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.”

spite of myself. It wasn’t the best imitation

Dario spending four years in prison – for the FAMILY,” Alessandra said darkly.

him a choice, and he said he didn’t want to marry

didn’t. “I’m guessing you didn’t stick around long enough to hear when Dario

frowned. “No

“Today.”

stared at

“If I asked you, ‘Caterina, do you want to marry Valentino NOW – RIGHT NOW, in the next 15 minutes’ – would you

“I…”

tapped her elegant gold wristwatch for comic effect. “Tell me now! Time’s

to drive home

theatrics, I recognized

asked me three hours ago in the kitchen – back before I knew anything about the

crazy?! We’re just having a good

my heart, the question about

sure I wanted to entrust my heart to

had been the one Don Rosolini had

decision could have called off

I still wasn’t sure.

mean… it was

a big step,” I

step! Now imagine having to take that step with two brothers pressuring you to do your duty to the family, and one of

part I

in the

But… still…

really doesn’t want to marry me?” I

only one way to find out. Go fight for

fear. “I can’t do

“Do you want him?”

I paused –

that no matter how much he

YES I want

“Yes,” I said.

“How much?”

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

claim him. Fight

an arranged marriage – by the mafia!” I

made a humorous face. “I

your husband by even suggesting this!”

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

Blessed Virgin…

around

been to

Tuscany

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

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

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

pulled out a huge roll of cash

held it

her in shock. “I can’t take your

my hand. “Dario took away your happiness.

at her for another few seconds in

Then burst into tears.