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.”

in spite of myself. It wasn’t the best imitation of Niccolo ever, but

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

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

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

frowned. “No

“Today.”

at

do you want to marry Valentino NOW – RIGHT

“I…”

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

drive home how much

theatrics, I recognized how insane the choice

she’d asked me three hours ago in the kitchen – back before I knew anything about the arranged marriage – I would have laughed in her

you crazy?! We’re just having a

the question about

entrust my heart to him a

if I had been the one Don Rosolini had

could have called off

I still wasn’t sure.

mean… it was a

a big step,” I

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

the part I knew we were both

in the

But… still…

he really doesn’t want to marry me?” I

to find out. Go fight for

stomach clenched in fear. “I

“Do you want him?”

I paused –

realized that no matter how much he had hurt

YES I want

“Yes,” I said.

“How much?”

was scary to say it – but I said

go and claim him. Fight for

by the mafia!” I said,

a humorous face. “I didn’t say

suggesting this!” This time, I whispered the

her eye. “Dario should have never agreed to

Blessed Virgin…

Rosolini wasn’t around to hear

been to

been out of Tuscany when Dario brought me here,” Alessandra

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

grin. “That’s not

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

roll of cash with a rubber band around it

it

at her in shock. “I

into my hand. “Dario took away your happiness. The very least I can do

stared at her for another few seconds in

Then burst into tears.