Chapter 91

Mafia Kings: Valentino: Chapter 91 I was overjoyed after talking to Alessandra.

I did my best to contain myself during dinner with Don Vicari and the old lady. However, Isabella must have noticed I was in a better mood because she kept glancing over at me.

After dinner, I had to take a walk outside because I was so excited.

I’m going to see Cat tomorrow!

Just as I was about to enter the gardens, I heard a woman’s voice behind me.

“Valentino?”

I looked around to see Isabella walking towards me.

Just her – no Ludavica.

“What’re you doing out here?” I asked.

“Looking for you.”

“Better be careful,” I joked. “Your dad will send in the stormtroopers if he sees us together.”

She frowned. “Nazi stormtroopers?”

I’d meant Star Wars – but whatever.

“Yeah. Those.”

“Now that we’re about to be married in two days,” she said, “I think everybody’s a bit more relaxed.”

Now that we’re about to be married in two days.

Even in the hot summer air, the words still sent a chill down my spine.

They were about the only thing that could puncture my happiness about Cat.

“...yeah...” I muttered.

“Can we take a walk?” she asked as she gestured towards the gardens.

I looked around. “Where’s Ludavica?”

“She’s inside. I wanted to talk to you privately.”

I raised one eyebrow. “That sounds kind of serious.”

“It is.”

“Oh. Alright – let’s go.”

We walked along the path, our feet crunching in the gravel. All around us were trees and bushes with fragrant flowers.

“So what did you want to talk about?” I asked.

“You seem... different today. Happier.”

“Yeah?” I said casually.

“Is it because you’re going to see Caterina before the wedding?” she whispered.

I stopped in surprise. “How did you know?”

She smiled. “I didn’t until just now. But it was the only thing I could think of that would make you this happy.”

Shit.

Niccolo would’ve seen that one coming from a mile away.

“So you are?” she prodded.

“...yeah,” I admitted as we started walking again.

“When?”

I looked at her, trying to figure out if she might possibly betray me.

“I won’t try to stop you,” she promised. “And I won’t tell Papa. I swear on – ”

She paused as she tried to think of something sacred to her.

If she said my father’s life, I was going to tell her to go fuck herself.

“On every book I’ve ever loved,” she said, “and all the ones I’ll read and love in the future.”

...oh.

Okay.

For Isabella, I knew that was the equivalent of swearing on the souls of her children, her grandchildren, and her great-

grandchildren.

“Tomorrow at noon,” I said.

Isabella looked at me in alarm. “She’s not coming here, is she?”

“God, no. I’m meeting her at the chapel.”

“How are you going to get there?”

“I’ll walk.”

She nodded thoughtfully.

Then she asked, “You’re not thinking of... running away with her, are you?”

I looked at her in surprise. “What? No.”

She looked at me sideways. “Really?”

“I can’t. I’d be betraying my family if I did.”

Isabella exhaled like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “Good.”

“Did you think I was going to run off?”

She smiled sadly. “I was afraid you might.”

“Why? You don’t want to marry me, either.”

“No, but... we might be able to help each other get what we want.”

“Okay, no more vague bullshit,” I said. “What the hell are you talking about?”

She hesitated...

Then finally spoke.

“Before the... problem in Ortigia,” she said, by which I knew she meant Paolo, “I got to taste freedom for the first time in my life.

The days you took us to those cities? Those were some of the happiest times in my entire life.

“I don’t care if you’re with Caterina after we’re married. As long as you can get me out of here – me and Ludavica – you can do whatever you want. I’ll be happy for you to do that.”

I frowned. “You’re telling me that after we’re married, you’re perfectly fine if I cheat on you with another woman?”

Isabella looked frustrated. “Didn’t you ever wonder why I wasn’t interested in marrying you?”

Actually, yeah, I did.

Like I said, hundreds of the hottest chicks in Italy had thrown themselves at me –

But the beanpole bookworm?

Not interested in the slightest.

When I didn’t immediately answer, Isabella kept talking.

“I mean, by all objective standards, you’re the most handsome man I’ve ever met.”

Okay, I’ll admit it:

I’m a little vain.

Okay, fine, whatever –

I’m really fucking vain.

So her saying that totally stroked my ego.

“Thank you,” I said with a seductive smile.

She harrumphed. “I wasn’t complimenting you. I was asking you, didn’t that make you wonder?”

“I mean... yeah, kind of.”

“Well... you’re in love with Caterina... and I’m in love with someone else, too.”

I was totally taken aback. “Who?! A guy who works for your father?”

Isabella narrowed her eyes like I was a fucking idiot.

“Not a guy.”

Oh.

Wait –

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.