Page 66 of Forbidden Whispers

“That’s actually another long story,” Valentina sighed. “Twelve years ago, the Gianolas partnered with Vitale Salvatore’s family to defeat the Adamo group that was taking control of the Detroit market. It was a bloody battle, but we won. And our two families worked in harmony after that. Until a few years ago, that is, when one of my father’s highest-ranking capos accused Vitale’s oldest son of cheating on the proceeds from one of our bakery businesses.”

“I’m guessing that caused a big problem?” Noah said.

Valentina shifted on the bed, looking uncomfortable, and Eric put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her up against him. “It did,” she said. “Things escalated and it was war all over again, even bloodier than the last one. The Partnership split into West and East factions, both seeking total control. Everything came to a head several months ago when my Uncle Francesco was killed in a drive-by. It was a big deal because my uncle was my father’s consigliere, and there’s an unwritten rule that no matter how bad things get, consiglieres are off limits.”

“A consigliere is a type of advisor to the boss,” Eric said, noting the confused expressions on Noah and Maggie’s faces.

“Right,” Valentina nodded. “Anyway, before he fell, my uncle managed to get off a few shots at the car, and he killed Vitale’s oldest son. Now there we were with major losses on both sides. On top of this, both my father and Vitale want to retire. So, they ended up meeting and negotiating a truce. And part of their agreement to ensure lasting peace between our families was that I would be forced to marry Vitale’s remaining eighteen-year-old son. He would take over for the Salvatore family and we would co-rule together.”

“That’s terrible!” Maggie cried. “Being forced into marriage doesn’t sound very progressive to me.”

“True,” Valentina said with a grim smile. “But it’s a common practice within La Costa Nostra. Most members are related by blood or marriage. It’s just like the days of medieval royalty. They use it as a tool for peacekeeping and empire building. For them, it’s never about love and marriage, it’s all about profit and loss.” The disgust in Valentina’s voice was clear. “Arranged marriages, plus the code of omertà, are what make it so hard for outsiders, especially law enforcement, to get any information about what goes on within the organization.”

“Omertà?” Noah said. “We saw that word tattooed on Nick’s neck.”

“Of course you did,” Valentina said with a roll of her eyes. “He’s so intense. Omertà is a vow of absolute silence about our business and complete loyalty to the family that everyone must make in order to become ‘made,’ as in an official soldier of the organization. A broken vow means death.”

“Have you taken the vow of omertà?” Noah asked.

Valentina’s eyes dropped. “I did,” she admitted. “Not willingly, but it came to a point where I had no choice. Any member of the organization wouldn’t hesitate to kill their own mother in cold blood just to honor this stupid century-old fraternity.” Then her eyes lifted again, their dark depths glinting with fire. “But years before I took that vow, I’d already made a vow to myself and I will not break it.”

“What kind of vow?” Maggie asked, curiously.

“A vow that I would escape from this life, escape from my father’s control. And that I would live free,” she said fiercely.

“We will live free,” Eric said, gently turning her chin toward him and planting another soft kiss on her lips. “We’re in this together now.”

“Yes,” she sighed, threading her fingers through his, her expression softening as she gazed at him.

“So, is this a Romeo and Juliet thing?” Maggie asked, leaning forward again. “Are you from another rival family, Eric?” Noah suppressed a grin as he watched Maggie. Her desire for a romantic story was almost palpable.

Eric burst into laughter and Valentina’s face held amusement. “Romeo and Juliet, I like it,” Eric said, nodding slowly. “But, no. I’m just an ordinary guy who fell in love with a princess.”

“There’s nothing ordinary about you, amore mio,” Valentina said, raising their clasped hands to her lips to kiss his.

Noah cleared his throat, drawing their attention away from each other. “Well, what’s the story then? How did you guys get together?”

“It’s kind of a fluke,” Eric said.

“More like fate,” Valentina said.

“I’m a physical therapist,” Eric said. “I treated Valentina last winter after she got injured on a ski trip in the Swiss Alps. My Valentina is a bit of an adrenaline junkie,” he added, giving her an indulgent sidelong look. “She went heli-skiing off the snow-capped peak of the Matterhorn.

“It’s an incredible experience,” Valentina said, her eyes dreamy.

“Anyway, she wiped out part way down and tore her medial collateral ligament. She was lucky in that she didn’t need surgery, but she did need PT.”

“Best accident that ever could have happened to me,” Valentina said with a smile. “And God bless my father for one thing, he always has to have the best. And Eric is the best.” She gazed at him adoringly.

“I don’t know about that,” Eric said modestly.

“You are!” Valentina exclaimed. “My father searched his entire network for the best physical therapist to treat my injury and I ended up with you.”

“Anyway,” Eric pressed on. “We began working together several times a week for a couple of months. I actually stretched out her treatment program longer than necessary because...” He turned to look at her again. “I’d fallen in love with her, and I didn’t want our sessions to end.”

Valentina glowed as Eric continued. “When I couldn’t extend her treatment any longer, I bolstered up my courage to tell her how I felt about her, and I asked her to dinner. Then she crushed me by turning me down.”

“But I explained why!” Valentina cried.

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