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

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

him a choice, and he said

you didn’t stick around long enough to hear when Dario said the two

“No

“Today.”

at her.

to marry Valentino NOW – RIGHT NOW, in the next 15 minutes’ – would you

“I…”

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

she was trying to drive home how much pressure

even without the theatrics, I recognized how insane

me three hours ago in the kitchen – back before I knew anything about the arranged marriage – I would have

are you crazy?! We’re just having a good

that Valentino had broken my heart, the question about

I wanted to entrust my heart to him

the one Don

my decision could have

I still wasn’t sure.

mean… it was a

a big step,”

with two brothers pressuring you to do your duty to

mention the part I knew

in the

But… still…

want to marry me?” I

way to find out.

stomach clenched in fear. “I

“Do you want him?”

I paused –

that no matter how much he had hurt

I want

“Yes,” I said.

“How much?”

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

go and claim him.

the mafia!” I said, whispering the

“I didn’t say

even suggesting this!” This

eye. “Dario should

Blessed Virgin…

Rosolini wasn’t around

been

out of Tuscany when Dario brought me here,”

to work this

grin. “That’s not going to be a

and got her purse off the floor, which I didn’t know she had with her. My head had been buried in my pillow

the clasp, pulled out a huge roll of cash

held it out to

at her in shock. “I can’t take

“Dario took away your happiness. The very least I can do is try

her for another

Then burst into tears.

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