Page 158 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

Hearing the pain in her voice made my heart ache for her –

For bothof us.

“I don’twantto,” I said.

“But you’re going to,” she whispered without looking at me.

“Dario ordered me to.” I hated myself for doing it, but I started listing off all the reasons Niccolo had given. “We need allies to fight my uncle. Massimo and Lars could be dead… wait, have you heard anything?”

She shook her head. “No.”

I exhaled. “Then there’s still hope.”

There was a long pause…

And then she whispered, “I don’t want you to marry her.”

“If there were any way I could get out of it, babe, I would.”

She didn’t say anything.

I put my fingers under her chin and forced her to look at me. “We don’t have much time left, babe, and I want us to spend it beinghappy… with each other.”

She looked at me blankly for a few seconds…

Then smiled sadly, leaned forward, and kissed me.

52

Caterina

Ididn’t tell Valentino that I’d overheard Alessandra’s conversation with Don Rosolini…

About how Val had said he didn’t want to marry me.

As much as it hurt me to know he’d said it…

And that he wasn’t going to own up to it…

I still kept quiet.

Probably because I didn’t want to ruin the moment.

Papa had always lectured me,Don’t make waves.

When I made waves with my parents, I’d lost them.

I couldn’t bear to lose Valentino…

So I said nothing.

Plus, Alessandra had gone to gigantic lengths for me to see him again. I didn’t want to spoil it.

And Val was so happy to see me. I’d neverseenhim so happy!

Until I started talking about the arranged marriage, I had been happy, too.

Not only that, but I finally had him in my arms.

---