Chapter 96

Mafia Kings: Valentino: Chapter 96 When I called her, Alessandra told me everything.

She didn’t mention anything about a dead body, though. I didn’t want to say anything for fear of the phone being tapped, so I assumed Val had gotten away with it.

“When am I going to be able to see him again?” I asked.

“I don’t know, Cat. I got the feeling it might be a while. But as soon as I hear anything, I’ll let you know immediately.”

I wanted to scream, But you don’t understand!

He’s going to get married in just a few days, and I might never see him again after that!

What made it worse was that – for the first time – I actually knew and believed he was going to get married.

Because I’d seen his bride.

Instead, I just whispered, “Okay.”

“Don’t give up hope, Cat,” Alessandra pleaded.

But I already had.

Not of seeing him again –

But of getting to keep him.

I didn’t venture out of the room once while I was in Marsala. I just ate room service and watched TV.

Every few hours, I would text Alessandra:

Any word?

And every time, it was the same reply:

Not yet.

For two days, I stayed in a horrible limbo of not knowing what was going on.

I was haunted by horrible image after horrible image.

Valentino and Isabella at the altar – him devastatingly handsome in a tux, her looking radiant in a beautiful bride’s dress.

The two of them laughing and running as crowds pelted them with rice.

Them in some beautiful hotel room with the moonlight streaming in...

As he slowly took off her dress...

Then kissed her...

And laid her back naked on the bed and –

I nearly vomited every time I thought of them like that.

And yet, I couldn’t stop myself from picturing it over and over and over.

Finally, Alessandra called and put me out of my misery.

“He wants to see you!” she said happily.

I shrieked with happiness.

That was the last bit of joy I felt, though.

“There’s a tiny village called Resuttano. He wants you to meet him at the chapel on the outskirts at noon tomorrow!”

“The chapel,” I repeated, dread suddenly filling my insides.

“Yes. On the outskirts of – ”

“Is that where he’s getting married?” I asked quietly.

Alessandra paused.

During her silence, I saw all the horrible images again:

Isabella in a wedding dress I would never get to wear...

Valentino undressing her in the moonlight and –

I forced myself to stop.

When Alessandra spoke, I could hear the pain in her voice. She knew what I was going through.

“...yes. That’s where the wedding will be.”

“The day after tomorrow?”

“...yes.”

“And you’ll be there?”

“Yes.”

“With Don Rosolini, and Niccolo, and Adriano, and – ” I stopped and frowned. “Did Massimo, Lars, and Roberto come back yet?”

“Yes. A lot has happened over the past few days. But there was so much going on with you and Valentino, I didn’t want to add to the stress.”

She told me everything.

About how Massimo, Adriano, and Lars had stormed an island to rescue the daughter of the mafiosa who ran Venice.

Massimo had been shot multiple times. Luckily, he was on the mend – but it had been touch and go for a while.

His brothers will risk their lives to save some girl...

But I can’t even get Valentino NOT to marry a woman he doesn’t want, and who doesn’t want him.

In addition to my misery, I felt overwhelming guilt.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “Your brother-in-law almost died, and I’m bothering you with some stupid schoolgirl crush – ”

“Stop it,” Alessandra commanded. “You LOVE him, and he loves you. You KNOW that.”

“Alessandra, tell me the truth – am I a fool?”

“What?! Why would you say that?!”

“He’s going to marry her, and I just keep hanging on like a pathetic, stupid – ”

“STOP. Don’t talk like that. He wants to see you – ”

“For one last romp in the hay before he gets married.”

“You don’t know that. Maybe he’ll finally see how stupid and insane this whole situation is, and he’ll run off with you – ”

“He won’t. I’ve asked him over and over, and every time it’s the same thing: ‘I can’t betray my family.’”

Alessandra was silent.

We both knew I was right.

“If I stay with him, I’ll always be the other woman. I’ll always be the dirty little secret he keeps hidden.”

“Oh, Cat... I HATE Niccolo for doing this to you,” Alessandra said, real anger in her voice. “And I hate that Dario went along with it – ”

“It’s not them, Alessandra. It’s Valentino. He’s choosing to do this. He’s choosing to marry her. I just... I just don’t think he wants to be with me enough to say ‘yes’ to me.”

“Oh, Cat...”

I sobbed. “I want him so badly... but I can’t keep doing this.”

She let me cry for a minute. When she finally spoke, I could tell her heart was breaking for me.

“Whatever you do, you should go see him tomorrow... even if it’s only to say goodbye.”