Chapter 48

Mafia Kings: Valentino: Chapter 48 I was hiding in a doorway when I heard Valentino’s voice –

And my heart leapt into my throat.

“I want to know where you’re taking me!”

He sounded angry, which made me afraid.

Then I heard the voice I knew from the phone. “I wanted it to be a surprise, boss.”

“What to be a surprise?” Valentino demanded.

“She’s just over here.”

Just as Valentino shouted, “Who?!” I stepped out of the doorway and into the middle of the tiny street.

When Valentino looked over at me, his expression was complete shock.

I smiled at him tentatively –

But when he just stood there, my heart plummeted.

This was a mistake –

He didn’t want to see me –

I shouldn’t have come –

And then he broke into a sprint, grabbed me around the waist, and swept me off my feet.

He kissed me so hard he took my breath away.

All my fear disappeared –

And was replaced by overwhelming joy.

I looped my arms around his neck and held on with all my might as I passionately kissed him back.

Finally he pulled me back to my feet so he could look me in the eyes.

“What – how – ?” he sputtered, his eyes still round with surprise.

“Miss me?” I asked jokingly.

He grabbed me again and held me tight, his hand on the back of my head.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” he whispered.

His voice nearly broke with emotion.

I started crying – happy crying this time – and he kissed me again.

“How did you find me?! How did you get here?!”

“Alessandra helped me.”

Valentino looked stunned. “She did?!”

The guy who’d brought Valentino coughed. “Ahem.”

I got a good look at him for the first time. He wore a black suit, black tie, and a white shirt, much like the foot soldiers who worked for Don Rosolini.

And he was grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

“I’d say you’ve got about two hours, boss. Then I gotta get you back home.”

Valentino stared at him. “You were in on all of this?!”

The guy laughed.

“I was.” Then he grew somber. “Seriously, though, Don Vicari can never find out about this. He’d kill me.”

“Not just you,” Valentino said grimly.

“I’ll call your lady – I got her cell phone number – but when we gotta go, we gotta go. You should, uh, probably take a shower before we leave, if you know what I mean,” the guy said with a wink. Then he pointed down the road. “She’s already got a room waiting for you.”

Valentino stared at me in shock. “You do?”

“Uh-huh.”

“How are you paying for all this?!”

“Alessandra gave me money.”

“Holy shit,” he muttered in amazement. “If Dario finds out – ”

“Let’s go,” I begged him, pulling at his arm.

“You should listen to your lady,” the guy in the suit said, then turned to go. “Two hours, boss!”

Then he walked back down the street, leaving me alone with Valentino.

“Well?” I prodded him with a big smile.

He kissed me once more, hard –

Then took my hand. “Let’s go!”

We ran all the way to Casa di Violetta.