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

Mafia Kings: Valentino: Chapter 40

It took a while before Alessandra said it was okay for me to leave.

I assumed she had to pay the guy in Sicily, but she wouldn’t tell me for sure – just that we had to wait.

I was a nervous wreck as I packed. Niccolo still hadn’t come home from Sicily, and I was hoping I could be gone before he arrived.

Then the big moment arrived.

Alessandra came to get me just after 3PM.

“You ready?” she asked with a sympathetic smile.

I nodded, trying to look braver than I felt – but I had never been more scared in my entire life.

As I lugged my battered suitcase down the hall, Alessandra walked beside me, giving me advice.

“You’ll be fine – just keep your money safe from pickpockets. But if something happens, call me. You memorized my cell number, just in case?”

“Yes,” I said nervously.

“Good.” She put a reassuring hand on my arm. “It’s going to be okay. It’s all going to work out just fine.”

I forced a smile, but I wasn’t confident.

I had never even flown on an airplane before –

And here I was, about to go straight to the airport in Florence and fly to Sicily!

“Well…” Alessandra said as we reached the door.

“I guess this is it,” I said as I turned to face her.

We looked at each other –

And then both of us welled up with tears as we laughed and embraced.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” I sobbed.

“Hopefully you won’t be away for long,” she whispered into my ear.

I wasn’t nearly as hopeful as she was.

The idea that I could go to Sicily, find Valentino, and convince him to disobey his family’s orders?

It sounded like a fairy tale to me.

Alessandra was sure it would work, though.

When I’d told her my doubts, she said, I’ll believe for the both of us.

Right now, she was doing all the believing.

But I wanted Valentino back so badly I was willing to try just about anything.

That was immediately put to the test.

“Alessandra,” a voice said darkly.

We stopped hugging and looked over to see Don Rosolini and Niccolo striding towards us.

Both of them looked angry.

Not only that, but two foot soldiers were behind them.

My heart literally stopped in my chest.

“Open your purse,” Niccolo commanded me.

I stared at him like a deer in headlights.

“When did you get back?” Alessandra asked, evidently surprised to see him.

“Half an hour ago,” he answered, then turned to me and snarled, “I said – ”

no such

at her. “You stay OUT of

was about to

Don Rosolini jumped in

handle it,” he said as he gave his brother

Niccolo immediately went silent.

me. “I need to see the contents of

stepped in front of me,

glared at her. “The fact that I said so is

“Tell me why you need to

servants reported that she thinks Caterina has come into possession of a great deal of money – more than she could

Marianna!

money

how I could just up and quit, I’d told her that

That back-stabbing BITCH!

Alessandra’s face because I was standing behind her, but her voice was scathing. “That’s how you occupy your time now – going around listening to

defy me, Alessandra,” Don Rosolini said

foot soldiers moved

sure I was about to

looking at her husband, but she said calmly to me, “Open your purse,

stuttered. “M-ma’am –

your purse and show

I opened my

a thick wad of bills with a rubber band

“HA!” Niccolo said triumphantly.

gave it to

eyes opened wide.

So she can leave here and start

got over his surprise and went back to being surly. “Servants are not allowed to leave our employ without the express permission of myself or the

“She has my permission.”

not enough,” Niccolo said with a trace of contempt in his voice,

never heard Alessandra speak like she

scared me

she said, her voice cold as steel. “You would do well to remember

never seen Niccolo that

the only one surprised by

involved!” he protested, trying to justify himself. “She can’t just

of everything she’s lost – everything you TOOK from her,” Alessandra

his boss in exasperation. “Dario

there,” Don Rosolini commanded as he pointed at the other end

him. “Are

gave him a warning

in angry disbelief, then walked

Alessandra. “Niccolo’s right. We are in a delicate situation, as you well

about Caterina’s safety, or

“Both.”

When you forced me to come here that night from my father’s café, she was the only one who showed me kindness. Are you

my heart swelled up

in quite the same way. “Might I remind you, my uncle and cousin betrayed

that says something about your family, not

look Don Rosolini gave her made me

Alessandra taken upstairs to be beaten, Alessandra spoke again – but this

you have to punish her, too, by making her stay where she’s reminded of him everywhere she

from his wife to

up from Alessandra’s

him. Either way,

you going?” he

eyes. “T-to Florence, Don

you don’t have a job lined up

“N-no, sir.”

here,” he commanded me, then walked

expecting them to confer on whether I could leave

apparently

Rosolini walked past his surprised brother into the study

at

minute later, Don Rosolini