to

way to find out. Go fight for

clenched in fear.

“Do you want him?”

I paused –

no matter how

YES I

“Yes,” I said.

“How much?”

was scary to say it – but I said

and claim him. Fight

in an arranged marriage – by the mafia!” I said,

“I didn’t say it would

even suggesting this!” This time, I

a dangerous look in her eye. “Dario should have never agreed

Blessed Virgin…

around to

never even been

Tuscany

Sicily, I’m not rich! I have to work

a mischievous grin. “That’s not

and got her purse off the floor, which I didn’t know she had with

pulled out a huge roll

it out

at her in shock. “I can’t

into my hand. “Dario took away your happiness. The very

her for another few seconds

Then burst into tears.