Page 130 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“You weren’t the only one who was scared,” she whispered with a lopsided smile.

I burst into tears and hugged her again. She held me close.

“Thank you,” I sobbed. “For everything you’ve done for me.”

“Thankyou,” she whispered into my ear, then pulled away so she could smile at me through her own tears. “For being there whenIneeded you. I’m glad I can finally repay the favor.”

We cried a little more, hugged again, and then she said, “It’s time.”

She led me outside where a black Mercedes was waiting. As I stuffed the money Don Rosolini had given me into my purse, the driver of the car put my suitcase in the back.

“Pickpockets,” Alessandra reminded me as she pointed at my purse.

“I’ll hide some of it in my bra.”

“Good. I’m here if you need to call me.” She leaned in close and whispered, “Remember everything I told you.”

I nodded.

“It’s all going to turn out fine,” she reassured me with a smile. “I’ll believe for the both of us.”

I hugged her one last time, then got into the car to begin my journey.

To Sicily…

And Valentino.

41

Valentino

The dining room was in another white-walled room, but this time, wooden cabinets lined the walls and showed off old porcelain figurines and gold-rimmed plates.

Isabella and I arrived at the same time. After my run-in with Don Vicari earlier, I wasn’t about to be late.

Nobody else was there yet, so I decided to make conversation with my bride-to-be.

“Hey,” I said with a smile.

“Hello,” she said bashfully.

“I readMilk and Honey,”I said, then tried to remember one of the lines. “‘Sex takes two’ – wait, hold on… there was something about consent…”

Isabella’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head.

“You can’t tell my father!” she said in a panicked whisper. She glanced behind me, probably to make sure he wasn’t coming down the hall.

“I won’t,” I said, surprised by how afraid she was. “Butyouwere the one who said the book title in front of him, you know.”

“My father hasn’t everread a book of poetry,” she whispered. “I knew he’d never open it. But if youtell him what it’s about – ”

“Iwon’t!”I said, likeJesus, calm down!

“Thank you,” she said, relieved. Then she frowned, puzzled. “How did you get a copy?”

“I borrowed yours.”

Back to full-blown panic.

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